15 Ways To Keep Your Soul Alive (Part 2)

‘Soul Food’ for thought

If you missed part one of this post- Click Here

Begin to see yourself as a soul with a body rather than a body with a soul. -Wayne Dyer

Here are some more ways to nourish and keep your soul alive:-

6. Pray
Whatever your religion, whatever your beliefs. Say a little prayer, not only for yourself, but for your loved ones. Composing the words into a prayer helps align your soul with the loving presence of something or someone much greater than us. It’s comforting and that in the moment it will reminds you that you not alone in the universe, that no matter how you feel, you are truly loved and blessed.

7. Connect with your loved ones

Call friends, family or acquaintances and ask how they are. Tell your child, parents, spouse or special person that you love them. Spend time with the people you love Now! Don’t put it off for later. No one on their death bed ever says that they wish they spent more time at work. There are not too many things in life that enrich the soul more than spending time with the people you love. Deepening your connections with loved ones strengthens your soul and through these actions you can create a powerful force in the world that will help combat fear and loneliness.

8. Find the silver lining
There will be times and days in your life when the sun doesn’t shine. Find that silver lining and dance anyway. Don’t let your soul get drawn into the dark, find it a spot it can shine and you’ll see how it takes over and lightens up everything else.

9. Live in the moment
Forget about the past and don’t worry about the future. The soul only knows the now….relish the moment you’re living in. Welcome each day a new beginning, a new chance to make the most out of it. Living in the present will keep you focused on what is truly important.

10. Laugh
Laughter is indeed the best medicine…for your soul. You can literally laugh yourself to peace of mind and well-being. Mentally, emotionally and physically. Laughter soothes the mind, heals the heart, enlivens the soul, uplifts the spirit and aids in regeneration by oxygenating the blood and increasing circulation, so impacts even your body. Laugh so it explodes through your whole body. Laugh with the whole of your soul! (Read: Laughter Meditation)

11. Banish negativity
The wrong relationships and things can be very toxic for your soul and mind, sapping all your energy and making you listless. Get rid of your emotional baggage by cutting out people who make you feel hurt, insecure and worthless. Stop doing things and avoid places that bring you down and experiences that are unfulfilling. Surround yourself with positive thoughts and strong, healthy relationships. Positivity nourishes the soul to no extent.

12. Fuel your soul with hearty food
Most people wouldn’t use substandard fuel in their cars but will put all sorts of rubbish in their own system.The truth of the matter is you are what you eat and it applies to not just your body but your soul too. Restricting yourself 24/7 and not enjoying what fuels you and brings you nutrition doesn’t do much for your soul. Soul food in the literal sense is what makes you feel good inside. It’s a hearty meal and not a carrot stick that’ll give you an energy burst, mood lift and spring in your step. That doesn’t mean overeating or eating unhealthy all the time. It means it’s ok to given in every now and then, even if it’s not helping your diet, it’s nourishing your soul. Find a balance between the two.

13. Add a spring in your step
Put in that extra effort to put a spring in your step in this journey called life. Whistle when you walk, hum or sing when you work, crack a joke to ease the tension…whatever make you happy. Do it. Get active, inactivity leads to lethargy and feeling worse. Keeping your mind active and sharp is a great way to uplift the soul.

14. Live on the edge
Live outside the box, in fact just throw the box away! The soul thrives with excitement, it’s always looking for new possibilities beyond the already known, safe and comfortable. Don’t limit yourself when nothing is impossible.

15. Don’t neglect your soul again
Neglecting your soul is what brought you to this point in the first place. Pay attention to your soul more than you do your appearance, listen to it, nourish it, feed it and you’ll find more happiness and satisfaction in your life than ever before. More importantly you’ll feel ALIVE!

Read more about your Divine Soul Plan.

This article is brought to you by YogacaraShop.com – your source for special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing, comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

*Image Credits: photos by izahorsky, Ross Catrow on flickr

15 Ways To Keep Your Soul Alive (Part 1)

‘Soul Food’ for thought

With the world becoming more and more material everyday, it’s easy to get lost in the mix of things. Today, we invest so much time on our appearance and our physical selves, worrying every minute of the day what everyone else will think of us and how successful we can be in the rat-race called life. It’s amazing how the human brain can be programmed to achieve with or without emotion. We’re becoming more like machines functioning, but not really living and feeling and enjoying! We ignore our souls, our inner selves, the core of our beings that keeps us feeling alive and in tune with the universe (or God).

“Why do you hasten to remove anything which hurts your eye, while if something affects your soul you postpone the cure until next year?” -Horace

If you’ve ever felt “stuck”, or felt that nothing seems to flow in your life, that is a sign of your soul seeking your attention. If you are doing good, but still don’t feel that sense of joy from deep inside yourself, then it’s time for you to stop, step back and invest time to do some soul searching. If you want to increase your happiness and satisfaction in life, you need to do more than just doing – you need to start ‘living’- you need to nourish your soul!

“When you do things from your soul you feel a river moving in you, a joy. When action comes from another section, the feeling disappears.” -Jalal ad-Din Rumi

Here are 20 ways to nourish your soul and keep it alive:-

1. Get in touch with nature
Nature is the soul’s lifeline. Our souls are deeply rooted in nature and have a strong connection with its energy. Spend time in the natural world and allow yourself to connect with all living things. Just simply walk barefoot on a beach, or in a garden, dip your toes in a pond, step out in the rain…re-connect with nature in any way you want.  Just focus on your skin touching nature and you’ll feel your body connecting with the body of the earth. You’ll feel the energy of the earth flowing into you and revitalizing your spirit. Connecting with nature is one of the best ways of nourishing your soul.

When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator. -Mahatma Gandhi

2. Give thanks
Write down all the things to be thankful for in your life. It’ll help you truly appreciate the people, things and experiences in your life. Keep it going through the day, week, month…and when you’re having a rough time…read it, share it, shout it! Living in a state of gratitude make you appreciate life a lot more and make the most of it.

3. Breathe
By breathe I don’t mean the bodily function that we unconsciously perform to keep our body alive, I mean really “Breathe!”. Let the air fill not just your lungs but seep into your soul and bring with it renewed life force. It doesn’t take so much and you can do it any time, anywhere! Several deep breaths can help you to calm, de-stress and relax.

4. Embrace Silence
It’s hard to hear your inner voice amidst all the noise. Figure out a way to introduce some silent time in your day. You’ll hear the soul’s whisper, it’ll guide you through life. You just have to pay close attention. Ask yourself questions…and in the stillness and silence the answers will come to you.

5. Meditate
Similar to the last point but taking it a bit further is meditation. Meditation isn’t easy to perfect, but it cane be practiced and will still enrich your life tremendously. According to the principles of yoga, meditation is the art of silencing the mind. The ultimate goal is to have a mind completely free of thoughts. It is about consciousness and being fully aware of ourselves and our thought process. As little as ten or fifteen minute spent in this state a day will help you find inner peace and bring balance your mind and soul. (Read: The Key To Meditation)

Continued in… 15 Ways To Keep Your Soul Alive (Part 2)

Read more about your Divine Soul Plan.

*Image Credits: Photos by eqqman, Chiot’s Run, /eye.contact!, rubyblossom on flickr

The Power of Asking

A year and a half ago, I read a very special book that changed my life. It had a simple concept, that when applied could make many of my wishes come true. That book was The Aladdin Factor by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, that opened my eyes and mind up to the power of asking. The basic premise of the book was taking control of your life by asking for what you want. It explained that we don’t receive the things we want and deserve, because we simply fail to ask for them, whatever they might be – extra free time, bigger wages, a better service, more affection, longer vacation. This is not a review or a summary of the book but an introduction to asking and receiving.

The number one reason that people don’t get what they want is they don’t ask. If there’s something you want, you’ve got to know how to ask for it. You might not always get what you want, but if you don’t ask, you guarantee not getting it. Many times we think that we’d be offered something if it was available to us but it doesn’t work like that. People aren’t mind readers. They don’t know what we want until we put it forward to them.

You can ask for what you want in every situation of your life, at any moment, at any age, in business or personal life. Don’t hesitate to ask.

These are some of the common barriers to asking:

No knowledge of asking: We don’t realise that if only we asked, we’d receive.

Fear of rejection: The number one reason they don’t ask is a big fat fear of rejection, a five letter word called pride. You need to first realize you have nothing to lose. You didn’t have what you want before, and if you don’t get it now, at least you tried. You lost nothing. But chances are, you got what you wanted.

Perceived weakness: Too often we think it shows weakness or vulnerability to ask questions or to ask for something we want. The contrary is true.

Low self-esteem and confidence: A general feeling of unworthiness, a belief that “your needs” are not important.

Ignorance and not knowing how to ask: Sometimes this is the biggest barrier. We don’t know what is available to us, we don’t know what to ask for and how to ask for it.

How to ask:

Be specific: Be detailed about what you would like – what percentage increase, what colour shoes, how many days off. Be vague and receive vague. Be specific and the results will be far more desirable.

Ask for what you want, not for what you don’t want: Be positive in your approach to asking. Don’t ask somebody to stop being late, for you are reinforcing the lateness. Instead ask them to be on time.

Ask the right person: You have to pose the question to somebody who has the power to grant your wish.

But ask thoughtfully. Remember the phrase ‘Be careful what you wish for, for you just might get it’ exists for a reason. It’s absolutely true. To use a much abused cliche, ask and you shall receive.

This article is brought to you by YogacaraShop.com – your source for special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing, comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

*Image Credits : Pictures by Moriza, Dustin Diaz, Toni Blay on flickr.

Green Guide – Inspired Everyday Living

Many people feel overwhelmed by the idea of saving the planet but it needn’t be stressful or difficult. A favorite piece of advice from an Australian designer and social commentator is to ‘Green your own personal space.’ That means not worrying about the rest of the world’s eco problems, but taking personal responsibility for ourselves and our own surroundings. A great start and solution to our global warming crisis, if everyone followed suit.

Here are a few things you can incorporate into your life to show you care for the environment. You don’t have to change everything about you. Make changes where your lifestyle allows. The most important thing is to remember that every little thing counts. Feel free to share with us your ideas too.

• Buy in season produce. In season produce is abundant, hasn’t traveled hundreds of resource wasting food miles, tastes much better and costs less. Shop at farmer’s markets where possible.
• Grow your vegetables. It’s free and organic! Anyone can start a small veggie or herb garden in their backyard, balcony, windowsill.
• If you have your own garden, start a little compost heap with all your biodegradable food matter. It’ll work magic on the rest of your garden.

• Eat less prepackaged foods. Remember, you are what you eat. If you put chemicals inside you, it will show on the outside. As well as being full of nasties, have layers and layers of packaging.
• Say no to packaging. Avoid plastic containers and disposable cutlery where possible. There are entire surviving cultures that make do without. Give back the extras. If you’re ordering takeaway, and they shove a bunch of cutlery, napkins and condiments you don’t need in the paper bag, return it and reduce waste. Even better, ask  if they’ll fill your own container. They rarely say no.
• Refuse plastic bags. Tuck a muslin shopping bag into your handbag so you never have to use plastic bags when making unexpected grocery purchases.

• Buy earth friendly household products
• Go paperless where you can. Back up your files on an external hard drive and don’t print them out. Get your statements online. If you must print, do so on recycled and unbleached paper and use both sides. Reuse items like envelopes, folders, files, paper clips.
• Dispose of electronics properly. They can be very harmful to the environment if they end up in landfill so Google your nearest recycling center.
• Don’t forget to participate in Earth Hour, a simple initiative with great magnitude. Turn off all your electrical appliances and lights for an hour, and encourage those in your community to do the same.

• Quit smoking. Cigarettes are merely toxins that are bad for the atmosphere and you. And you do your part to banish gross butts that ruin the landscape and contaminate water sources.
• Always turn off lights, appliances and taps that aren’t in use. Make sure you use eco bulbs and have your showerhead fitted with a water saving low flow device.
• Sun and air dry your laundry. If you must use your dryer, make sure the lint filter is clean.
• Use public transport. Convenient and cost effective, the more users, the most likely they are to keep improving it. Ride a bicycle when traveling short distances.
• NO bottled water. Lucky enough to live in countries where tap water is renowned for it’s purity and we’re still water buying cultures. It can take ten gallons of water to make a single half gallon bottle of water. Plus fuel to ship and countless other resources. Just say no thanks. Buy a durable water bottle and refill.
• Invest in quality versus quantity. Buy
• Start an eco-conversation. Spark a discussion and debate about the environment, about recycling and reducing waste, you never know who will listen and make a difference. Raise consciousness about these issues, it’s unfortunate and unbelievable how many people are so ignorant to them.
• And lastly, practice yoga. It’s a life altering regime and a fitness routine that requires no fancy gadgets or resources. Just you and a yoga mat.

*Photo credits: Matt Hannon, MissMalaprop, Iced Buddha, Leo.prie.to