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prisoners. Those who concentrated on something to live for could withstand the agonizing circumstances far easier than could those who had lost all hope and sense of purpose. It didn't matter what one's core focus was. It could involve serving others or surviving to meet up with family again, but the goal had to be personally important to the self. 3 After I talked about Frankl, Beth immediately felt guilty. "I have a good life," she admitted. "How could I be so ungrateful when someone like Viktor Frankl, when undergoing horror, was able to feel grateful to be alive?" Relevance is the Key The key to uncovering one's purpose is relevance. We find meaning in that which is relevant to us. In fact, as soon as Beth began to perceive her dark attitudes and feelings as signed letters from her own soul, she began to feel more hopeful. She wasn't just breaking down; she was seeking a breakthrough. She was striving for love, and her sadness was giving her indications about where to look. Beth's life didn't improve overnight. She has remained on one particular prescription medication indefinitely; as noted, feelings, thoughts, and perceptions are based in our physical, not only subtle, being. But she started to listen to her thoughts and decided to only accept as true those that were loving toward herself. Then, she undertook a quest. She used perception to view her life through the eyes of a pilgrim, a journeyer searching for higher truths and meaning in the world within and around her. She started a journal and wrote down what she loved doing, as well as what she was neutral or negative about. This activity was key to relieving about half of her bodily pain. Much of the rest disappeared after she acted on an observation that she was embarrassed to share at first. It turned out that Beth felt the most joyous when making her kids' lunches for school. She said that knowing she was creating healthy food, sprinkled with love, gave her a "high." I suggested that her soul might want her making more lunches, and for more people! Beth laughed and shook her head. During our next session, however, she returned with an idea. She wanted to start a "love lunch" program for families that couldn't afford lunches for their kids. Within a year, she was running a nonprofit. She and other volunteers were dropping lunches off in the morning at the homes of families who needed lunches for their kids. Ultimately, we write our own narrative. Our soul wants to be a hero in our own story, but only if the process and end result is loving. By assisting your client with finding and developing meaning in their lives, your bodywork can be more effective on every level. IDEAS FOR BECOMING A SOUL ADVISOR Feelings Ask your client to relay the feelings causing them the most pain. Categorize them into the five feeling constellations noted in this article: anger, disgust, fear, joy, and sadness. No matter their feeling—or how negative it seems—applaud it. Suggest that it is an inner message and help them interpret what that feeling is pointing out with regard to their soul's search for meaning. Thoughts If a client can pinpoint the main thought they have in relation to their complaint or pain, gently suggest they evaluate this thought for how true they want it to be. Perhaps there is a different thought that would serve them better? Perceptions Somewhere in everyone's life is an activity, event, desire, person, or another factor that they perceive favorably. This is the place to start in the search for meaning. How can that positive function be developed and expanded? If you feel comfortable, ask why their inner self or soul likes that function. Notes 1. Linda Wasmer Andrews, "How a Sense of Purpose in Life Improves Your Health," Psychology Today, July 14, 2017, www.psychologytoday. com/us/blog/minding-the-body/201707/how- sense-purpose-in-life-improves-your-health. 2. University of Minnesota, "Why Is Life Purpose Important?," accessed January 2020, www. takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/why-life-purpose-important. 3. Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning (New York: Touchstone Books, 1984). Cyndi Dale is an internationally renowned author, speaker, and intuitive consultant. Her popular books include The Subtle Body Coloring Book: Learn Energetic Anatomy (Sounds True, 2017), Subtle Energy Techniques (Llewellyn Publications, 2017), Llewellyn's Complete Book of Chakras (Llewellyn Publications, 2016), The Intuition Guidebook: How To Safely and Wisely Use Your Sixth Sense (Deeper Well Publishing, 2011), Energetic Boundaries: How to Stay Protected and Connected in Work, Love, and Life (Sounds True, 2011), The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy (Sounds True, 2009), and The Complete Book of Chakra Healing (Llewellyn Publications, 2009), as well as nearly 20 additional books. To learn more about Dale and her products, services, and classes, please visit www.cyndidale.com. ENERGY WORK Ta k e 5 a n d t r y A B M P F i v e - M i n u t e M u s c l e s a t w w w. a b m p . c o m / f i v e - m i n u t e - m u s c l e s . 103