The Art of Recovering Your Spirit in Levelling Up Your Life

Being curious, and maybe even a little unsure or sceptical as to what recovering the spirit (also known as the soul) is all about is absolutely understandable and healthy right now. For others, this idea can be triggering, as it is easier to suppress our unpleasant feelings, emotions and traumas - than it is to deal with them by feeling the pain in order to begin to transmute them. It takes some courage, bravery, and surrendering to what is in order to soften and to heal any intangible wound/s that no longer serve us.

Naturally our values, goals and priorities change as we change and evolve - even as the world changes (clearly on display in these current times). There are times where many of us take care of other people by default, and way too much in order to gain their love, attention and/or approval - even though our intended nature while we are working (whether self-employed, and/or you have a boss/manager to report to) is to be of service to others in some way, shape or form. This is no different to enjoying clingy behaviours, which is also the epitome of codependency, and that is also addictive (among trauma and other noble and lesser known addictive tendencies.)

Then again, what do I mean by spirit/the spirit for the purposes of this healing piece of work? Simply put, we are human beings that have a mind in order to think, and a body that enables us to move and to live out our mission and purpose in life.

To add even more meaning and purpose to our existence (our psyche through and through) we all have a spirit - aka: a soul.

Spirit is therefore known as our life force. It encompasses the motivations to strive for inner peace, vitality and meaning beyond the basic human body. When we feel good, we would naturally be happy in that particular moment of time; yet our life force energy is high (of which you may know as the vibrational frequency) - having a high vibration towards success, joy, happiness, and even abundance and bliss. (Kind of like nirvana, if you will.)

Therefore, when we do not feel great, our frequency towards love and gratitude, in the essence of what we want is absolutely putrid. No different to not throwing out a used banana skin for an entire week. At the same time, we are only human beings doing our best in learning the lessons that we are here to learn with the mind, body and spirit that we have been given.

We all have lost our way, our footing, grounded-ness and connection with spirit as a whole at some point in our lives. Stress. Screens. Burnout. Conflicts. Watching the news. Other (and all relevant) addictions and disconnections. Working too much, in order to put food on the table, pay the rent or mortgage, pay bills, and (with what is left over, if any) to live a decent life as possible. Betrayal. Hurt. Any form of crisis can take you away from spirit - your spirit with barely any warning.

For example, and definitely guilty as charged here...an overwhelming majority of us have applied for, accepted and worked in jobs that are not right for us - either out of fear, familiarity, or survival. This is detriment to our recovery in recovering our spirit. No different to being in a relationship that is not right, for the sake of not being alone. Scrap judgement, and usher in forgiveness.

With awareness, you can begin to transmute your pain and/or unpleasantness in recovering your spirit in order to shine; although to be clear, your life will still be plagued with problems from time to time. Problems (or should I say challenges - less overwhelming) is part of having a pulse, in order to learn the lessons that you are here to learn. And to experience what you are ultimately meant to experience. As you get stronger and more resilient - more and more challenges and setbacks will no longer phase you, or will phase you less. With recovery (recovery of the spirit) - crappy and tragic events can still happen to you; yet the aim is to keep your vibe and life force energy high if they do. Such will help you recover from such setbacks quicker, and with less friction, while you grow and become a happier person from such adversity.

Awareness comes no quicker than it does when an individual is going through an awakening of some description. Awakenings (in other words, an epiphany, no matter the intensity) can come through via manifesting and then surviving serious illness (from depression to cancer), as well as through accidents and injuries (personally speaking, left ankle fracture and surrounding ligaments, I am talking to you right now) - as well as receiving unexpected acts of kindness from others, in addition to finally (hooray) reaping what you sowed from your hard work in the past (alas, we are all working for nothing in something until it blossoms). Digital detoxes, quiet time, and extended vacations (if time, money and work permits) can also cause some levels of awakening in people, from unconsciousness to consciousness, or to expand one's consciousness to be a happier, content and more fulfilled person - which helps such an individual achieve their calling relatively quickly.

Awakenings also blossom from any form of loss - from bankruptcy, selling a home, losing a job and/or losing a loved one to name. You hit rock bottom. The dark night of the soul. It is always the darkest before the dawn. It is fair that we all need to be reminded of such profound wisdom from time to time.

On this, how can a person recover their spirit with a bit of time, but more so a bit of chutzpah of course?

Firstly, If you do not mind reading 1-2 pages from a print book a day - The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie is a fitting and appropriate read in inspiring healthy boundary setting, and letting go of people pleasing at the expense of your own health and wellbeing. This sweet book (I am not getting any kickbacks for recommending this) is your inspiration to work on kicking addictions in letting go, where you need to be ready within yourself to change for the better.

Furthermore, any other self help book is worthy of an investment in your own personal development, even though the same book will resonate with you more so than that same book does with another person. You never know if you feel good wearing a particular clothing item without trying it on. This is no different.

No matter your level of mobility right now - committing to some form of movement without causing any unnecessary physical pain is better than not moving the body at all. Gentle walking in quiet surroundings (not busy shopping malls - they can charge us all up - although they do serve a fun purpose from time to time), or gentle arm and/or other body movements if walking is a challenge for whatever reason. Any form of stretching helps. Just move mindfully and gently, and not at a frantic pace or as a form of escapism from others, yourself, and/or from your thoughts.

The above is a form of meditation, although sitting (or lying down) and listening to some soft instrumental music that resonates, and/or listening to a guided meditation is also helpful. Being mindful of your breathing (breath-work practices are gold at this) is another great way to recover your spirit. Therapy/coaching, and engaging in some volunteer work directs your attention and energy to others, and to what is really important. A change of perspective recovers the spirit.

Writing in journals is also helpful, if that resonates. Julia Cameron was onto something for all creatives with the morning pages idea from The Artists Way (again, another book recommended for artists out of pure bliss only) - and from there, you go and take your artist out on a date. Mindfulness is key. Naturally, any artist feels a bit uncomfortable on their first few dates, just like any date at first, until you feel safe and secure. Recovering the spirit is no different.

You will know within your heart when your spirit is recovered from certain traumas, addictions and/or toxicity and codependencies is when you notice that your thoughts (although still there) do not occupy as much time in your head, and you really slow down.

When it comes to managing your finances and your money - you are more careful and mindful of your spending. You may see every consumer and/or business purchase as an investment, and hence more thought goes into such purchases that minimise and could even eliminate waste. That $50 that would normally slip through your fingers without giving it a second thought has a bit more stickability to it, despite money also being a form of energy, where it needs to be circulated - in other words, movement. There is more meaning to certain parts of your life. Your sense of purpose is clear. As a by-product of such, you are naturally more motivated to achieve the goals you set out to achieve.

You build inner emotional and mental strength and resilience, which is equally as purposeful as being physically fit, if not more so in crisis situations. (Again, they will still arise when you least expect them to. That is part of being human).

With the simple things in life, if you did not make the bed on the daily before - yet you are doing so now (unless serious illness and/or injury blights that experience).

You also begin to take notice of signs and other intuitive hunches. For example, yours truly earlier today (as at the time of writing) received a strong hunch to do something so simple in creating a vacuum, that only minutes later, a butterfly was seen on my balcony window. Although simple, that felt good. Oddly enough, there is a butterfly on a book that I am currently reading at this time (again, as at the time of writing).

Finally, you feel more alive and empowered, and that is when you can really move mountains with laser focus. Introverted people by nature also feel more connected to others as a result of recovering the spirit. Each day is less of a blur (although not every day is rainbows and sunshine), and your light is not dimming, even in tough times.