25th Anniversary Issue of Soulful Living
Featuring the Wisdom of Our Alumni Authors
Launched on January 1, 2000, SoulfulLiving.com has been spreading love, healing and personal transformation around the globe for over a quarter of a century!
Please enjoy our extra special 25th Anniversary Issue of our online magazine, which features an assortment of articles from our alumni authors who have been writing for us over the past 25 years and who gathered together to help us commemorate this momentous occasion and share their newest work and wisdom with you! Please also visit our “We Remember” page, which honors our beloved authors who we have lost over the years.
We want to thank all of our authors and thank all of YOU, our readers, for giving us the joy of creating SoulfulLiving.com for over twenty-five years! We are deeply grateful. Enjoy!
Animals, Vegetables, and My Soulful Life
I can’t remember a time when spiritual exploration didn’t seem like the reason for being here. Just before I turned three—I know this because we moved on my third birthday—Dede, my nanny, took me out in my stroller late enough that I could see the stars. I looked up at them and thought, “That’s home. I’m here now. It’s fine. But it is not home.” Now, some 73 years later, I’m still entranced by points of light—those in the heavens, in my fellow beings, and in my own heart. Having a spiritually eclectic upbringing helped. I was supposed to be Catholic, and although I loved the stained glass and incense, I found the theology, at least in its 1950s Midwestern iteration, confining. Once in catechism class, I tried to make a point for interfaith reconciliation when I raised my hand to share, “Buddha and Zoroaster had virgin births, too!” Sister Mary Xavier was unimpressed. Dede, grandmother-aged and a student of mysticism, consoled me by saying, “The nuns mean well. They just don’t get out much.” When I was five, I brought home from first grade my new knowledge of the 4 Food Groups. Once the USDA nutritional standard, its groupings were meat, dairy, grains, and fruits and veg, Dede, not one fond of governmental edicts, said, “There are people who never eat meat. They’re called vegetarians. I could take you to the Unity Inn and get you a hamburger made out of peanuts. You’d think you were eating beef.” That was the moment it hit me that there would be a lot to learn in life, and I probably...
Five Rituals for Living a Soulful Life
25th Anniversary Issue In a world that moves fast and rewards productivity over presence, living a soulful life has become both a longing and a quiet act of courage. Soulful living isn’t about withdrawing from the world—it’s about meeting life with intention, reverence, and heart. It’s about creating moments that tether us back to meaning, especially during times of uncertainty or transition. Rituals are one of the most powerful ways to do this. As I write in The Joy of Ritual, rituals are not tasks to complete—they are invitations into presence. Unlike habits or routines, rituals invite the soul into the experience. They slow time. They create a living bridge between the visible and the invisible, the ordinary and the sacred. To honor Soulful Living’s 25th anniversary, here are five simple yet profound rituals you can weave into your life—each one an invitation to come home to yourself. 1. The Morning Threshold Ritual: Begin with Intention How we cross the threshold into our day matters. Before emails, news, or conversation, pause. Each morning, place one hand on your heart and one on your belly. In my work, I refer to this as creating a moment of “sacred pause”—a conscious interruption of autopilot. Take three slow breaths. Then ask yourself: What quality do I want to live from today? It might be calm. Courage. Openness. Gratitude. Name it aloud if you can. This simple act shifts you from reaction to intention. You are no longer at the mercy of the day—you are in relationship with it. To deepen the ritual, light a candle or step outside and feel your...
Six Steps to Living a Soulful Life
25th Anniversary Issue Most people long for a life that feels authentic, meaningful, loving, and spiritually connected — what we call a soulful life. A soulful life is a life lived from your essence rather than your ego, from love rather than fear, from truth rather than false beliefs, and from your connection with spirit. In my work on Inner Bonding, there is a clear and powerfully practical path toward this kind of life. Each of the 6 Steps helps you move out of the ego wounded self — the protective part of you that lives in fear, shame, and control — and into your loving adult, who is aligned with your soul and guided by spirit. When practiced consistently, the six steps to living a soulful life create a shift from self-abandonment to self-love — and that shift opens the doorway to living fully, joyfully, and soulfully. Here’s how each step supports you in living a soulful life. 1. Step One: Tune in to Your Feelings — Your Soul’s Inner Compass A soulful life begins with awareness. You cannot live from your soul if you are disconnected from your feelings, because your feelings are your soul’s language. When you feel anxious, angry, empty, or ashamed, these feelings are signals that you are rejecting and abandoning yourself in some way. When you feel peace, openness, warmth, or joy, these are signals that you are aligned with the love of your soul essence. Many people numb, avoid, or judge their feelings, which cuts them off from their inner compass. Step One invites you to breathe, go inside, and ask,...
What Does It Mean to Live with Soul?
25th Anniversary Issue As we celebrate this 25th anniversary, I find myself returning to a question: what does it actually mean to live with soul? Over the years, the answer has shifted. The twenty-year-old me approached soul as magical and full of possibility. Years later, I have a sack full of life experience that has deepened me with both scars and wisdom. At its core, it comes down to three things: intention, presence, and reverence. Slowing Down My gait has changed. I am slower, forced to observe each step. Slow enough to listen. It is the unexpected gift of aging, forcing us all to pay attention to ourselves, to others, to the world around us. In a culture obsessed with productivity and speed, a gentle rebellion is required. It becomes a conscious choice to value depth over breadth, meaning over mere activity. It isn’t easy. The phone holds enticements I couldn’t imagine at twenty when distractions were fewer, but I wasn’t as attentive. Living with attention is an everyday practice. Being intentional is required if we want to avoid the constant lure of attention-grabbers around us. We can find it in early morning quiet, in conversations with friends, in the simple act of tending our creative spirits. These moments invite us to be present, to experience life as it unfolds, and to nurture what matters. The Heart’s Compass Living with soul means honoring your inner compass—calling you toward authenticity and purpose. Over time, I’ve learned to trust that compass more, even when the path feels uncertain or unconventional. It means aligning actions with values. Daring to ask “what...
Music Propels My Soul
25th Anniversary Issue My life has been driven by music. It started with my father, who played piano by ear in the key of C after playing violin in the Columbia Orchestra. I often enjoyed his playing, which happened at family gatherings and parties with my parents’ friends. I think I started piano lessons when I was around 7, learning 3-part chords, and was not the greatest student. Years later, I heard the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, which exposed me to my first taste of jazz which I loved. When I graduated high school, I began working on Wall Street selling securities, researching and writing research reports, and raising money for several companies, including one that developed indoor skydiving. But the fact was, I never loved Wall Street. It was my father’s business, and he was happy to have me follow in his footsteps, but I was not so happy. Continuing on my musical path, the next event that helped shape my love of music was when a family friend, famed composer and arranger Johnny Mandel, visited and, as he was leaving, played a complex chord on our piano that opened my mind to harmonic possibilities beyond the simple 3-part chords I had learned. Of course, I listened to lots of music, from the Beatles and James Taylor, Marvin Gaye and Earth, Wind & Fire, to Sinatra and Tony Bennett, who became my favourite singer. I also enjoyed classical music, including Satie, Ravel, and Debussy. Finally, I was living in Los Angeles and listening to the jazz station there when I heard a very interesting Cello Quartet playing a combination...
How to Nurture Sensitive Soulful Children
25th Anniversary Issue Soulful Children Are Deeply Sensitive and Require Proper Nurturing In addition to their sensitivity, they are wise beyond their years, highly intuitive, and have a deep connection to nature. These children often ask thoughtful questions, feel emotions intensely, and have an innate sense of wonder. If you’re the parent of a soulful child, it’s important to support their sensitivities and help them embrace their abilities. This will help them feel comfortable in their own skin now and as they mature into adults. As a sensitive and intuitive child myself, I never felt like I fit in. Much of the time, I felt like an alien on Earth, waiting to be transported to my real home in the stars. My ordinarily loving mother would call me “too sensitive” and would say, “You need to get a thicker skin.” So, I grew up believing there was something wrong with me, and I had terrible shame about my soulful self. This is why I feel so passionate about my children’s book, The Highly Sensitive Rabbit, because I want to help sensitive children embrace their gifts. I want to help liberate children from the shame I felt so they can thrive. The book is about a caring rabbit named Aurora who was shamed by her family for her sensitivities but learns to embrace these gifts through the love and support of other animals. The following themes are explored in the book—they are strategies parents and caregivers can use to nurture sensitive children. 5 Strategies to Support Soulful Children 1. Encourage opennessInvite your children to speak openly to you or...
The Essence of Soulful Living
25th Anniversary Issue Twenty-five years ago, Valerie launched Soulful Living. I’ve had the deep privilege of writing the Being Present column for much of that time. It was the first place my voice was given a home. That I’m still here says something about the wealth of what she has built—a place for those in need of giving as well as receiving. In that span, I completed my Ph.D., moved towns, changed my name, buried people I loved. And along the way, I also lost pieces of myself emotionally and at times, pieces of my life entirely. Like me, I’m sure you have your own list of change, gain and loss. Many of those losses have nothing to do with a failing on our part. Some things in life are simply taken away, and we have to find our way back to ourselves again. A quarter century is long enough to get knocked down and get back up several times over. There are so many places to lose ourselves. The first time I was aware that I had lost myself to another person, I was 21 years old. I noticed I’d been obsessing over a guy I was dating—when and whether he was going to call me. Calculating his work schedule so I’d be by the phone. Deciding when he should be calling based on what I deemed to be his availability. Upset when he didn’t call within those hours. I was aghast at myself! Who was this person?! I remember the voice in my head asking the question, “What is happening to me?” That’s when the download...
What Is Stopping You From Deeper Soulful Living?
25th Anniversary Issue Okay, you’ve been thinking about taking action, moving forward, doing that thing that would create progress and increase your soulful living… right? BUT you haven’t done it. Not yet. Whatever it is, it would help change your life. It would bring you into a more spiritual way of being. It would increase your awareness of living in a larger realm. Right? So, what stops you? What holds you back? What lets you hide out in “ordinary land” never standing apart, never asking for a raise or promotion, never being more than what you were raised to be. Now, just reading this isn’t going to move you forward. But it might jostle your thinking about who you are now AND who you WANT to be. Who you COULD BE if you were willing to take the risk of deeper more profound soulful living! So, take a minute to consider how you want to see yourself going forward. Afraid to take new chances? Limited by self-doubts? Determined to stay the way you are? Or…. Eager to see what is possible? Energized by taking risks? Open to a new, more soulful-living future? Yes, it will require you to stand apart from the crowd. Maybe it won’t be noticeable to anyone but you, but it will push you to be more outstanding in whatever ways you can. It might be socially, might be in your work, maybe in how you move forward in your spiritual endeavors. It requires you to be more fully YOU, distinctly and uniquely YOU. Please pay attention to this as so many people are reluctant...
Creating Your Soul’s Reality
25th Anniversary Issue If you ask someone, “Who are you?” they usually describe their roles and say, “I’m a mother,” or “I’m a graphic designer.” We are so identified with our work and family, as well as national, racial, and religious roles, that we rarely go beyond these roles to examine who or what we truly are. In our journey to self-realization, it is essential that each of us seek an answer to this question. Although there are many aspects to this question, I would like to focus my discussion today on what we all have in common physically. To do this, we need to understand our physical makeup, and subatomic physics and biology provide us with the information necessary to do so. We Are Mostly Space In recent years, we have learned that atoms contain much more space than previously believed. Most of us have heard that humans are about 75% water, which might make us imagine being liquid. However, it is more accurate to say that humans are made up of 75% water molecules, and like all molecules, water is about 99.9% space, not matter. This means that we are mostly space. Yet, how many of us can truly see ourselves as space—or, in other words, “ether”—rather than as solid? It’s very challenging; but this scientific fact has profound implications for how we relate to ourselves, others, and the world. Science has shown that we are mostly ether or space, yet we persist in seeing ourselves as solid. Our atoms are constantly interacting with the atoms of chairs, trees, and other humans, and still we believe...
A Quick Lesson in Living From Your Universal Soul
25th Anniversary Issue A conversation between you and yourself: “Something wonderful is about to happen.” “Really? Like what? Money? Health? Romance? Fame?” “That stuff is fleeting. This is better. Look at this picture.” “It’s upside down.” “Really? What if it’s right side up?” “Nah. The sky is on the bottom.” “Let’s play with that for a minute. Instead of calling it ‘sky,’ let’s call it ‘Source’ or ‘The Soul of Everything.’” “Ok, fine. So what?” “So can we start with the idea of a vast, open field?” “Sure.” “Then how about if the clouds are like feelings, soulful desires that are sometimes light and wispy, or dark and stormy?” “I could buy that.” “No money needed, friend. Now look at the villa and the earth above it.” “Yea, that’s messed up. I couldn’t live like that.” “But you are living like that now—separate. Limited. Seemingly solid.” “Tell that to my scale. Or my bank.” “As you, I can, but that takes the fun out of it. Why don’t we try something else?” “Like what?” “Wonder.” “Wonder?” “Yes. And willingness. Like this: ‘I wonder what living from my universal soul is like, and I’m willing to feel safe, happy, and free.’” “Oh, come on. Really?” “Try it and see for yourself. Something wonderful is about to happen.” © Copyright 2025 Robin L. Silverman. All Rights Reserved. Robin SilvermanRobin L. Silverman enjoys facilitating happiness and peace through Fullistic insights. For more information, visit her website, Fullistic® at www.fullistic.com...
Soulful, Happy and Healthy!
25th Anniversary Issue It is both a great pleasure and honor to contribute this 25-Year Anniversary article to Soulful Living, the pioneering self-help portal founded by its visionary founder. Happy Anniversary! This is actually my fifth article here; the first one was published in the very beginning, in the year 2000! Today, I would like to take you on a little but hopefully exciting excursion, exploring what it means to be soulful in the truest sense of the word and how this understanding can help us be happy and healthy in a holistic way. To keep things also a bit light and fun, as it befits this auspicious anniversary issue, I will “pepper” this contribution with “philosophical aphorisms,” or “pair vivid metaphors with blunt assertions,” add “argumentative quotes,” and mix in a few “short, punchy lines (as per some reviews) from my latest book or Substack posts (in bold italic). Many, if not most, of you will likely agree that we live in both complex and challenging times. One could even call them dramatic, or sometimes, outright traumatic. Worldwide, we can now witness or experience the very deep divisions that are evident in our societies, within families, among friends. Nobody seems to agree with anybody on anything anymore! As a result, there is so much anger, so many hurt feelings, and sadly, a great number of ruptured relationships with even important people, people that were actually meant to be a part of our life journey. By deciding not to love our loved ones we mostly punish ourselves. That is a soulful truth, whether we like to acknowledge it...
Releasing Fear and Doubt as We Open to Soulful Living
25th Anniversary Issue The very first time I heard an animal speak within my mind, a thrill ran through my body. I felt myself tingling—energy quickening, thoughts evaporating—in a strange, still moment out of time. There, on the other side of my window: a gathering of birds upon a bush. Window, bird, bush—it is not so much the surface thing that calls to us, but the deeper energy of life force, the deeper call of relationship. It is as if you finally realize that an invitation has been extended to you all along. And, one day, you accept. I felt the deeper presence of the birds open to me that day. And I to them. It was simple and surprisingly obvious: a coming together of worlds that had never truly been apart—a sudden clarity that we were not just woman and birds, but deeply connected beings. My body gave a little shiver as a too-long silenced self swooped up to consciousness. A part of me came home. It wasn’t until I thought about the experience that fear set in. My brain began objecting, raising doubts, worries, and all sorts of suspicions. My thoughts wanted to squelch down that initial feeling of communion, of heart-opening connection. Part of me wanted to make it unreal. But why? (Safer that way.) And who was in charge of thinking the worried thoughts? (Clever ego!) As time went on, I began to notice that one of my favorite ways to avoid opening—both to new ideas or deeper levels of understanding—was to stay busy on the surface. For many of us, it seems easier...