Our souls are constantly being worn down by the daily demands of life. And there’s no virtue in attempting to live in a completely sterile environment. But we must practice good spiritual hygiene and learn to restore our souls after the inevitable exposure to what depletes us.
For instance, teeth are not damaged because of what we eat. They’re damaged when there’s not intentional oral care on the backend to help remineralization. And the same is true for our souls.
Normal life of work, marriage, and parenting, not to mention social media posts, advertisements, and news cycles all have a way of wearing us down. And often this is not a sign that something is wrong per se, but simply that we’re engaged in the messy realities of life.
Wisdom is not attempting to avoid the normal wear and tear of life, but being intentional about restoring our souls afterwards. Instead of just pushing through to the next thing, indulging in guilty pleasures, or numbing out and trying to forget, we might choose to spend time with a good friend, take a walk outside, journal, or pray. Whatever it looks like, it’s a way for our spirit, soul, and body to be revitalized.
We become ineffective in our work and calling when we attempt to disengage the world around us. But we’re also left depleted when we don’t purposefully replenish our souls even as we navigate the daily realities of life.
Our souls are formed less about what we avoid and more by what we regularly return to. And spiritual hygiene calls for us to establish regular practices to restore our souls.
Stay fully engaged in your life and relationships while intentionally renewing your soul as you go. This purposeful hygiene keeps you from being depleted.
Photo by Diva Plavalaguna
