Our souls are hungry. We may not realize just how hungry we are, but we need to start feeding it better—no more fast food drive-thru for us. No, we deserve the full-course dish with ice cream for dessert!

Too many of us are depressed, anxious, and overwhelmed, and I believe it’s because our souls are starving.

Here are seven ways to feed your soul:

1. Do something you love to do every single day. Don’t use the excuse of not having enough time. Make time.  When we deny our happiness, we essentially say we don’t deserve it. That’s nonsense! We do deserve it. Carve out the time no matter what. Ya hear?

2. Listen to yourself think. Seriously, turn off the car radio, the television, or whatever else, in a space where you can listen to your thoughts. What are they telling you? If it’s a bunch of complaints and negativity, change them into thinking about something you are grateful for.

 

3. Be around nature. It doesn’t have to be a walk in the woods. You can sit among house plants and feel their calming energy. Look at a tree and notice all the branches and how it grows. Take your focus off of you and enjoy something else that’s growing.

4. Find your sense of style. Whether it’s a duvet cover on your bed or a pair of jeans, choose something that reflects what you like and what makes you happy to see it or wear it. Yes, when we live with others, we must incorporate their tastes and wants but come to a fair compromise. Don’t let your voice be weakened to make someone else happy.

5. Look at yourself in the mirror at least once every day and smile. See your younger self in your eyes and say hi. Get comfortable with who you see and love it. We’ve only got one body and one life; worrying about what you see doesn’t help feed your soul. Embrace what’s reflected in the mirror and love it like you do your partner, child, pet, family, or whoever else that lights up your life.

6. Believe in your dreams and find a way to make them real. Your soul wants you to be whole and happy. When we do what we desire to do, our soul sings. Let the music of your life play on and on.

7.Put yourself first. I don’t mean selfishly. When you’re happy, everyone around you is happy too. I heard the musical artist Camila Cabello say that when a performer is having a good time, the audience has a good time, too.  That’s what I’m referring to. Do what makes you happy and get into a good place to share all the good you have with others. Others deserve to see you happy. And in turn, they’ll feel better about making themselves happy.

“Happiness is contagious. Spread it around.”  

– Jussme

Thank you for spending your time reading this. Again, I hope I’ve given you some food for thought or, in this case, food to feed your soul.

 

To Your Soul,

Francesca