Soul Refreshing

Soul is the life-spring within me from which I drink when I am thirsty. It is always willing to entertain another point of view, to take a fresh look, to forgive and try again. It is that bubbly, ebullient part of me that comes back for more, that recovers, that wakes into another morning with new energy. It is my soul that wishes to see meaning and beauty in my daily life. When I let myself feel and know that meaning, I am getting to know my own soul.

Soul is the spring from which I drink.

I couldn't hit a wall with a six-gun, but I can twirl one. It looks good.--John Wayne

Many of us fake emotions because our past experiences never taught us how to use boundaries when dealing with feelings. Now we are oftentimes stumped when it comes to knowing how we should feel or act when we are faced with emotional situations.
Sometimes we need to learn to "fake it till we make it." What is asked of us is to act the part until the part becomes us.
We may not know how to feel anticipation around holidays - but we want to experience joy. We may not know what it feels like to really trust someone, but we would love to be in that position. What we can learn to do is "act as if" - working all the time to liberate the frozen emotions of years gone by - until we actually do experience what we seek.

Like new shoes, my new behaviors and feelings will feel stiff and uncomfortable for a little while. I am willing to live through the "breaking in" period.

Acts of Kindness

Small acts of kindness allow me to touch souls with another person - to
reach out over the great divide and brush for a moment the hand and heart of
another. An act of kindness is never wasted. It benefits the giver as much
or more than the receiver. Anyone who gives with the heart strengthens that
muscle within themselves; it is the aerobic training of the spirit. I will
not expect soul to just enter my life by chance. I will prepare myself,
clean the vehicle that is me, resolve conflicts that tie my mind up and
drain my energy. When I am less self-centered, I am able to take the
person-hood of another into consideration.

I enjoy being kind for kindness' sake.

Repositioning my Self

I will be willing to reposition myself today. When I lock myself into protective, defensive or aggressive poses, I am making any negotiating impossible. Being stubborn and clinging to my rigid position can be both dangerous and foolish. I can take another look.
I am willing to move and be moved.

Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing of the bridge reported, "Light, bearing on the starboard bow."
"Is it steady or moving astern?" the captain called out.
Lookout replied, "Steady, captain." which meant we
were on a dangerous collision course with that ship. The captain then called to the signalman, "Signal that
ship: We are on a collision course, advise you change
course 20 degrees." Back came a signal, "Advisable for
you to change course 20 degrees." The captain said,
"Send, I'm a captain, change course 20 degrees." "I'm a
seaman second class," came the reply. "You had better
change course 20 degrees. " By that time, the captain was furious. He spat out,
"Send, I'm a battleship. Change course 20 degrees."
Back came the flashing light, "I'm a lighthouse."
We changed course.

by Frank Koch from 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven J. Corey

I see soul in nature.

Like two cathedral towers these stately pines
Uplift their fretted summits tipped with cones;
The arch beneath them is not built with stones,
Not Art but Nature traced those lovely lines.
And carved this graceful arabesque of vines;
Listen! the choir is singing; all the birds,
In leafy galleries beneath the eaves,
Are singing! listen, ere the sound be fled.
And learn there may be worship without words.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow