Monthly Archives: August 2024

by | August 26, 2024 · 7:12 am

Divine Whispers and the Pursuit of Happiness

In a world plagued by anger and fear, the pursuit of happiness is primarily directed toward external gratification and distractions, causing much pain. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to seek quiet moments of solitude to rediscover true meaning, purpose, and a life of bliss.

The ancient Mystics often interpret the voice of the divine as coming in a whisper, a still voice within the soul, giving guidance and instructions on the spiritual journey, especially when reconnecting with the beauty and harmony found in nature.

Evil draws to what is other

As opposed to the wholeness and beauty of divine creation, the 13th-century Mystic Meister Eckart describes evil as essentially “accidental in its nature: it stands outside, draws and directs things outwards, distracts from inner things, draws to what is other, smacks of otherness of division, withdrawal or falling away. Evil, therefore is nothing but a defect or shortcoming.”

In experiential spirituality the divine is perceived through silent contemplation or in a state of presence and being that transcends concept and language. The Mystics understood divine truth as direct experience rather than surrender to the fixed belief and dogma of religion.

After walking the Camino de Santiago for the first time in 2006 I sensed this “something” of a mystery beyond concept and religion. I have meanwhile walked more than a dozen Caminos, which has for me become an annual retreat of inner reflection. I’ve spoken to hundreds of pilgrims on the Camino who have had a profound transformation in reconnecting with their inner voice whilst walking on this magical path.

But there are also many other ways including the creation of a “quiet space” amid the turmoil of a busy and noisy life.

Between time and eternity

Meister Eckhart describes the soul as created in a place between time and eternity:

“With its highest powers it touches Eternity, with its lower Time. To the extent that the soul is able to withdraw from Time and its concerns, the more God is revealed in it and the more God is speaking in it and by it.”

The whispers from the universe or God can be heard most clearly when the soul transcends the temporal and focuses on the eternal, turning contemplatively inward.

A life of bliss, according to Eckart, is closely aligned to living a “virtuous life” in seeking connection with the divine. Every person has a divine spark within them—a part of God that resides in the soul. A virtuous life involves living in awareness of this divine presence within and allowing it to guide one’s actions.

Eckhart emphasizes the importance of inner purity and detachment from worldly desires and attachments. For him, a virtuous life involves freeing oneself from ego, selfishness, and the distractions of the material world. This detachment allows the soul to be more receptive to God’s presence and to act from a place of divine inspiration rather than personal will.

The famous Sufi poet Rumi describes in one of his lines:

“The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep.”

The subtle, quiet communication from the divine comes in moments of stillness when all the senses are sharpened to full presence.

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor – Speaker

P.S. If you enjoyed this article you will be interested in my books available where all good books are sold.

Check out also the latest episode on the Living to BE podcast and Youtube with our special guest Matt O’Neill. The topic: Happiness is a Choice

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by | August 20, 2024 · 8:42 am

The words we use matter

Words have a powerful impact on both mental and physical health, and leaders bear a significant responsibility in choosing words that resonate within a nation’s collective consciousness, either undermining or strengthening social cohesion.

When political or thought leaders normalize belittling, insulting, or threatening language, it sets a precedent for their followers to do the same. It has now become almost impossible to discuss an emotional or controversial topic on social media without it devolving into personal attacks.

Positive words can uplift mood, foster a sense of connection, and enhance self-esteem, while negative words can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress.

Repetition of negative words impacts your health

Repeated repetition of words that trigger anger and fear reinforces harmful beliefs and thought patterns, cementing a pessimistic or fearful worldview. They turn on the body’s fight-or-flight response, leading to increased heart rate, elevated cortisol levels, and muscle tension.

A well-known study published in 2015 in the journal Psychological Science analyzed Twitter language from different counties across the United States. The researchers found that the frequency of negative words related to anger, stress, and fatigue was a strong predictor of heart disease mortality in those areas. This predictive power was even stronger than traditional factors like smoking and obesity rates.

Negative social media interactions can turn on stress pathways in the body, leading to chronic inflammation, higher blood pressure, and other risk factors.

Positive affirmations promote mental well-being

In contrast, repeated positive affirmations or mindfulness practices involving positive language can lead to lasting changes in brain pathways, promoting greater mental well-being.

Kind, supportive, and empathetic language strengthens relationships and builds social bonds, which are crucial for mental health. Positive words turn on reward centers in the brain, while negative words trigger fear and pain.

Words can trigger the release of feel-good hormones like dopamine and oxytocin, reduce stress levels, and promote relaxation. Here are just some examples of many: love, peace, stillness, breath, kind, smile, cheer, kind, value, and gratitude.

The Power of Mantras and Prayer

Various studies have revealed that recitation of certain prayers and mantras has a particularly positive effect on heart rate variability and cardiovascular health.

The song “Ave Maria,” particularly in its various classical renditions like those by Franz Schubert or Charles Gounod, is known to have a profound calming, and soothing effect on the body and mind. The spiritual connection can evoke feelings of comfort, protection, and spiritual upliftment, quietening the mind and reducing mental chatter.

One of the most widely used and revered mantras in Tibetan Buddhism is “Om Mani Padme Hung”. The mantra is particularly helpful in purifying negative emotions like anger, jealousy, and attachment. Practitioners can cultivate a more compassionate and loving mindset, leading to greater emotional balance and resilience. Chanting the mantra typically involves deep, rhythmic breathing, which can improve oxygenation of the body, enhance lung capacity, and promote a sense of physical calm.

In summary, the words we hear and use in our vocabulary shape who we are, impacting our relationships and our physiological and psychological health.

In moments when the external world pulses with negativity, it’s crucial to establish healthy boundaries and elevate your own vibrational energy. Cultivating a space of stillness, positivity, joy, and self-care becomes essential.

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor – Speaker

P.S. If you enjoyed this article you might be interested in my books available where all good books are sold.

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by | August 12, 2024 · 3:55 pm

The Power of Forgiveness: Healing and Empowering

A few months after Nelson Mandela was released from 27 years of imprisonment by South Africa’s apartheid regime, I had the extraordinary privilege of meeting him at his home with a small group of journalists.

As I stood in his presence, I couldn’t help but wonder how a man who had endured such immense suffering could radiate such profound kindness and show no desire for retribution toward those who had wronged him.

The answer became clear when he shared a powerful insight: “Forgiveness liberates the soul, it removes fear. That’s why it’s such a powerful weapon.”

A powerful message of leadership

Mandela’s wisdom and unwavering commitment to forgiveness set him apart as a leader of unparalleled stature, guiding his nation from the brink of civil war to the dawn of a modern democracy. His example is a powerful reminder of the qualities of leadership that are so desperately needed in our world today.

Seeking retribution for wrongs committed by others is at the heart of the Middle East conflict and peace will not be found unless Israelis and Palestinians learn to forgive each other. It is difficult enough on a personal level to forgive but wise leaders of a country can make all the difference.

Are you struggling to forgive yourself and others? The biblical story of Joseph is one of the most powerful teachings of how the ways of the universe or God can be very different from the plans we often make in life.

Joseph was slandered, beaten, and sold into slavery by his own brothers because of jealousy. Joseph could have easily succumbed to his fate but he never lost faith that everything in life had purpose and meaning.

The trap of the blame game

Only from such a perspective could he forgive his brothers and move out of the trap of the blame game. He made the best out of his situation to such an extent that Potiphar, the man who bought him on the slave market in Egypt, soon promoted him to a higher position. Later he was put in charge of managing Potiphar’s huge estate.

Potiphar had taken a liking to Joseph and must have been impressed by his kindness, wisdom, and humility. For all intents and purposes, Joseph had made it. But Potiphar’s bored wife had taken just as much a liking to the handsome young Joseph.

Realizing that he would betray his master who had done so much for him, Joseph avoided the advances of Potiphar’s wife who became so upset that she accused him of rape. Joseph was thrown into prison losing everything. He could again have succumbed to despondency.

But it so happens that he meets in prison two of the Pharaoh’s ministers who had lost favor with the ruler. One of them was eventually released from prison and restored to his old position. Only when the Pharaoh had a strange dream did the minister remember the time in prison with Joseph who had impressed him as an interpreter of dreams.

Long story short: Joseph gets released from prison to interpret the Pharaoh’s dream. The essence of the dream was that the ruler had to prepare the country for seven years of drought. Amazingly Joseph’s fortune changed in an instant when the Pharaoh recognized the wisdom of the man he was dealing with.  Joseph is promoted to viceroy of all of Egypt as the righthand man of the most powerful ruler of the world at the time.

Life comes in strange twists and turns

True to the dream interpretation the drought did come and only by wise management of the food and grain resources could countless lives be saved including those of Joseph’s brother and aging father Jacob.

Life comes often in strange twists and turns. Fortunes can be earned and lost overnight. High positions of political power and influence may be gone tomorrow. The amazing story of Joseph is that he never lost trust and faith. By forgiving his brothers and Potiphar’s wife for falsely accusing him, he made peace with himself and could go into trust and humility. From that energy grew his wisdom and incredible foresight to prevent a catastrophe.

Forgiving does not mean approval of wrongdoing

Forgiving does not mean that you are approving of wrongdoing, of abuse, and all the terrible things that humans do to each other. It is making peace with the past in the knowledge that you are the person today because of all of that which you have experienced.

The famous Austrian psychiatrist Victor Frankl only survived the Nazi death camps by telling himself that “everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s one way.”

Forgiveness is self-care at the highest level

Forgiveness requires a conscious decision to release feelings of resentment and vengeance toward someone who has harmed you. It is self-care at the highest level.

Forgiveness allows you to release negative emotions and to move on in life. Remaining locked in hate and retribution keeps you at a low vibrational energy that prevents you from spotting the new opportunities the universe is presenting to you.

By choosing to forgive, you are paving the way to a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life. You are creating room for positive feelings to flourish.

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor – Speaker

P.S. If you enjoyed this article you might be interested in my books available where all good books are sold.

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by | August 4, 2024 · 9:53 am

Scapegoating and Misinformation: A Lethal Combination

Minds consumed by fear, anxiety, and thoughts of retribution are easily captured by hate preachers and demagogues. The scenes unfolding in the UK—right-wing extremists burning businesses of small shop-owners, targeting mosques, and attacking innocent bystanders of color—are tragic repetitions of history.

What distinguishes the current situation is the dramatically enhanced tools available to extremists, amplifying their impact. Over the weekend, at least 30 violent protests erupted across the UK, largely fueled by misinformation spread on social media claiming that an illegal Muslim immigrant was responsible for killing three young girls and injuring several others.

An account called Europe Invasion, known to publish Islamophobic and anti-immigrant content, posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the suspect was “alleged to be a Muslim immigrant”. The post was viewed more than six million times. And as the post was accruing views, crowds of far-right protesters were swelling in Southport, ready to charge local mosques.

The truth was that the attacker in Southport was identified by police as a 17-year-old, Axel Rudakubana, who was born in Britain, and that the attack was not terrorist-related. The motive for the attack remains unclear.

Scapegoating during times of crisis

Countless similar incidents can be cited throughout history where minority groups have been targetted by hysterical crowds, falling prey to rumors, misinformation, and hate speech. During the Black Death in Europe in the 14th-century thousands of innocent people were killed for allegedly spreading the pestilence. Jews were blamed for poisoning drinking wells. The baseless accusations led to widespread violence and massacres against Jewish communities throughout Europe, including the Strasbourg massacre in 1349, where around 2,000 Jews were burned alive.

In 1779, anti-Catholic riots were incited by Lord George Gordon in London, spreading fears that the Papists Act of 1778 would lead to Catholic dominance. The resulting violence lasted several days, leading to widespread destruction, looting, and the deaths of around 300 people.

Social media platforms must bear responsibility

The difference is that misinformation in our age can spread globally within seconds, reaching millions of people. Social media platforms must bear responsibility for failing or unwilling to remove obviously false information. As we have seen in the latest riots in the UK, the consequences can be devastating.

During times of crisis, there is a need to seek simple answers to complex problems. Cognitive closure and confirmation bias make people dismiss facts and contradictory evidence. Scapegoating provides psychological relief and an outlet for fear, anger, and underlying grievance culture.

Exclusion of outsiders by Group and tribal-think

“Group” and “tribal-think” views all those outside the “tribe” as outsiders. During times of economic and social crises, the in-group/out-group dynamic becomes more pronounced, leading to the vilification of those perceived as different or threatening.

Responsible leadership and fact-checking journalism become more important than ever. Individuals and social media platforms should be made accountable on a global level for spreading hate and misinformation.

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor – Speaker

P.S. If you enjoyed this article you might be interested in my books available where all good books are sold.

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