Tag Archives: wellness

Live and Let Live

We are seeing massive friction in the world right now. Fighting between groups is rooted in a need for control, in an effort to make other people conform to a particular societal and global world view.

Why do humans have such a need to make others conform to their consensual reality?

In some cases, individuals are insecure within themselves. They have not worked on making their own inner landscape solid. They are always looking for the external approval from a group that they are “okay”. Then there are the personalities that enjoy controlling others simply because they derive pleasure from power.

Every problem comes down to solving the root cause. I believe peace will have a real chance when humans overcome their need for control and conformity. It all begins with each of us.

Inspirational Quotes:

“I think the reward for conformity is that everyone likes you except yourself.”
~ Rita Mae Brown

“It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.”
~ J. Krishnamurti

“It’s weird not to be weird.” ~ John Lennon

“Any fool can make a rule and any fool will mind it.”
~ Henry David Thoreau

“Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.”
~ John F. Kennedy

Embrace Wellness

All of the good things that we’ve known keep us well still apply. Fresh air, nature, nourishing food, physical exercise, adequate rest, playfulness, companionship, friendship, doing what we love. Oh yes, and the big one, simply LOVE in all of its forms and connections.

Embrace what feels good to you and resonates with your very soul. Tap into your inner being, and listen to your body, mind, and spirit. Above and beyond wellness, seek joyfulness in your experience here on Earth. We are all born with the intrinsic right to JOY.

Inspirational Quotes:

“Ignore those that make you fearful and sad, that degrade you back towards disease and death.” ~ Rumi

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“There are many aspects to success; material wealth is only one component. …But success also includes good health, energy and enthusiasm for life, fulfilling relationships, creative freedom, emotional and psychological stability, a sense of well-being, and peace of mind.” ~ Deepak Chopra

Ready for Greatness

Sadly, what I see when I look at the political world lately is smallness. Where is the greatness, the integrity, the true service to others (the people)? We keep waiting and hoping. Perhaps it is too much to expect in a hierarchical system, a model that historically attracts the power hungry and easily corruptible to the top.

What then, is the remedy? Do we need a completely new model of governance, one that has previously never been explored? One that is not based on hierarchy? The prototypes humanity has tried thus far here on Earth do not seem to serve the people well.

Inspirational Leadership Quotes:

“Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Success is not how high you have climbed, but how you make a positive difference to the world.” ~ Roy T. Bennett

“Great leaders create more leaders, not followers.” ~ Roy T. Bennett

“Good people see the good and bring out the best in other people.” ~ Roy T. Bennett

“I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men.” ~ Lao Tzu

“A leader… is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.” ~ Nelson Mandela

Photo courtesy Matthew Thomas, Pixabay

Smile Medicine

A smile is one of those powerful tools in our life toolbox, but sometimes we forget to use it. Distracted with our own thoughts, we easily disconnect into our own headspace. But a smile is a gift, a little piece of light and hope we can send out to others, and it does not cost us anything but a little conscious thought and effort. And before we know it, it becomes an easy habit.

Even if you don’t feel like it, send a smile to at least one stranger on your path today. Each smile is full of possibility, the potential to create something good. There is a reason smiles are curved. Yours and the ones you receive back make a circle, a never-ending ripple effect of infinite joy.

Smile, and spread some joy today.

Aside from giving happiness to others, this is an excellent article on why you should smile more often for your own health and well-being: Top 10 Reasons You Should Smile Every Day

Inspirational Smile Quotes:

“I hope that whoever you are, wherever you are, and no matter how you are feeling, you will always have something to smile about.” ~ Sanober Khan

“Peace begins with a smile.” ~ Mother Teresa

“Wrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been.” ~ Mark Twain

“Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.” ~ Roy T. Bennett

“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” ~ Phyllis Diller

“Life is a mirror: if you frown at it, it frowns back; if you smile, it returns the greeting.” ~ William Makepeace Thackeray

Photo courtesy Rafael Barros, Pexels

State of Grace

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There are several definitions of grace, an obvious one being elegance or refinement in the physical state, particularly in movement. The woman in the picture (for me) personifies a certain physical grace. Her eyes are closed, seemingly in meditation, and I can easily imagine she might also fit another definition of grace. That is, “courteous goodwill.”

Courteous goodwill. This state of grace seems to be sadly falling by the wayside, as various factions in society bicker, squabble, and attack each other. It’s fine to have another point of view, but sometimes the behavior reminds me of children when they don’t get their way. There is also quite a lot of outright bullying going on, shaming and coercing others psychologically. Where is the grace in that?

Those who bully others to get their way are not service to others, even though they may use narrative to paint themselves as such. They are service to self. They simply want the world to be “their way”, because they believe they have all the answers. Well, in a world of 8 billion people, how can that be true? There are many viewpoints on this planet.

A state of grace comes from a place of allowance, that others might have another way of being. It also is rooted in a true caring about other people. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, grace flows from love. Achieving a state of grace in one’s self moves us to a real place of service to others.

Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.
~ Martin Luther King Jr.