A Guide to Finding the Hidden Treasures of Self-Appreciation: Loving your soul, Loving Your Mind and Loving Your Body.
Loving your soul goes hand in hand with nourishing it. In this fast-paced world obsessed with outward achievement and money, we have to put time aside to look within ourselves and take care of our souls. Self-Love is loving every part of you.
Meditation, prayer, and connecting with nature are all vital ways to loving and nourishing your soul. Here are a few ways that you can practice loving your soul:
Meditation
Meditation is one of the most powerful weapons you have when it comes to nourishing your soul. Why? Because it forces you to disconnect from the toxicity of everyday life and spend time with yourself.
During this time, you can reflect, calm yourself, and enjoy the solitude it offers. It is a common misconception that you must silence your mind during meditation.
On the contrary, you should allow your mind to have thoughts, but let those thoughts pass by as you focus on your breathing and remaining centered. There are many guided meditations available online that you can sign up for or access at no cost.
Not into meditating? Find an outlet that allows you to embrace some distraction-free “me time”. A spa day, a run, journaling, and other activities can allow you to center yourself and connect more with your soul.
Prayer: Connecting to a Higher Power
Prayer and meditation share many similarities, but prayer assumes that you are communicating with a higher power. With 84% of Earth’s population claiming to subscribe to at least one religion, there is potential for a lot of prayers to be made!
When you are praying, you acknowledge that there is something bigger than you, and the humility that comes with that can be a big stress reliever. In essence, you are taking the pressure off yourself and placing it in the hands of the higher power.
A common saying for this is, “Let go and Let God”. Prayer is also a communal practice that can provide access to support from other individuals whose souls can nourish yours and vice versa.
Being in Nature
They don’t call her “Mother Earth” for nothing. Head to the closest park, lake, beach, mountain, or field and take some time to relax.
A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that taking 20 minutes per day to stroll or sit in a place that makes you feel connected to nature can lower the production of stress-related hormones.
They classified this time as “taking a nature-pill”, and there is no prescription required! So, go out there and smell the roses; you’ll be glad you did.
Loving your soul means nourishing your soul. Taking the time to meditate, connecting with a high power through prayer, and turning to mother nature are all ways you can get on a journey to giving your soul the love and nourishment it needs.
Connect with like-minded people who are also on the journey of self-improvement and self-love. Enjoy the journey, and love your soul.
KQH Mental Health Counseling is a private practice that provides psychotherapy to individuals, couples, and families. To learn more about our services or book a consultation, be sure to visit our website.