Self-Honoring
Or Perhaps Soul-Honoring
*Audio Article Below for those who prefer to listen
Self-honoring.
Sometimes this term can be misconstrued as selfishness or just doing what you want regardless of anything or anyone else, but when we say self-honoring, what we really referring to is The Self (Self-Honoring). Capital S.
The Divinity within you.
Your soul’s blueprint and essence.
Not the ego that can be pulled by fear, obligation, conditioning, or lower vibrational patterns.
In reflecting on this concept, I found myself questioning my own boundaries.
“Am I truly leaning in enough and honoring what wants to come through?”
Asking the hard questions, “Where am I leaking energy? Where am I acting from obligation versus love? Where am I trying too hard to control? And where am I not honoring my own needs in order to keep the peace?” (in true Libra fashion)
It can be tricky to find the balance, especially being energetically sensitive. Learning to be okay if my needs differ from the group. Learning not to get lost in group dynamics, other people’s rhythms, or collective momentum - It’s a vast topic I’m continuing to explore the energetics of more deeply and enjoy supporting clients with as it’s a very layered healing journey.
As I reflected on self-honoring one morning, a new distinction emerged -
Not Self-honoring.
But rather Soul-Honoring.
Your soul came here to experience different situations, your soul was filled with dreams, desires, curiosities and callings. Your dreams and desires are different from mine, from the person next to you, from your family members, etc. and how beautiful that is.
Recently, while helping my parents move to Florida, I was speaking with a woman who was leading the moving team. I asked her questions about her work and at one point she smiled and commented, “I love what I do.”
Not a polite smile. Not a rehearsed answer. A beaming smile. The kind that lights up your entire face.
She truly loved helping people pack and move.
And I found myself feeling so happy to hear that.
Every time I meet someone who genuinely loves what they do, I feel hopeful.
There are people who love accounting. Thank goodness!
There are people who love organizing.
There are people who love building businesses.
There are people who love caring for animals.
There are people who love teaching children.
There are people who love growing flowers.
And there are people who love helping families through transition, to help pack and move.
The world works because different hearts are called to different things.
One of our greatest challenges isn’t that we all have different dreams. It’s that so many people abandon them. And indeed, it can be quite the journey to release conditioning that inhibits our dharma (soul’s calling).
We are often taught to trust practicality before passion, obligation before intuition, and external expectations before the quiet voice within.
The friction we feel isn’t always because our dreams are wrong. Sometimes it’s because we’re moving away from something our soul has quietly been asking for.
Yes, we must let go of the outcome.
Yes, we must release control and surrender to a greater plan.
And yes, our dreams may unfold differently than we imagined.
But our desires still matter. The pull still matters. The curiosity still matters. The dream itself is often pointing us somewhere, which we will experience in perfect timing.
How Can We Soul-Honor?
Soul-Honoring can look like taking small steps toward where our heart is pulling us.
These are the micromoments, the slowing down before making a decision (versus running on autopilot), checking in with ourselves and actually asking - is this in alignment? Does this feel nourishing? Is this respecting myself? Feeling into our body, does it feel expansive or contracted, light or heavy?
Sometimes it can be easier to recognize where we are not Soul-Honoring.
Saying yes out of obligation rather than love.
Saying yes when our body is clearly saying no.
Ignoring the signs of our body’s exhaustion, which can lead to disease, burnout, or depletion.
Saying no out of fear when our soul quietly wants to say yes.
Following outside guidance when it doesn’t feel right for us.
Not communicating or creating space for our own needs. - This is not about judgment; it is simply about noticing. Believe me, I know. It takes a lot to 1) even know our unique needs 2) be able to communicate them. A process of bringing the unconscious to the conscious.
Soul-Honoring is a practice.
And like any practice, it deepens with time, patience, and attention.
Perhaps Soul-Honoring begins by spending time with our souls. Through meditation. Prayer. Journaling. Walking in nature. Creating. Clearing the noise. Coming back into balance. Listening. Or even just witnessing and observing that it is all creation. Being kind to ourselves for where we are in the journey.
In a world full of distractions, opinions, and momentum, perhaps the greatest act of Soul-Honoring is simply creating enough quiet to hear the gentle tugs within.
*Transmission above as an invitation to deepen this energy 🎶 Listen here, let your heart speak
This Week’s Invitation for Gentle Exploration
What does Soul-Honoring mean to you?
Where in your life are you honoring your soul?
Where might you be abandoning it?
And what is one small way you could Soul-Honor this week?
May you find your own rhythm this week. And if you know someone who could use this reminder, feel free to share it with them. 💜
