Soul To Sole
We all walk in the footsteps of giants—those we've known personally and those whose stories, myths, and legends have shaped our understanding of the world. The wisdom of the past is available for all who are open to receiving it, urging us to carry their legacy forward and create something even greater than what we've been given. This yearning, this call to seek, to discover, and to become is the very essence of being human.
This call resonates within each of us, yet the journey unfolds differently for everyone. Some meet the unknown with a joyful spring in their step, eager to embrace the adventure. Others approach with cautious steps, hearts filled with a mix of excitement and trepidation. No matter where you find yourself on this spectrum, the key lies in embracing the journey itself, in being open to the lessons learned with each step forward. It's in those moments of trying, of stumbling and rising again, that we truly discover who we are and what we're capable of.
Growing up, I was surrounded by timeless stories that sparked my imagination and planted seeds of wisdom deep within my heart. These tales felt both familiar and fantastical, filled with heroes and journeys that seemed a world away. But as I grew older, I began to see reflections of these ancient stories in my own life, particularly through the extraordinary journey of my father, Joshua Kaufman.
It was through his experiences, intertwined with the wisdom gleaned from Biblical figures like Abraham, that I began to understand the enduring power of these narratives. Abraham, instructed by God to leave everything he knew and journey to a new land, embodies this call to embrace the unknown. His story, recounted in the book of Genesis in the chapter called "Lech Lecha"—"Go to Yourself" or "Go for Yourself"—wasn't just about physical travel; it was a call to embark on a spiritual quest, to step into the unknown and uncover the depths of his own soul. The message of “Go for yourself,” speaks to the universal truth that within each soul lies a unique path, and true fulfillment comes from aligning our inner steps with our outer steps.
My father, Joshua Kaufman, embodied this very call to "Lech Lecha," but his journey, unlike Abraham's, was not one of choosing. While Abraham ventured forth with hope, my father was thrust into the unknown by the brutal hand of history. He too was called to "go to himself," to dig deep within and find the strength to survive when the world around him had shattered.
Born generations later in a small town in Hungary, his early life was rooted in the traditions of Orthodox Judaism and his family's Bohemian heritage. But with the rise of Nazi Germany, his happy childhood vanished. Forced to flee, he left behind everything familiar, trading the comfort and security of his loving home for an uncertain and perilous future. He shed the visible markers of his faith, even his long payot (sidelocks), once a point of pride, were sacrificed for the possibility of survival. Through it all—the fear, the loss, the unimaginable darkness—his soul remained his compass. His journey took him to the darkest places imaginable, yet every step was guided by that unshakeable inner voice urging him forward.
Often, people would ask my father, “How did you survive?” His first answer would always be accompanied by a faraway glance as he quipped, “You think I know?” But upon deepening the conversation, he would always say: “It was a miracle to survive, sometimes I don’t believe it myself. But what gave me strength to continue and to ‘put one foot in front of the other’ was imagining my mother and my family around the Shabbat table. The warmth, the joy, the feeling of love kept me going. I knew I would get out of there and feel that again.”
My father survived the horrors of Auschwitz, Dachau, and Muldorf, enduring even a death march, all before the age of 18. He emerged from the fire, forever marked by the experience, but his spirit unbroken. And in putting one ‘foot in front of another,’ he was able to re-invent his life, build a family, and carry this and many invaluable lessons forward.
While we can’t fathom what people went through in the times of the Holocaust, we too have our own struggles today. We might not face the same horrors, but we all know what it means to feel lost, afraid, unsure of which path to take. Life is full of challenges that test our resolve. But just like my father clung to the vision of his family around the Shabbat table, we too can find strength in connecting with what truly matters to us. "Put one foot in front of the other" becomes more than just a saying; it becomes a lifeline, a way to move forward even when we can't see the whole path ahead.
My father's journey, a testament to the power of the human spirit, instilled in me a profound understanding: when we connect that inner spark that drives us to our physical actions, we unlock a wellspring of strength and resilience. We learn to walk with intention, guided by something far greater than ourselves. And sometimes, that guidance comes from those who have walked before us, their stories lighting the way.
It's a call that echoes through each of us, an ancient rhythm urging us to move, to grow, to become. It's the pulse of something deep and enduring within our souls, whispering that life's truest journey isn't about reaching a fixed destination, but about embracing the steps along the way. Even when hardships cloud our path, and the goal post seems lost in the distance, that inner voice reminds us to keep going. It encourages us to let go of the "shoulds" that bind us and rekindle the flame of curiosity. For it's in the act of moving, of trying, of stumbling and rising again, that we truly discover who we are. The becoming happens not in the arrival, but in the constant, courageous act of living, of learning, of transforming with every step we take.
It was during a particularly challenging time in my own life that I realized the true depth of his legacy. I felt lost, uncertain, my steps faltering. And then, as if I could hear his voice whispering to me, I remembered his words, "Put one foot in front of the other." It was in that moment that the phrase "Soul to Sole" came to me, a way to encapsulate the profound connection between our inner purpose and our outward actions.
The words 'soul' and 'sole,' though separated by a single vowel, are deeply intertwined; our soul's purpose, the inner driver, and our sole capabilities, the feet that take us where we need to go. The word ‘soul’ has the vowel ‘U’ in it—as in ‘YOU’—what is it that drives you forward? Walking a path that is intentional, meaningful, successful, and worthy requires the ability to connect ‘soul to sole.’
In 2019, I felt a powerful urge to share of this wisdom. Even though the path ahead was unclear, I knew I had to take that first step. There were moments of doubt, of feeling overwhelmed, but something deep inside urged me forward, reminding me that the beauty of walking with intention is that the path unfolds organically. We learn, we adapt, we discover our own unique rhythm. It's not always easy, but it is profoundly fulfilling.
My purpose is to guide others to connect with their own inner compass, to find that place of deep knowing within and walk forward with clarity and certainty. When we align our passion with our purpose, we unlock a wellspring of joy and resilience, and the world, even with all its uncertainties, begins to shimmer a little brighter.
It's a journey we take together, one step at a time, soul to sole. And as you embark on your own journey, I invite you to reflect on these questions:
What are the core values or beliefs that form the foundation of who you are?
Have you ever felt a disconnect between your inner self and your outward actions?
This month, I invite you to:
Identify one area where you can better align your daily actions with your core values. What specific step can you take?
Write a brief letter to your future self, describing the person you aspire to be when fully living your purpose. What advice would that future self give you today?
Take some time to reflect on these questions and allow the answers to guide you on your own journey of Soul to Sole living.