You are here to feel inspired, create joy, and fulfill your soul’s purpose. Like the phoenix rising out of the ashes, you are liberating yourself from anything that shackles your soul. You are being called, nudged and even frustrated to the point of waking up. It’s time—no more postponing your soul’s call to action.
When you experience the things that take your breath away or make your heart sing, you live with passion and purpose. You step out of the shadows and into the light, aligned with your soul’s path. Above all, you realize that your full soul-expression is greater than the job you do, the roles you play, or how successful you are in the world. It’s about being yourself at soul level.
Women, especially, have trouble discerning their soul’s purpose. Because of our relationship-oriented nature, we are often called upon to be healers, nurturers, and caregivers at the cost of ourselves. However, defining ourselves exclusively by our roles as a wife, mother, and/or caregiver, can be limiting and challenge us to question who we really are and what we truly want. In adopting such roles to please or assist others, our soul’s purpose can be blocked, suppressed, even crushed.
When you strip away the societal tags and labels, what is left? Who are you at soul level? What would living in alignment with your soul look like? You would exist in an unlimited, omnipresent state of pure being or soul potential. You would shed everything that doesn’t matter and amplify everything that does. Being fully soul-expressed is being purposeful in every moment no matter what you are doing, where you are, or who you are with.
Your soul’s purpose isn’t defined or limited by finding the one reason you are here. On the contrary, it encompasses a multitude of passions that inspire soul-hearted living. Following your heart and living soulfully takes “ab-soul-lute” trust in yourself. Here are four sacred practices to assist you in awakening to your soul’s calling:
- Visualize when you were a little girl and had twenty minutes for recess: The bell would ring, and for twenty precious minutes, time stood still and the universe of possibility opened up to you. What were those expansive dreams? What lit you up? What experiences did you choose? Now become aware of the daily experiences that inspire you, create joy, or make your heart sing. Notice the common elements that run through these experiences and let them guide the choices you make.
- Write down your core values and the non-negotiables in your life: These are your soul elements. Ask yourself: Am I channeling most of my time and energies here? If not, what is getting in the way? How can I allocate more time, energy, and attention to these core soul elements? This will require that you set healthy boundaries so that you create more time and energy for these soul-fulfilling experiences.
- Learn to differentiate the voice of your head (ego) from the voice of your heart (soul): Notice how you speak to yourself and the words or scripts you use to describe your everyday experiences. Is your voice is coming from your head or heart? The voice of your heart is loving, all-encompassing, and guides you without judgment. It is a gentle whisper that says, “I know” instead of “I think,” “I trust” instead of “I believe,” and “I create” instead of “I wait.” The voice of your head, on the other hand, is often fearful, critical, and judgmental. You are in your head when you hear yourself say: “I should, I have to, I’m afraid to, or I can’t.” You are in your heart when you say: “I trust, I feel, and I sense.”
- Listen to your heart and make the inspired choices that align with your soul’s journey: Inspired choices are those that call you to soulfully evolve. Ask yourself: “Does this choice align with my soul’s purpose and path? Does this choice support my passion for life? Do I feel valued when I make this choice? Does this choice enhance my life and bring me inner peace? If today were the last day of my life, would I still make the same choice?” Remember, you don’t have make grand gestures, make one small step every day toward fulfilling your soul’s calling.
Dare to be seen, heard, and acknowledged as the soul essence you are. Choose to shine brightly, sparkle brilliantly, and shimmer radiantly so that you feel the light shining in your own heart, and beam it out for all to see. May you find the strength and courage to lead with your heart and let your soul shine through the choices you make in your life.
