The Power Of Values: Make A Little Nest In Your Soul

Moral values are part of society's fabric to live together in harmony. They are meaningful and lasting beliefs that influence our decisions and guide our lives.

Way back in the fifth century BC after leaving his career as a stonecutter, Socrates (469-399 bc), an Athenian Greek, lived his adult life wandering his community trying to get some truth about ethics and the conduct of life - topics which thereafter became central to philosophy. He challenged prominent intellectuals, political figures and others to look more closely at themselves. He encouraged them to think harder and to improve their ideas of morality and about how to lead a good human life. Socrates wondered what makes a worthwhile life.

We all have core values we subscribe to. They vary by individual; they are personal and can include many things: morality, ethics, religion, inner voice, philosophy, etc. Once we identify the ones that are important to us and we take heart applying them, positive energies are released; well-being, happiness, new opportunities are sure to follow…. 

This mixed media art doll titled "Make A Little Nest In Your Soul" was created with some of my beliefs in mind.

She's  made with scraps of cotton & muslin that I have hand stitched over a wire armature.

She's embellished with grommets, trims, beads, buttons, vintage book page, chain, jewelry parts, found objects, stamped designs and these words of value: TRUST, LOVE, RESPECT, GENEROSITY, COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HARMONY, WISDOM, HUMILITY, JUSTICE, PATIENCE, MODESTY, GRATITUDE, TRUTH.

A nest made with cotton rope is growing on top of her head. It bears the words: "MAKE A LITTLE NEST IN YOUR SOUL". In it stands a bird with the word PEACE on its wing. She's signed & dated.

This inspirational soft sculpture is available in my Etsy shop.

Here is a little exercise: take a break from what you're doing and come up with a list of your favorite beliefs that are motivating and shaping your life, and then consider how each is affecting you.

UNLEASH YOUR TRUTH.

"All men's souls are immortal, but the souls of the righteous are immortal and divine" ~ Socrates 

*Note: As Socrates did not write philosophical texts, the knowledge of the man, his life, and his philosophy is entirely based on writings by his students and contemporaries. Foremost among them is Plato; however, works by Xenophon, Aristotle, and Aristophanes also provide important insights.(wikipedia)*