Heidi Straube, M.Ed., LPC…

The holidays are over, 2006 has passed, and the New Year has begun. And as you start the year, you remember all of the things you've been putting off but still intend to do.  

Your tendency now is to jump in, ramp up that energy, and tackle what has been lacking.

But is this the best way to start the year?

Let's look at how you've been treating yourself. You've been running fast through the holidays, rising to the occasion, pushing yourself just a little harder to do something special….you did it!…and now when it's over, instead of taking a break, resting , and reflecting….you're jumping back up and running again.

It's a never ending cycle, eventually exhausting.  Is this how you really want to continue living your life?    

I'd like to propose a new priority this year, a different kind of New Year's resolution.

It may be exactly opposite from what you "think" you should do right now. But trust me; it can change your life. Here's the new resolution:

Slow Down. Relax. And Listen to Your Soul.

It's time to slow down, honor yourself and listen to what you really need. This is the perfect time to relax, claim your life, and reflect on what that means. Then, more clear and rested, you can start the new chapter of your life.

What am I calling the Soul? Of course there are many interpretations of the word, but I imagine it as the energetic piece of us that holds our Truth. It's the part of us that really knows what is needed and has the capacity to lead us to the highest calling in our lives.

The soul doesn't belong to any specific religion. It's personal, our own connection with the Divine, Intuition, or Knowing. If we listen, it will always point us in the direction that we know is how we truly want to be.

Think about the word "Soulful". What does it bring to mind? I have visions of people dancing, happy, full of life, and in touch with their greatest possibilities. Or I imagine a person with deep, deep love, bottomless compassion, and a vast understanding of the wonder and beauty of life. Whatever your version of "soulful;" it's usually quite appealing.

With such wonderful associations, you'd think it would be natural to put Soul connection as a top priority. Why, then, might you find it difficult to take even 5 minutes a day to slow down and listen?

Here are some thoughts and solutions to help you put soul listening as your top New Year's resolution:

1.     Barrier: In today's world, you receive far more support for your outer actions than your inner reflections.

Plain and simple, you'll get a whole lot more attention from people if you tell them, "I just made $5,000 today" or "I completed the project this afternoon" than if you say, "I just finished talking to my soul." Unfortunately, taking time to go within, becoming clear on who we are, and finding best action are not highly supported in this go go world. But the benefit is clear: the more you take time to reflect and be congruent with who you really are, the more you'll find yourself being clear, confident, and attracting best results.

The greatest leaders of the world did not accomplish what they did by continually going and going. They also spent quiet time reflecting, assessing, and considering "right action."

Solution: Honor your life choices as being just as important as world decisions. Balance the time you spend "doing" with time spent listening inside.

2.     Barrier: Listening to your soul may bring you thoughts you don't really want to hear.

While getting in touch with your soul sounds like a lovely, blissful experience, sometimes it will lead you to places you've been trying to avoid. You may, for example, know that your relationship is in trouble. You've been putting it off, but your soul says it's time to talk. You're scared and afraid of painful results…now you wish you had never slowed down and listened!

What kind of pain do you prefer? The long, drawn out kind which never stops, or the shorter, intense kind that has better things come afterward? Listening to your soul and acting on its guidance may cause disruption in your life, but it also brings a relief and opportunity for good that is blocked when you hold onto the old things that aren't working.

Solution: Remind yourself that the most spiritual thing you can do in life is to truly be all that you are. If you live your full potential, you will naturally be taking right action, and serving others.  Whether in career, marriage, or lifestyle, if you stay true to your soul, you will open the way for new, positive possibilities that are currently beyond your imagination.  

3.     Barrier: You may not be listening because you don't know how.

It's hard to hear inner guidance if you don't know how to do it. Has anyone ever taught you how to listen to your soul?

Start by noticing how your body feels when you're making a decision. Have you noticed how relaxed it feels when the decision is "right", and how tense you feel when you know you're not really behind what you've acted on? That's your soul talking through your body. It also talks to you through prayer and meditation.

Solution: Trust the signals of your body, and act on them more often. Pay attention to and use your intuition. Find a teacher, healer, or meditation class where you can explore soul listening more deeply. Honor your need for this skill just as much as your need for food on the table, and a roof over your head.

The ancient shamans believed that when a person was stressed, unhappy, or ill, it was because their soul was lost. The shaman's task was to go find the soul, and return it to the body.

I believe that your soul is probably not lost, but is more likely neglected and wandering because of your busy life. If you're willing to slow down and take time to listen, your soul will speak, guide you, and help you live the way you really want to live.

Slow down, relax, and listen. May 2007 be your most "soulful" year ever.

Heidi Straube, M.Ed., LPC has been helping people for over 20 years to live the lives they yearn for. A licensed psychotherapist, contemporary shaman, and healer, she gives "Soul Whispers" readings, sessions of relaxation, inspiration, and counseling to help people to slow down, listen, and be guided in career, relationships, and lifestyle choices. Call 713.521.1676 for appointments, visit  http://www.heidistraube.com/,  and register for her free teleseminar, "Have You Listened to Your Soul Lately? How to Hear the Whispers of your Soul and Guide your Life", January 17, 2007, from 7-8 PM CT.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007 at 11:32 pm and is filed under Inspiration. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site. Your comments will appear immediately, but I reserve the right to delete innapropriate comments.