Globally humanity currently seems to be shifting towards fanatical extremes aimed at building walls rather than dialogue for the greater good. Rogue politicians are feasting on toxic emotions and making our world a more dangerous place.
Extremism feeds on basic fears, greed, hatred, xenophobia and narcissism. Currently we are seeing plenty of that in the calls for protectionist trade barriers, blaming refugees and minorities for economic woes and a ruling party in South Africa opening a poison chalice by demanding the confiscation of land without compensation to redress “economic inequality.” The end result is always that everyone loses.
Learning to guard the doorway to your emotions has been a hallmark of all great spiritual teachers. For once toxic emotions capture the “tribal” mind, rational thought, logic and holistic thinking go down the drain. Facts, truth and proven science lose out to “emotional belief.”
Extremist politicians from Warsaw to Washington would not be having such a field day if there was not a global underlying trend visible in much of the social media fueling the fires of polarization. Humanity has been at a worse place. In central Europe at least, we have had the longest period of peace in human history built on a foundation of mutual dependency and cooperation. We tend to forget where we have come from and what we stand to lose during times of conflict and war.
It is part of human nature to focus on the negative before seeing the positive. It is a survival instinct going back to prehistoric times in being watchful of the dangers lurking in the wilds. This is why negative news, negative social media feeds, hate speech and hate mail receive far more attention than positive news.
The challenge of our times is to separate ourselves from such “negative feeds” and to stay in alignment with our higher purpose in serving the well-being of humanity as a whole. It starts with a self-love and a self-caring outlook on life that leads us into dialogue with our fellow man.
In dialogue as opposed to confrontation with an “alien” we become aware of our own true identity. We become aligned and grounded. A courageous heart discerns between truth and delusion.
Reino Gevers – Mentor for Leaders and Achievers – Your Health Matters
Awakening the Fire Within – key principles of health and success. Enrolling now will give you a 25 per cent discount.
“Walking on Edge – A Pilgrimage to Santiago” available both in Kindle and paperback.
Within the word Home, is one of the most powerful mantras OM. In the Sanskrit origin it translates as the vibrational Source and connection to the Supreme. Peace of mind and contentment can only be found With-In. You always take yourself with you wherever you are and with all that with which your mind is preoccupied with.
I fall into the trap every time, knowing full well that no matter what information I provide, it will not convince the other person to adapt or change his or her mind.
Don’t get me wrong. The mass shooting in Las Vegas was a terrible tragedy. But the event has absolutely no impact on the daily lives of people living some 9,000 kilometers away and doesn’t belong on the front page of my local newspaper. The media is feeding us constantly with blood and gore and the shadow side of humanity, knowing that its human nature to look first at the negative before seeing the positive.
The Camino in Spain has in many respects been a life-changing experience for me. The lessons learned on the pilgrimage are in so many ways an analogy of life. My book “
In sculptures and paintings the great teachers, like the Buddha, are often depicted with large ears to symbolise their wisdom and ability to go with the old saying of keeping, “the ear to the ground”, in being fully aware of what is happening and what people are saying.
ReinosBlog 