Walt Whitman wrote, “Whatever satisfies the soul is truth.” The religious mindset cannot accept this, and pits satisfaction and holiness against each other. We are taught self-denial where pleasure is viewed as a temptation, distraction or trap. But Whitman is right. The soul is satisfied by true peace, liberation, joy, belonging, oneness, beauty and love. This is the distinguishing mark of truth.
A path for finding this soul-satisfying truth is to explore these questions:
What makes you come alive?
What satisfies you most deeply?
What fills you up?
What brings you joy?
What centers you?
What is a source of delight and pleasure for you?
What areas, fields, or subjects are you interested in exploring?
What makes you feel connected to yourself?
What forms of self-expression are the most gratifying?
What would your sense of adventure tell you to do?
What way of being in the world resonates most deeply with your heart?
Where does your sense of curiosity take you?
How are you most compelled to aid the liberation of others?
Where in life are you inspired to be a tangible expression of love, acceptance, and compassion?
What nurtures a greater love for yourself and others?
The answers to these questions is a good place to start in determining what satisfies your soul and becomes truth to you.
