Below is a Q&A with Robin Korth, author of Soul on the Run
1. Who is Robin Korth and why should we care what you have to say?
I am a writer, a philosopher, a speaker, a soul-dancer and a truth-caller. What this means is that I have come to know what my own life is about and stopped living the “Let’s Pretend†version that almost killed me. For 51 years I tried to live a life that really wasn’t mine. It was what I thought I was “supposed†to do. It was what about education, houses and cars, homes and jobs, careers and taking care of. It was what my culture, my education, my heritage and my society told me I should be doing—but it made no sense to me. I was quietly disappointed, lost, lonely and scared. My life hurt and I didn’t know how to “fix†it. I also thought that something was wrong with me.
If there had been a gun around in the summer of 2006, I would have used it on myself. It was that bad. I could no longer fulfill my “role†and just stuff down the confusion, the anger, the grief anymore. This was the turning point. I decided to do things differently. This meant getting honest, gutsy and really brave. It meant opening my mind and heart. It meant actively seeking–sometimes screaming and crying for–a connection to a God that would hold my hand and heart. It meant telling myself the truth and going soul-open into a deeply conscious and questing participation in my own life.
I began to write about my journey. I began to speak about what I was learning and understanding about myself in my own life. I talked about the fear and the confusion, the resentment and the lostness. I began to share my inner thoughts and feelings, my ideas and my spiritual growth “aha!†moments. And, what I discovered is that I am not alone! There are many thousands of others who feel like I do. It seems I am able to put into words what so many other people think and feel—what they ache about, wonder about and need about.
People care about what I say, because they find themselves in my words. I speak and write about what I know and see, what I learn and laugh, what I desire and hope. I share myself with deep honesty. I talk about things that matter–the stuff that hurts and hugs us all. If my words resonate with you, then I am blessed. Because we get to do this living thing together. We get to do it with courage, honesty, compassion, sometimes-pain, curiosity and love.
2. What is “Soul on the Run†and how did it come to be written?
Funny thing about “Soul on the Run,†is that I never intended to write it. It pretty much wrote me. “Soul†is a collection of the thoughts and insights, aches and sorrows, laughter and questions that I was sharing on Facebook. I never even imagined that the work I was doing there—the sharing, the laughter, the pain and the power—of my own spiritual awakening would become a book. It became a book because everyone kept asking me to make it one. My readers wanted to hold my thoughts and questions in their hands.
You will not find my answers in “Soul†as much as questions and challenges to your own personal growth. It also contains some great illustrations and meditation pieces. I am very proud of this book and deeply grateful for the amazing responses I am receiving from readers across the globe. This is a stunningly joyful experience. I thank all those who have reached out to me and continue to share themselves with me.
3. How can we take “failure†and turn it into a powerful asset?
I love this question! Because, guess what? We never have a failure in our lives. Things just did not go the way we expected them to go. The adventure of living—the ups and downs and our face on the floor–is what this whole thing is about. We get angry and upset at things that are really just wonderful learning curves and practice for what is to come. Do you think anyone learned to ride a bicycle without falling off a few times or slamming into a tree? It is from these places of hurt and loss, disappointment and damage that we understand who we are and what we are capable of. It is also the place where we learn to be grateful for the laughing and loving gift that is life. Being alive is the most wonder-filled journey we will ever have. Taking each moment as a gift and honoring it for the learning and wisdom it brings, is how I turned my “failures†into growth spurts of joy.
Also, the things we like least about ourselves, those things we want to hide from others or run from—things like dishonesty, impatience, fear, selfishness, resentment, anger—are the “growing field†of our lives. As we work diligently to put these things aside, we become stronger, more available and more understanding. Putting these things aside is not about being “perfect or wonderful.†It’s about relieving ourselves of the pain and grief this type of behavior causes us. Doing our lives well is not about the “other guy. It’s about us.
4. Why is living a “spiritual†life the only life that makes sense?
I believe that the core disconnect or “dis-ease†in our lives is the struggle we have in accepting our humanity and embracing our divinity. For what I know now is that we are each a spark of the power that brought us forth—the consciousness that burst the universe to life and calls all things into a dance of co-creation and ever-evolving love. We human beings are remarkable creatures and we are meant to know and love ourselves. We are meant to stand tall and powerful, soul-broad and spirit-wide. Yet, we are not taught this. We are taught to see ourselves as small and unworthy—as insignificant and not good. This is error. It is the result of the separation of ourselves from the true essence of who we are.
There is an innate drive within each of us to not just live a material-based, outward-oriented life. In our quiet moments and soul-honest moments we each know this. We know that there is something more going on. When we turn into this knowing and begin our own journey towards it, life becomes amazing. There is no right or wrong way to go the adventure of life. We each must choose to do it. And it is a journey of one. There are those ahead of us and beside us, but the calling of our souls to a deeper life is one that we must answer ourselves.
5. What are a few core concepts that you think are important to begin living a spiritual life?
A spiritual life is not about candles and incense, chanting and special clothes or trappings. It’s about a conscious choosing and a quiet reaching. It’s about doing our lives from the inside out. It is a potent and practical journey of us calling ourselves awake to the wonder and power of who we really are.
Here are four core qualities that are basic to my spiritual life:
Willingness: We must make ourselves open and available to a new way of living in order to begin. It is a conscious setting aside of the “I can’t†attitude and an embracing of a “new possible†for ourselves, wherever that may take us. A soul that says, “Yes, I shall go!†is a voice the universe cannot help but hear and answer.
Courage: This means to stand up for our own inner selves. It is to know that we are meant to live a joy-calling and happy life. Courage is quiet and constant. It is the day-after-day push of our souls towards a higher version of who we want to be. It is a mighty adventure in belief and trust as we stretch ever-further into what we innately know to be true.
Honesty: Getting gut-level honest with ourselves is the “big boy†as far as I am concerned. We must get honest. We must tell ourselves the truth—the often very painful truth–about what we are really doing, thinking and feeling. This sets and then anchors the “growing field†of our journey. Honesty lets us know where our spiritual feet are. Without the potent support of deep honesty, we just stumble around and get spiritually nowhere really fast.
Compassion: Spiritual growth is the toughest stuff we will ever do. I stand in awe of those who go the journey of truly owning their inner selves, because of the soul-pounding depth that coming awake spiritually always entails. It means looking at who we are and coming to love ourselves as we go. So, being kind to ourselves is very important. We are human and so very frail at times. Compassion means we do the work with great self-care and self-honoring. This allows us to love and honor others more fully, as well.
6. What would you say to people who have tried to change their lives and feel that it is not possible?
Change is always possible if we want it bad enough and are willing to go to the profound effort and work it takes. There are no answers “out there†for anyone. The “answers†are always to be found by living in our own heart and being-ness. There is no magic bullet or 7 tools to make life “hunky dory.†We must each find our own way. No one can do it for us—ever. The best way I know to begin is to start reading. Find ideas and concepts that resonate with your own spirit. You will know them when you read them. They will jump off the page at you! Your soul will go. “Yes! This makes sense to me. This speaks to me.†And as you go, the next book or writer will come into your hand and heart just as you need them—if you are open, willing and brave.
7. Do you have any message or advice for your readers?
My message is simple. Please, please live your own life. You only have this one. It is an amazing gift of power, joy, wonder and love—and it is yours. Be heart-courageous and soul-big! Learn to love yourself and don’t be afraid of inner pain. Pain is the calling card of the universe asking you to come nearer. Find a God, a God that calls your name, knows your heart and can show you the secrets that are meant to be yours. Be passionate! Be curious.
You are beautiful, amazing and glorious. You are a human being and you are meant to be here.
I wish you joy!
Robin Korth
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Robin Korth enjoys interactions with her readers. Feel free to contact her at or on Facebook.To learn about her new book, “Soul on the Run,†go to: www.SoulOnTheRun.com You can also download her “Robin In Your Face†free daily motivational app by going to www.robininyourface.com/whats-new/