What is your soul hungry for today?

An overactive mind is a symptom of a hungry soul

It’s easy to get swept up in the swirling tide of everyday life. Our minds race from one thought to another, racing through plans, tasks, to-do lists and worries like leaves in the wind. This constant activity often feels productive, even necessary. But what if this mental chatter is actually a signal, a sign that something deeper within us is being overlooked?

As a holistic therapist who blends science and spirituality in online energy treatments, I’ve had the privilege of working with people from all walks of life, across the globe. One common theme emerges in nearly every session: the overactive mind. Yet, beneath this busy mind often lies something more profound — a hungry soul.

I once came across a piece of wisdom that has stayed with me:

“An overactive mind is a symptom of a hungry soul.”

This simple yet powerful phrase has guided much of my work and personal reflection.

If you take a moment to consider it, when your mind feels cluttered, scattered, or overwhelmed, it’s often a sign that your soul — the deepest, truest part of you — is asking for nourishment. But it’s not nourishment of the intellectual kind. It’s a deeper, more expansive hunger — a yearning for connection, meaning, and wholeness.

Even if you’re not actively seeking therapy, there’s a beautiful, simple practice you can try whenever your mind feels overstimulated. Pause. Breathe deeply, in and out. Then gently ask yourself: What is my soul hungry for today? This question, though seemingly small, can unlock doors within you that you might not even know existed. It’s an invitation to shift from the mind’s busyness to the heart’s quiet wisdom.

The hunger of the soul: more than meets the eye

The concept of a “hungry soul” is a metaphor for the deeper longings we all carry — the ones that transcend surface-level needs and invite us to explore the broader dimensions of our being. When the soul is hungry, it’s asking for more than what meets the eye. It’s urging us to look beyond the mundane and seek something more expansive, more profound.

Often, this hunger is experienced as restlessness, a feeling that something is missing or incomplete. In these moments, we might turn to distractions: scrolling through our phones, indulging in habits that numb the discomfort, or busying ourselves with endless to-do lists. But if we pause long enough to truly feel that restlessness, we may begin to recognise it for what it is: a call from our inner self.

When we start to listen to this call, the process of quenching this hunger can become a joyful, creative dance with the Self. It’s not about fixing anything, nor about filling a void. It’s about nurturing our deepest longings, giving space to what’s truly alive within us, and allowing that aliveness to guide us towards greater wholeness.

The beauty of nourishing the soul

One of the most liberating aspects of nourishing the soul is that there are no rules. There’s no need to judge, assess, or label your experience. What your soul craves today might be vastly different from what it needed yesterday — and that’s perfectly okay. The beauty lies in the freedom to explore, moment by moment, what feels right for you.

Perhaps today, your soul longs for a walk in nature, to feel the earth beneath your feet and the wind on your face. Or maybe it craves the solace of beautiful music, where each note brings a sense of calm and clarity. Maybe it’s something entirely unique to you — something playful, even quirky, that you’ve been drawn to for as long as you can remember.

The important thing is to honour whatever arises, without judgement. Give yourself permission to follow these impulses, knowing that they’re guiding you towards the nourishment your soul needs.

Distinguishing between the soul’s hunger and the mind’s cravings

It’s important, however, to learn to distinguish between the genuine hunger of the soul and the habitual cravings of the mind. The soul’s hunger often feels spontaneous, arising from a place of creativity, curiosity, and joy. The mind’s cravings, on the other hand, tend to be repetitive, rooted in habits that might not serve our highest good.

One way to recognise the difference is by paying attention to your body. When the soul’s hunger arises, you might feel a sense of expansion or openness — a physical lightness or warmth. When the mind’s cravings take over, particularly those rooted in anxiety or fear, they often create tension or tightness in the body — a contracting sensation.

The body’s language is simple and clear: pleasant, expansive sensations often indicate alignment with the soul’s desires, while uncomfortable, tense sensations suggest we might be veering off course.

Reconnecting with the body: A path to soulful nourishment

For some, particularly those who’ve experienced trauma or disconnection from the body, it can be difficult to tune into these physical signals. Over time, we may have become numb to the body’s language, unsure of how to feel or trust its messages. But the body, like the soul, is patient. It’s always there, waiting for us to reconnect.

If you find yourself struggling to know how your body feels in this moment, remember that every journey begins with a single step. The first step here is compassion — towards yourself and your body. Approaching your body with kindness can begin as simply as gently massaging your own hands or feet, or standing in the shower and intentionally “saying hello” to each part of your body as the water flows over you. These small acts of awareness can foster a deeper connection, helping you tune back into the language of your body.

A moment of reflection: what is your soul hungry for today?

As you finish reading this, I invite you to take a moment. Pause, take a deep breath, and ask yourself: What is my soul hungry for today?

The answer may surprise you, or it may be something simple and familiar. Whatever it is, trust that your soul knows exactly what you need in this moment. By listening to its call, you’re nurturing not just your mind or body, but your entire being. And that is where true nourishment — and true freedom — begins.

The article was first published on Medium.