What Do You Mean Your Soul Is Not Screaming At You?
The list of symptoms you might be ignoring
A couple of years ago I was having a casual conversation with an acquaintance from a co-working space I was managing. It was a niche space for creative entrepreneurs and freelancers. Safe space for those who felt they did not fit in the corporate world and were creating new job titles and making up their own professions. During the conversation, I mentioned:“ I’m just listening to what my soul is saying and, if I don’t, it screams at me”. Confused stare in my companion's eyes gave it away. It was clear we had come to the point where we had to go deep or end the conversation. We had come to the perspective clash.
Two ways
I was well aware there are two, fundamentally different ways to look at career-making decisions. But I had never really had a deep conversation where I had to explain my view.
One way is when we analyze the world, follow the trends, research the market, and come up with the product or service that has the best potential to bring home the bank.
Another one is where our whispering soul guides us where we need to go and it screams if we don't follow.
Is it just me?
So, this conversation is taking place at a time when I didn't really have the tools and knowledge to speak about authenticity. Not to mention I was ashamed to sound foolish or naive. I wanted to be taken seriously but I wasn't sure at that point if my truth was a universal truth.
This could easily be like that time when I had a severe case of hiccups and told out loud “ Don't you just hate those painful hiccups!” and learned that for the majority of people, hiccups are not painful. Turns out it's just me.
I started to put words together to try to make some sense and explain it like a rational person. It’s not as easy to rationalize screaming soul as you would think. I was dancing around and avoiding words like purpose, impulse, or soul. I tried to stick to a normal person's words to stand a chance to exit this conversation with any professional dignity left. It was pretty tough but I managed to use words like passion and skills, and even superpower to make it make sense.
I was ready to end that conversation with no real ending just to escape any more explanations of what I meant. Until I got “ Oh, yeah, actually I know the feeling.”
And it turned out it was not just me! Everyone’s soul screams. Not everyone knows that it is their soul screaming, though. Even more- only the rare one knows the symptoms of an ignored soul and does something about it.
The Symptoms
Whispers of the Soul
- Joy
When something is appealing to you it's a sure sign it is meant for you to explore. You can feel it as a rush of energy and interest to act on it. It is something that calls you, makes you feel alive and is where you can see yourself being. It is when you meet new people, visit new places, learn about new ideas or hobbies. Wherever you feel this joy.
2. Pain
The main point is that not everyone feels the pain about the same things. Someone's heart hurts for animal rights, someone is devastated because of climate change. And it's not always the Big things. It can be an annoyance about bad design, unliveable cities, unhealthy foods, etc. You are not meant to suffer about it. You are meant to feel the field and act on it.
3. Ease
Never underestimate things that come easy for you. I have met many talented people who have a belief that they have to work hard for it to count. They overlook skills that come easy for them and do something that is “harder” and therefore more important. Nothing is meant to be hard, I believe. Do the thing that comes with ease as it is your true superpower.
Screams of the Soul
I have first-hand experience with the patience of the soul. It gives us a lot of time to understand and act on our calling. It leads us like a navigation system and it patiently recalculates the route if we miss a turn. But at one point the patience of the soul ends. And then it screams.
- Anxiety
When the soul has been ignored for too long, it starts to tremble in the solar plexus. It especially trembles when you have certain thoughts your soul wants you to pay closer attention to. “I don't like this”, “ Maybe I should quit”, “I don't feel safe with these people”, “I want to get out”. It trembles and trembles before it starts to feel really heavy on the lungs. Pay attention to your thoughts and inner screams. What do you know the answer to?
2. Low energy
When you go in the wrong direction for too long, your soul starts to slow you down. You get less and less energy to continue what you are doing. At one point you just want to stay in bed. Those are often rock-bottom moments, but they are important to pay attention to the things that bring you joy. You will be drawn to those things more than ever as that is where your lost energy is.
3. Negativity
Negative thoughts and lost hope are veils of protection where you can justify ignoring your soul. Negativity builds up as a consolation of why your life sucks and you feel bad all the time. “Life is unfair”, “Dreams are for idiots” you would tell yourself. It's normal to protect yourself, but negativity will eat you alive. It has to be fought with hope and listening to your soul. It takes a leap of faith. But you can do it.
Hi!
I'm Kristine from a small city in a small land where big people with big hearts live. I'm up in the north and it is currently snowing for the first time this season. These are the most important things about me even if there is also a story about my decade-long job in branding and content marketing. I work with small entrepreneurs. I help them listen to their potential and what are the things they know, feel and do the best. It is my way of bringing the light into this world. I will be happy if you follow me and I hope to see you at my other stories on authenticity.
Love,
Kristine
