Know Your Own Soul; August 23, 2010

Is deep soul-searching possible without leaving home?
This is a question I’ve been mulling over during my beach runs since seeing the recent film Eat, Pray, Love. The true story is of a woman who sets off on a year long journey to re-discover herself after realizing that she has lost her passion for life within the routines and clichés of daily American living. It is a touching film that left me full of gratefulness for the things I have, and full of longing for the opportunity to somehow live outside the daily drudgery. Who would not find their soul inspired by leaving all responsibilities behind and traveling to beautiful settings? But for those of us not so brave or lucky to risk leaving it all behind for a year (or even a month!), does this mean we miss the chance at true self-discovery and soul searching?


Now, let me clarify that I’m not speaking of a New Age kind of self-discovery. I’m speaking quite simply of searching within to understand our own inner passions, true desires and what fulfills us. Next is the intentional effort to live out those things in a way that makes us feel complete and ALIVE within our daily living. Call it your life’s passion, purpose or significance – but it seems everyone is constantly searching for this.


How do we search our souls for some revelation, or life changing decision, or radical change of perspective? Is it possible without giving up all life’s responsibilities, routines and relationships at home?

I would like to propose that although escapism is a luxurious way to “re-discover ourselves,” people who learn to soul search amidst daily life are more likely to sustain that satisfaction of the soul for a lifetime.

I’m proposing that we must learn how to be true to ourselves within our demanding world (unless you truly plan to go live in Bali forever and never raise a demanding family.) We must somehow honor and tune in to the needs of our own soul, without becoming so self-centered that we lose balance. Intentional, continuous soul searching is like preventative medicine to keep us nimble enough to handle life’s oncoming trials with more grace, and to serve others, rather than having tragedy trigger a change.


So set aside even just a few minutes today and every day to know your own soul.
Get out into nature and leave your phone behind; sleep with the windows open and listen to the crickets, or the traffic or the silence; take a walk under the bright moonlight; do something extraordinary from your regular physical activity; pray with your words and with your ears (listen to what comes back); eat something new; pay attention to how your heart feels at the end of each day; sit up in the dark of your bed and let your mind wander; acknowledge your feelings without self-judgment while still deciding to act on what is virtuous; reflect on why you chose the responsibilities you now have; imagine what you wanted at the beginning of your current life journey; remember your best days in life and reflect on what gave your heart freedom then; believe that God has a plan of hope and goodness for you.


And in the midst of this searching for passion, don’t view your daily life with distain!
Find laughter in that which you previously took too seriously; find love for that which you previously took for granted; speak out your sadness or anger instead of holding it in; live out the things that gave your heart freedom when you were young, while embracing the blessed responsibilities you have now that you are older.


Eat, Pray, Love is a story about a journey away from home to find that which the heart calls home. Let us search our souls and discover our heart’s truest beat without leaving everything else behind.
Lead your heart towards what is true, instead of following it’s fickle whims. Search your soul continuously, amidst the life you have created here.  To master this surely yields a life-long satisfaction that will enable your soul to sing regardless of what the day brings, be it in Bali, or New York, or anywhere in between.