You Need To Stop Starving Your Soul, Now!

This is the ultimate decision that will actually change your life forever.

( Statue of Emptiness, by Albert György, Lake Geneva, Switzerland)

Then let mankind consider their food.

Quran, Surah 'Abasa -24

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Do you know that feeling when you’re not necessarily sad but just empty, or your mind completely full and your heart endlessly empty? Have you ever just felt too much that you’d rather feel nothing?

This is a sign that your soul is starving. Meaning your spiritual, emotional and mental health is at risk.

Now this isn’t any religious advice, we’re talking about things that everyone goes through in their daily lives: our interactions with culture.¹

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“All in all, the system works with cyclic elegance: a culture founded on mistaken beliefs regarding who and what we are creates conditions that frustrate our basic needs, breeding a populace in pain, disconnected from self, others, and meaning”²

Before you disagree with this, take a moment and consider how do you really feel when these needs are fully met? And when they’re denied?

One of the things of today’s culture is to divert people's attention from things that actually matter. Imagine what would happen if all the energy that goes into analyzing the lives of celebrities or scrutinizing sport events, was instead spent on solving the major problems of our time? ³

According to Dr.Daniel Siegel, psychiatrist and mind researcher, our sense memory, an indelible and usually unexplored imprint from childhood, a longing stored in the bodymind , is activated by present-day insecurities projected into the political ( read cultural) realm.

So we distract ourselves by seeking external validation, and run away from encountering our pain, and avoid the fact that we are a “ Man in search of meaning⁴” hoping that achieving the next milestone will fill our emptiness, but it won’t. No wonder why we feel so lost and disconnected, because we are! and it’s time to go search in depth for ourselves, our authentic self, that we lost piece by piece by consenting to wrong beliefs of our society. This isn’t “The Matrix” red pill you should take, this is a dedication, to let go of superficial obsessions and be passionate about living an authentic life, in your terms. Commit to yourself, and your vision. Stop seeing yourself as a merely individual who seeks external validation, see yourself as a unique, valuable and meaningful part of a community called : Humanity.

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How many times you followed different diets and workout routines in obsession to get that perfect body or just for the sake of embracing your health? Did you count calories, too? Did you say No to the waiter who’s offering you your favorite chocolate dessert?

But when was the last time you really thought about the effects of the music you listen? The pages you follow on social media? The news you hear or see? The books you read? Or the people you engage with the most?

I myself, didn’t care about these much until I payed the price: My peace, my authenticity. And I could never took it back if I didn’t let go of what wasn’t mine: dreams of others, plans of others, routines and habits,… it wasn’t easy to do. I had 3 devastating burnouts during last 3 year, my 20 yo identity was fighting back my authenticity. I can’t tell I have fully understood everything about me, but at least I started a journey to discover more; now I’m proud that I’m a beginner, not a dreamer. And as once a friend said: you can only become a master if you begin. Everything is better when you help others, to take a similar path together, that’s why I started writing this newsletter, to share what I learn along this journey with you.

What happens if you eat too much fast food, fructose-rich foods or drinks, and sit too much? Yes, you’ll become overweight and tired.

So, what if you read anything, listen to any kind of music, spend time with anyone, never say NO and not have clear boundaries with others?

Your mind becomes overweight.⁵ You’ll become disconnected, depressed and confused.

What you feed your body matters. But what you feed your soul matters even more.

We discussed that if you wanna build the life you want, you have to detoxify your mind and make room for real good stuff. And we went through my approach to get started. ( You can read that approach here) But how can you take that 1 step in daily life, to get there?

• Here is what I do, you can change, improve and personalize it for yourself:

  • Be aware of what you “Consume”. Ask yourself each time ( before and during reading, listening,…): “ Does this resonate with the person I wanna become? Does it help me get closer to building the life I want? Or is it just a distraction? “

    You are what you eat and read.

    - Maya Corrigan

  • Track your decisions, the process and the results. Not only is it OK to make changes as you progress but it’s necessary, be critical and curious about your decisions to stay open to new ideas while following your path.

  • Stand your ground. As Brené Brown said in her book “ Braving the Wilderness: Have a strong back, soft front and a wild heart.” Know your values, boundaries and vision, then act accordingly.

    

  • Constantly learn new things. Don’t limit yourself to what you already know. But always remember this:

    

    You need to strike a balance ( get insights on how to do that) between consuming and creating so that you don’t “fall into the lazy habit of thinking” as Albert Einstein said. So teach what you learn to others, this is the only way that you can learn and clarify your own thoughts.

1. This is inspired by the incredible book “ The Myth of Normal” by Dr.Gabor Maté.

2. The Myth of Normal, Gabor Maté, MD

3. The same.

4. A book by Viktor Frankl, Man’s search for meaning.

5. The phrase was first used by Dan Koe.