There are a lot of grey areas in life, not the least of which is understanding your own needs and wants.
It’s a fine line we draw between, ‘Do I need/want this to feel good?’ or ‘Is this genuinely good for me?’
Life is messy and there’s no expectation to live it perfectly. Living your best life is preferred as this is the only one you get (that we know of anyway).
So, how do you recognize if something is good for you in a nourishing, authentic way or if it just creates a feel-good moment, in a superficial, feed-the-need kind of way?
The simple answer boils down to 2 things: purpose and intuition.
Let’s talk about purpose first
Many people can make the same choice for very different reasons, with dramatically different results. For example, both Sam and Jess decide to work late one evening. For Jess, it’s about a deep commitment to a career that enriches her life on many levels — it nourishes her soul. For Sam, it’s an excuse to avoid dealing with life outside work, relationships, problems, etc. — overworking feeds the fear within.
So, questions you must ask yourself are, ‘what is the purpose behind my choice?’ and ‘am I feeding my fear or nourishing my soul?’
Next — intuition; the second solution for distinguishing between feeding the fear and nourishing the soul.
Sometimes, it’s hard to tell the difference between healthy desires and damaging needs. Our brains and egos can fool us into believing a choice is about survival. In order to thrive, however, it’s your heart, gut or intuitive choice that guides you down the optimal path.
The ironic thing is we all have aspects of fear (shame, doubt) and soul (faith, wisdom) within. The one that runs the show is the one you feed the most.
Some tips for nourishing your soul:
- Scan your body to determine if your choice is brain or heart driven
- Determine if your choices are based on your authentic desires or someone else’s expectations
- Fine-tune your innate intuitive sense by practicing listening to the inner messages and wise whispers that seem to come from nowhere
- Manage your fears by setting them aside when they pop up
- Surround yourself with people who support you in ways that warm your heart and boost your confidence. and focusing instead on the optimal scenario
- Spend time in nature and with animals, these two natural energy boosters are food for the soul.