Month: September 2019

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Healing relationships

Relationships form a delicate web across the globe. From dolphins and their interactions with each other to the role ants play in keeping the cycles of a rainforest turning, to the big human cities, we are all inter-related.

On a personal level, these relationships exist between members of a family, colleagues in a business and all kinds of social arenas.

So we may as well get along.

When a hurt has been witnessed by a relationship, three options lie available.

We can tear ourselves apart and continue at war with each other. This follows the “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” logic. But this just causes more conflict.

Or we can liberate ourselves from this cycle. There are two options branching out of this. We can choose to stay and repair, like with a family member we love dearly.

Or we can choose to walk away.

With any decision, it must be made with a wise heart. At the end of the day, we’re the ones who are left to live with our decisions.

Let’s choose peace. Let’s choose to live in a world with out violence and war.

Let’s choose to embrace the goal of healing our relationships.

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Support

Support comes in many forms and in many guises. And it can come from any quarter. Sometimes, it can come from the most unlikely of sources.

I’m cruising towards the Renaissance years, where one realises that one doesn’t have to care so much because most people are more concerned about themselves. And not me.

But over my lifetime I’ve been supported by all sorts of people from all corners of my life.

And in this article, I’ll give a positive story about a person who practices a religion that I’m not well informed about.

Iftekar was a Sri Lankan Muslim who I worked with twenty years ago. I was 21. He was probably in his 40s. His reason for working was to support his wife in her studies to become a General Practitioner.

Normally, I steer clear of the three Abrahamic religions, even though I was raised Catholic. And I attend Bible study with the local Uniting Church.

But in my hour of need, Iftekar stepped in and played mentor and role model, and friend. This was important as I was a very socially wayward and awkward young person.

We didn’t talk religion. We just talked.

So, before I write off someone because of their background, I’ll remember Iftekar and what he taught me.

My hope is that this story will further cause walls to come down, regardless of the side that you find yourself on.

Spread the tolerance. Spread the love.

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Abundance

Abundance. The truth is that we are always experiencing this.

Think this is a lie? Or New Age fluff?

Well, if there’s not an abundance of, for example, money, in your life, this means there is an abundance of poverty.

This can be turned around.

The first step is acknowledging that you have the ability to change your financial situation. Self belief is key.

Yes. You can do it.

It requires thought, perseverance and commitment.

It requires creativity and maybe reaching out to loved ones for strength, support and inspiration.

And then it requires taking the steps, doing the tasks, walking the path.

What holds back most people is not that they can’t do this. What holds most of us is fear. In Nelson Mandela’s speech, he said that it was not our darkness that we were scared of, but our light.

So, if you’d like to gain some abundance, reach to your source of courage, be it your loved ones, your God, or a book, and gain a grip on your fear.

Then, explore the possibilities.

I’m happy to brain storm and research.

Just email me on lizseverest@gmail.com

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Health

The cornerstone of life and success. Often ignored and taken for granted, but at one’s peril.

Let’s talk health.

What naturally springs to mind is physical health. This comprises of eating well and getting enough physical exercise. For me, I ride my push bike to work and around town, and I eat a mostly vegetarian diet with a little bit of fish.

But there are other areas of life requiring a watchful eye and some sort of strategy.

Mental health is important, especially when there are mental illnesses and dementia lurking in the future if not handled correctly. One strategy is to do mental puzzles or a hobby such as writing.

Emotional health also is worthy of a mention. Making connections within family, friend networks, and the community can protect from isolation and loneliness. And it can be as simple as asking the person at the cash register how their day has been.

But the real area that ties all these together is our shared spiritual health. I’m not talking about what church or religion one belongs too. I’m talking morals, ethics and a vision for one’s own life.

Committing to a vision larger than I am is something that gets me out of bed and keeps me striving forward. Shared with my employer, my family and friends, and my community, this vision keeps me empowered.

What is your vision?

How are you looking after every facet of your health?