People's contentment "The pleasure of individuals feeds the Soul of the World." -John Locke. Soul-nourishing things are those that make us happy and give us strength. Things that bring joy to our lives, strengthen our spirits when we need them, make us more compassionate and aware, make us better people -- these are all qualities of a soul-nourishing thing. At its most basic, the soul is what makes us alive "a living being with a spiritual essence," says Aristotle. For Plato, the soul is what gives us identity and independence "the power to think and act." For Shakespeare, the soul is what lies deep within every person "the part that thinks." Today, many scientists believe the soul also includes our emotional makeup and our memory "things such as love, courage, hope, etc." In addition to these physical parts, some philosophers have included a spirit or divine element in the definition of the soul. However, for the purpose of this article, we will focus on the less mystical aspects of the soul -- those that influence our daily lives through feelings rather than miracles.