Soul Food - What is Your Favorite?

Generally, when we hear the term, 'Soul Food,' we, think of our favorite food. 'Soul Food,' is different for different cultures. For example, Southern Soul Food includes: Honey Baked Ham, Pork Chops, Oven Baked Ribs, Chitterlings and Hog maws, Salmon Croquette Patties, Fried Chicken or Catfish, Sweet Potato Pie, Black Eyed Peas, Corn Bread. It goes without saying that many people outside the southern U.S. region enjoy this food too. However, each culture is known for its 'Soul Food.' German Soul Food includes: Bratwurst, Sourbraten, German Potato Salad (Yummy), Sausage and the list goes on.
Although, we may think these foods are food for the soul; it is in fact only food for the body and if we over indulge we add on excess weight. Food has become a substitute for real soul food. Real soul food is scheduling time to engage in spiritually fulfilling activities that replenishes our spiritual energy and emotions.
Highly nutritious 'soul food' activities include: Yoga, Ti Chi, Meditation, Visualizations, Affirmations, Being in Nature-walking, bird watching, being near water or listening to a water fall or fountain, spending time with your thoughts uninterrupted, experiencing tranquility and expanding your spiritual awareness (aka spiritual awakening).
As we have become more occupied with electronic gadgets -TV to iPhones and the Internet, we have neglected our soul and emotional needs. With the advent of each new gadget we feel pressured to make the most of our time, thus, the activities that sustain us, rejuvenate us and help us evolve are being sacrificed when we are faced with prioritizing our time.
If is important to remember that there is more to life than achieving something bigger, better, having more money and having the latest gadget or car. Your spiritual sustenance needs to occupy top priority on your 'To Do' list.
Each task you engage in and each relationship you nurture draws from your well spring of spiritual vitality. Making time to engage in spiritually fulfilling activities replenishes your well spring and readies you to face the tasks at hand. Making time for spiritual activities that contributes to your spiritual growth is a wonderful way to tell yourself and others that your needs are important and that your well-being is important. And you become the role model to teach others to do the same. Taking regular time to focus on your soul's needs ensures that you will be able to nurture yourself and those who depend on you.
It is easy to be distracted and pulled away from keeping your spiritual enrichment as a top priority as there is often little tangible evidence that it is creating a difference in your life. There are many seemingly more important pressing things that need to be done. In western society many people feel guilty if they make time to 'do nothing,' i.e. commune with nature or meditate. In eastern society it is culture norm that people will have their spiritual activities on their priority list.
To change this paradigm might be difficult, but, necessary. You will need to explain to your family that you will be 'unavailable' at a certain time of day. It may be necessary to say no to some requests or refuse to take on work that others want to give you.
It is important to schedule at least fifteen to thirty minutes each day for your spiritual needs. You will notice after three or four weeks that you feel more tranquil, have more energy and feel more in touch with yourself and others. To start you can write in a journal, meditate, study the words of wise women and men and engage in other spiritual practices.
Creating time to nurture your spirit might require you to let go of less vital activities. TV is the first less vital activity that comes to mind. If you do not watch TV now, there is no doubt an activity that if you let it go there would be little repercussion. The more time you spend on soul-nurturing activities, the happier and more relaxed you will be. The time you spend to enrich your spirit will rejuvenate you and help you create a more peaceful life. Thus, you will also notice that your relationships are more peaceful and you will have less tension in general with all relationships.