Tag Archives: mental-health

by | September 8, 2025 · 8:53 am

Finding Meaning in a Nihilistic World

Nihilism is the despair that comes when all higher meaning collapses and life is reduced to emptiness

  – Sören Kierkegaard­ –

The world sometimes feels as if it is unraveling before our eyes. Truth is no longer truth, values are mocked, and meaning itself is up for debate. Kierkegaard warned of this kind of despair and the disease that spreads when a higher purpose is abandoned. In this hollow space, populist narratives rush in, manipulating with outrage, stripping away nuance, and discarding the responsibility for a common humanity.

University of Virginia sociologist James Davison Hunter warns that a new common culture is emerging that is chillingly nihilistic. He defines this culture with the drive to destroy, observing how fear, demonization, and rigid divisions dominate political life, leaving many unable or unwilling to negotiate, compromise, or even recognize shared humanity.

“A nihilistic culture is defined by the drive to destroy, by the will to power. And that definition now describes the American nation,” Hunter writes.

Hunter points out that a politicized identity “is formed and sustained by way of negation. Its emergence as well as its persistence depend on an active and hostile enemy. What naturally follows is rage, hatred, and a thirst for “a capable and wide revenge” that, in a twisted way, becomes a source of meaning—a raison d’être—for those who see themselves as victims.”

In the same vein, Noam Chomsky emphasizes that meaning in life is built through lived experience and collective responsibility. Acts that reduce suffering, preserve dignity, or advance freedom create meaning in a world that can otherwise feel void. For Chomsky, moral clarity stems from recognizing our shared humanity and universal ethical standards, while moral responsibility entails choosing to act on them. Nihilism, despair, or relativism, in his view, are excuses that allow people to avoid this work.

He has also criticized postmodernism for being obscure, relativistic, and politically disengaged—warning that societies risk moral collapse if they lose sight of truth and responsibility.

Modern life compounds these challenges. Constant information, endless obligations, and persistent anxieties can erode spirit and energy. The solution isn’t hustling harder; it’s pausing, reflecting, and breathing deeply. It’s grounding yourself in love and acceptance, trusting that you are guided and protected by reconnecting with your spiritual self.

Recently, the words of American monk and author Brother David Steindl-Rast came to mind. He doesn’t argue against nihilism like philosophers do; he simply invites us to notice this: “It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” Gratitude, he reminds us, doesn’t depend on joy—it creates it.

In his book Gratefulness: The Heart of Prayer, Steindl-Rast describes gratefulness as “the inner gesture of giving meaning to our life by receiving life as a gift.” It begins with simple surprise—a rainbow, a warm smile, the sound of a bird—opening the door to joy. Being thankful awakens us to the blessings around us and becomes the linchpin of a life animated by faith, lifted by hope, and nurtured by love.

In an age dominated by nihilism, gratitude is an act of resistance. It stitches meaning back into life.

Here’s a simple, actionable antidote to nihilism:

Each morning or evening, pause and reflect on three things from the past 24 hours for which you are truly grateful. Feel the gratitude fully. Notice what shifts in your heart and mind. Watch how even small moments of appreciation counteract negativity, restore meaning, and reconnect you to the life that surrounds you.

Gratitude is more than a practice—it’s a rebellion against emptiness, a return to purpose, and a daily homecoming for the soul.

Reino Gevers – Host of the LivingToBe podcast

P.S.: If you enjoyed this article, you might be interested in my latest book, Sages, Saints, and Sinners. Get it today on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever good books are sold.

Leave a comment

Filed under happiness, psychology, purpose, religion

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

by | August 25, 2025 · 6:00 am

Beyond Noise: Rilke’s Invitation to Stillness

I’ve been contemplating one of Rilke’s poems lately. It has stayed with me because it speaks so directly to our world today, where noise and distractions pull from all directions. Rilke envisions a silence so profound that all the noise, chatter, busyness of the senses, and endless distractions simply fall away.

And, in that stillness, he says, we might finally glimpse the divine with full clarity.

If only it would be, just once, completely quiet…
If only it would be, just once, completely quiet.
If the random, and the approximate
went mute, and the neighbors’ laughter,
if the noise that my senses make
wouldn’t so stubbornly keep me from waking–
Then I could, in a thousandfold
thought, think you right to the edge of you
and have you (just a smile long),
to give to all life as a gift
like a thank-you.

Reading this, I couldn’t help but notice how often we treat noise, chatter, and distraction as normal. Yet maybe our constant talking, scrolling, and background hum are really a way of avoiding something scarier: just sitting with the stillness within.

Stillness can feel so unsettling because it invites us to hear the inner voice we’ve been ignoring, the voice of authenticity, of truth, of God. Rilke reminds me that silence isn’t empty at all. It’s a threshold. If we dare to step into it, we may discover presence, gratitude, and a deeper connection with life than all our distractions could ever offer.

You could also take a walk in nature, opening the senses to natural sounds that are different from noise. Birdsong, the waters of a creek, the rustling of leaves in the trees—all of it forms a beautiful symphony. In those moments, you can feel yourself connected to a larger whole and begin to perceive the subtle whispers of the universe.

So here’s a simple practice: find just five minutes today to sit in stillness. Turn off the phone, close your eyes, and notice the quiet beneath the noise. At first it may feel uncomfortable, but stay with it. Listen for that subtle inner voice—the one that whispers rather than shouts. You may find, as Rilke did, that in the stillness something sacred begins to stir.

Reino Gevers – Host of the LivingToBe podcast

P.S.: If you enjoyed this article, you might be interested in my latest book, Sages, Saints, and Sinners. Get it today on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever good books are sold.

Leave a comment

Filed under happiness, meditation, mental health, psychology, purpose, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

by | August 18, 2025 · 1:58 am

Walking the Camino: A Pilgrimage of Body, Mind and Soul

I walked my first pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in the summer of 2006. I set out from Sarria, unfit and unprepared, with too much in my backpack and bad hiking boots. After just three days, my feet were blistered, my shoulders sore, and my backpack was slowly coming apart at the seams. And yet, every aching step felt like a quiet reclaiming of body and mind and soul.

It was in those early days, as I rested in pilgrim hostels and listened to the stories of fellow walkers of grief, hope, and longing, that I began to understand that the Camino was far more than a physical trail. It was a journey into presence, patience, and the sacredness of ordinary life.

Stripping Away Excess Baggage

On the Camino, I quickly realized how little I truly needed. Every unnecessary item in my backpack felt heavier with each step, and gradually I learned to let go of what wasn’t essential. This outer shedding mirrored an inner process, the release of a thousand thoughts of the head-mind. What remained was a raw encounter with myself. In that stripped-down honesty, I began to feel space open for the divine to enter.

Experiential Spirituality

The Camino taught me a prayer of movement, unlike anything I had experienced before. Each step became a rhythm of surrender: inhaling with gratitude, exhaling with release.

Spirituality rarely comes in dramatic revelations. Instead, it appears in nuanced whispers, in small, ordinary moments: the sound of church bells echoing across a valley, the scent from a forest on a misty morning, a shared meal with strangers who quickly feel like old friends. These moments shimmered with presence, reminded me that the divine was not elsewhere. I just hadn’t noticed or seen it before.

Rediscovering Communion with Humanity

Walking alongside pilgrims from all corners of the world, I began to see the sacred thread that connects all of humanity. I listened to stories of grief, hope, and longing shared on dusty trails and over bowls of soup. In hearing their experiences, I discovered that spirituality is not just an inward journey. It is also found in the recognition of our shared humanity and the ways we reflect the divine in one another.

Whispers from the Universe

There were long stretches of silence, hours with nothing but the sound of my footsteps, birdsong, and the slow turning of my own thoughts. Over time, my inner chatter began to fade, leaving a spaciousness that felt like prayer. In that quiet, I realized the divine was not distant. It was a subtle certainty within, present with every heartbeat.

The Real Camino Begins After the Camino

Reaching Santiago is both an ending and a beginning for me. The true journey is never about arriving. It is about awakening to the sacredness of each step along the way. The Camino becomes less a trail across Spain and more a way of living: to walk with presence, to notice the divine in the ordinary, and to live as though every breath were part of a pilgrimage.

The Camino has rekindled my spirituality in unexpected ways by simplifying, grounding, and embodying the divine. It has taken faith out of abstraction and placed it into the rhythm of footsteps, the ache of muscles, the beauty of landscapes, and the kindness of strangers. For me, it has become not just a journey across Europe—but a way of walking through life itself.

Reino Gevers – Host of the LivingToBe podcast

P.S.: If you enjoyed this article, you might be interested in the two books I wrote on the Camino: Walking on Edge – a Pilgrimage to Santiago and Deep Walking for Body, Mind and Soul my latest book,  Get it today on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever good books are sold.

Leave a comment

Filed under Camino de Santiago

Tagged as , , , ,

by | July 28, 2025 · 9:14 am

Cycles of Renewal: Embracing Life’s Challenges

“A human being is a part of the whole called by us ‘universe,’ a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest — a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.”
— Albert Einstein

For millennia, ancient sages and saints taught that a sacred order underlies all of creation with a divine intelligence woven into the fabric of life itself. Today, modern science is beginning to echo this timeless wisdom, recognizing patterns of evolution and interconnection that hint at a universal consciousness at work.

When we begin to see that there may be a higher purpose behind life’s chaos, pain, and obstacles, we are invited into a deeper surrender, trusting that the challenges are shaping us into the fullness of who we are meant to become.

At the heart of this understanding lies a universal truth: The Law of the Seasons.

Life, like nature, moves in cycles in an eternal rhythm of growth, shedding, rest, and rebirth.

This rhythm is beautifully expressed in the Chinese philosophy of the Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Rooted in ancient Taoist and Buddhist traditions, these elements reflect the dynamic forces of nature and the continuous flow of transformation that is the secret of life. The sages who developed this framework were not only spiritual teachers but also profound observers of the natural world, recognizing that every season, every phase of life, mirrors a deeper cosmic order.

Spring, the season of the Wood element, marks the beginning of life’s great unfolding. It is the time of birth — when we take our first breath with a cry, entering the world with raw vitality. Just as a newborn deer rises and leaps within moments of birth, life itself surges forward with energy and possibility. In nature, it is the season of sowing: farmers plant seeds, trees awaken with tender blossoms, and birds gather twigs to build their nests. Everything is in motion, fueled by the vision of youth, growth, and a sense of new beginnings.

Summer, aligned with the element of Fire, is the season of full expression. What was planted in spring now bursts into bloom, radiating color, energy, and vibrancy. Fire represents passion, joy, and connection. It is the time of reaching outward into the world and celebrating life’s fullness. Like the sun at its peak, we shine our light most brightly, engaging with others, forging relationships, and expressing our true essence. In this season, nature is alive with movement, with bees humming between blossoms, fruits ripening, and long days inviting us to dance with life.

Late summer ushers in the Earth element. This is the stabilizing force that grounds and nourishes. It is the season of ripening and harvest, when the fruits of earlier seasons are gathered and shared. Earth represents balance, care, and sustenance. It is a time of reflection and integration, when we pause to absorb, digest, and appreciate what has come to fruition. In nature, the fields are golden, the air thick with the scent of abundance, and the pace begins to soften. Earth reminds us of the importance of centering ourselves of being rooted, generous, and in harmony with the rhythms of life. It is time to give gratitude for all the blessings and opportunities that life has provided.

Autumn, governed by the element of Metal, is the season of refinement and release. As the trees let go of their leaves, we too are called to surrender what no longer serves us. Metal represents clarity, value, and the distillation of wisdom, the process of turning experience into insight. It is a time of letting go with grace, making space for what is essential. The air grows crisp, the light softens, and the world becomes quieter, more reflective. In this sacred shedding, we reconnect with our inner worth and recognize the beauty in simplicity and stillness.

Winter, the domain of the Water element, draws us inward to the depths of stillness and rest. It is the season of restoration, of returning to the source. Water symbolizes wisdom, intuition, and the unseen currents of life. Beneath the frozen surface, life is quietly gathering strength. Just as seeds lie dormant beneath the soil, preparing for rebirth, we are invited to pause, reflect, and reconnect with our inner truth. This is a time for dreaming, for listening deeply, and for trusting the mystery of the unknown. Water teaches us that even in darkness, life continues, silently, powerfully, and with purpose. As in life, there is a season to pause, to withdraw, and to hold still.

Together, the Five Elements offer more than a framework for understanding nature. They mirror the unfolding journey of life. Each season calls forth a different quality within you: the courage to begin, the joy of full expression, the grounding of nourishment, the wisdom of release, and the depth of renewal. When you attune yourself to these rhythms, you begin to see that life is not a straight line but a sacred cycle.

It fills me with hope, and I can affirm this from my own experience, when looking back and connecting the dots to life-changing events, that even in times of struggle or uncertainty, you can trust that everything is always in motion, evolving, becoming, and returning again to the truest self. There is a great truth to the saying, attributed to Abraham Lincoln at the height of the American Civil War: This too shall pass!

Reino Gevers – Host of the LivingToBe podcast

P.S.: If you enjoyed this article, you might be interested in my latest book, Sages, Saints, and Sinners. Get it today on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever good books are sold.

Leave a comment

Filed under gratitude, happiness, mental health

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

by | July 21, 2025 · 7:14 am

Why are we all feeling so disconnected?

Have you ever found yourself surrounded by people, yet feeling completely alone? Or waking up with a low hum of worry in your chest, and you can’t quite name why? If so, you’re not alone.
You may be carrying what many experts now recognize as one of the most widespread pains of our time – loneliness.

Emotional loneliness rooted in disconnection has become an epidemic of our time. The World Health Organzation Commission on Loneliness equates the health risks of loneliness to smoking 15 cigarettes a day with increased risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, anxiety and depression. Social isolation and loneliness is a global epidemic affecting at least one in six people across all age groups.

Disconnection doesn’t just happen when we lose touch with others. It happens when we lose touch with the inner self, with purpose and the divine.

This can be especially true during transitions in life, such as adolescence, retirement, when old friendships fade, or when mothers in midlife face a season of redefinition after their children have left home. You may feel invisible after years of showing up for others.

But here’s the sacred truth: Your worth is not tied to your productivity. You are not meant to disappear. You are meant to go deeper into exploring your soul purpose and who you really are.

The Underlying Hum of Anxiety

Modern life is overstimulating, and there is a constant information overload, which compounds underlying anxieties such as financial, health, and other concerns. This emotional static gradually wears down your spirit and vibrational energy.

But the way out isn’t to hustle harder. It is to pause, reflect, and readjust. Take a step back with a deep inhaling and exhaling breath. Say to yourself. I love and accept myself the way I am. I am guided and protected.

Shifting grounds

Our world is shifting rapidly, technologically, politically, and spiritually. Change is part of the evolutionary process and the cycle of life. It can be a gift, but it can also create uncertainty, fea,r and the retreat into an “uncomfortable” comfort zone. But stability is never created externally. It begins with the sacred center. In the space of stillness, the spirit speaks.

What Can You Do?

Here are a few soul practices to gently guide you home:

Sacred Silence

Take just five minutes a day to sit in stillness with no agenda, no expectations. Simply be. Let your breath become your prayer, anchoring you to the present moment. If sitting feels challenging, take a gentle walk in nature. Tune your awareness to the symphony around you, the birdsong, the hum of bees, the whisper of the wind through the trees. I feel especially connected when I practice Tai Chi outdoors. Often, I’ve experienced magical moments with animals drawing near, as if responding to the quiet presence and deep focus of the moment.

Reach Out

Talk to friends, reach out to people that you connect to deeply, and who elevate your energy. A great way of building resilience is to really connect with people. We are hard-wired as social beings. But sometimes we tend to retreat into quiet, lonely suffering if we don’t feel good.

Affirm Your Truth

How you talk to yourself, both positively and negatively, has a huge impact. Instead of saying: “This will never work. I’m a fraud and a failure. Nobody loves me.” “I’m alive and blessed in multiple ways. Opportunity and abundance come my way.“

Or,

“I am not alone. I am connected. I am safe in this moment.”

Repeat it until it begins to feel true.

And here are some gentle questions for reflection:

  • Where in my life do I feel most disconnected?
  • What do I need to feel seen and supported?
  • What practices help me return to my grounded self?

Reino Gevers – Host of the LivingToBe podcast

P.S.: If you enjoyed this article, you might be interested in my latest book, Sages, Saints, and Sinners. Get it today on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever good books are sold.

2 Comments

Filed under happiness

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

by | July 14, 2025 · 3:00 pm

From Burnout into Becoming who you really are

Have you ever felt like you’re just running on empty, and feeling emotionally exhausted that comes from carrying too much, too often, and for too long? You’re not alone.

At some point, most of us find ourselves stuck in the burnout spiral by juggling responsibilities, absorbing too much information on social media, and feeling the quiet weight of stress pressing in from every side. It’s easy to lose your sense of calm, purpose, and energy when overwhelm takes hold.

You might feel disconnected from what is ultimately your journey into becoming who you really are.

But here’s the truth: You don’t need a dramatic life reset to feel better.
Small, intentional steps can help you rebuild your energy and resilience. Doable practices that can help you restore your strength from the inside out.

Acknowledge the Overwhelm

“Let’s start with honesty: Are you constantly running on empty?” The difference between normal stress vs. chronic overwhelm. Common sources: caregiving, decision fatigue, emotional burnout, information overload.

The Science

The body has a natural defence mechanism when under duress. The hormone cortisol puts you into fight, flight or freeze mode. Your breathing becomes fast and shallow as all your senses go into survival mode. Your cognitive functions, the ability to find creative solutions is impaired. At the same time all your vital body organs do not get the nutrients they need, steadily breaking down your immune system. We are simply not designed to cope with permanent stress over long periods of time.

Common misconceptions on building resilience

A common misconception about building resilience is to “toughen it out.” But it’s not about swimming against the tide and bouncing back as before. It’s more about integrating the experience and adapting accordingly.

Micro-Shifts That Build Strength

Simple routines and mind habits can restore control. Your intuition will tell you that you are not aligned if what you are doing is inevitably causing fatigue and exhaustion. Learning to say „no“ and setting healthy boundaries to people who deplete your energy takes practice. Pause for a moment and breathe before reacting. In this way you are building space between stimulus and response.

The Role of Faith and Belief

Integrating faith can be pivotal in providing an anchor of guidance during stormy times. It could be a morning meditation or prayer that aligns you with your authentic self. Several studies have confirmed that taking a walk in the green and blue spaces of nature and opening the senses to the sights, sounds, and smells of nature reduces the stress hormones in your body significantly.

Building a Resilience Toolbox

Stress is not necessarily harmful. It can help you focus on the task at hand. But too much of it is harmful. The key is finding a good sprint and recovery system. Practices such as breathwork, walks in nature, digital breaks, gratitude reflection and nurturing positive relationships are just some examples. What and who grounds you? Mental reframing: “Is this pressure pointing to a shift I need? What is life throwing at me from which I can learn?“ You can ask for help without guilt. Learn to sit with discomfort without shutting down.

What’s one small choice you can make this week to calm the overwhelm? It could be a simple question such as: “When I feel overwhelmed, I want to remember…”

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor –Speaker

P.S.: If you enjoyed this article, you might be interested in my latest book, Sages, Saints, and Sinners. Get it today on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever good books are sold.

Leave a comment

Filed under exercise mental health, stress, stress hormones, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

by | May 19, 2025 · 10:46 am

The Hoopoe and life’s quiet invitations

There’s a bird that has fascinated me since childhood—the hoopoe.

With its elegant crown, zebra-striped wings, and quiet mystery, it’s always felt like more than just a bird. Here in Mallorca, a whole family of them lives in my garden, and I often watch them flit from tree to ground, moving with purpose and poise. But just the other day, one came unusually close—right up to my window.

We looked at each other for a moment. Still. Silent.

There was a sense that something was being exchanged without words. A subtle pause in time.

Was it a blessing? A message?

The Hoopoe as Spiritual Guide

In ancient literature and spiritual tradition, the hoopoe is no ordinary bird. It is said to move between the seen and unseen realms—a spiritual guide and messenger of deeper truths.

In the Persian classic The Conference of the Birds, the hoopoe leads a group of birds on a perilous inner journey, urging them to face their fears and seek union with the Divine. It doesn’t offer easy answers—it calls them to transformation.

That moment at the window made me wonder:
What is the hoopoe inviting me to see?
What fear am I being called to face?
What truth am I being asked to follow?

The Noise of the World and the Power of Whispers

We live in a world where the loudest voices often get the most attention. Where urgency, anxiety, and constant stimulation pull us in every direction. It’s so easy to be swept into the maelstrom of noise, to live in reaction rather than reflection.

And yet, life doesn’t always speak in volume.

Sometimes, the most important messages come not with noise—but with presence. Not in shouting—but in whispers.

These whispers can take many forms. They are gentle nudges that awaken something within us and guide us back to our soul’s purpose:

  • A sudden encounter with an animal or bird rich in symbolic meaning
  • A word, song, or conversation that strikes a deep, unexpected chord
  • A chance meeting with a stranger who feels like a messenger
  • A chapter in a book that completely shifts your path

A Whisper That Changed Everything

That last one happened to me.

Years ago, I picked up The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho. I read it in one night. And something inside me stirred awake. That book became a whisper—a gentle push that led me to walk the Camino de Santiago for the first time in 2006.

At the time, I was living in a dysfunctional marriage, navigating a stressful job, and anchored in a place that never truly felt like home. But that quiet invitation—a story—shifted the course of my life.

Becoming Who We Truly Are

I’ve come to believe, deeply and wholeheartedly, that every soul is born with a purpose.

Life is not about becoming someone new. It is about remembering who we truly are. We are sculpted by experience, softened through struggle, awakened by beauty. The adventure of life is the gradual unfolding of the self.

As Carl Gustav Jung once wrote:

“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.”

But this becoming doesn’t happen in the noise. It happens in stillness—in the quiet space where truth can finally reach us.

An Invitation to Pause

So, today I invite you:
Step away from the noise.

Take a walk in nature. Open your senses to the miracle of sight, smell, and touch. Breathe deeply. Sit in stillness. Offer gratitude—for your breath, your being, and the mystery of your life.

You are not random.
You are not alone.
You are part of something vast and sacred—a web of meaning, love, and purpose.

And sometimes, all it takes to remember that… is a whisper.

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor –Speaker

P.S: If you enjoyed this article you might be interested in my very latest book: Sages, Saints and Sinners Get it today on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and where all good books are sold.

Leave a comment

Filed under psychology, religion, self-development, spirituality

Tagged as , , , ,

by | May 4, 2025 · 11:31 am

When Life Hurts, Purpose Heals

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” Victor Frankl

In just nine days after being liberated from a Nazi death camp, Viktor Frankl poured his unimaginable ordeal into one of the most profound testaments to human resilience and the indomitable spirit ever written.

Upon his return to Vienna he found that his wife and almost entire family had died in concentration camps.

Most people would have been broken by such devastating pain, but Frankl managed to turn his suffering into a powerful pschological and spiritual mission.

His book: Man‘s Search for Meaning serves as a powerful guideline for all people currently experiencing almost insurmountable difficulties.

Frankl firmly believed that meaning can be found even in the most harsh conditions.

Purpose

Essential for Frankl was a firm belief in the Why.

Knowing your „why” helped people survive even the most brutal conditions, Frankl found. For him, it was the hope of seeing his wife again and the desire to rewrite his lost manuscript on his logotherapy psychological theory.

Detachment

He learned to detach from his suffering by focusing on memories, nature, and moments of beauty or spiritual reflection. He found that even in the camps, one could choose a different mindset—what he called the “last of human freedom.

Helping Others

As a psychiatrist, Frankl often counseled fellow prisoners, helping them find meaning and hope. This act of service gave him a sense of dignity and reinforced his own resilience.

Focusing on the Present

Frankl adapted to the harsh camp routines by focusing on small daily tasks and not letting himself be overwhelmed by fear of the future.

Belief

Recent groundbreaking studies reveal that individuals who anchor their lives in the belief in a higher power demonstrate significantly greater resilience in navigating and transforming adversity.

Evil has a persistent way of manifesting itself, sometimes infecting entire nations and societies—as seen in Nazi Germany. It can appear all-powerful, overwhelming any hope for goodness to prevail.

Yet, history shows that in the darkest hours, seeds of light and righteousness are quietly sown, preparing the way for a new dawn. Evil, by its nature, violates the deeper laws of creation. It tends to overreach—and in doing so, ultimately sows the seeds of its own destruction.

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor –Speaker

If you enjoyed this article you might be interested in my very latest book: Sages, Saints and Sinners Get it today on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and where all good books are sold.

Leave a comment

Filed under mental health, psychology, purpose, spirituality, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

by | April 21, 2025 · 9:48 am

Finding Peace Through Contemplative Prayer

In times of crisis, prayer can become a sacred act of surrender and spiritual growth. When we release the need to control, prayer opens a quiet space where the soul can rest, realign, and remember its connection to the greater Oneness.

Regardless of religious background, contemplative prayer can serve as a lifeline, anchoring the soul in resilience and peace. By turning inward and detaching from external distractions, we remember who we truly are.

The great 13th-century Mystic Meister Eckart describes his concept of prayer as one of “Gebet aus ledigem Gemüt”, which translates from the German as a prayer detached from the conceptual mind – a turning inward to the heart-mind.

The two eyes of the soul

Eckart describes the soul as having two eyes. The soul’s inner eye is that which sees into being, and derives its being without any mediation from God.

The soul’s outer eye is turned toward all creatures, observing them as images and through the ‘powers.’

“Any man who is turned in on himself, so as to know God by His own taste and in His own ground, that man is made free of all created things, and is enclosed in himself in a very castle of truth.

As I once said, our Lord came to his disciples on Easter day behind closed doors.

So it is with this man who is freed from all otherness and all createdness: God does not come into this man – He is essentially within him.” (Meister Eckhart, The Complete Works of Meister Eckhart, Sermon 66, Page 336)

For Eckhart, prayer “aus ledigem Gemüt” was a contemplative state of inner stillness with the soul liberated from all egoic desire and becoming receptive to the Divine presence, driven not by need but by love and union.

What we ask for may not serve our highest good

According to Meister Eckhart, God cannot always grant our requests, for we may still be in a state of unpreparedness. What we ask for may not serve our highest good, or it may simply not be the right time.

Like the soil that must first be tilled, the soul requires a practiced detachment. A receptiveness to divine gifts can only come by letting go of ego and desires. When we are prepared we receive not only what we ask for, but perceive the miracles of the very presence of God within all things. Without such preparation, we risk spoiling both the gift and the giver.

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor –Speaker

If you enjoyed this article you might be interested in my latest book: Sages, Saints and Sinners

Leave a comment

Filed under gratitude, happiness, psychology, spirituality

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

by | April 1, 2025 · 9:38 am

Why we need each other: The longevity secret

“Consuming things does not satisfy our longing for meaning. We’ve learned that piling up material goods cannot fill the emptiness of lives which have no confidence or purpose.” Jimmy Carter

We’ve never been more connected and more alone. In the race for success, self-expression, and consumerism, something vital has been lost: deep, meaningful community relationships.

Active participation in a community can add years to your life and improve your overall well-being. Humans thrive when they feel at home in communities that serve each other.

Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter was well aware of this, serving his community well into old age and reminding us of our true strength and values.

Meanwhile, depression and anxiety rates are rising significantly in urban areas. Research shows that people in cities are more likely to suffer from mental health issues compared to those in rural areas.

In big cities such as Stockholm, Berlin, and London about half the population live in single-households with high density housing, and transient populations of students and professionals leading to weaker social bonds.

The “Blue Zones” and community bonds

However, in those parts of the world, the so-called “blue zones”, where people live the longest strong community bonds are a common denominator.

In Okinawa, Japan, the elders have moais or tight-knit social circles that provide lifelong support. In Sardinia, Italy and many other southern European regions, inter-generational living keeps elders socially engaged.

The Harvard Study of Adult Development, which has been running for over 80 years, consistently finds that close relationships and strong social bonds are the most significant predictors of long-term health and happiness.

On my more than a dozen pilgrimage walks through rural northwestern Spain I have repeatedly witnessed the strong community spirit in the villages and towns. Regular religious and cultural festivals are held to celebrate local saints or historical events. People of all generations are strongly engaged in these events, providing purpose and meaning.

The Power of Social Connection

  • Studies show that strong social ties can increase lifespan by up to 50 percent compared to those with weak social connections.
  • Loneliness and isolation are as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
  • Close relationships help reduce stress, improve mental health, and boost the immune system.

Cultivating strong social ties is one of the most effective ways to enhance health and happiness over time. Faith, purpose, and community engagement are particularly strong factors for resilience and longevity. When people look after each other they are more likely to stay physically active, eat healthier, and seek medical care when needed.

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor –Speaker

If you enjoyed this article you might be interested in my latest book: Sages, Saints and Sinners to be launched globally on April 8th, 2025.

Leave a comment

Filed under mental health, psychology, purpose

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,