After a busy holiday season, the start of a brand new year is much welcomed, as every new year brings the hopeful promises of opportunities and growth. The start of a new year is also a time for the very much needed spiritual nurturing and the renewal for our soul.

We often get lost in the hustle and bustle of the daily life, trying to survive in a constantly reactive mode. Think of the last time that you actually had a chance to honor your spirit by generously giving it the much needed time and space for renewal? Was it last month? Or was it more than a season ago? Perhaps you cannot even recall the last time that your spirit had an ample chance to breathe at all.

Carve out an afternoon where you will not be disturbed with any foreseen distractions. Turn off your cell phone and your emails, as they will always be there when you return. If you have to leave home and sit somewhere where you cannot be disturbed for this block time, please do so. You will be very happy that you have honored this commitment.

Take a notebook with you. In the first of the three columns, write down what the inner most of your being is telling you. Don’t second-guess or judge what you are hearing. If you are tire and grouchy, write that down honestly. Perhaps that you wish for more peaceful time where you can regularly take better care of yourself, make note of that. In contrast, if you are yarning for a new career that will better align with your passion, but don’t quite believe it’s possible, write that down as well.

The point of this exercise is to practice “listening” to our spirit. In order to honor our spirit, we must know what it needs by listening to it honestly without judgment or doubts. We are spiritual beings in the physical form. However, many of us often forget about this fact by running our world in a manically hectic pace that has caused much unhappiness and illness in our modern lives.

After you have written down all that has contributed to the lack of balance of your life, then in a separate column, note how each item in column one has negatively affected you. The second column is “the price I have paid” column. This column can be pretty painful to face sometimes.

In the third and the last column, this is where the good stuff happens! I call this the change/actions column. Write down “all” that you can do to make the situation in column one better. Again, don’t second guess, and kick out that nagging negative voice in your head telling your that “oh, I don’t have the time” or “I am afraid of…” …etc. Don’t kiss those voices goodbye, KICK THEM OUT with the biggest pair of boots you’ve got. I mean it! You won’t regret this decision.

Starting today, pick one thing in the change/actions column, and do it! It can be as simple as making a phone call or getting your nails painted. In the spiritual world, there is nothing too small. Every step you take is a step forward! It’s also a step to be celebrated since every step is empowered by your commitment to honor the need of your spirit and soul.