Month: April 2015

The Rise of Spirituality

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People often confuse Spirituality with Religious belief or worse, ‘that wishy washy hippy stuff‘. But in truth, anyone who wants to be the best version of themselves, or strives to live a life with meaning and purpose, is Spiritual. Or for that matter, anyone who has a connection to a higher sense of self –  and believes there is more to living, than just our own subjective existence. Spirituality relates to the soul and is not a tangible or measurable physical matter. It is the connection of the mind and emotions to the spirit and something greater than ourselves. Through reflection and realignment, to be spiritual is to refine who you are. To understand your personal values – what you find most important in life and what motivates you – and to live the most meaningful life, in line with those values. As more and more of us find our social conscience and strive to look for meaning and purpose, in the vast options available to us, we’re turning to our Spiritual selves to find the answers. What are your …

Poetry Friday

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And a man said, “Speak to us of Self-Knowledge.” And he answered, saying: Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights. But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart’s knowledge. You would know in words that which you have always known in thought. You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams. And it is well you should. The hidden well-spring of your soul must needs rise and run murmuring to the sea; And the treasure of your infinite depths would be revealed to your eyes. But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure; And seek not the depths of your knowledge with staff or sounding line. For self is a sea boundless and measureless. Say not, “I have found the truth,” but rather, “I have found a truth.” Say not, “I have found the path of the soul.” Say rather, “I have met the soul walking on my path.” Say rather, “I have met the soul walking upon my path.” For …

Happy Earth Day!

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April 22 marks the anniversary of the modern environmental movement, started by Gaylord Nelson in 1970 in which 20 Million Americans took to the streets to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment. Earth Day is the largest civic event in the world, with more than a billion people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities participating and celebrating simultaneously around the globe. Growing out of the very first Earth Day, the Earth Day Network (EDN) works with over 50,000 partners in 192 countries. Their mission is to ‘broaden, diversify and activate the environmental movement worldwide, through a combination of education, public policy, and consumer campaigns.’ This is your chance to be a part of the largest environmental service campaign in the world! Visit EDN’s website and sign the climate change petition, join the campaign to protect the Asian elephant or partake in A Billion Acts of Green. Whatever you do, make sure you do your bit to help sustain our beautiful planet!

Technotox

5 reasons you should switch off your phone and spend some time alone

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There’s a very unique comfort in solitude. Yet for many, the idea of being alone can be frightening or even freakish. We live in an information age where we’re barely given the opportunity to think for ourselves, constantly connected and influenced by endless streams of media and technology. If we’re not with people at work, out socialising or traveling the world, we’re encouraged to keep in touch via text messages, whatsapp and emails and engage with them through social media. Although we hate to admit it, there’s a tendency to judge others and even ourselves by how popular we are, how many likes a picture gets on Instagram, how many comments on Facebook or how many followers we have on Twitter. It’s a form of reassurance, that we’re doing okay and we’re getting it right. One would certainly be forgiven for thinking socialising equals happiness when our feeds are full of friends out partying and having a great time. What few of us realise however, is the importance of spending time alone. Taking quality time really getting …

The Tale of Two Wolves

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An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life… 

”A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. 
”It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. 

”One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.

 “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. 

”This same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.” 

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked, “Which wolf will win Grandfather?”

 The old chief simply replied, 
”The one you feed.”

Forge meaning, build identity

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If you can spare 20 minutes this afternoon, use it wisely and watch this inspiring TED Talk by Andrew Solomon – ‘how the worst moments in our lives make us who we are’. He explains how experiences form the foundations of our identities, and how we can build a better self and more colourful identity in the face of adversity. Reminding us we can learn to endure pain if we’re mindful it can forge greater meaning in our lives. Tissues at the ready for the final few minutes! Enjoy.

Poetry Friday

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To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Deliberately Cultivate Gratitude

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At work yesterday a colleague bought 19 members of our team a full size Easter egg. She crept in early and left one on each of our desks for a delicious surprise. The majority of us were overwhelmed by her kindness and ran straight to show our appreciation, but a select few said or did nothing. I watched in amazement as they simply glanced at the egg (as if it was expected!) and carried on with their morning routine. Zero appreciation, zero thanks. Shocked by their lack of gratitude, I decided to dedicate this post to them and the benefits of deliberately cultivating gratitude. It’s a no brainer that gratitude helps reduce negative emotions. By focusing on all that is right (instead of all that is wrong), we can learn to fully appreciate how lucky we are and start to notice the small things we so easily take for granted. A warm and cosy home, a stable job, a hug at the end of a stressful day, good health! Practising gratitude can also help us be more resilient in the …