Tips For A Better Life

Although we talk a lot about balance, most people leave out the concept of the soul, mostly because it's not very well understood by Westerns. I submit that what moves your soul is also what causes you to feel the type of energy that can only be described as passionate.

That doesn't mean sexual passion, that means spiritual passion and the best example I know of is listening to Southern Baptist gospel music. That's what does it for me, anyway. This type of music lifts me up and reminds me that there is a much bigger world out there than the daily happenings in mine, so I ask you again, what makes you passionate? Here are five tips to help you decide:

1. Future goals are supposed to inspire passion, are yours worthy of your mind, body, and spirit? Please don't tell me they have to do with money, which is great, if that's what you're into, but the process of attaining these goals should be what causes the passion, because what makes the goal so much sweeter was the journey that went with achieving it. Try picking a goal like exploring three new forms of spirituality this season, instead.
2. Remember your accomplishments, one of the best ways to nurture your body, mind, and spirit is to remember how much good you do, not get down on yourself for every little mistake. The fastest way to crush your soul is to constantly tell yourself that you screwed up, that you're no good. The soul and mind will eventually believe you, and your body will follow by becoming sick.
3. Create happiness scenes. This is a form of meditation where you practice taking your mind to a safe and happy place that you either create or plan to go to someday. When stress rears its ugly head, go to your safe place for a minute. (Yes, this tip is made fun of in the movies all the time, but it works, it really does.)
4. Look forward to something, plan to get away. Nothing seems to nurture the body, mind, and soul better than physically leaving and finding a new place to explore, even if it's for the weekend. Plan a weekend trip and get away to the mountains or the beach, whichever direction your heart takes you. Now here's the best part-go alone. When was the last time you spent sometime away with no one else but you? This can be very relaxing; you don't have to worry about entertaining anyone else but you.
5. Practice affirmations, find a stress reliever and practice it. We talked a little about this in number 2, but pick three affirmations and say them out loud to your self in the mirror every day. This has been proven to work! If you tell yourself something about yourself enough times, you will make it true. It seems so easy for people to believe that when it comes to saying negative things to our selves, why is it so hard to believe that it works the other way, too? Three simple affirmations to get you started are:

"I am always safe and secure."

"The universe provides everything I need."

"My income is ever increasing."