The Secret Shape Of Your Soul

The Secret Shape of your Soul

Authors Note 

We live in a world of unlimited access to information as never before, yet we're still searching for something. 

The prophet says “behold days are coming where the hunger will not be for bread, and the thirst will not be for water, but to hear the words of God”.

Indeed we have more material abundance than ever before and yet we still seek inner wisdom. The soul still thirsts to hear something more.  

It is my hope and prayer that this teaching will provide your soul with something more. I have attempted, in simple language, to share a little piece of the wisdom that will nourish your soul and expand your spirit.

Wishing you an uplifting and inspiring journey.

Sara Vital (Wittler)

Gratitude 

Thank You Hashem for life.

Thank You for allowing me to feel your love holding me, sustaining me and bringing me to this day. 

Thank you my beloved parents for your light that has shown me the way. May you continue to illuminate the world forever. 

Thank you my wonderful friends for standing beside me and singing my song when I'd forgotten the tune. You know who you are. May you sing forever. 

Thank you my precious children. You are the gems of my life. May you each merit to discover your unique way to shine. 

Thank you my dear husband for being you. Your purity and quest for truth has anchored my ship in stormy waters. 

May we sail together on our voyage to become ever closer to Hashem. 

Introduction 

Most of us assume that we know why we do what we do. We go to work to make money and support our families, we eat to have energy, we exercise to be healthy, and so forth. But what if we took a deeper look. 

Beneath the surface, what do you think we would discover as the real reason for doing everything that we do?

Let's ask some basic questions. 

What exactly is the underlying motive for everything we do?

What is it that drives all human behaviour? What are we looking for? 

Why is it that with all the assets of our modern day lives we're still searching for something more?

As simple and as base as it may sound, people do what they do, because it makes them feel good. Yes, human beings want to feel good!

If we were to take any action of any person, and break it down to the bottom line, uncovering the true intention, we'd be surprised to discover that in some way, the person was driven by one motive – the wish to feel good, or the wish to avoid feeling bad. 

This deepest intention is often not outwardly recognized, as it is rationalized with all different kinds of explanations along the way. But if we were to move beyond those seemingly honest rational reasons, we'd reach the true intention - the drive to feel good and avoid feeling bad.

Let's give an example with Barry who just couldn't loose weight. He'd tried every diet under the sun, but somehow nothing worked for him. He knew that his weight was bad for his health, but the pleasure of tucking into his favorite foods just got the better of him. One day he discovered that he had a life threatening illness, which his doctor told him could only be cured through a drastic change in his diet. In a flash, Barry adapted to a whole new way of eating, and was able to forgo all of his food pleasures.

How was he able to do this, and why hadn't he managed before?

Until now, the pleasure of his food overpowered him, but now that his life was at risk, the thought of loosing his life caused him so much pain that he was and to overcome the pleasure of the food, and make the change.

Indeed, pain and pleasure drive all human behaviour. In this teaching we'll discover the secret shape of our soul. We'll discover how each individual has a unique pain and pleasure that drive them. 

Understanding these individual differences will open up doors of self-awareness as well as the ability to understand others.

Professionals in the field of mental and emotional health have been amazed at the simplicity, clarity and truth in the concepts we are about to convey.

So it's pain and pleasure that drive human behaviour. But what exactly gives us pain or pleasure. 

We feel good when our needs are met. We feel bad when they're not. It's that simple. 

A person may be ready to endure physical pain to receive spiritual pleasure. An example would be a person who chooses to fast in order to meditate on an empty stomach. This person may experience physical discomfort but it's outweighed by the spiritual satisfaction of meditation and peace. 

As humans we all have physical, emotional and spiritual needs. All of these must be considered when discussing the pain vs pleasure concept. For now however we'll be delving more deeply into understanding our various emotional needs. 

Shapes have been chosen as a way of making this understanding more animated and fun. 

The Secret Shape of your Soul 

Square 

The square is solid, grounded, concrete and stable.

Circle

The circle is flowing and connecting. 

Triangle 

The triangle is pointed and reaching upwards. 

The square represents the need for stability, predictability safety and security. It represents the need to know things clearly. To feel sure, grounded, comfortable and clear. 

The circle represents the need for connection, closeness, and love. The need to give, receive and flow. The need to feel wanted, connected and loved. 

The triangle represents the need for ambition and success. The need to feel recognised, valued and significant. The need to achieve and feel acknowledged, unique and admired. 

Your unique shape is not something that you chose, it was given to you before you were born. 

Your shape is much more than your need. It is actually your personality's strengths and tendencies. It is the spiritual form through which your soul's spiritual light can shine. 

We don't necessarily know our shape but others can feel our light shining through that form, assuming we haven't deformed our shape!

Becoming aware of our unique shape can help us understand and accept who we are, ultimately giving ourselves permission to shine more brightly. 

Ironically we look at the world through square, circular or triangular lenses and tend to seek out the very shape qualities that we are!

It's almost like we're looking for ourselves we've just never recognised our own shape. Not only that, but we tend to feel our greatest lack in the very area that we have the most potential. 

Let's now define how the energy feels when we are shining brightly. 

Squares Shine With

Clarity. Certainly. Calmness. Ground. Security. Inner knowing.

Circles Shine With

Kindness. Warmth. Love. Ease. Flow. Peace. Care. Nurture. Connection. Giving. 

Triangles Shine With

Dignity. Confidence. Leadership. Uniqueness. Significance. Growth.

In order to really shine with our soul shape we must accept and love our shape. Spiritual understanding helps us to acknowledge that we were given our unique shape for a reason. 

Trying to copy another shape will distort our shape and effect the purity of our shine. This is often what happens as we grow up. 

Although we all have one primary shape, we still contain the qualities of the other shapes within us. For this reason we can all relate to all the emotional needs and tendencies of every shape. 

However, in order to shine brightly we must know and embrace our primary form with all its potential. It's only because of our forms great potential that we looked around as children and felt so lacking. The bigger bottle will appear more empty whilst holding the same amount of water as the smaller bottle. 

At some point we learn to acknowledge and re-embrace our own unique soul shape. We learn to let go of our fears and negative beliefs. As we do this we naturally regain our original shape and shine more brightly. Perhaps herein lies some of the basic secrets of teshuva (repentance, but literally translated as returning).

Let us understand some of our shapes fears and negative beliefs. 

Squares Fear 

Not knowing. Losing control. Unpredictability. Lack of clarity. Feeling unsure.

Squares Possible Negative Beliefs 

What shall I do now. 

I never know what to do. 

Everyone else seems to know. 

Why can't I (whatever).

I might be going crazy. 

What if (fear) happens. 

Squares Positive Affirmations

I know deeply that I'm being held.

There is guidance in this world. 

I trust in Divine supervision. 

I am grounded. 

I am calm. 

I focus on this moment and breath.

Life if not in my control but I an calm. 

I know that I'm being cared for. 

Circles Fear

Feeling unwanted. Rejection. Losing love. Disconnection. Lonely.

Circles Possible Negative Beliefs 

They don't really want me. 

No one really cares. 

What if they stop loving me. 

How can I get them to be my friend. 

What can I do to make them like me. 

Circles Positive Affirmations

I am loved just as I am

I am wanted

I am precious and deserve care

Triangles Fear

Failure. Feeling insignificant. Being shamed. Losing. 

Triangles Possible Negative Beliefs 

What if they win. 

Who will notice me. 

I don't care about them at long as I'm seen. 

I better stay away incase they embarrass me. 

I'll never be as good as them. 

Triangles Positive Affirmations

I am intrinsically valuable 

I respect myself 

I don't have to prove myself to anyone

I am not in competition with anyone else

I am enough just as I am

I am unique

I am proud of the fact that I'm growing

Understanding our unique fears, negative beliefs and positive affirmations, are for sure a wonderful thing. This direct focused work will certainly set us on the path to deeper connection with our spiritual core. Yet please note; reading it on paper is easy, embodying it may be a lifetimes effort. 

This reality should not discourage you from walking the path. On the contrary, the more we make peace with knowing that the mountain has endless peaks, the more we can surrender to enjoying the climb with its endless beauty and landscapes. 

So, weather you're a square, circle or triangle, I wish you an enjoyable climb, filled with vitality, freedom courage and love. 

Ps. And if you ever get stuck sitting at the side of the path wondering how you'll ever find the strength to continue, please take a moment to look back and see how far you've come.

A fellow traveller