Soul Care Part 1: Reviving Your SoulParaugs

Warning Signs of a Neglected Soul

Yesterday, we learned the soul needs care like a garden. Left untended, some nasty weeds grow up. So, what are some warning signs that your soul is being neglected?

Your Passion Fades. Everybody struggles with a lack of passion from time to time, but this is a place of sustained motivation loss.

You No Longer Feel the Highs or Lows. If you’re healthy, you feel things. When the main emotion is numbness – you need to pay attention.

Little Things Make You Disproportionally Emotional. Treating small things like big things and big things like small things are both signs that something deeper is wrong.

Everybody Drains You. People are a mixed bag for sure. When nobody energizes you, they’re not the problem. You are.

You’re Becoming Cynical. If you find cynicism is advancing at a rapid rate, it may be a sign that you’re burning out. Cynicism never finds a home in a healthy soul.

Nothing Satisfies You. That’s a sign of depression, and it’s also a sign your soul is neglected.

You Can’t Think Straight. You lose the ability to think clearly.

Your Productivity Is Dropping. You may be working long hours but you’re producing little. Or you feel busy but bored.

You’re Self-Medicating. To numb the pain you’re turning to overeating, overworking, sexual addictions, drinking, impulsive spending, or drugs.

You Don’t Laugh Anymore. This seems like such a small thing, but it’s actually a very big thing. When was the last time you had a good belly laugh?

Sleep No Longer Refuels You. Not being refueled when you take time off is a major warning sign that you’re burning out.

Do any of those warning signs wave at you like a red flag? Whether it is one or all eleven, your soul needs care.

“For most Christians, the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It is that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it. We will just skim our lives instead of actually living.” (John Ortberg)

Your soul will be revived as you learn to live your life WITH God.

Ask Yourself:

- What is the evidence of neglect in my soul?

- What are the things in my life that are good for my soul?

Pause to Pray:

God, I want to live more than a mediocre life with mediocre faith. I want to thrive…

Take a Next Step:

- Make a list of things that help you care for your soul. Make a list of your soul crushers. Make time today to do something that cares for your soul.