Does the idea of soulful living, living from a calm, happy and empowered place appeal to you? If yes, find out more about how you can, by practicing the six pillars of soulful living.
In a world that gets noisier and busier by the day, with constant attractions, distractions and mental stimulation, it has become more vital than ever before that we take a pause, step back and look at our lives and daily routines with mindfulness. And consciously bring in change, so that we can live our lives from a more soulful place. Soulful living, requires us, to be first and foremost connected to our souls. To our divine essence, that pure, radiant, powerful energy that we all are. And once we have made that connection within ourselves, to live everyday from that peaceful, loving and content place.
To help us stay aligned to a more soulful path are the six pillars of soulful living. When we lean on them in our daily lives, they prevent us from falling back into the trap of a rushed, unaware life. We can free ourselves from the do-achieve-acquire mode of life. A mode that may be filling our lives externally, but often leaves us empty and dissatisfied internally.
The six pillars of soulful living are:
- Simple Living: Living a simple and content life.
- Slow Living: Living a slow and mindful life.
- Peaceful Living: Living a calm and peaceful life.
- Joyful Living: Living a happy and positive life.
- Gentle Living: Living a kind and compassionate life.
- Purposeful Living: Living an empowered and purposeful life.
PILLAR #1: SIMPLE LIVING: Living a simple and content life.
Simple living is about going back to the basics. It is about light living, lightness in our minds, in our hearts, in our spaces and in our energies. When we keep our lives simple, we free up more of our emotional and spiritual energy. We can can then focus this energy on the things that truly matter to us. Else, we unconsciously get entangled in the energy of all the unnecessary things we have accumulated on our journeys.
How can we live more ‘Simply’?
THROUGH MINIMALISM
Minimalism is the art of discerning the ‘necessary’ from the ‘unnecessary’ so as to keep only the most vital things in our life. It forms the very basis of simple living. When we stay mindful at the point of acquiring things, we start right by bringing only the much needed stuff into our lives. This way we save a lot of energy later on.
- PRACTICAL EXERCISE #1 = INTENTION CHECK: Two great questions to ask yourself, when you are about to buy or acquire something new: Q1) Do I really ‘need’ this? + Q2) Do I really ‘love’ this? If the answer is no, you are likely picking up something for a poor or vague reason. And then placing it in your precious energy field and unconsciously making yourself heavier.
- PRACTICAL EXERCISE #2 = REGULAR DECLUTTER : Even if we didn’t start off right, by mindfully acquiring things, we can still mindfully give them away. Decluttering our spaces, homes, work-desks at regular intervals is an excellent tool to free up energy. So anytime you feel overwhelmed, do a quick round of declutter and see how light you feel instantly.
THROUGH DETACHMENT
Detachment is about living with a sense of freedom. When we can own things in such a way that we do not keep our happiness dependent on them, we give ourselves the gift of freedom. Detachment isn’t about denying ourself things and experiences. Rather, it is about remaining free of the outcome of those things and experiences.
- PRACTICAL EXERCISE #1 = REMEMBER YOUR TRUE IDENTITY ‘THE SOUL’ : The seed for living in a detached way lies in owning our identity as pure, divine energy beings in a human body. Make it a daily practice to remember that you are not this body but a powerful energy within this body. And that everything you possess is temporary, transient and a gift. You will then begin to simply enjoy what you have, while you have it.
- PRACTICAL EXERCISE #2 = DESIRE CHECK : To truly cultivate detachment in our lives, it is also vital that we keep a check on our material desires. The need to always acquire more and more keeps us in bondage. Especially in today’s world where we are spoilt for choice. Taming our desires is indeed like taming a wild horse. But with practice we can get there. Ask yourself: Q1) Do I really ‘need’ this thing I desire? + Q2) Do I really need N versions of the same thing or can I make do with one? As you go deeper, you can also ask yourself Q3) Is my current desire really in my long-term highest good?
THROUGH CONTENTMENT
When we find joy and fulfilment in what we already have, the need to constantly acquire more lessens. Simplicity, then becomes a way of life. The happiness we experience in life largely depends upon the contentment we are able to find, with what we already have. ‘More’ does not always translate into more happiness.
- PRACTICAL EXERCISE = LIMIT SOCIAL MEDIA TIME & STOP COMPARISONS : What often comes in the way of finding contentment is the constant comparison of ourselves and our lives with others. With regular updates of everyone’s life flowing in through various social media channels, it has become easier to get caught up in the comparison trap. Limit social media time. And consciously remind yourself that each of us is a unique soul on a unique journey with a unique purpose here. Our paths are meant to be different. Keep your eyes and minds purely focussed on your own path and life, to return to contentment.
PILLAR #2: SLOW LIVING: Living a slow and mindful life.
Slow living is about appreciating the precious moments and experiences of our everyday lives. It is about becoming a conscious, loving witness to our lives rather than madly rushing about. It is about deliberately slowing down our pace, to wholly immerse ourself in our life experiences. Ultimately what will matter is not ‘what we did’, or ‘how many things we did’ but ‘what we experienced’ while doing them. Did we experience joy, peace, contentment or did we experience stress, anxiety and anger?
How can we live more ‘Slowly’?
BY PRIORITISING TASKS
When we know we have a have a few selected tasks to complete in the day instead of a huge un-prioritised list, we experience a greater sense of power and control over our time and hence over our lives. This sense of empowerment in turn helps us to relax, calm down and slow our pace.
- PRACTICAL EXERCISE = FIRST THINGS FIRST: When we prioritise the tasks that we need to do, we are able to intentionally focus our energy on the things that matter. The idea is to pick out tasks which are the most important ones and/or the most fulfilling ones. All others can wait. Two great questions to ask yourself are:
Q1) Is this task an ‘absolutely must-do’ important task? (because it is a part of my commitment and responsibility to myself or to another.)
Q2) Does this task bring joy and fulfilment to my soul?
If you get a positive response to the above questions keep them high on your priority.
BY CULTIVATING MINDFULNESS AND AWARENESS
Mindfulness leads us to growth through self-awareness and personal responsibility. Once we have prioritised our work load and know what to focus on, we then consciously do one task at a time: slowly, mindfully, with awareness. When we choose to do each task with awareness, to fully immerse ourself in that experience, we naturally slow down. The idea is to become aware of not only the actions we are doing on the outside but also the feelings we are feeling on the inside. And if we move a level deeper, we can even become aware of our deepest, unconscious intentions and beliefs behind those actions.
- PRACTICAL EXERCISE #1 = SINGLE TASKING : In order to stay mindful it’s vital that we focus all our energies on just one task at a time. We may feel we are saving time by multi-tasking, but we often end up making more mistakes or producing lower quality work. And worst, we completely deny ourself the joy of that experience. So check: Q1) Am I doing multiple things at the same time? Q2) Can I focus on just one primary task right now?
- PRACTICAL EXERCISE #2 = SOLITUDE: PAUSE & INTROSPECT: As long as we rush about and refuse to pause and introspect our lives, mindfulness will evade us. Deliberately choose to pause in the day, spend some time in solitude and self-introspect. Do nothing, listen to your feelings and to talk to your soul.
THROUGH ENJOYMENT OF EACH TASK
Slow living is also about enjoyment. The more we enjoy what we do, the longer we want it to last. Hence doing it slowly and mindfully becomes very easy. If our lives are full of activities we don’t truly enjoy, we will naturally want to rush past them all and finish them as soon as we can. That is why finding joyful tasks is a very important factor while prioritisation. We absolutely need to do the important tasks whether we enjoy them or not. But when we know we also have a few tasks in our schedule, that we truly enjoy, we will slow down and enjoy them.
- PRACTICAL EXERCISE = FIND TIME DAILY, FOR SOUL JOYS : Schedule a few minutes somewhere in the day, to indulge in a task that brings joy to your soul. Let it be a reward task for the day, after all the hard work you have put in.
PILLAR #3: PEACEFUL LIVING: Living a calm and peaceful life.
Peace is probably the most sought after experience in these modern chaotic times. To be able to stay calm, to have control over one’s emotions is a vital component of soulful living. While we may have little control in creating peace outside of us, we can learn to tap into the peace within. And when we stay anchored to this inner peace, it will naturally radiate outwards in the world.
How can we live more ‘Peacefully’?
BY PRACTICING ACCEPTANCE
Peaceful living involves acceptance. To live a calm, serene life, we must cultivate the practice of acceptance. Whether it is acceptance of our self and our abilities, of our experiences or acceptance of others. The more we question why, how etc. and refuse to accept things as they are, the more resistance we put up against life. Our aim is to flow with life, not against it. Acceptance does not mean that we become passive and don’t do anything about a situation. But that in the moment, we acknowledge and accept our experience for what it is. That it is happening and is a part of our journey, good or bad. Only then can we take pro-active steps to make things better. Denial, on the other hand, ensures we stay far away from solutions.
THROUGH FAITH & SURRENDER
Developing faith in a Higher Power and learning to surrender to the Higher Will, can bring peace to a tired mind and soul like nothing else can. When we surrender to forces bigger than us, forces of Nature, the Universe, God, our Karma, we give ourselves room to breathe. To not be in constant charge of our experiences. And to relax in that moment and simply accept whatever is happening.
- PRACTICAL EXERCISE #1 = UNDERSTANDING OUR KARMA & DESTINY: Understanding karmic philosophy greatly helps us in accepting life experiences and surrendering to them. We believe we create our life by our sheer will in the moment and indeed we do. But our life also includes powerful forces of destiny. Our past karmic accounts and debts, over which we have no control, come to us unexpectedly, as people and experiences. Life indeed is a mysterious interplay of our free will and our past karma/destiny. To experience peace we must let go of control, if only for a moment, if only for that situation and simply have faith. That what is happening is accurate. And from our soul’s perspective there is a higher good in all of it. (To learn more about the secrets of Karmic Philosophy you can listen to talks by Brahmakumari Sister Shivani.)
- PRACTICAL EXERCISE #2 = MEDITATION: In order to experience peace, we need to consciously tap into the true sources of peace. Our Soul is the source of peace within us and the Almighty God is true ocean of peace. Adopt a daily mediation practice of your choice. You can give Rajyoga mediation a try, if you like.
BY PRACTICING FORGIVENESS
Another vital component of a soulful living, is the practice of forgiveness. The sooner we forgive others, the faster we free up our precious energy and can use it for constructive activities. Forgiveness requires understanding the other. Understanding their perspective of life, their journey, their pain and their capacity to deal with situations. It also needs us to take responsibility for our own pain and emotions. For our own part in the situation. And for our own past karma. The sooner we realise we are creating our own pain and may be choosing to stay in it, the easier it becomes to forgive another.
- PRACTICAL EXERCISE = FORGIVE, LIKE YOU WANT TO BE FORGIVEN: We all make mistakes. And as beings of conscience, the first thing we seek upon realising our mistake, is forgiveness. And then we combine that realisation with a commitment to learning and growing so that we don’t repeat that mistake. Be willing to offer the same grace and opportunity for growth to others. Just as easily as you would like them to offer it to you. Forgiving others is vital for of healing the self. Do it for yourself, to heal yourself, to free yourself.
Continue to read the next three pillars of soulful living – The Six Pillars of Soulful Living – Part II.
Love and Power, Richa.
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