How to Feel Your Soul in Life, Even at Work

How to Feel Your Soul in Life, Even at Work

Wouldn’t it be nice to feel your soul as you live your life?  Is it possible to be soulfully connected every day? Do you even know what it feels like to ‘feel your soul’?

While language is key to clarifying your life experience with yourself and sharing it with others, some things are simply hard to explain. Soul is one of these complex concepts.  And yet, there still exists a thin veil of common understanding.

Where words alone may fail, the definition of soul becomes clearer when you give it life through emotional context. To feel your soul, to feel soulful, to feel soulfulness brings the idea of soul to life. It now becomes more than a word, but an experience. 

And why does any of this matter.  Some would say it doesn’t.  Life is just life.  But those who know the richness that comes with living with a soul connection, they would say it is the thing that matters most! 

When your life possesses soul it makes life worth living.  There is a powerful and substantial connection with purpose, experience, emotion, and synchronicity that transcends anything else.

The pursuit of life with soul is a pursuit that transcends happiness.  It is a complete alignment with you and all that is.  And you can experience these soulful moments at any point or part of your life, including at work.

The Definition of Soul

There are many definitions of soul.  And there are many reasons why this is. More than religion and dogma, the idea of the soul represents an intangible experience that cannot be singularly defined. It is intimate and personal and in many ways identified only by the person who has the experience.

For this reason, if asked, we each likely will give a different interpretation. However, despite this, there is a means to come together in like-mindedness on the experience.

Soul is defined by what we sense and feel.  It is the experience of being, doing, receiving, or emoting while at the same time ascending to different levels of euphoria. It could be said that soul is the expression of our spiritual connection with life. 

Transcending logic and practical understanding, when we sense our soul connection, we use our intuitive senses, our interconnectedness with energy; we describe a blissful, almost dream-like state.

Many would consider this a Divine power and one that each of us possesses if we choose to honor the connection.

Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul.

Democritus

What is the Difference Between Soul and Spirit?

The words spirit and soul are often used interchangeably.  And this could be because of their implied intangible nature and the idea that it involves a state that expands awareness beyond the five senses.

But for the purpose of this discussion, soul and spirit are not one in the same.  Spirit will act as that indescribable breath of life that exists so long as your body has breath.  It is also that which escapes your physical body thereby transitioning your existence from life to death.

Alternatively, soul is not the essence of life, but the transcended expression of life through the body.  Your spirit is life in all of its expression, the soul of you is your life in its highest expression only.  Soul could be called your God-like state of connection with all that is and your physical expression joyfully intertwined. 

In this distinction between spirit and soul, you have a spirit that resides within the body and the soul that is the expression of this connection through emotion.  

How Do You Know When You Feel Your Soul?

The journey of life is filled with opportunity to connect at a soul-level.  It is here where the process becomes personal and intimate.  Human beings can find their soul connection through similar channels:

Seeing the sunset

Breathing in fresh air on the beach

Witnessing a child’s birth

Connecting with the rhythm of music

But you can also find your soul connection with an experience that is all your own:

When meditating

In creating your own poetry

Sensing your muscle movement when running through the park

Being inspired while performing your work or craft

You define soul when you are in pure contentment, blissful and inspired movement, being in flow.  It is your interpretation of your life experience and your allowance of being present with your emotions that permits the opportunity for soulful exploration.  You get to decide if you feel it and you get to decide what experience brings soulfulness to you. 

Simply being open to the experience and willing or wanting it creates the opportunity. 

Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.

NAPOLEON HILL

Does Everyone Experience a Soul Connection?

Just as much as it is possible to feel your soul, it is also possible to willfully deny this soul connection.

To be closed to the possibility of feeling heightened levels of joy in life closes the door to feeling your soul.  Feeling your soul is not meant to be akin to a drug-induced state or a sensation that is forced upon your consciousness.  Instead, it is a natural and unencumbered reaction to your engagement with life and your thoughts, actions, and emotions. 

You take in your world and as a result your world gives you joy.  Only you can say what part of the world brings out the soul of you. Until you find what sparks the soul connection for you, it may feel as if you are living in absence of your soul.

Everyday Feeling of Your Soul

There is a reason why there is soul food.  Or that you may say something touches your soul.  You can claim someone as your soulmate.  And feel a sense of belonging with others at the soul level.

It is the deep resonance with your internal knowing of self, the external stimulation of the world around, and a significant emotional connection that defines the feeling of soul.

The soul expression is a deeper and more vibrant emotion than all others.

Feeling Your Soul at Work

The experiences that can cause you to personally transcend and your soul to come alive can happen anywhere including work.

You can find your soul at work when you are being creative.  It can be sparked through artwork, design, new ideas, and bold innovation. You can discover your soul through other people, in meaningful and compassionate interactions, and even through share of your knowledge.

The soul can be ignited when you present, draw out emotions when connecting with others like excitement and motivation, or allow yourself to be the source of another’s inspiration. Your job can become a wonderful playground of different experiences that create a soulful exchange with others or soulful experiences for yourself.  

Be Intentional with Invoking Soulfulness at Work

Your job can permit you many opportunities for self-expression and for personal development, all of which are means to bring soulfulness to what you do.

The Job Search

Be cognizant of what calls to you as the right place for you.  What is the culture?  Does your department represent your tribe? Will you be side-by-side with like-minded people with a similar passion for your work?  Will you have the freedom to explore your passions at work?  Make it a priority to seek the space that helps you flourish and be at your best and watch your soul come alive!

The Work

Know your talents.  Feel connected with your skills.  You alone are the combination of personality, actions, ideas, and energy that makeup who you are and how you work.  Let every part of you express itself in what you do.  As you establish your rhythm and build your expertise, you can find yourself moving effortlessly and harmoniously with everything around you.  Your soul’s connection can be ignited through this seamless movement.

The Work Environment and Atmosphere

The energy that you surround yourself with is what you become.  Whether like-minded or not, do you share a good-natured temperament?  Is your work environment optimistic, planful, super-charged, or blissfully chill?  Do you find yourself with an internal sense of peace, contentment, calm, or synergy in your workspace?  Do you feel as if you are a member of a team, even feel almost like family?  When you feel that your seed has been planted in an environment that nurtures you every day as you provide your contribution to the whole, your soul’s expression may rise to the surface.

You don’t have to find your soul at work but there is nothing that limits you from finding it there. And when you search for it you will find a field of opportunity to spark your soul connection that you can enjoy while you work.

Should You Use ‘Soul’ Language at Work?

As stated, using the term soul can have a different meaning for different people.  The term is not wrong to use but it may be misinterpreted. 

That said, to know and then share your thoughts, desires, and needs with others is part of your authenticity.  When you can clarify to others where you thrive and what type of environment brings out your best, you are honoring your soul’s expression.  You are also offering the best of you to your employer which is what any employer would want to receive. 

Always remember the true intention of all communication is to share your thoughts with another person, not simply to talk at another person.  Using terms that are universally understood will likely make the conversation and the intended outcome that much easier. So use soul language if you find those who resonate with it; if not, then use other terms that will translate better.

Also remember that the journey to learn and connect with your soul’s expression is a personal one.  It does not have to be one that is shared.  You alone will identify what is most meaningful to you and only you can sense your emotions fully when you have the experience.

Be discerning and selective with who you choose to share your soul’s expression and experience.  Honor your soul by honoring yourself and preserving the most special parts of you in the quiet of your own mind.

Conclusion

The soul of you is the means by which you express the connection that exists between the parts of the world that stimulate you and your thoughts and emotions. There is no limitation to what can stimulate the feeling of synchronicity and joyfulness that comes from the soul.  And it can exist anywhere including in your work.

Be authentic and willing to express yourself genuinely and fully.  Take on new experiences or find new ways to enjoy past experiences with new eyes and renewed interest. 

Explore your work environment with the expectation that your soul can be ignited by what you find around you and in what you do. And feel comfort that your opportunity for soul connection is limitless at work and anywhere else your journey takes you.  

Do you know what makes your soul sing? Have you stumbled into a blissful moment? Do you have a soul connection with the work that you do? Share your story in the comments below and ignite the soul’s expression in someone else.

How to Be Social at Work

How to Be Social at Work

Being social at work can feel impossible when you are naturally an introverted person. 

It is even harder when the culture in many work environments is to highly praise, reward, and promote the most interactive and engaging people. 

If you are a quieter personality, does that mean that you are not a team player?  Or, if you are uncomfortable with conflict, does that mean that you can’t earn a promotion?

When making the choice of whether or not to be social the impact can be bigger than you. It plays a part on you and everyone you work with.

And once you are sold on trying, where do you begin?

The path to becoming more social starts with you.  You decide what’s right for you and what is purposeful.  Even if it is not comfortable.

Own where you are and decide where you would like to be.  And if your goal is to be social, or at least to attempt to be a little more sociable, you can.  And you will.

What Does It Feel Like to Be Social?

Being social is hard.  For those who don’t feel the struggle of connecting with people, it may not be easy to understand.

Somewhere inside it feels as if everything that you would do or say does not fit in the book of “how it should be done”.

Eye contact is wrong.  Words said are wrong.  The way you stand is wrong.  If you even think of a way to enter a conversation, you definitely are coming up with the wrong idea.

And when all you see is the wrong path, you cannot find a right one.

Also, let’s be clear. The idea of taking a leap of faith and just be more social sounds and feels terrible.

No one wants to feel as if others will judge them in their wrongness.  Or to wonder if someone really thinks they are weird behind the smile meant to mean that everything is okay.

Bottomline you can feel awkward when you try to be social. And when you try to fit in, the problem can feel like it can’t be fixed.

Where do you begin to be social? And should you even bother to try?

First, Is It Actually Important to Be Social?

The short and potentially unsatisfying answer is that it is up to you.  

While there are many points of view and study that indicate the benefits of socialization and being social, it is not a requirement of life.

However, there is evidence of how it may enhance life. 

Through interaction with others you can gain insight to yourself, an increased opportunity to learn new things, and access to resources and even affection. 

In absence of connection with others, the reverse can be true.  You can be disconnected from social norms, have reduced access to learn, and feel more isolated and lonely.

However, neither the presumed positives nor negatives are guaranteed and very much depend upon to what degree you are exposed to or restricted from others.   

So Why Do YOU Think Being Social is Important?

Being social is important if you deem it important to you.

If you are anti-social but at the same time looking for ways to be social, you likely are not completely happy with your current state.

When you are less social, it may be harder to interact with people at work. Being anti-social results in increased anxiety, having access to less information, or being less productive, for some people.

Many work environments lean on their employees communicating with each other as a form of on-the-job training, establishing communication systems, or increasing productivity and problem-solving.

Therefore, when you don’t talk or connect with others, your job may not get done to its full potential.

Another perspective is when you are not social, others do not know how to connect with you.

When others attempt to connect and you engage very minimally or inconsistently, co-workers may seek alternative sources when possible. 

Work can be demanding enough not to have to pull information from someone who would rather not speak.

Also, extroverted people tend to gain the favor of others more often that those who are introverted.

An outgoing personality can be deemed as charming, charismatic, or simply fun.

Alternatively, introverted people can inadvertently come off as standoffish, unapproachable, or unfriendly.  This image can give others the indication that your presence is more of a burden than an asset.

The problem with these misinterpretations is that they can lead to missed opportunities.

Introverted people at times can have fewer opportunities for promotions, special projects, or presented interface with higher-level leadership.

It’s just harder to sell the attributes of a person who is not willing to engage or show themselves.

For these reasons, it can be important to be social.  Even if acquiring the skill for use only on certain occasions, the dividends can be worth the struggle.

What Is Your Brand of Anti-Social?

Every person is not anti-social in the same way. 

Some people can talk up a storm with their family, but become quiet as a mouse at work.

Others can speak well in front of a crowd of strangers but clam up in a one-on-one conversation.

Still, others can feel physically ill at a networking event but can be comfortable in a meeting with a new client.

Being social can be no problem one day and become a crisis the next.

For this reason, it is important to know what exactly takes you out of your comfort zone when you attempt to be social.

Alternatively, knowing what puts you in your comfort zone is good.

You may be more comfortable with your team because you work with them often, are accustomed to their personalities, and feel that they know you well.

This can let you know that familiarity versus unfamiliarity is a place of comfort for you in social situations.

Also, when you script or plan things, particularly with work assignments, it may feel better to you.

For example, you may be fine to deliver a presentation because you have an outline readied and prepared in advance.

However, you may be highly uncomfortable if a higher-up walks to your desk for an impromptu status report on your project.

This lets you know that having more control and predictability can increase your comfort.

Knowing what situations trigger you to be more or less social can give you a blueprint of your path toward being more sociable.

How to Use Your Comfort Zones to Be More Social

Your comfort zones function as a solid base to attempt more exposure to being social. 

Rather than jumping into high anxiety situations to combat being anti-social, ease into new social situations.  This will be less anxiety-producing and likely more sustainable.

Here are a few softer approaches to give being social a real try:

Stay in your comfortable space, but try something new. 

If your office space is a safe haven for you, try to stay in it when handling a new social situation. 

For example, ask a co-worker that you need to speak with to visit your desk when free.  Or, attempt a Zoom meeting instead of a live face-to-face discussion.

Be open to starting conversations with new team members, if only to say your name and what you do within the department. 

If you are asked a question, instead of giving a short 3-word answer, be more detailed.  Or simply ask a follow-up question to ensure understanding. 

Either of these could lead to lengthening the interaction and sharpening your conversation skills at the same time.

Partner up with close colleagues when trying new things. 

You may already have a strong relationship with a co-worker or two in the office. 

If you need to hold a meeting with members of another department, have your friend stay in the room.  Even if they are just a silent partner, their presence may give you the confidence to facilitate the meeting well.  

Talk to your co-workers about their social anxieties and learn how they overcome them.  You may learn new methods you have not thought of before.  

Extend yourself to friends of your co-workers.  Tag along on your co-workers’ lunches, meetings, or other engagements with the intention of meeting new people and speaking with them. 

Having a partner to deflect to when you get increasingly anxious or run out of conversation can take the pressure off of handling these situations alone.

Do research in advance of new situations. 

Attending a business networking event? Know the guest list and then learn about your guests. 

What department or business are they in?  What new launches or projects might be happening in their area of expertise? 

What are the current events in their industry? 

Now that you are familiar, you will have a conversation starting point should you be approached or if you feel bold enough to approach them. 

This method is gold for those who rely on planning to gain comfort.  Study before engagement and feel prepared for the “being more social” test.

Be in the best mood possible before you engage 

Bad nerves are bad no matter what your status may be.  But they tend to be amplified if you are already in a bad mood. 

In advance of a pending tension-producing social situation try to relax yourself with good vibes. 

Eat food you enjoy. 

Listen to music that lifts you. 

Talk to friends and family not about your tension, but about the potential positive aspects of your pending event. 

Smile.

Focusing your attention on more positive things versus agonizing over your soon-to-come social interaction can take the sting out of the event. 

You also may loosen your posture, facial expression, and tone of voice through these exercises. 

This may lead you to appear less tense, more approachable, and even to look like a more social person than you really are.

A good mood can go a long way to creating a great social interaction.

Conclusion

Whether or not to be social is completely our own decision.  However, we have to acknowledge that it will impact how we are perceived in the world and certainly at work.

Being more outgoing does not guarantee you a better job or more money, but can have impact.  If others do not know you or find it hard to interact with you, it likely is also hard to determine your true value.

Challenge yourself to be social but don’t feel that you have to stretch way out of your comfort zone to do so.

Take small steps and lean on friends and co-workers if you need to.  Above all try to stay calm, be optimistic, and focus on what you would like to gain if successful.

Each of us possesses our own anxieties but also possesses our own gifts and attributes.  Learn to be comfortable to share yourself more and to be social.  As a result others will learn the real you.

You will gain more and suffer less in the long run and overall know that the challenge was worth it.

Do you have a social anxiety different than the ones reviewed in this post?  How do you deal with it?  Or do you deal with it at all?? Share your experience in the Comments below.

Looking for more ways to reduce anxiety and increase your balance in your workspace.  Read our posts on 3 Ways to Change Your Work Life for the Better NOW and How to Create Your At-Work Sanctuary.