Soul Health October 2015 Newsletter

Falling in Love with Fall

First, I want to extend a sincere “Thank You” once more for all of the kind words, prayers, and support I received during the last month since my mother made her transition. I’m truly touched and moved by the love that has been shown, even by those I’ve never met in person. Blessings to all of you!

As many of you know, when fall arrives, I tend to encourage both a time of reflection and an inner inventory of what no longer serves your highest good. Metaphorically speaking, it is the perfect time to release what no longer fits, whether it be the stuff we have scattered around or the burdens we carry within.

When thinking about soul health, many face the dilemma of letting go of relationships based on the fact that although they may love someone, they may not like what their significant other does or how they are treated by them. This topic seems particularly relevant as you assess what or who you need to let go of this fall in order to enhance your overall soul health. The article below, titled, “When Love Means Letting Go”, addresses this topic.

Speaking of letting go, you are invited to join me on Saturday, October 10th for a fall picnic and sunset labyrinth walk designed to help you begin the process of letting go of what no longer serves your soul health. This ritual can be incredibly powerful in allowing yourself to shed the parts of your life that hinder your growth and evolution. Click here for more details.

Thank you for your patience with the recent cancellation of events due to my mother’s illness and death. I am slowly getting back to a more normal routine and hope to have a few more events announced soon. In the meantime, please consider attending my monthly Soul Health Study/Discussion Group this coming Monday. For more details, click here.

Wishing you a beautiful, enriching, and safe October!

In shared light,

Katherine T. Kelly

Ph.D., M.S.P.H.

When Love Means Letting Go

This year’s theme for the newsletter has focused on topics related to love and laughter. But what happens when love isn’t enough? How do you know when love can no longer sustain you in a friendship, family connection, or other relationship? What do you do when your dislike for someone or their behaviors overshadows the love you have for them? And how is it that you can love someone, even dearly, but know the relationship does not support your soul health?

Many people face the love vs. like/dislike question every day. We can love someone and not like them, like them and not love them, or both love and like them. The first two possibilities create a conundrum, and the last scenario, unfortunately, seems less likely than one would hope for.

“All you need is love” may work in romantic lyrics, but when it comes down to whether or not a connection is truly a soul-to-soul relation, we need to consider whether or not it really aligns with our soul health. When we share a relationship with someone whom we love, but don’t necessarily like, it can affect every branch of our overall health—physical, psychological, social, interpersonal, and so on. We can struggle with the idea of letting go of these individuals, but when it comes down to both our health and our soul’s evolution, we must consider whether a relationship is life-affirming or life-diminishing. If we feel drained—dimming our soul’s natural light—then it is likely inhibiting our overall health and ability to grow.

Some people feel guilty for leaving relationships when the other person seems reasonably happy, but the truth is, both parties must be satisfied in order for a relationship to fully facilitate their evolution. In fact, breakups can provide important lessons and fodder for growth and self-awareness, but only if each party is willing to honestly explore what was and wasn’t working.

Letting go can be hard to do, but when committed to one’s own health and evolution, anyone can enhance both their social and overall soul health by releasing unhealthy connections—or at least the expectation that these connections will fit our ideal. Whether it be a family member, friend, co-worker, or love interest, sometimes our willingness to release an unhealthy bond is the only way to assure our soul health.

Favorites

Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay:
A Step-by-Step Guide to Deciding Whether to Stay In or Get Out of Your Relationship

Mira Kirshenbaum offers valuable guidance in determining whether or not a relationship is healthy enough to sustain us. Although this book focuses on love relationships only, many of the concepts and questions within can apply to other relations as well. This book provides a structure for an honest assessment for whether your connection will support your overall soul health.

Falling in Love with Fall

When Love Means Letting Go

Favorites

Heart Challenge