What Ignites Your Spirit? A Journey Back to Your Authentic Self
- Renee Ulloa
- Jul 2
- 8 min read
Have you ever felt that gentle pull in your chest when something lights you up inside? That quiet rush of energy, excitement, and deep knowing that says, "This is me. This is what I'm here for."
It might happen when you're watching a sunset paint the sky in impossible colors, when you're deep in conversation with someone who truly sees you, or when you stumble upon an idea that makes your whole being vibrate with possibility. In that moment, time seems to pause, your breath deepens, and you feel more like yourself than you have in months.
That feeling is your spirit being ignited – a remembering of your true essence beyond roles, tasks, and the endless expectations that pile up like leaves in autumn. It's your soul whispering, "Remember who you are beneath all the noise."
Why We Lose Our Spark (And Why It's Not Your Fault)
In the rush of daily life, it's easy to forget what fuels us. Between responsibilities, career demands, family obligations, and the constant digital noise of our hyperconnected world, we slip into autopilot mode. We become experts at functioning, checking boxes, and meeting deadlines, but somewhere along the way, we forget how to truly live.
Over time, our spark dims like a candle slowly burning out. Life begins to feel heavy, uninspired, or strangely disconnected – as if we're watching our own lives from behind glass. The colors seem muted, conversations feel surface-level, and even our successes feel hollow.
Maybe you wake up feeling tired before the day even begins. Maybe you find yourself scrolling mindlessly through social media, searching for something to fill the void you can't quite name. Maybe you catch yourself thinking, "Is this really all there is?" while standing in your kitchen, coffee in hand, staring out the window at a life that looks good on paper but feels empty in your heart.
You aren't alone in this feeling. Most of us weren't taught to follow what lights us up – we were taught to follow what's practical, safe, or socially acceptable. We learned to prioritize stability over passion, security over adventure, fitting in over standing out. We were taught to be "realistic" about our dreams, as if joy and fulfillment were luxury items reserved for the lucky few.
But here's what I want you to know: your spirit was never meant to be dimmed. You didn't come into this world to live a half-hearted life, going through the motions while your soul quietly weeps for expression. You are here to feel alive, to experience the full spectrum of human emotion – joy, passion, wonder, connection, and yes, even the beautiful ache of being deeply moved by life itself.
The Sacred Art of Rekindling Your Inner Fire
The beautiful truth is that your spark is never truly gone – it's just buried under layers of "shoulds" and "supposed-tos." Like embers glowing beneath ash, it's waiting for you to gently blow on it, to give it the oxygen it needs to flame back to life.
Here are deeper ways to reconnect with your inner fire:
1. Remember Your Childhood Joys (Your Soul's First Language)
Think back to when you were younger, before the world taught you who you were supposed to be. What did you do for hours without being told? What made you lose track of time so completely that your parents had to call you for dinner three times?
Maybe it was painting with your fingers, creating entire worlds with watercolors that bled together in beautiful chaos. Maybe it was exploring nature, collecting smooth stones and interesting leaves, building fairy houses in the garden, or talking to trees like they were old friends. Perhaps you spent hours building elaborate Lego cities, dancing wildly in your room to your favorite songs, writing stories about magical creatures, or putting on performances for anyone who would watch.
Your childhood joys aren't just sweet memories – they're breadcrumbs leading you back to your authentic self. They reveal the themes and energies that your soul naturally gravitates toward, before society told you what was "valuable" or "practical."
Journal Prompt: Close your eyes and travel back to a time when you felt completely absorbed in something you loved. What were you doing? How did it feel in your body? What aspects of that activity could you bring into your life today, even in small ways?
2. Notice Where Your Energy Rises (Your Internal GPS)
Your energy is like an internal GPS system, constantly guiding you toward what serves your highest good and away from what drains your life force. But in our busy world, we've learned to override these signals, pushing through fatigue and ignoring the whispers of our intuition.
Start paying attention to the moments in your day when you feel most alive. Who are you with when this happens? What are you doing? What conversations make you lean forward with interest? What activities make you forget to check your phone? What environments make you breathe deeper and stand taller?
Maybe your energy rises when you're having deep, meaningful conversations that go beyond small talk. Maybe it's when you're creating something with your hands, solving complex problems, or helping others navigate their challenges. Perhaps it's when you're in nature, when you're learning something new that fascinates you, or when you're moving your body in ways that feel like play rather than exercise.
Sometimes passion isn't about what we do, but about the quality of presence and energy we bring to whatever we're doing. Follow those moments of natural expansion like a detective following clues.
Practice: For one week, keep an "energy journal." Notice when your energy rises and when it drops. What patterns emerge? What does this tell you about what ignites your spirit?
3. Follow Your Curiosity (The Gateway to Wonder)
You don't have to have it all figured out to begin. In fact, the pressure to have a clear, defined "passion" can be paralyzing. Instead, start with curiosity – that gentle pull toward something that intrigues you, even if you can't explain why.
Passion often hides behind curiosity like a shy child peeking out from behind a tree. What are you deeply curious about right now? What topics make you perk up in conversation or send you down internet rabbit holes at 2 AM? What questions keep bubbling up in your mind? What would you love to learn more about if time and money weren't factors?
Maybe you find yourself fascinated by ancient civilizations, sustainable living, human psychology, or the way light falls through windows at different times of day. Maybe you're curious about permaculture, pottery, storytelling, or the intersection of technology and creativity.
Give yourself permission to explore without needing a reason, a plan, or an immediate return on investment. Curiosity is its own reward, and it often leads to unexpected discoveries about yourself and the world.
Challenge: Choose one thing you're curious about and commit to exploring it for just 15 minutes a day for a week. Read an article, watch a video, have a conversation about it, or try something hands-on. Notice what happens to your energy.
4. Pay Attention to What Breaks Your Heart Open (Where Love Meets Service)
Sometimes your purpose is revealed not in what brings you joy, but in what moves you so deeply that you can't ignore it. Is there a cause, a story, or a type of healing that makes your heart ache with compassion, anger, or awe? That ache is sacred – it shows you where your gifts are needed most in the world.
Maybe your heart breaks open when you see animals in distress, when you witness social injustice, or when you encounter someone who feels invisible or unheard. Maybe you feel a deep stirring when you see environmental destruction, when you meet elderly people who are lonely, or when you encounter children who've lost their natural sense of wonder.
This isn't about taking on the weight of the world or feeling guilty about problems you didn't create. It's about recognizing that your emotional responses are guidance systems, pointing you toward the places where your unique combination of skills, experiences, and compassion could make a meaningful difference.
Reflection: What issues or situations consistently move you to tears, anger, or action? How might your personal experiences and natural gifts be perfectly suited to address these areas of need?
5. Tune Into Your Body's Wisdom (Your Most Trusted Advisor)
Your body is constantly communicating with you through sensations, energy shifts, and subtle signals that your mind hasn't yet processed. While your thoughts can be influenced by fear, conditioning, and external expectations, your body tells you the truth about what serves your highest good.
When you think of an idea, path, or possibility, take a moment to notice: Do you feel expansive or contracted? Light or heavy? Does your breathing deepen or become shallow? Do you feel energized or drained? Does your posture naturally straighten, or do you find yourself slouching?
Your body knows before your mind catches up. It recognizes resonance and resistance, opportunity and warning signs. Learning to trust these physical sensations is like developing a superpower – the ability to navigate life with wisdom that goes beyond logic.
Exercise: Next time you're facing a decision, try this: Sit quietly and imagine yourself choosing option A. Notice what happens in your body. Then imagine choosing option B and notice the difference. Your body's response will often give you clearer guidance than hours of mental analysis.
Your Spark is Your Compass (Not Your Destination)
Here's what I want you to understand: You don't need a perfectly crafted five-year plan to start honoring what ignites your spirit. You don't need to wait until you feel "motivated" or until all the stars align. You don't need permission from anyone else to pursue what brings you alive.
You just need to know what makes your spirit come alive today. Right now. In this moment. That's your compass, and like any good compass, it will continue to point you in the right direction as you move forward, even when the path isn't clear.
Maybe following your spark means having more conversations that matter to you. Maybe it means spending more time in nature, creating art, learning new skills, or volunteering for causes you care about. Maybe it means changing careers, or maybe it means bringing more creativity and intention to the work you already do.
The key is to start where you are, with what you have. Take one small step toward what lights you up, then another, then another. Trust that the path will unfold as you walk it.
Because when you're ignited from within, something magical happens. You show up in the world with a presence that is magnetic, authentic, and deeply healing – not just for you, but for everyone around you. Your joy becomes contagious. Your passion inspires others to remember their own. Your courage to live authentically gives others permission to do the same.
You become a living example of what's possible when someone chooses to honor their spirit instead of just surviving their circumstances.
Your Sacred Assignment
What ignites your spirit right now? ✨
Don't overthink this. Don't worry about whether it's "practical" or "important enough." Just notice what makes you feel most alive, most like yourself, most connected to the deeper currents of life.
Write it down. Not just in your head – actually write it down. There's something powerful about putting pen to paper, about making your inner knowing visible in the physical world.
Now, nurture it. Take one small step toward it this week. Not a giant leap that overwhelms you, but one small, loving action that honors what you've discovered.
Your passion is not selfish – it's a gift to the world. Your purpose is not something you have to figure out – it's something you remember by following what brings you alive. Your spark is not a luxury – it's a necessity for a life well-lived.
Let them guide your next chapter. Let them lead you home to yourself.
Remember: You are not here to live someone else's life or to be a pale imitation of who you think you should be. You are here to be brilliantly, unapologetically, beautifully you. The world needs your particular flavor of magic, your unique way of seeing and being and contributing.
Your spirit is calling. Are you ready to answer?
Comments