9 Amazing Things That Are Good For Your Soul
So what exactly does soul nourishment mean to you and what kind of things would you imagine are good for your soul?
Let’s explore this very idea cause there are way more things that are good for us and our soul then we’d ever imagine. We dod this work cause we are life long learners and we are always looking for ways to improve ourselves and finding means to feel deeply restored.
I’m inspired to write this because I not only want to share what’s worked for me and how incredibly transformative it’s been over the past few decades, but also want to offer some guidance to you if you are looking to do this sort of replenishing for your own soul.
We all know there are certain moments, practices, those little rituals that make us feel like we are reaching past all that external noise and tapping into that inner deeper part of ourselves, that soul depth. We are always looking for things that ground us and bring us closer to ourselves so let’s consider some amazing things that you can do today that are good for your soul and feed and nourish that inner part of you.
The 9 Soul-Nourishing Things
1. Quiet Time With Yourself
I always like to start with a little pondering. Let’s consider the first incredible thing you can do for your soul – and with that let me ask you when do you feel the most “you”? Let’s dig beneath the surface – what shifts within when your outer world gets quiet? There is a powerful inner shift that happens when we go inward in quietude. The silence can be beyond healing. It gives us much needed relief from all the external noise. A moment recently when I silence felt healing was when I was able to finally allow myself to just be without any of the distractions. Without my devices, without external you tap into a part of yourself that is only found there – in depths of silence and quietude that we can invoke at any moment. There’s something almost sacred about being alone with your thoughts…it awakens an extraordinary calm.
2. Being in Nature
While this next one may seem obvious I think we all lose sight of how incredible it actually is to be in nature. And when I see be in nature I mean not just get out there in the elements, but perhaps elicit #1 from this list – add silence into the mix and you’ve got an incredible combination – quiet time with yourself being in nature – now that’s amazing and really good for your soul.
What changes mentally or emotionally when you’re outside? Nature has the powerful ability to reset our souls it seems. And when we really see the grandeur of it, it gives us a perspective that only nature can. It has an incredible way of reminding us of the bigger picture. For more powerful insights check out this short video where I met up with Nature Connection Coach Hana Lee Goldin who teaches us the proper way to Forest Bathe.
3. Meaningful Conversations
So one of the things I absolutely love more than anything is connecting deeply with others through meaningful conversation. This is really of the most amazing things for the our soul. Connection matters to the soul because that’s ultimately what we all crave. We all long for this sort of deep connection with another. We want nothing more than to feel heard, loved and supported without judgement. We long for human connection. It’s what feeds us. It’s ow we validate ourselves.
Mindful communication is the most incredible way to show up for someone all in with total presence and awareness. We meet the other in that precise moment meaning you show up for them in exactly how they need. Sometimes people just need to be heard minus a response. And sometime deep authentic listening is the response they want, but here is the beautiful thing about mindful communication – when we listen deeply with total presence we begin to learn things about this person. They open up to us and share things they might not otherwise if they think we are just waiting to speak and not fully listening. They give us a part of themselves we may not see otherwise. They respect us for honoring them and we honor them for this gift of heart they give us. And through this way of interaction the bond between us deepens. And when we allow others to speak at length they do the same for us. It is one of the greatest things we can do for our souls.
This sort of conversation nourishes us like nothing else can.
For more on mindful communication check out this post on my sister site – Blossom Your Awesome.
4. Creative Expression
What creativity means to you
Creativity is one of the purest forms of soul expression….It can be anything really-writing, making art, making music, whipping up a 3 course meal or baking your favorite banana bread, even rearranging your room can be a form of free flow. This sort of output gives us energy – it feeds our souls to create freely in this heart centered way.
So why does creative energy feel like soul energy? It’s because it opens us up to a sort of freedom that can really only be found when we are in a state of effortless free flow. We tap into a part of ourselves – that childlike wonder seems to be evoked and we feel free to expand on the page or the canvas. We seem to access a part of ourselves that we can only get to through this medium.
Can you think of a creative ritual that grounds you? Do you love to paint, doodle, craft? Whatever it is this is one of the most powerful things you can do for your soul.
5. Doing Something Just for You
A small indulgence that nurtures you in some way is what the doctor ordered, truly. When was the last time you did something just for you? A little retail therapy? A little trip to the chocolate shop or the cupcake shop, or whatever your sweet tooth desires.
Sometimes we need to do nothing, but just be with a little self-love and self-indulging cause we are truly worthy. It matters to have unproductive moments cause it offers a little reset. We don’t need to be going going going all the time. It’s ok to just unwind and do absolutely nothing, zilch, zippo from time to time.
Reclaiming your time is a really powerful way to love yourself, take care of yourself and support your souls healing and growth.
We underestimate the power of doing something simply because it delights us…but we should take great pride in doing things for ourselves because we are worthy and we deserve a little goodness too!
6. Moving Your Body
Ok so number 6 is not about exercise. It’s about movement that feels freeing. This could be a brisk walk in nature or a dance off with your girlfriend or yourself. It can be a cold plunge or swim in a lake or pool. I’m talking about getting in the garden or hitting those roller blades. Not a 5 mile run, but movement that feels fun and not forced. It’s not about getting your glutes burning, but about a type of movement that feels therapeutic, even healing. Notice how when you take a walk in a beautiful park or under some redwoods your world seems to expand, your heart seems to slow and your thoughts seem less erratic. Figure out a way to move that allows you to process your emotions. Get some fresh air and that blood pumping in a way that feels liberating.
Remember that time you took that walk down by the ocean you cleared your mind of all those racing thoughts or that last walk you took on your favorite trail up in the redwoods or that hike with your bestie that had you laughing and feeling invigorated? That’s the kind of moving your body I’m talking about.
Might sound kind of strange, but something to consider – your body holds all kinds of stories and movement helps you release them. You’ve heard about that whole stress in your shoulders thing – well that’s precisely the kind of housekeeping I’m referring to, but this times it’s not your house, but your temple I’m talking about – yep, your B*O*D*Y!!!
7. Letting Something Go
It doesn’t matter if it’s an old story, hurt, grudge or just letting go of the old you, but you need to – “Let that shit go!”
Just let it go. “Free your mind and the rest will follow!” I think those are lyrics from an En Vogue song. Consider something you’ve let go of recently and oh very freeing it’s been ever since. I’ve recently let go of this idea of expectations. I realized that I’m no spring chicken anymore and most people in our worlds will only disappoint us. I don’t mean to be a Debbie downer, but people do disappoint us. Often it’s not even intentional. They have their own stuff going on so we need not take their stuff to heart or personal. That has nothing to do with us.
By letting it go it gives us a piece of us back. We receive that part of our energy and head space that is occupied by the grip of that hurt or resentment. It gives us freedom to be without the weight and baggage of the negativity weighing us down.
Our soul is not looking to be bogged down, but be light and weightless so we can live into our power and awesomeness.
Sometimes the most healing thing you can do is quietly set something down…and leave it there without looking back.
8. Deep Rest
Number 8 on the list of things that are good for your soul is Rest. I’m talking deep rest that is soul soothing. What does real rest feel like for you? The kind that is replenishing and nourishing and has you ready with jubilation to take on the day. Ok maybe not jubilation, but you know what I mean. Exhaustion can drain not only our bodies, but our souls. We can’t deplete ourselves because that’s like burning the candle at both ends. What we need is to lean into replenishing ourselves at the end of a long day perhaps with an evening ritual. My go to evening ritual is this – daily QiGong with practitioner Jeffrey Chand. Now understand that you may not feel much of anything the first day or two of doing this. The real magic begins to unfold over time with this ancient practice. By day 3 or 4 you’ll start really feeling something shifting within. You’ll begin to feel a sort of calm settling in that also can be very beneficial for getting that much needed deep rest. And this is truly something remarkable to do that is so good for your soul.
Rest isn’t laziness. Rest is soul maintenance…and replenishment of the most exceptional kind.
9. Helping Someone Without Expectation
I think I saved the best for last. I absolutely love being kind especially to strangers and that’s kind of where the – without expectation can work well. Obviously when we do things for loved ones often we are hopeful they’ll respond in kind or be grateful and not disrespect us or disappoint us, but when they do – all those things we’ve done for them seem to come flying back to the prefrontal cortex like a tsunami and you just feel hurt and mad.
However being kind just to be kind is a whole different thing. Often with strangers it’s an even more exceptional thing cause they don’t expect it in the least. And often they are so overcome with gratitude. And boy or boy can I tell you how good it feels to be nice to someone – just because – that’s the caveat.
I do this on a fairly regular basis, but there’s a moment in particular many years ago I saw an elderly woman get mugged in the parking lot right in front of me while I was in my car. The assailant snatched her purse and zipped off in the getaway car with his co-conspirators. I started honking my horn to attract attention and yelling. They were gone instantly, but the poor little old lady had been tossed to the ground as he was yanking her hand bag. I ran over to her and got on the ground and helped up sit up. I sat with her and held her arm and talked her through it. She was so grateful and in such deep gratitude. She asked me for my address so she could mail me some money for helping her. Of course I didn’t oblige, but she thanked me about a hundred times in the span of 15 minutes. I hung out even after the paramedics got there and then she proceeded to tell them countless times how wonderful I was. It was not necessary. And while what I did didn’t feel like much of anything to me. I’d expect someone to do this for my mom if it happened it felt good to know that I had helped someone just because – just out of love – just out of humanity. It felt life giving and like a boost of soul oxygen right through me.
Exercising humanity in this way and offering this kind of giving restores you. It fills you in ways nothing else can…
Conclusion
In closing – So if there were just one things I want you to take form this list of things – it’s this – there is something righter here right now that is accessible and easy for your to tap into that will feed your soul and be so good for you. There is something powerful you can do do for your soul that will nourish you and heal you. It has the potential to enrich you and make things better for you you and help you align yourself with greater purpose and meaning. It matters how you show up not just for others, but for your own soul. This is the one thing I’d like you to take form this list. I want you to get that the soul work matters especially for everyday life. A grounding reminder – your soul is always speaking. These nine things are simply gentle ways of listening.