Finding The Soul

By Benjamin Friedman

Finding the Soul is a poetry book that goes into the depths of human experience. Experiences of the self, such as; our relationship with our passion, nature, work, family, and friends. This book is different than most because it provides practical tools that can be used to make yourself organized. As well as a curated collection of art of various styles.
There are also a variety of poems that use animals, plants, and other systems in nature as metaphors. Here you'll also find poems that are in a serialized form. When reading this book, you're able to open to a page you connect with as it covers topics in a beautiful way that can be interpreted in multiple ways. Each poem provides a unique experience, one that mirrors a tour through famous a museum.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Freedman Writings
• Release date: Mar 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223812166

Book preview

Preface

When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.

~ John F. Kennedy

This book of poetry & philosophy is a window into the soul, and our quest to be whole. The Book is composed of ten chapters, each chapter has an opener with a picture curated by the author and created with A.I Art. After each chapter there is a philosophical summary of the chapter's topic. At the end  of the book I wrote you a letter.

In this book I have composed some of my knowledge and emotions for your pleasure. This book is meant to touch upon our various struggles, internally and externally and express them through poetry and written word. Additionally, to narrate our individual route to see creative solutions and our ability to choose well, act well and be well. However, the majority of the books I wish to write differ as they are much more non-fiction. This is why I tried adding practical tools in this passionate book. That being said, this art is never done. Therefore, I will be releasing later editions of this book with more content about the natural evolution of writing and growing. To all those dear friends who helped with critiques, editing, and notes, I sincerely thank you. Now, after some additional changes I finally have the privilege and honor to present to you a look into my soul, and the way I found it.

Introduction

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

~ Maya Angelou

The definition of a soul has two meanings in the English dictionary.

The immaterial or spiritual part of being human, regarded as immortal.

The emotional intensity or intellectual energy, which can be used to describe an artistic expression.

Both of these descriptions ring true for the title of this book, and its contents.

There are many poems here, some are long and some short, some are feelings and others ideologies. They all share a deep curiosity for life, but more importantly how we choose to live it.

When I first started writing poetry, I was working a high-pressure job as a project manager which was encroaching on almost every aspect of my life. I had felt as if I was going to explode, either in a fit of rage or to curl up into a ball in bed. I’m certain many of you can relate somehow.

Having been deterred from writing due to my severe dyslexia, I never thought of writing  as an option. Writing was introduced to me just as a way of organizing my day, while I was working at an investment bank. Years later, I discovered its power to organize my thoughts. The habit of writing is the most crucial I’ve had since. All it took to get started was a second of courage, this second can inspire an hour of passionate work.

In order to accomplish great things; you need to build great systems. Just as many great people and writers throughout history have done for themselves, such as: Benjamin Franklin, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln. Plato, Aristotle, Judah ha-Nasi, Maimonides, Menachem Begin, and my Grandfather Mark Hasten. Writing is a medium to connect with the self, making sense of what you're feeling, and thinking.

After going through a transcendental experience putting down my thoughts, I inspired myself by just subconsciously letting go of my writing expectations and began writing whatever came to mind; it just so happened to be a poem. This poem called My Charisma, then led to a series of poems exploring my emotions. And then I started writing