SOUL. High ROI Spiritual Practices.

There are a number of practices that may not lower your LDL, or bring down your fasting glucose, or help you get that six-pack of abs. It’s important to recognize the practices beyond “healthful things” that cannot be measured, and that are often in the “soul” realm.

I call these “blissors” with my patients. If they can’t think of anything that connects them to something greater, brings them joy, infuses them with a sense of wonder… then that is at the top of their homework list.

Spiritual health is such a deeply personal practice. So while I won’t be here to pontificate what that could look like for you, some sort of connection to a greater sense of ourselves has been shown to improve health (and happiness) outcomes.

What feeds your soul? We are so preoccupied with what feeds our bodies (food) and our minds (media, screens) that we barely leave space for what comes in forms unseen and often, unappreciated. We spend so much time trying to preserve what we cannot take with us (our body, our possessions), we neglect what we actually can - our soul.

I’m compelled to share a passage from a book I am reading called Change Me Prayers by Tosha Silver: The Jewel-Studded Wheel (page 30).

“A dream: I’m on a boat with a large, gorgeous steering wheel studded with sapphires, amethysts and pearls. I’m gripping it tightly, trying to steer. I’m taking the job seriously, since the boat is huge and we’re navigating a tight cana. But to be honest, no matter how I spin that thing, it sure doesn’t seem to affect much.

“Eventually, a tall, elegant Japanese woman walks over and says, “Hey, didn’t anyone tell you? That wheel is just for show; it’s decoration. We all love how you’re trying to make it work, but on this boat, the steering actually happens from the back. you might as well go have some fun. Nothing you’re doing up here matters one bit.

“I burst out laughing and wake up. Still laughing.”