Often we as
human beings get so caught up in the rush of the “rat race” that
we often neglect the core of our being, la alma (the
soul). Now it is important for me to state from the onset that I
do not plan to make this a piece on religion. All people have
their own respective views on religion, as do I, and I respect
each person’s right to believe what they choose to. I feel that
if it works for you and helps you be your best, then you should
embrace it. Beyond that, I may make some references to various
ideologies but I am not condoning or promoting any specific
religion.
Why is it
important?
If you turn on
the news, read the newspaper, or get your news online, there is a
general theme that emerges about much of the coverage—it’s
negative.
As I have
stated before, I am a realist and I know the world in which we
live can be a cruel and often unfair place, but I also believe
that whatever energy (positive or negative) that you convey will
eventually come back to you.
The problem
that I perceive is with much of the media focus being negative, it
breeds more negativity. Essentially, my message is that while
there are bad things happening in the world, there are also a lot
of good things; however, in many media outlets it is often
portrayed as all bad.
The reason I
am bringing this to light is because if the majority of the
stimuli that a person absorbs is negative, it can truly affect
their inner soul. You may not think this is the case with you, and
some people are without a doubt affected more than others. The
truth is the fact that some people are affected more than others
and is a large part of what I am attempting to expose as part of
the problem. Many people are apathetic towards the suffering of
others, meaning they simply don’t care. I believe that if people
cared about others just a little more, then the world would be a
better place.
Fight back
The effects of
so much negativity can weigh heavily on a soul and there are some
things you can do to fight back and heal yourself.
There are a
number of great books that you can read about living a life of
positivity. My favorite is The Four Agreements by Don
Miguel Ruiz. It is small book and a very easy read. The book
discusses four elements in your life that if you align them you
can achieve balance and more importantly eliminate or at least
lessen the negative factors in your life. The focus of the
teachings is based on Tolteca wisdom.
Los toltecas
were indigenous peoples of México who the aztecas claimed
to be descendants of.
I first heard
of the book when mi padre presented it to me as a gift when
I graduated from college. It is great because you can read it
over and over and highlight which of the teachings are most
beneficial to you. There are of course numerous other books that
may help you; I know the Chicken Noodle Soup for the Soul
series has a book specifically focused on the teenage soul. I
would suggest that you explore on your own. The best place would
be the self-help section of any bookstore.
Give back
If you are not much of a reader then hope is not lost. You can do
any number of things that can be very effective tools in nurturing
your soul. I have written previously about the benefits of giving
to others. I know that for me personally, when I volunteer or
just commit a random act of kindness I get that feeling inside of
me that I can’t get from anything else.
In my mind
that is medicine for my soul. Of course, I am no saint and the
goal is not to achieve saintly status; rather it should be to feel
good at your core. The more hurt and negativity that you do in
the world, the more damage you do to that core. To the contrary,
the more good and positivity you radiate, the more nurturing you
provide to that core.
Whatever you
do does not have to be extravagant or even include strangers.
Helping those close to you can be the greatest feeling in the
world and it is often the little things that make the biggest
difference.
Amigos o
enemigos?
In a past
column, I wrote of the critical effect the people you surround
yourself with can have on your life. In the case of your soul, it
is no different. People who are negative will naturally bring
damage. While you cannot pick and choose who your family is you
can pick and choose who your friends are.
One saying
that one of my fraternity brothers uses is: If you can’t change
the people around you, then change the people around you. I
think that is a great statement because ultimately you can’t
change anyone. A person will only change when they are ready to
change; however changing who you surround yourself is simply a
matter of making the decision and acting upon it. You may lose
friends, but are you really? People who bring you down are not
friends from my perspective; in fact they are enemies to your
wellness. As the saying goes, misery loves company, which
essentially means negativity breeds negativity.
I truly hope
that something that I have written over the past three articles
will be of some value to you in your life. I don’t have all of
the answers, but I have lived and experienced a lot in my years on
this earth. Ultimately, the answers lie within you and my desire
is to provide a guideline to your overall well-being.
Buena suerte en tu viaje.
¡Hasta la
próxima vez!
I would love
to hear from you about my column; please send me feedback or let
me know if there is something you would like me to write about.
You can e-mail me at
laprensa5@yahoo.com. ¡Gracias por tu apoyo!
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