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Amazing Possibilities!

Writer's pictureMatthew Kelly

It's Time To Do Some Soul-Searching


Our exploration of the various types of desires brings us finally to

our spiritual desires. They lie hidden from superficiality and frivolity

in the deepest recesses of the human heart. Our spiritual desires

in some ways are the subtlest of all, yet they reveal the greatest of

our legitimate needs.


Perceiving and responding to our spiritual desires is the most

essential aspect of personal development. The yearnings of the

senses call out to us with unerring consistency and draw attention

to the needs and wants of our bodies, but our spiritual desires lie at

the bottom of the deep, still waters of our being.

The deepest desire of our hearts is not to do something or to

have something, but rather for peace. We yearn endlessly for

peace. We all long for the peace of knowing that who we are, where

we are, and what we are doing is essentially good. We need to

know that we are contributing to the happiness of others and that,

however slowly, we are progressing toward becoming the-best-version-

of-ourselves. This is the prescription for peace.

The needs that correspond with our desire for peace are silence,

simplicity, and solitude.


Do you ever feel you just need a little time to yourself? Do you

find yourself questioning the way you are living your life? Do you

have questions about what is best for you now? Do you feel overloaded

or overwhelmed?


All of these are signs that you need a little silence, solitude, and

simplicity. These feelings and questions are our spiritual desires

trying desperately to be heard.

Depending on our situation in life, some of these will be easier

to meet than others. A mother with young children may find it very

difficult to find silence, solitude, and simplicity. We must remember

that we are not talking about the constant silence, solitude, and

simplicity of a monk. What we need and desire are small pockets of

silence and solitude and a general structure of simplicity.

It is also critically important that we treasure the time we do

have to be alone. If we respond to our need for solitude by going

shopping by ourselves, our need for solitude may be partially satisfied,

but the distractions of music, other people, and the host of

desires that will arise from “the mall experience” will prevent us

from drinking from the well of solitude.


In order to achieve the soul- searching that we desire and legitimately

need, it is important to find a quiet place to be alone. Only

in that silence and solitude are we able to remember that we already

know the things that will bring us lasting happiness.

It would be lovely if our souls growled every time they were

hungry the way our stomachs do. But they don’t. The voice of the

hungry soul is confusion, questions, and a general sense of being

overwhelmed.

Matthew Kelly

From The Rhythm of Life

Click Here to get your copy

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