Balancing Inward Attention with Outward Action

Dear Beautiful Souls,

In the month of May, we are approaching the longest days of the year. While the extra daylight may lift our mood and make us feel energized, this can also be a time when we overextend ourselves and become exhausted. That would be true any year, but it can become overwhelming when the world is in such great need of healing. So I invite you to think of this month as an opportunity to take it easy, care for yourself, and refresh your spirit.

Achieving true happiness is a matter of balancing attention turned inward and attention turned outward. Self-care matters just as much as caring for others. In fact, as you’ll see, it is the foundation for all of our other efforts. To make a positive impact on the world, we must first nourish ourselves on every level: physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.

By going inward, we get a clearer view of the elements that make up our own well-being. True happiness and genuine effectiveness both rest on meeting the needs of the soul: to find and connect to Source, to discover our own ways of being, and to express the unique purpose of our existence.

Finding and connecting to Source frees us from struggle and fear by teaching us to surrender that which is beyond our influence. Surrendering means becoming more and more discerning of what is within our control and what is not. While it may be unsettling to think that we cannot always determine the outcomes, surrender has infinite power to soothe our anxiety. What a relief to know that it is not all up to us!

To thrive, we must also identify the situations and environments in which our soul can be its fullest self. Ways of being, for the soul, include freedom, compassion, truth, beauty, serenity, peace, and trust. Each soul comes with a signature blend of states that define its distinct essence. So well-being is in part about identifying and cultivating your intended states. For example, if your soul desires to be in contemplation, then you know that time for yourself is necessary for your well-being.

Finally, the soul longs to find ways of expressing its beauty. It is here that we become aware of our unique blend of God-given gifts and talents, our most hidden desires for ourselves and the world. We are drawn to serve and contribute by expressing the soul’s unique gifts. We discover our life purpose and prepare ourselves to fulfill the intention of our creation.

Having looked inward, it is time to pause and ask some important questions. What do you need to nurture within yourself? What do you need to let go of in order to bring yourself back to balance? It may be time to release some of your everyday commitments. But even more importantly, you can practice giving over your worries and struggles for control to the Divine.

By filling your cup from the inside, you have nourished your soul and prepared yourself to express its beauty in the world and to be in the soul’s natural states of goodness and joy. Now you’re ready to turn your attention outward.

True surrender empowers you to utilize the gift of free will to create good in the world. With the support and guidance of the Divine, you can confidently speak your truth, and you can set positive intentions and then take the steps to bring your vision into reality.

This is a time when we all need each other. Each one of us is like a single drop in a big sea. Alone we are quite small, but together we are mighty. And each drop transmits the energy to create powerful waves and currents. Your sincere actions — even the smallest ones — may go much further than you realize. Every one of us has the power to make a difference on this planet.

When the world needs so much from us, it may not feel right to focus on caring for ourselves. But it is from a place of balance, well-being, and even happiness that we make our deepest contributions to the world. So look both inward and outward. Open your heart and let your soul shine as you do the best that you can do in your family, your community, and the outside world.

Action item: What can you do to nurture yourself and bring your life into balance? What small actions can you take to speak your truth and let your soul’s beauty shine into the world? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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With love,

Originally published at www.eimanalzaabi.com on April 26, 2017.