Episode 94 - Your Soul Needs Nourishment Just Like Your Body Does

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Time moves differently as we age. What once crawled now flies – you blink on Sunday and suddenly it's Friday again. This acceleration directly correlates with our increasing responsibilities and commitments, creating a paradoxical challenge: the busier we become, the more we need spiritual anchoring, yet the less time we seem to have for it.

The Sabbath serves as this spiritual anchor, providing sustenance that powers the entire week. But waiting exclusively for this day of rest misses a profound truth – our souls require daily nourishment just as our bodies do. However, while our stomachs growl and our heads ache when physically hungry, our souls deteriorate silently when spiritually malnourished. Using the metaphor of chickens versus hens, we explore how the body loudly demands attention while the soul quietly suffers, eventually manifesting symptoms like anxiety, depression, and negative character traits that we rarely connect to spiritual hunger.

More concerning still is the development of "klipot" – spiritual shells or barriers that form around souls long-deprived of Torah and godliness. These shells make reconnection progressively more difficult, causing discomfort when exposed to spiritual teachings and driving us back to familiar but spiritually empty comforts. Daily spiritual practice prevents these barriers from forming, keeping our connection to wisdom open and accessible.

We also delve into finding the right livelihood by examining our natural inclinations and abilities. Just as animals are perfectly adapted for their ecological roles – the heron with its specialized fishing beak, the cat with its mouse-catching instinct – humans function best when aligned with their innate strengths. Yet turning passion into profession carries an unexpected risk: obligation can diminish joy when what we love becomes what we must do according to others' standards. Finding balance between alignment with natural talents and maintaining proper expectations about work's primary purpose – sustenance rather than enjoyment – creates the foundation for both material and spiritual flourishing.

How are you nourishing your soul today? Take a moment to reflect on your daily spiritual practice and consider whether your work aligns with your natural strengths and abilities.

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