Although the concept of the body has been explored through biological lenses, little has been studied about the soul that regulates the body. The author of “Soul without Shame” answers the question, “What does soul means to us?” When desired goals are met yet something remains missing, it is the essence of the soul longing to be noticed. There remains a disassociation between what you envision as happiness and the emotions that reality provokes upon your success. This article provides a summarized outline of author Byron Brown insights into apprehending the soul.
Chapter 1: Soul Perspective
Let’s take a step back and reminisce about the glorious moment of a highschooler who just received a “WELCOME ACES” admission letter. The excitement is real; the hustle from
elementary to high school has come to an end, but, after welcome week, the adrenaline rush does not translate into a constant state of contentment. A sense of longing emerges for distant family members and high school friends. The is a common situation where the soul is absent. Being conscious and in the present awakens the soul. Longing for what is not reality is a sign of disconnection. One type of disconnection comes through setting expectations: “What should my college life should look like?”, “How much should I achieve before the age of 20?” These questions limit the quality of experiences. Standards are limitations in disguise that form rigidity in exploring possibilities. The fundamental soul quality is its continuous and spontaneous nature. Feeling stuck is an indication of limited expectations that disrupts freedom. What is possible and what can be done, when measured, results in the static dynamic of restrictions. Identifying yourself and your existence with unlimitedness helps to connect with the “whole”. Remarks about college life and friend circles do not depict a complete version of an abundant existence. In other words, perfect grades fail to provide a sense of fulfilment throughout the course of life because identifying self with body and its physical ability is a process of disregarding the multifaced freedom of the soul.
Chapter 2: What is Judge
Beyond expectations, judgement is another hurdle in reconnecting with your soul. When
achievements are driven from avoiding disappointment, a static vicious cycle repeats itself. The
devil usually does not come in second person but first. “You were not able to impress the group,” and “You surely can never take a leadership role,” are self-critics that play subconsciously as affirmations. What is dangerous is the unawareness of the true nature of such statements. The term self-judgement is different from self-reflection for improvement. Threatening and warning oneself for motivation is another limiting idea of self and what the reality should be. As the author suggests, “The judge is both pervasive and invisible.” Living by the guidelines to avoid criticism robs the dynamic and transforming element of self. Anxiety emerges with fear, and acceptance of the emotional state becomes impractical. Understanding where the inner voice of a critic comes from, and how it is separate from the abundance sense of self, can help you embrace the full protentional of your conscious soul. Byron Brown advises readers to encounter the judge by responding, “I want out. I want space from this taskmaster I carry around inside.”
Chapter 3: True Nature and Reality
What makes you…you? It is a goofy prompt question, but our habitual responses to this question reinforce the interaction scenes we have memorized. We respond accordingly and list all our hobbies and aesthetics that appeal to us. The fundamental claim of limiting ourselves to a standard still remains true. Who you are is not the major you are pursuing or the social capacities you have. You are your essence that is not associated with any personal or social attributes. In Soul without Shame, true essence is referred to as, “The heart of your own living consciousness.” It simply exists despite any external forces and circumstances. In contemporary dialect, the word “aura” does justice in rephrasing “true essence.” Without knowing any background of a person, a sense of who they are is felt. That is a person’s true essence and aura. Despite age or situation, essence remains constant, and it was designated to us at birth. Like energy, it can never be created or destroyed. True essence remains in each one of us even the people you despise. Disconnection from true essence can happen, but is resolved by grounding to reality. One way of doing so is by redirecting focus from the self-critic to what seems most relevant and real in the present moment. Physical dimension installs itself into our reality. Thus, using physical objects to provoke sensations is an effective technique in grounding oneself back to reality. Brown emphasizes that awareness of reality can be increased by recognizing more of the truth of what you are experiencing. However, all techniques are inadequate for individuals dealing with avoidance, denial, and disassociation if acceptance of reality is not practiced.
Chapter 4: Recognizing Judgement
“A judgement is a statement of evaluation that implies an assessment of one’s true value or worth and is felt as a rejection of one’s present state.” To avoid rejection from the world, we tend to correct ourselves as a resolution, but there is more harm caused by it to a person’s self-worth. Self-judgement is often indirect and is hard to recognize due to its normalcy. It surfaces in various forms of criticism, condemnation, accusations, advice, suggestion, or question. Stopping the vicious cycle of self-judgement begins with confrontation. When false accusations are made by others, a desire to defend your self-esteem emerges. Similarly, considering your judge as a second person and separating it from your true essence can help to deal with it impersonally and effectively. The practice of verbalizing judgement in second person facilitates separation of self from the negative remarks. Recognizing judgement through sensations is another way to bring consciousness back to reality. When being judged, it is sometimes challenging to identify cruel remarks as judgment. Due to the involvement of gaslighting and manipulation, it is challenging to confront the judge. One way of doing so is by tapping into bodily sensations. Judgements are affiliated with negative emotions. Feeling numb, doubtful and guilty during a conversation is an indication of being in a judgement involving situation. Awareness of one’s own true essence helps to distinguish between the negative body sensations that arise due to the judgement. Discovering “what your soul is” fulfils the missing sense of longing that remains with you when planned expectations do not. Redefining who you are with consciousness of reality will allow you to approach life with freedom. By recognizing the self-critic, judge, and true essence, the flow of life will become dynamic and accepting of your distinctive self. That is when the presence of the soul will manifest in daily practices of life in the form of self-fulfillment and contentment.