Life coach peral: what is spirit?

I am amazed and wonder that you have known me all this time. How could you have known that I would sit this day in a plush red leather chair from the solace of my home, listening to geese fly overhead with the soft rhythmic cadence of my tiny dog breathing lying by my feet? How did you know I would feel such peace and joy in your presence?

Do you have a spirit? That's not a rhetorical question. Of course, you do.

Hello there, I'm Dr. Jennifer Hicks, the self-proclaimed Smart-A Lady Doc. The above lines stirred in my Spirit a few days ago.

Straight out of Oxford Languages publication, Spirit is the nonphysical part of a person, the seat of emotions and character: the soul. This intangible essence makes us who we are, is the source of our emotions, and is the seat of our character. We all seek harmony between body and Spirit, a balance that allows us to live a fulfilling life.

This formal definition resonates with me. But Spirit is more than a concept. It's a deeply personal journey, a connection to something greater than ourselves.

I grew up in the Baptist Church in the South in the 1950s. Born to my parents in their mid-life, they were the chairman of the Deacon board and the superintendent of the Sunday school. It was a ritual every fourth Sunday to stand in line before the church altar and declare as Christians our 'determination to make heaven my home' one by one. Old-fashioned, yes, I grew up in one of those. And I can still carry the melodic tune of a Doctor Watts hymn if called upon. Those hymns meant a leader would sing a line or verse as others would then follow/ or repeat. Before each recitation or determination, most congregants would also lead the group in an a cappella hymn. My song of choice was This Little Light of Mine. I later learned that it was written as a children's song in the 1920s by Harry Dixon Loes, although Wikipedia states that he was never credited for it. Officially, I began carrying that light at nine when upon being baptized in Holly Grove Missionary Baptist Church. But my wonder and awe questions were not my little light; was not my Spirit ignited before that? In this post, I will not dare to entertain a medical, scientific, or ethical discussion on when life begins. My journey with Spirit has been personal, filled with moments of doubt, discovery, and growth.

So, it brings me back to the question of Spirit. What does Spirit mean to you? Where does your Spirit come from? Do you believe in something greater than yourself? Forgive the existential questions here, but the sense of being a vessel of something greater came easy for me. I carry this teaching. Indeed, I believe I was born with it. How else could a 5-pound premie dash into the oppressions of race, gender, and class she would face ten weeks early and go on to physically and spiritually touch the lives of so many without the divine order of something/someone greater? This 'something greater' is a guiding force, a source of strength and inspiration that helps me navigate life's challenges and find joy in the journey.

Left to my own devices, I would have gone to Hollywood following a desire to become a movie star. Looking back on that pipe dream, I realize that the Hollywood of the 1950s and 60s would likely have destroyed the timid, caramel-colored empath girl from the South. Unfortunately, I wasn't on the path to becoming a Beah Richards, although I did get to meet her. Instead, my destiny began when a brilliant, short Nigerian-American advisor shoved an application to medical school in my hand with the words, "Here, fill this out." Destiny took charge. Later, too, I ignored that still small voice inside twice when it asked me, "Why are you doing this"? Both times, ignoring that intuitive energy ended in my horribly failed marriages!

We all possess a still, small voice inside if only we are quiet enough, patient enough to hear it. If only we could shut out the noise and pressure around us, we might receive that inner guidance. We may hear it more clearly. We've all got it. In the concepts of addiction treatment and recovery, it is called a higher power. In other circles, it is called something greater. There are many different names in religious and spiritual circles around the world called Spirit. I am Christian. My Baptist teaching calls him God. In my relationship, I call that Spirit Big Daddy and, on some days, Big Mama. On any day, from a place of Joy or need, I may cry the name of Jesus. My connection with something greater brings my journey a sense of life, peace, and joy.

My life's purpose in this journey is not as a preacher, biblical scholar, or religious leader. My purpose is to carry this little light of mine everywhere I go. Divine order is such that I radiate a sense of life, love, peace, and joy. I am not perfect and never will be. I strive only to show others how to keep on trying.

My message in this discussion is not one of proselytizing. I am not speaking from a place of trying to convert anyone. I advocate that you stop in your quiet space, relinquish fear, doubt, and stress, and listen to the whisper of your small inner voice. It will guide and protect you toward a happier, more purposeful life.

Sit quietly in the sun in a lawn chair in the backyard. Chuckle when a red bird pops up as if to say, "Hey, have a great day." Take a deep breath on your walk through the forest, and drink in the cool freshness washed clean and prepared just for you by the stately tall green trees. Smile gently down at that tiny human at the airport or bus station, wide-eyed and staring up as if she had never seen someone with beautiful skin and hair that looked so much different than her own. Gasp in awestruck wonder at the shooting star soaring through the dark night sky. I urge you to look inside, find your light, and let it shine, inspiring others.

As always, I wish you health, love, peace, and smarts.

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Life Coach Pearl: Joy is by Design!