Listen to “How Personal Transformation Can Create Global Change”.
There is a pervasive sense in our society that we are in a bad place and things are only getting worse. Technological, social, political, and economic changes present challenges to how we relate to one another and the environment.
Rather than seeing ourselves as part of the Earth and intrinsically connected to her seasons, cycles and rhythms, our ego-centred mindsets cause us to behave as if we are apart from, rather than a part of, the natural world. We act as if it is something to own, use and dominate, resulting in unlimited resource extraction, the pollution of our environment, degradation of our food and water, the exacerbation of climate change, extinction of species, creation of pandemics and much more.
When we damage the Earth, we damage our own health. Somehow the perception has been created that rivers, mountains, oceans, birds and bugs are nature, but not humans. However, we human beings are as susceptible as any other species to the environment we create.
Modern life is full, breathless and packed with new pressures. Maybe in the face of these pressures, it is natural that anxiety and depression are on the rise. Modern lifestyles are just not compatible with positive mental health for most people. For many, life has become a burden and year on year its weight is growing heavier and heavier.
How can we break free from this chaos which has gotten so out of hand?
Change has to begin within yourself—the world changes when we change. Without action, nothing will get done. If you can change how you think, then you will gradually change how you feel and what actions you take. Eventually, the world around you will also change.
Restore your connection with nature
The world is a gigantic living organism, which we humans are a big part of. We are all interconnected. Life is the existence of living beings and the coexistence of all the living beings that obey nature’s specific laws. It is important to emphasize that the foundation of life is nature and understand how nature is guiding us to unite. We entirely rely and depend on nature to exist. From the food we consume to the water we drink and the air that we breathe, we need nature to sustain our lives.
Reconnect with Yourself
What are the roots of mental issues, depression and anxiety? Bad experiences during childhood? No hope for a better future? Anger, regret and repetitive negative thoughts? Fear perhaps? Lack of love and understanding? Disconnection with our souls and disconnection with other people?
The causes of depression and anxiety matter, and only by discovering what they are, can we begin to heal.
If you are depressed or anxious, you are not merely a malfunctioning machine. We need to stop treating the symptoms of people who experience extreme human distress. The symptoms are only the messenger of a deeper problem.
You are a human being with unmet needs. The only way to get out of our epidemic of despair is for us all to begin to meet our human needs to gain a deeper connection to the things that really matter in life.
Inner Peace and Happiness as Core Values
Most of us are searching for happiness in one form or another, but the happiness we’ve been conditioned to pursue is often elusive and fleeting. When we base our happiness on what we have—such as material possessions, status or recognition from others—our happiness is no longer under our control.
Happiness is a state of mind, and being happy requires us to make a conscious decision. We have to choose to be happy and work on minimising our negative inner voices.
Physical and Mental Health as a Priority
No one would question that, as individuals, we are responsible for our own health. After all, we are the only ones who can change our behaviours and habits.
If you focus on keeping your body healthy, your mind will reap the rewards. A disciplined, healthy lifestyle is beneficial to maintaining your mental health. The first step towards maintaining a healthy weight is to forget about the diet and lose the diet mindset. Instead, think about a ‘healthy eating program’ based on self-love and self-care that you could live with and enjoy for the rest of your life.
Try to incorporate stress-reducing practices into your weekly routine. You can try deep breathing, meditation, yoga or any other exercises you find relaxing.
Make Sustainable Ecological Ways of Living the Norm
Before buying items made of plastic or that use plastic packaging, check to see whether it’s recyclable. Today, many kinds of plastics are. Here are some things you can do to become more environmentally friendly today:
- Reduce the number of things you buy.
- Reuse the things you buy
- Recycle the stuff you don’t need either in a recycling bin or the compost.
- Donate things you don’t need
- Choose local organic shops
- Cut food waste
Cultivating Compassion and Kindness
When we allow ourselves to care for ourselves and others, it is a profound act of kindness that refills the heart, energizes the body, and nourishes the soul. In that moment of opening our hearts to ourselves and others, we recognize the immense healing power of compassion and reconnect with life and love.
