What do you mean by the words 'soul-searching' and how do you do it properly? What are you searching for?
This question has nothing to do with whether or not 'soul' is a reality, (although I suspect many of your answers will provide evidence of its existence), and everything to do with the process, meaning, and value of it for you. I've noticed that many of your answers are actually confessions in the truest form of the word. (you know who you are)
Is soul-searching a time of reckoning? Is soul-searching like 'balancing the books' at the end of the month to see if you're in the red or the black? Or is it literally trying to find your own soul?
2007-12-13 15:13:25 · 31 answers · asked by ? 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In essence it about whether our actions, in-actions, or whatever, was 'life-positive' or not...
The answer is related to another question....
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmZ2O.0KVdxGPVW9z4RGO4yRHQx.;_ylv=3?qid=20071218102441AAZjTTp&show=7#profile-info-27ff3ae0ea44baa8d83a0cb0117b9053aa
We are inter-dependent, and whether we took into consideration the positive aspect of co-existence or not!
2007-12-18 19:23:57 · answer #1 · answered by Spiritualseeker 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For me it's a bit like checking the map during this Journey of life. Just sitting down and questioning, "where am I going and why?" Making sure my actions are in line with what I believe to be true and important. It's also a minute to refuel, knowing why you do what you do is motivational, and quite a driving force. Especially when I have a decision to make, or am looking at a change in life. But, I think it's important not to spend too much time looking at the map because, after all, you're car is still moving on this road of life. You've gotta look up and see what's in front of you as well. An even balance of these can lead to a good, fruitful, genuine, and worthwhile life.
2007-12-13 15:23:07 · answer #2 · answered by J B 2 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes it takes me days to answer some of your questions, not always because I don't know the answer in me, but your question forces me to struggle with the right words. This is one of those questions. I don't use the term soul searching but I have experienced the process you are talking about. It is not a time of reckoning or balancing the books. It is more a process of looking within, observing myself in my thoughts, beliefs, actions & interactions to find what is the authenic real self & what is programmed, learned responses. It is this & more. In this process I am more & more able to see my actions, reactions, thoughts, understandings, responses, {etc.} clearly & as I become more clear I find the parts of what I have always considered self & am able to choose if it is something that will help or hinder me in my journey. At first this is a draining process, mostly because of my own emotional attachments to he program self. But with practice & peserverance I begin to lose this emotional attachment & both seeing & releasing become easier as I am better able to be a witness. I think you used the analogy once in a question that applies here, it is a process of separating the wheat from the chaff within ones self. Am I trying to find my own soul? No, that's a given. I am trying to find all that is not myself. Special Blessings to you.
2007-12-19 14:31:29 · answer #3 · answered by Just Be 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Soul searching to me is the process of becoming self-aware. I don't see it much different from the point of Buddhism or meditation. As kids we are very unaware of ourselves. Things are about immediate gratification and shallow concepts. It is only through soul searching as we grow older that we get to know who we are and what we truly think and believe. Knowing yourself is so important to have healthy relationships and to move toward being happy. And it seems to never really end, even much of psychology revolves around the inner search and the changing of personality. One theory is that we change personalities every seven years.
So soul searching is a constant process of self-discovery because it forces you to look into who you truly are, the good and the bad, nothing hidden and come to grips with it. When you can truly accept everything you find there, even if you want to work on it, I think it will lead to a lot more clarity in your life.
2007-12-13 15:19:25 · answer #4 · answered by sweetbearsg2003 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I agree 100%; and I have realized that myself. The church, any church (not just Catholicism) has many man made laws and customs. Except for the killing of sinners part; I'd advise to take the Bible literally and live that way for a while. Organized religion is ok, and it's great that the church gives people a place to gather, meet, and mingle; but what's more important is to live right. Jesus himself did follow God's Commandments; and as I've written before God did not give His Commandments to throw His weight around; He gave them because it IS the ideal way to live. I mean, I am not surprised at all when I hear of people getting sick... after eating pork. It's like... ya... you should have listened to God. But while following the Bible is a great thing; never underestimate where the Spirit leads you. Oh... and the sacred Day Of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is in three days.
2016-05-23 11:52:18 · answer #5 · answered by madeleine 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's funny- now that you mention it, when I think of myself doing some soul searching, I am generally trying to find out the nature of what I believe is everyone's soul/consciousness as a whole. So I guess my definition of soul searching is just about... incorrect.
2007-12-17 02:25:52 · answer #6 · answered by hmm 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The purpose is to find out what is your real constitutional position being a spirit soul.
If we are not this body which is made of earth, water, air, fire, ether and sky then who am I?
I am part of God's superior energies which although one is quality of the internal energies of God but very minute in quantity. Just like when you compare a drop of water with a ocean.
Our purpose is to serve him and build a loving relationship with him and not to spend the whole energy to serve this body which is temporary.
Every other objects has it's own natural properties like water which is liquid, the fire burns etc. similarly if you question what is the property of the soul?
I have one answer from Bhagavad Git where Lord Krishna says that all these living entities in this and other universes are part and parcel of me and they all are struggling hard with 5 working senses and mind and these entities are eternal.
They are suffering due to lack of knowledge and accepting false bodies thinking those are permanent and accordingly they work, and they are entrapped by the results of self centered actions and can not free themselves from the cycle of births.
And he gave the knowledge in Bhagavad Gita how to free ourselves from these material diseases of accepting a body.
We are GODs eternal servant. That is the real identity of our soul and by serving him we get the complete happiness otherwise whatever we do is SIMPLY A WASTE OF TIME.
...
2007-12-14 05:17:12 · answer #7 · answered by Roy 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is a difference between searching and being aware. If one looks inward for too long, one will only see a reflection of what one really is. Soul searching can be useful for short periods, but as a constant practice, it can give a very distorted picture of reality, as one's eye is drawn away from all that is and sinks into one's own hopes, fears, and dreams...the world of seeming, not being, a trap of desire and regret.
2007-12-13 17:53:47 · answer #8 · answered by Black Dog 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
For myself, soul searching is stripping away all of the preconceived notions, things that my parents or family have ingrained in me, taking away all of the outer stuff....
kinda like taking an onion and stripping it layer by layer...
until i can get to my core beliefs...
For me, this is just a way of finding out what is true for me, what i truely believe or what i was taught to believe. To question everything, instincts, motives....
Once i began doing this, i found that alot of the things that i was taught as a child, were beliefs built out of fear or that had nothing behind it to back it up.
Is it a time of reckoning or balancing the books? No... For me it was just a fact finding mission and allowing myself to come to terms with who, what, and where i am in life.....
And the answer my friend, is I am ME, Here and Now....
just my humble pagan thoughts...
blessings
)o( trinity
2007-12-15 06:57:18 · answer #9 · answered by trinity 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The soul-searching......sounds like some kind of play, but if when you think you found it, you realize that it also has a soul, are you starting to search the soul of your soul?...and so on. And what could it be in the soul of the soul of your soul ?
2007-12-13 23:59:59 · answer #10 · answered by Claudia A 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That's deep. To me, soul searching is trying to find your real identity. Discovering yourself. You were brought up with certain beliefs, morals, rules on how to live your life. When you (and I mean me) try to 'search' for your soul, what you're doing, is nothing out of the ordinary-nothing paranormal. You want to find your faith (if you want one) your moral standards-you're trying to put up your own rules on how to live YOUR life to the fullest. Everybody has a different way to go about it. Some travel, others try many types of religion. But in the end, if you're happy with yourself, then it doesn't matter how you go about it...as long as you find yourself. But that's MY opinion.
2007-12-13 15:24:34 · answer #11 · answered by ღ♥Jess♥ღ 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋