The soul, like the body, lives by what it feeds on. ~Josiah Gilbert Holland~
One of my closest friends, a brother in every sense of the word, is an entrepreneur. Businessman. It’s right there, emblazoned in an upward French curve, magenta-outlined-in-gold-on-deep-blue, right there on the front of his spandex superhero outfit.
Bizman
I learned early on to step carefully around him when talking about dreams, goals, aspirations, hope and excellence. He takes every one of those things seriously and never has quite figured people out who don’t.
He’s gonna love this quotation. Just as quickly as he reads it, he’ll be using it like the diminutive Yoda wielded his lightsaber. Seriously, right? Did you EVer see something move as fast as that sawed-off little dude’s lightsaber when he took on—-
What do you feed your soul?
Mmph. “Nothing” not an answer is, no.
By design or by default, you’re always feeding your soul something. You could say your soul’s a lot like an 8-year-old. Whether you intentionally feed him staple, healthy food like, say, broccoli and carrots; or ignore him and he goes, finds and eats whatever looks good like PopTarts or bubble gum – or whatever he can find – one way or the other, he’s going to eat.
soul noun \ˈsōl\
: the spiritual part of a person that is believed to give life to the body and in many religions is believed to live forever
: a person’s deeply felt moral and emotional nature
: the ability of a person to feel kindness and sympathy for others, to appreciate beauty and art, etc. – Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Think nothing of it. I knew you’d ask.
Here are a few things I believe necessary to have a healthy, thriving soul.
Isaiah 26:3-4 – People with their minds set on You (meaning God), you keep completely whole, steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit. Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing.
Luke 18:1 – “Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit.”
Galatians 6:9 – “So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit.”
Psalm 37:3-7 – Trust in the Lord and do good . . . Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him and he will help you . . . Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for him to act.”
“Okay, little heavy on the Bible stuff, there, but I take your point on the persistence thing.”
Super. Since you know I believe God has to do with all of life, I don’t differentiate. Truth is truth regardless of where you find it. All truth is God’s truth. Therefore, it all meshes no matter from whence it comes. Correct?
“Well . . .”
Let me add a little more nutrition to our soul food.
Stop finding reasons to give up. Want to quit doing something? Feel like just quitting? Yeah? Quit quitting!
It is not what we read, but what we remember that makes us learned. It is not what we intend but what we do that makes us useful. And, it is not a few faint wishes but a lifelong struggle that makes us valiant. – Henry Ward Beecher, 1813 – 1887
The greatest battle is not physical but psychological. The demons telling us to give up when we push ourselves to the limit can never be silenced for good. They must always be answered by the quiet, the steady dignity that simply refuses to give in. Courage. We all suffer. Keep going. –Graeme Fife
Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.– Og Mandino
An optimist is someone who goes after Moby Dick in a rowboat and takes the tartar sauce with him. –Zig Ziglar
Tomorrow is nothing but potential. -Justin Abell
It is the sign of a real man that he can pass the breaking point and not break. ~ G. K. Chesterton~
So, friend: with what have you been feeding your soul? The answer will indicate why you’re where you are.
If you don’t like where you are, update your menu.
Think about it. You’ll get the connection. I trust you.
D. Dean Boone, March 2015