Tag Archives: mindfulness

by | December 1, 2025 · 9:45 am

Transforming Pain: Cultivating True Gratitude

You may find yourself in the midst of one of life’s more challenging chapters marked by grief, uncertainty, or loss. Then, as if on cue, a well-meaning friend offers the familiar advice: “Just be grateful.” In that moment, you might feel an angry urge to say: “You don’t understand.” And the weight grows heavier when you begin comparing your life to those who seem happier, wealthier, healthier, or younger, as if their brightness somehow dims your own.

But here’s the deeper truth: you cannot silence authentic emotions such as sadness, despair, or fear by layering them with forced gratitude. Emotional honesty is not weakness; it’s the foundation of healing. Gratitude only becomes meaningful when it arises from a place of full acceptance and when you allow yourself to feel everything that is part of you without self-judgment.

“I am feeling sad. I am disappointed. I am angry. And still, there are things I can be grateful for.”

This is where healing begins. When you make a habit of connecting the dots between past experiences and present growth, you start to see a deeper pattern.

There comes that quiet reassurance that the universe has always had your back. Even the darkest moments often conceal unexpected blessings, pushing you to tap into inner reserves of strength and begin anew.

I’ve lived through many moments of profound despair, and I suspect you have too. Relationship breakdowns, the untimely loss of loved ones, financial setbacks, and health scares. Yet in hindsight, these painful milestones have often marked the beginning of something transformative.

Technologically, humanity has made extraordinary progress in recent decades. But this advancement has come at a steep personal and environmental cost. Our lives today are faster, more connected, and paradoxically more stressed. We have more time than any generation before us, and yet time has become our most precious, elusive commodity.

This revolution forces us to confront an ancient question:

What truly makes you content and fulfilled?

The thrill of a shiny new object fades quickly. What endures is meaning and purpose.

Every extreme carries within it the seed of renewal. The technological age has amplified our left-brain — analytical, data-driven, “spreadsheet” thinking — while the right-brain, our intuitive, creative, and spiritual side, remains undernourished. Yet it is this neglected dimension that holds the key to balance.

We are not just rational beings. We are playful, imaginative, soulful creatures. Reclaiming that part of the self — and integrating both hemispheres of the mind — is the challenge of our time. Just because you are going through a dark chapter, doesn’t mean you cannot have a beautiful life. Peace comes from going all in on accepting yourself and building on the habits and tools that elevate healing and growth.

How can I do a reset?

Begin with small, intentional rituals that reconnect you to gratitude — not as a forced emotion, but as a recognition and acceptance of life’s complexity and beauty. Here are three daily practices to help you cultivate authentic gratitude:

Morning Reflection

Before reaching for your phone, take three minutes to sit quietly and ask: What is one thing I’m grateful for today — even if it’s small? It could be the warmth of a comfortable bed, the sound of birds, or simply waking up and still being alive, perhaps thanking God, or the universe for a new day.

Gratitude Journal

Each evening, write down three things that brought you comfort, joy, or insight — even if the day was difficult. Over time, this builds a reservoir of perspective and emotional resilience.

Sharing Gratitude

Make it a daily practice to express appreciation — whether through a heartfelt compliment, a sincere thank-you, or a simple kind word. When you share in someone else’s joy or gratitude, you amplify it. Gratitude shared is gratitude multiplied, and it deepens the bonds that connect us.

These rituals aren’t about denying pain or pretending everything is fine. They’re about honouring the full spectrum of your experience while gently creating space for light to return. Gratitude, when rooted in truth, becomes a quiet but potent force for healing, resilience, and renewal.

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is ‘thank you,’ it will be enough.”
— Meister Eckhart

This simple yet profound reminder by the great 13th-century Mystic invites you to see gratitude as a way of being and a sacred thread that weaves through joy and sorrow alike, anchoring you in the beauty of presence and opening to grace.

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.

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by | October 20, 2025 · 8:01 am

When a Society Loses its Mind

“It is not famine, not earthquakes, not microbes, not cancer, but man himself who is man’s greatest danger to man, for the simple reason that there is no adequate protection against psychic epidemics, which are infinitely more devastating than the worst of natural catastrophes.”
— Carl Gustav Jung, “The Undiscovered Self” (1957)

There’s a virus spreading faster than any we’ve seen before. It doesn’t attack the body, but the mind.
It’s called collective insanity, where whole groups of people begin to share the same irrational beliefs, emotions, and behaviors, drifting further and further from reality.

This kind of madness takes hold when critical thinking collapses and a free press is silenced or controlled. When truth becomes inconvenient, emotion and ideology take over. Falsehoods repeated often enough start to sound like truth, and soon, everyone is echoing the same slogans without stopping to ask, “Does this make sense?”

Collective insanity usually begins in times of deep economic and social uncertainty. The world feels unstable and frightening. During social unrest, war, economic turmoil, or disease, people crave certainty. They long for simple answers to complex problems, and for someone who promises to make everything right again.

That’s when a charismatic leader often appears, offering clear, emotionally charged explanations that seem to restore order. Dictators like Hitler, Mao, and Mussolini understood this perfectly. They demanded total obedience, convincing millions to surrender personal freedom, conscience, and judgment.

Strong emotions like anger, hate, and retribution spread quickly, almost like an infection of the soul.
We “catch” emotions from one another through something psychologists call emotional contagion. The more a narrative is repeated, the more real it begins to feel.

In authoritarian systems or cult-like movements, people learn to silence their doubts. To question is to risk punishment or exclusion, and so they conform. In time, they begin to believe the very lies they once only pretended to accept. (Experiments have shown this again and again, most famously by Solomon Asch, who proved that people will deny what they see if everyone around them disagrees.)

Collective insanity thrives where access to truth is restricted. It becomes especially dangerous when a small handful of billionaires control the flow of information or when social media algorithms feed us only what confirms our existing beliefs. These echo chambers create entire worlds of illusion, each reinforcing its own version of “truth.”

And once a society defines an enemy — witches, heretics, another race, or “the corrupt elite” — violence begins to feel justified, even noble. We see this pattern today in the growing attacks on politicians, judges, and journalists who dare to hold opposing views. The moral compass spins wildly when truth and empathy are lost.

The Way Out

History shows us that collective insanity inevitably ends, but often only after great suffering and when the truth finally comes out. The cult leader is exposed when there is no longer any denying of his sexual abuse. There is no longer any denying the authoritarian leader’s corruption, inept leadership and personal enrichment.
In Germany, the delusion collapsed when the war was lost, millions of lives had been lost, and the truth could no longer be denied. Putin’s Russia is possibly facing a similar scenario.
In South Africa, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission forced the nation to face the horrors of apartheid, allowing confession, grief, and healing to begin.

The path back to sanity always begins with truth-telling and with courage.
It takes brave souls, compassionate communities, and civic action groups to speak truth, even when it’s unpopular or dangerous. It takes emotional honesty and the willingness to face the grief, guilt, and fear without turning away.

When this is done collectively, something powerful happens. Healing begins.
We rediscover our shared humanity. Sanity and peace begin in the heart of each person who chooses truth, faith, and courage over fear.

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.

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by | October 14, 2025 · 9:05 am

The COVID-19 Legacy: Social Fragmentation and Healing

Two years ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the COVID-19 pandemic was no longer a public health emergency. Yet its psychological and social aftershocks continue to ripple through societies, fragmenting communities once gripped by fear and fueling political extremism.

Several studies have now confirmed what many suspected: the pandemic and ensuing lockdowns had a profound impact on mental health worldwide. For the first time in history, scientists were able to observe the effects of collective fear on a truly global scale.

The Emotional Toll

While experiences varied across regions and communities, several broad patterns emerged:

  • Prolonged uncertainty, isolation, and fear led to widespread anxiety, depression, and burnout.
  • Eroding trust became a defining feature, as people grew confused and skeptical toward governments, media, and even science amid rapidly shifting information.
  • Collective grief settled over the world, a mourning not only for lost lives, but also for lost time, normalcy, and connection.

Shifting Social Landscapes

Communities fractured along new fault lines with differing views on vaccines, lockdowns, and mask mandates dividing families, friends, and neighbors.
Technology became both a lifeline and a liability: it kept people connected yet deepened isolation, fatigue, and exposure to misinformation and conspiracy theories.

The Mind–Body Connection

Emotional stress is one of the most significant threats to both mental and physical health. Neuroscience and medical research have long shown that chronic activation of the body’s stress response can harm nearly every system, especially the immune and cardiovascular systems.

  • The Whitehall Studies in the U.K. found that chronic job stress increases the risk of heart disease.
  • The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study revealed that early-life emotional trauma elevates the risk of chronic illness in adulthood.

The link between mind and body is undeniable—but so too is our capacity for resilience.

Cultivating Resilience

Research shows that stress resilience or the ability to recover from emotional adversity can buffer these effects. Protective factors include:

  • Strong social connections
  • Spiritual or faith practices
  • Mindfulness and meditation
  • Regular exercise and restorative sleep
  • A deep sense of purpose or meaning

A Shared Awakening

The pandemic also ignited a global period of reflection on mortality, interdependence, and renewal. Many rediscovered spirituality, nature, and the quiet power of mindfulness. For perhaps the first time in modern memory, humanity was united by a shared awareness of its own fragility.

A Creative Rebirth

For me personally, the lockdown became a period of unexpected inspiration. It was during this time that I began writing my novel Sages, Saints and Sinners. In my research, I discovered haunting parallels between our modern experience and the Black Death of medieval times, echoing the same fear, isolation, and uncertainty, followed ultimately by rebirth.

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.

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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.

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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.

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by | August 11, 2025 · 9:27 am

Impermanence: Lessons from Mystics and Sages

All the ancient sages and saints return to one non-negotiable truth: the law of impermanence. It is the invisible thread that runs through the fabric of life, weaving and shifting in cycles that shape every experience, identity, and attachment to what once was and is no more.

In Buddhist teachings, the very nature of all phenomena is this: it arises, it changes, and it then passes away. Resisting such impermanence is like trying to dam a river with your bare hands. You only exhaust yourself, and the water still finds its way through. You get wet!

Yet in our materialist culture, we are indoctrinated with the false belief that self-worth is equal to possessions, status, and the glitter of external achievement. The blueprint is enticing: When I have a million in the bank, the perfect home, and a Ferrari in the garage, then I will be happy. When I retire. I will do ... As if life only starts with retirement?

But sooner or later, you discover that what you want is not always what you need, especially when the outer trappings are disconnected from the soul’s true purpose. The more you own, the more you may fear losing it. There is a real danger that you become obsessed with thoughts on what might happen, forgetting that no insurance policy, stock strategy, or health plan can shield you from the law of impermanence.

Paradoxically, the mystics embrace impermanence because it reveals what does not change: the permanence of the soul and its unbroken connection to God, the Source, the Tao, the Universal Consciousness. By meditating on the transient world, the Mystics learned to anchor themselves in what transcends time.

Meister Eckhart, the 14th-century Christian mystic, taught a similar truth when he said, “To be full of things is to be empty of God. To be empty of things is to be full of God.” For Eckhart, the art of detachment was not withdrawal from life, but freedom within it. It is releasing the need to grasp at what inevitably passes so that the soul can rest in what is eternal. In letting go of form, the formless Presence is discovered.

In mystical thinking, endings are thresholds to new beginnings, with death merely being a passage to another dimension. Just as autumn clears the ground for spring’s blossoms, life’s losses make space for new insights, relationships, and states of being. The Sufi poet Hafiz reminds us: “Don’t get lost in your pain; know that one day your pain will become your cure.”

The mystics teach that surrendering to the law of impermanence brings peace of mind, dissolving fear at its root. We are travelers on the journey called life and only guests in the house of time. Like the river that does not mourn the stone it passes, everything you touch, everything you experience, is a moment flowing by.

So let your walk be soft and light. Love deeply. Release gently. You lose nothing, because the current carries you, steadily, inevitably, toward the eternal ocean.

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.

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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.

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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.

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by | March 3, 2025 · 4:32 pm

Finding Purpose: Know Thyself

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” — Pablo Picasso

Every soul incarnates with a unique purpose, and life itself is a journey of becoming who you truly are. Yet, from an early age, societal conditioning often obscures the soul’s inner calling, leading to discontent and unhappiness.

The Oracle of Delphi, inscribed at the Temple of Apollo, imparted the timeless wisdom: “Know Thyself.” This maxim reminds us that true purpose and wisdom emerge through deep self-reflection—by peeling away illusions, pretenses, and the false identities imposed by the world, we uncover our authentic essence.

Several sages have expanded on the maxim of Delphi by adding: “Know who you are not”, aligning with the practice of Neti Neti (“not this, not that”) in Advaita Vedanta, a Hindu philosophy. It seeks to understand the self by negating all that is not the true self. Perceiving the divine comes after self-reflection of “knowing thyself” and then “knowing who you are not”. The Islamic hadith states, “He who knows himself knows his Lord.”

From early childhood, we are subtly shaped by influences that can obscure our true nature and pull us away from our unique path in life. The hidden traps come in the form of societal norms, expectations, and fears.

Social Conditioning & External Expectations

  • From early childhood, we absorb the values, beliefs, and expectations of the family we were born into. Parents often make the mistake of carving out a career path for their child without sensing its deeper yearning. Many realize only later in life that the ladder has been placed against the wrong wall. This often occurs during a midlife crisis.

Self-Deception & Ego

  • Through self-talk, we often construct identities based on what we want in life rather than who we truly are. Uncomfortable truths are avoided with the ego protecting itself with rational justifications. The mind creates stories, but identifying too much with them keeps us trapped in illusions.

Fear of Change or Truth

  • Human beings are creatures of habit. Making fundamental changes like creating distance to family members or friends pulling us down to a lower vibrational level requires brave decisions and honest self-reflection.

Seeking Validation from Others

  • When we rely on external approval, we shape our identity based on how others perceive us rather than our own inner truth. Social media amplifies certain images of “success” and “happiness” mostly by encouraging consumerism.

Finding Stillness

To truly discover who you are, you must create space for stillness. In quiet moments, especially in nature, your senses open to the whispers of the soul. Here, you can seek guidance from God, a higher intelligence, or your higher self. Yet, these answers can only reach your heart when you free yourself from the endless noise of external distractions.

Without solitude, self-awareness remains shallow. Cultivating a meditation practice can help deepen your connection to your inner self. There is no single perfect way to meditate—it might be sitting in stillness, walking mindfully in nature, listening to spiritual music, or engaging in slow, flowing movements like Tai Chi or Qi Gong. The key is to find what brings you into presence and alignment with your true essence and purpose.

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor – Speaker

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by | January 7, 2025 · 12:38 pm

Emotions and Health: The Hidden Connection

As you embrace the New Year with fresh intentions and resolutions, it’s crucial to recognize the emotional stressors that deeply impact your physical, mental, and spiritual health.

The medieval Sephardic Jewish philosopher Maimonides emphasized a holistic approach to health, integrating the physical, spiritual, and emotional dimensions of well-being. He notably highlighted chronic anger as one of the most harmful emotions.

Modern science echoes these teachings, revealing a growing body of evidence that underscores the importance of managing emotions and fostering mental health for overall physical well-being.

The Harmful Effects of Emotional Stress

Emotional stress profoundly affects physical health, serving as a root cause of numerous conditions such as arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. Chronic stress also lowers your energetic vibration, pulling your mindset toward negativity, where you’re more likely to perceive—and attract—negative outcomes.

A study at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh has revealed perhaps the strongest evidence so far on the link between stress and the body’s capacity to deal with inflammation.

In moments of intense anger, pain, or fear, the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for creative thinking and problem-solving—essentially shuts down, leaving you reactive and unfocused.

Short-term stress can be beneficial, such as helping you react quickly to avoid a car accident. However, chronic stress floods the body with hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which overburden vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, and liver. Prolonged stress also disrupts digestion and contributes to inflammatory diseases.

The Impact of Social Media and Negative Narratives

Modern stressors include the pervasive influence of social media. A poll of 14-to-24-year-olds revealed that platforms like Instagram and Snapchat amplify feelings of anxiety and inadequacy, often fueled by negative comments on appearance and self-image. Research from the University of Pennsylvania even found a strong correlation between negative language on Twitter and heart disease mortality.

Harnessing the Power of Choice

The encouraging news is that you have the power to choose your emotional and mental state. Positive emotions such as gratitude and happiness enhance immune function and promote longevity. Practices like laughter and optimism stimulate the production of natural killer cells that fight infection, while a positive outlook fosters healthier lifestyle habits.

Practical Steps Toward Resilience

To build resilience and effectively handle life’s challenges, consider these practices:

  • Nutrition and Exercise: Adopt a diet rich in high-nutritional-value foods and maintain regular physical activity.
  • Nature and Surroundings: Spend time in attractive, natural environments to rejuvenate your spirit.
  • Spiritual Practice: Incorporate mindfulness or meditation into your daily routine.
  • Emotional Shifting: Begin by accepting your current emotional state—be it anger, sadness, or fear. Fighting these emotions only reinforces them. Instead, focus on your breath: inhale and exhale deeply through your nose while counting to ten. This mindfulness can help you emotionally shift, replacing fear with trust, sadness with a joyful memory, or anger with calmness.

Guarding the Doorway of Your Mind

In today’s world, where grievance culture and negativity often dominate the narrative, it’s more important than ever to protect your mental state. Surround yourself with positive-minded people, and cultivate gratitude through daily rituals. For example, reflect on the best moment of the past 24 hours—it’s there, waiting to be appreciated.

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.

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