Deep down, we all crave a more authentic life. It’s only natural to want to express yourself and feel at home in your own life.
And creating that for yourself takes an understanding of what you really need, time, and, of course, patience as you put it all together.
Creating an authentic life is like making soup.
In case you didn’t know, I love to cook. Assuming that I’m not in one of those “just get food on the table” kind of moments, getting into the kitchen and preparing food for myself is one of my favorite things to do.
I also do a lot of food prep on Sunday’s because it is one of my most important self-love practices. That time has a way for me to feel into my needs on the most basic level. I ask myself what feels true for my body and look at the week ahead to make sure that we’ll be well fed no matter what life throws my way.
It has become a space of loud and off-key singing, precious moments with my heart, and, of course, a huge mess in the kitchen.
The chopping. The stirring. The simmering. The synchrony and timing.
The anticipation of the delicious food. It’s intoxicating, really.
One of my favorite things to cook is soup. In particular, I love vegetable puree soups. There is just something so satisfying about a brimming mug of nourishing deliciousness.
The foundation of the soup is always a healing broth, of which I always make sure to have plenty on hand. And then there are the vegetables and spices. My most recent favorite being zucchini, and ginger.
I begin by chopping the onions, then sauteing them with ghee until tender in my enameled cast iron pot.
As if calibrating a perfect orchestra, I wait for the sights and fragrances to tell me exactly when to add in the ginger and garlic.
Within moments, pungent scents burst into the air, signaling me to add in the zucchini. I allow them to cook until that beautiful deep, golden brown begins to show around the edges. And then, and only then is it time to cover the vegetables with the broth.
The soup simmers. Allowing the flavors to develop and infuse together in perfect balance and harmony.
I grab a tasting spoon from the drawer and delicately bring the soup to my mouth. I allow my palette to guide me. Perhaps adding a dash of this and a smidgen of that.
Once things are just right, I take out my handy stick blender and puree the soup until it is silky smooth.
The soup is done. It is ready for my hungry belly and the glass containers that await its arrival with equal anticipation.
Like I said before, creating an authentic life is just like making soup.
Like making soup, creating an authentic life starts with knowing that you are hungry.
And then, by going into your own heart, you start to discover what it is that you are craving.
You notice that you long for love.
And a deep connection to yourself, to others, and to Divinity itself.
Compassionate growth and transformation.
And to feel reverent and autonomous. Safe.
You long to contribute your innate gifts and talents to the world without abandoning yourself along the way.
You want to feel nourished, starting with the food you eat, but going deeper by finding the daily practices that sustain the most brilliant version of you.
You crave truth and alignment with the core of Who You Really Are.
Your body longs to rest.
You want to laugh and giggle – without a care in the world.
You desire celebration, gratitude, and appreciation.
After you know what you are hungry for, you begin to collect your ingredients.
Finding the things bring you joy. And the relationships with people who love you for exactly who you are and expect you to only be yourself. The morning ritual. The foods you love and that love you back. The perfect cozy corner to reflect and curl into a ball when necessary. The evening ritual. A beautiful journal for collecting the visions of your heart.
You then discover the recipe that reflects the perfect proportions for you and your tastes.
A just right helping of cat naps and rejuvenating sleep.
A serving of watching the stars on a summer night.
A dash of time connecting with yourself.
A splash of self-love and self-acceptance.
A smidgen of giggles with friends.
A sprinkle of comfort that sticks.
A hint of regular energetic maintenance and boundary setting.
All brought together with a good glug of personal choice and self-responsibility.
You then taste and adjust as you go.
Refining your recipe by noticing how you feel and making adjustments accordingly. Some days, you might need a bit more rest, or play. Other days, serving others will fill you to the brim. And if it just isn’t working, choose a new recipe altogether.
The key is understanding that it’s your recipe. You don’t have to follow along with someone else’s version of life soup. If you like ginger, add more ginger. If garlic makes you gag, leave it out.
It’s your authentic life soup. Make it taste the way you want.