The Secret Within: Chapter 12, Nourishing the Soul

The Secret Within is a book I’m writing about the art of finding happiness and peace amidst personal difficulties. 

This is the 12th installment.  Previous installments can be found here.

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12. Nourishing the Soul

Our lives are made of matter and meaning. 

Modern life emphasizes matter, which is objective, independent, and impersonal. Matter is abundant; we fill our lives with it, but ultimately, it is discarded. 

Meaning, on the other hand, is subjective, personal, and often in short supply. It arises from our connections and the energy felt in those relationships. Soulfulness speaks to the depth of our connections. A soulful life strengthens its meaning. 

How, then, do we become more soulful? How can we nourish the soul?  

My approach follows, but first, some definitions. 

I approach soulfulness spiritually rather than religiously. I define Spirit as the dynamic energy felt in relationships. Soul is the radiant aspect of our being. Those who understand these terms in a religious context may object to my definitions. I’ll leave it to them to decide the relevance of what follows.  

A life filled with joy, meaning, and belonging is built from practices that strengthen the body, mind, and Spirit. Soul work deepens our relationships and strengthens our Spirit. 

Three factors are critical for nourishing the soul: First is a focus beyond Self. Novelist and philosopher Iris Murdock (1919-1999) called this Unselfing, which invites us to create space for reflection beyond personal concerns and agendas. 

Second, soulfulness requires resonance. Resonance is an organic connection felt when we are in tune with the essence of an experience. Resonance may be felt in many ways, such as enriching work, faith, connection with nature, or artistic expression. Resonance is the primary doorway to deeper connectivity in life. 

Finally, there is commitment. One doesn’t decide to run a marathon one day and do it the next. Running a marathon takes dedication, training, and discipline. Nourishing the soul is no different. 

When the above factors are in place, the seedbed for nourishing the soul is prepared. Below, I outline two personal approaches: The first is contemplative, while the second is experiential. 

Contemplative Nourishment

1. I begin by reading literature that broadens my context beyond the egocentric Self. I refer to such works as wisdom literature. I do this early in the morning, before dawn, when I won’t be distracted by the day’s obligations. Subject categories include philosophy, spirituality, humanistic prose, and poetry. Meaningful passages are highlighted for future reference. 

2. After reading a passage, I set the book down and create personal space to soak in what I’ve read. This is when I practice silent fitness (mindfulness). If I skip this step, the meaning derived from readings is diminished or lost. One can’t water a plant with a firehose. Moisture must be allowed to seep slowly into the soil. Silence, unpolluted by thought, accomplishes this for the soul. 

3. Afterwards, I copy highlighted passages from that day’s reading into my journal, adding any thoughts I might have. This serves two purposes. First, like studying for college exams, underlined passages help commit meaning to memory. Second, journaling creates a valuable document for future reference. I’ve kept a journal using this approach for many years. I scanned its volumes into my iPhone’s notes app. I revisit these notes often. It’s inspiring to uncover long-forgotten passages and re-experience their meaning. 

 Experiential Nourishment 

I employ this practice outdoors. It involves quietly watching nature transition from darkness to dawn or sundown to darkness. Both processes take about an hour. The practice is simple but requires discipline. We are not used to sitting still for an hour. Letting go of thought and simply witnessing a process that has transpired for millions of years brings peace to the soul. I do this at our lakeshore cabin, where I can watch the transition of colors reflect off the water and observe the behavior of wildlife. Often, a bald eagle flies across the lake just before the sun creases the horizon at dawn. At dusk, muskrats busy themselves in the shallows near the shoreline. We are part of this cycle of life. Slowing down to observe nature strengthens our affiliation and nourishes the soul. 

The more we return to drink from the deep well of life, the more our soul expands. As Spiritual connections strengthen, peace ensues, not out of an exclusivity of knowing but out of the inclusivity of being. 

This is the essence of nourishing the soul.

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Installments of The Secret Within can be found here. 

Former blog posts can be found here by subject category and here chronologically. 

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My first book, Towards A Life Well-Lived, can be purchased by clicking this link. Proceeds from sales are donated to Peace In Schools, a Portland, Oregon-based organization supporting mindfulness training in high schools.