How Choosing the Right Soul Aspect Can Change Your Life
“Our lives are fashioned by our choices. First we make our choices. Then our choices make us.”
Can you think of a change you made in your life? What was it? How hard was it for you to make that decision?
Some choices take years… some people never make them at all.
Why Do We Struggle With Decisions?
- Don’t know what to choose
- Don’t want to ruffle feathers
- Don’t trust ourselves to choose right
- Afraid to fail
The Hebrew Root of “Choice”
- חבר (Chaver) – Friend
- חרב (Cherev) – Sword
Why is that? Because when we make a choice, we either bring about connection—or separation.
Not making a choice is also a form of making a choice—would you agree?
The Lightning Bolt of Clarity
“Sudden spiritual clarity comes about as a result of a certain spiritual lightning bolt that enters the soul . . . When many days or years have passed without listening to this inner voice, toxic stones gather around one’s heart, and one feels... a heaviness of spirit... The primary role of spiritual clarity is for the person to return to himself (herself), to the root of his soul.”
Breathing Connects Us to the Soul
“I am here for you—use me. And you will know what to do.”
Levels of the Soul
Nefesh
Ruach
Neshama
I love when Jewish wisdom opens so many windows in our brains. Now, the light can come in.se me. And you will know what to do.
What Soul Aspect Do You Use to Make Choices?
- Nefesh? Body – “What do I need?”
- Ruach? Heart – “What do I feel?”
- Neshama? Mind – “What do I know and believe?”
Can you emphasize a different aspect of your soul by making a new choice?
So How Do You Change Your Life?
Hope
Faith
Trust
It means tuning in to which part of your soul—your body, your heart, or your mind—is influencing your decision. Sometimes we act out of survival (Nefesh), sometimes out of emotion (Ruach), and sometimes from higher wisdom (Neshama). Becoming aware of this helps us make better, more aligned choices.
If you feel stuck, disconnected, or spiritually heavy, it may be time for change. That inner nudge—what Rav Kook calls a “spiritual lightning bolt”—is your soul urging you to realign. Don’t ignore it. Listen in.
-
Nefesh is the physical and instinctive part—your body and survival drive.
-
Ruach is your emotional self—your heart, feelings, and personality.
-
Neshama is the highest level—your intellect, conscience, and purpose.
All are essential, and all influence how you live and choose.
Breathing (Neshima) connects us to the soul (Neshama). It calms the body, opens the heart, and clears the mind. Every time we pause to breathe, we make space for inner wisdom to come through.
Faith reminds us we’re not alone. When we trust in ourselves and in something greater, we move forward with courage instead of fear. It’s the spark that says, “You can do this”—even when the path isn’t clear.
Dorice Horenstein, renowned as the “Oy to Joy” International Champion Catalyst Speaker, transforms Disconnection to Engagment and tactics into practical strategies! As a Positive Intelligence expert and best-selling author of Moments of the Heart: Four Relationships Everyone Should Have to Live Wholeheartedly, Dorice energizes and motivates global audiences to uncover their inner champions. With a background in educational leadership, she has made the world her platform, fostering positive cultures by empowering individuals to overcome challenges, build resilience, and find joy, leading to personal and professional growth.
Dorice is a dynamic speaker whose energy and charisma have a global impact. Her core superpower is her ability to present, train, and coach effectively. She redefines “T.E.A.M.” as “Together Everyone’s Attributes are Magnified,” inspiring others to recognize their strengths, enhance effectiveness, and joyfully step into their destined leadership roles. Her mission is to cultivate healthy, positive relationships that reduce stress, increase retention rates, and create a more positive culture both at work and at home.
