You, dear soul, are a soul searcher. How do I know? Well, you were curious enough to want to read more of this article. So, here's one for all the soul searchers out there. I'm The Spiritual PA, Emma Mildon, author of The Soul Searchers Handbook, and I want to share with you my journey to writing this book; and provide advice to you, dear soul searcher, as you set out on this road to spiritual discovery.
I have traveled everywhere from Spain to Peru and Egypt to New Zealand meeting tea leaf readers, astrologists, shaman, healers, regressionists, physics, mystics, artists, yogis, and other soul searchers along the way. What did I learn? I learned that while I had emptied my bank account traveling the globe on a search for self-discovery, that actually, all the answers were deep within me -- go figure!
I always had a deep, inexpiable, soul-driven call -- I knew I was meant to write, I just didn't know what I should write about...
As I traveled, and learned more about the different styles, techniques, and tools in spirituality, I realized I had been sent out to explore, hunt, and gather spiritual wisdom to help benefit a whole tribe of soul seekers (aka my readers). That's when I started to think of myself as a Spiritual PA. I do the ground work, the test runs, the research, the study, and note-taking for the boss, the CEO of soul -- the readers -- you.
Once I hit my spiritual path, I never looked back. My mission now is to try and give out enough spiritual directions so that other people can find their path, too.
Here are the 10 most important guidelines for any modern soul searcher:
T-Sign
Yes, I am holding up my hands to you in the universal T for timeout sign. It's time to take a break from life and allow yourself a window, every day, however big or small, to gather yourself. Trust me, this is simple but amazingly powerful. Whether it be the art of making a cup of herbal tea for yourself, closing your eyes to meditate for a space of time, or giving yourself a moment of calm in the midst of a manic day. Allow yourself permission to take a T-sign break. Your coach, aka your soul, will thank you for it!
Bypass
Skip the stuff in life that no longer serves you. Part of your holistic development will see you naturally outgrow relationships and organically meet new people who are making shifts to live in a more holistic style like you. When you get a gut feeling, inkling, or an unexplainable urge to skip a lunch date with someone, cancel on a friend, or simply not make time for a person anymore -- listen to it. Save yourself the detour later.
Traffic Jam
Some say the glass is half full, some half empty -- you and I? We say the glass is beautiful! And more amazingly, we can also appreciate the beauty of a traffic jam. See the blessing in situations that stop and challenge you. Use them as an opportunity to smile at a stranger when you become conscious of yourself and your emotions at boiling point. Use these moments as opportunities to tune into music that speaks to your soul. To daydream about beautiful things you would like to welcome into your life. Use them as a sweet, unexpected treat.
U-Turn
Master the U-turn. It is the ability to admit that what you once said, thought, or did may not be right. Acknowledging, confessing, forgiving, and making yourself vulnerable are all like Formula One's fast lanes for your soul's development. It is a sign of a wise, holistic, and awakened being when one can admit -- whoops!
Stop for Pedestrians
As you become increasingly alert in your day-to-day life you will become more grateful and conscious of the people who you meet, and why they may have crossed your path. Make an effort this year to think about the greater purpose of people crossing journeys with you. What can you learn from them? What can you teach them?
Give Way Rule
The first rule of succeeding in a holistic sense in 2016: There are no rules -- only questions. Is it kind? Is it right? Is it good for me? Is it good for others? Is it good for the earth? When in doubt I suggest applying the courtesy give way rule. Respect others' journeys. Be careful of weary drivers. Take in the scenery, and when your soul craves it, take the scenic route.
Green Light
In life, I get frustrated watching people sit on a green light, waiting to go and chase their dreams. It is more frustrating than sitting behind someone in traffic, not aware of an actual green light in front of them. Trust that you have the green light, and put the pedal to the metal -- go! The only step in your way is pressing down on the gas to continue your journey. Don't make me beep you, because I will...
Road Work
You need to know when to be weary or cautious. Your intuition is like road work signs, flashing at you, alerting you of approaching danger. Pay attention to it, and most importantly, stay alert and awake along your journey. Make sure you don't miss any vital signs, or spiritual breadcrumbs along the way.
Off Ramp
Don't mistake this as an excuse to give up. An exit sign will often appear when something becomes too challenging. It will almost feel like everything is working against you. This is usually a sign to take an exit off-ramp, and find a new approach to something or a new path. Be it an off ramp in a relationship, business partnership, or planning -- look out for an off ramp when you feel like you are driving into head-on traffic.
Open Road
Solitude is key to tapping into your soul's inner-most desires, and will feed you the most a-ha moments to guide you along your soul search. Take time to explore the open road alone, go off the beaten track, and drive with the top down and the wind in your hair as you blast Alanis Morissette and scream, "It's a traffic jam, when you're already late!" Give yourself the space to soul search with just yourself as a road trip companion.
Travel safe on your journey dear soul, live well!
-----------
HuffPost's GPS for the Soul app is based on two truths about human beings. First: We all have a centered place of wisdom, harmony and balance within us. Second: We're all going to veer away from that place, again and again and again. What we need is a great course-correcting mechanism -- a GPS for the Soul -- to help us find our way back to that centered place, from which everything is possible.
Because no one knows better than you what helps you de-stress and tap into that place of peace inside yourself, it's important for you to create your very own GPS guide -- a personalized collection of whatever helps you course-correct. Email us at GPS@huffingtonpost.com and we'll set you up with your very own HuffPost blogger account to share your guide on the site. If you're already a blogger, we encourage you to upload your personal guide today. We can't wait to see what you have to share.