Recently I watched the movie Soul. For those who have not seen it the movie is about a middle school band teacher whose life has not gone the way he wanted it to and through some events goes to find his soul. For this sparkly new year of 2021 it seemed fitting to talk about soul.
Dictionary.com defines soul as ” the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body, and commonly held to be separable in existence from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part, the seat of feelings and sentiments.” Soul is the core of who we are as people. It’s the key ingredient of what makes us well us.
“You don’t have a soul. You are a soul, you have a body.” Buddha
According to Wikidpedia the soul is “the ‘driver’ in the body. It is the roohu or spirit or atma, the presence of which makes the physical body alive.”
A few years ago I did a hard look at myself. Reflected in a significant way about what did I like, and love, about myself. What parts of me I did not like. In doing this I came to the realization that I did not have to, or need to, change anything about myself unless I wanted to. I decided there were parts of me that I wanted to change and was willing to put the effort into changing, even though it was a lot of work. It wasn’t until I was writing this that I realized I was doing a soul overhaul.
Do you know why snakes shed their skin? They shed their skin because it doesn’t fit. it’s worn out, and it gets rid of harmful parasites. Snakes have to wriggle out of their old skin and sometimes need assistance getting that old skin off. It’s uncomfortable. Yet once the process is complete they have glossy new snake skin.
For me, and my soul overhaul, it was not pleasant. Change, even positive change, is challenging. Until the change is solidified you are in unfamiliar terrority. There was anxiety, learning of new skills, I felt vulnerable, and there were baby steps towards becoming the person I wanted to be. There were times I was sailing ahead and then boom I went spiraling backwards. What prompted my soul overhaul is that I had become tired of driving my soul car going places with little thought about where I was going. I did not like some of the ways I was talking to myself and treating others in the world. I was uncomfortable with some parts of me. Every day I am happy (yes happy) that I put in the work. I feel so much better about me. The soul, my soul, feels peaceful, content, joyous.
“Seek what sets your soul on fire.” Unknown
So in their year of 2021, filled with potential and possibility consider doing a soul reflection. Are you happy with the person you are? Are there some parts of you that need an upgrade? Are you living your life with joy and happiness in who you are as a human? It is time to shed your skin so you can rid yourself of some parasites that are harmful to you? You are the only person who can answer this. I can say from my personal reflections of my soul it was mighty uncomfortable. I can also say that after I shed my skin and became the person whose soul had the joy, honor, integrity, love, beauty, and kindness she had been seeking my life was so much more.
It is important to nurture and cherish your soul. Soul food includes fresh air, gratitude, be in the moment, be giving and kind, sing, dance, forgiveness, nature, sleep, and using your imagination to see all the potential and possibility for yourself. You matter. You deserve and are worthy of having your soul sing to you.
May your soul be with you💜
Photo by Özgür Öztürk on Unsplash
