Listen to Your SOUL’S NEEDS

This Week’s Soul Challenge: LISTEN TO YOUR SOUL’s NEEDS!

Hi folks, I hope everyone is having a great weekend, and for the week ahead I encourage you to listen to your SOUL’s NEEDS.  You know, so often in our daily lives we know that we need something for ourselves, but life gets in the way. For example, we know we need a nap, but don’t allow ourselves the sleep that our body and soul are craving because we assign all sorts of shaming or self-deprecating ideas to the simple fact that our bodies are tired.  Or another example, we feel that we need alone time, or silence to hear our own thoughts and desires, and don’t make space in our lives to accommodate it.

Whatever your soul needs right now, are you prepared to do it?  What are the risks of allowing yourself what you need most? What are the costs of NOT DOING IT? What has to wait for you to tend to your own needs?

If you’re like most people, giving attention, time and your scarce resources to others is probably high on your agenda.  So, you bargain with yourself, before taking care of what you need most? It might go something like this..”If I take a nap, or require silence for half the day, what will my children/spouse/partner do and how will they feel if I attend to myself?” As humans, so many of us are conditioned to this type of thinking.  We prioritize everyone else’s needs above our own in order to ensure we are loved and appreciated – and these patterns are learned, likely from an early age, but once identified, you don’t need to keep them!

“This week, give yourself PERMISSION to attend to YOUR SOUL’S NEEDS.  It is important – critically important, because if AMAZING YOU can’t refill your cup, top up your fuel tank, or have a moment’s peace to do YOU– you are no good to yourself, or anyone else!”

This Week’s SOUL CHALLENGE:  LISTEN TO YOUR SOUL’S NEEDS.

The Challenge:  This week, make room every single day for your unique and powerful needs. Make YOU, your biggest an highest priority!

Preparation: Breathing.  Simply Breathing at your own rhythm and pace.  If you prioritizing you brings up all sorts of feelings, such as shame, guilt or others, you may also wish to use your journal this week to note down what your mind/body/soul are making of your conscious decision to put yourself first.   

Step 1: Identify Your Need for Today. Sit quietly and take a few cleansing breaths.  Ask yourself the following question: “what is it that I really need for only myself today. What is it that I would benefit from, and enjoy in my soul – regardless of anything else that is happening?”

Answer this question in your mind or journal.

Step 2: Rearrange Your Day to Accommodate that Stated Need.

Now, I can hear you already saying in your head, or to a friend, or me, “But, I can’t do that, I have too many things to do, too much on the list, my …. kids/spouse/dog/cat/hamster/next door neighbor/grocery clerk…. well, you get the idea… NEED ME. How can I take time for myself with so many other obligations?”

And, to that I say: “Stop.  Just STOP!”  Right now STOP and reflect on what you are actuallu doing! You are putting yourself last.  And over time when you do that out of obligation, habit, or desire to please – it takes its toll.  It makes you powerless, tired, and unable to actually help anyone in your life, yourself included.

With this resolve, review your day-EACH AND EVERY DAY THIS WEEK – and allow yourself to assuage your soul’s desire.

Step 3: Journal About Your Experience: The Experience of Taking Care of Your OWN Needs – otherwise, known as “Your Soul.”

My guess is that if you have trouble allowing yourself this pleasure and soul-centered time and space, that you absolutely needed it more than you could articulate. So, do that now.  Articulate the experience of making time in your life for what you soul most desires. 

These are baby steps.  Tiny movement toward prioritizing your needs and desires, so you can live the life you came here to enjoy for NOT ONLY YOUR SAKE, BUT ALL OF OUR SAKES who need you and your talents to Light well the world!

Until Next Time,

Live Well, Love Well, Lightwell the World