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A Me-ist to a We-ist: How We Can Change the World One Person at a Time

Chapter Two

Be kind to the planet

            Our Earth is populated with roughly 7.4 billion people as of August 2016, according to Wikipedia.com (World Population, https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population). By the year 2100, a United Nations report estimates that number will grow substantially to around 11.2 billion. The sheer numbers of our species will put even more stress upon our world’s environment, energy resources, and food supplies. While our future may appear bleak, there is also a source of hope when we change our attitude about being a Me-ist to become a We-ist. This can be a great moment in history as H.H. The Dalai Lama writes about our present circumstance, “This crisis in bringing us an opportunity to experience what few generations in history ever have the privilege of knowing: a generational mission; the exhilaration of a compelling moral purpose; a shared and unifying cause…to put aside pettiness and conflict…and the opportunity to rise” (George, 2009). Being kind to our planet is not just buying fuel efficient automobiles and riding bicycles; turning down our home’s nightly temperature and changing to more efficient light bulbs; or recycling and buying less manufactured goods. Author James George (2009) nicely sums up our present situation, “The real bottom line, then, is to see that we are in a spiritual crisis that is widely misperceived as an environmental or an economic or a social crisis.

            Earth Mother is screaming for our help to help ourselves: we can invent all sorts of new electronic gadgets; create unlimited social sites to consume our time; and design countless video games to distract us from being who we are or why we are here on the planet. These material goods cannot and will not help our environment…we must create new thinking to manifest as new people, a world of more caring and compassionate people that are kind to our planet. The shift in our fundamental thoughts, words, and actions towards ourselves and, hence, to others, creates new behaviours and values that are helpful to our environment and to us. As we have a spiritual awakening, our hearts and souls are also changed from being a Me-ist to a We-ist. What an extraordinary life it would be. Does each one of us have to change at the same moment to impact the world around us? No. The teachings of G.I. Gurdjieff (1991) reflect his ideas about what it takes to make real change on our world, “two hundred conscious people, if they existed and if they found it necessary and legitimate, could change the whole life on earth.” Once We-ists begin to change to Me-ists, a new paradigm is formed and then the momentum from such an occurrence will carry us to a new and better world.

The idea behind becoming a We-ist when you are a Me-ist at the present moment is to shift your focus from your Self to others, and your attention can be centred upon a person, animal or the environment. Let’s consider what happens as you focus upon another individual. When you shift your focus, you can help others feel important, self-confident, and worthy of love, success, and happiness. What single word leaves the greatest impression upon others…their name. Every time you meet a new person be sure to remember and use their name, nothing else is sweeter to your ear than your own name. We can help others become more self-confident by following these few steps. If we are supportive and not critical of others, this simple act is conducive to building a person’s self-confidence. When we spend time with someone else, this is when we can reinforce what they do well and not what they don’t do so well. These are ways to refocus upon others and not focus upon your Self.   

When you shift your focus upon the creatures that you encounter on a daily basis you help that stray dog or cat by supplying them with a loving home. Millions of people world-wide agree with your decision to have a pet; surely, we all cannot be wrong. Why? You win because research indicates that owning a dog, cat or other animal companion is beneficial psychologically and physiologically (Crain, 2013). First, when you have a pet you are more active and this aids in increasing your heart rate and boosts your energy. Since you are active, you have a greater chance of lowering your chances for obesity, lowering your blood pressure, and your cholesterol too. Second, having a pet increases your feeling of empathy, a positive reaction that is flooded with positive energy as you put their needs before yours, which increases your compassion. Third, your pet needs you to feed, exercise, and water them which increase your empathy. In turn, you feel needed; your dog is never ever judgmental of your actions. Last, petting your dog or cat releases huge doses of positive hormones, serotonin and oxytocin, throughout your system which reduces your cortisol (Niven, 2007). Do you want to become a We-ist? Adopt an animal… today.      

When you shift your focus upon the Earth Mother you are helping her survive and therefore enabling your children, grand-children, and great-grand-children an opportunity to live a long healthy life upon our one and only terrestrial home. The focus of this chapter is how we can change from a Me-ist to a We-ist by being kind to our environment. Let’s start with the three R’s:  reduce, reuse, and recycle. It appears that the 3 R’s appeared on the first Earth Day in 1970, within the Environmental Handbook edited by Garrett De Bell and published by Ballentine/Friends of the Earth (www.urbanore.com). The 3 R’s are effective because they are simple imperatives, commands that leave an impression upon our minds to take action to do something positive for our environment. In the process, we benefit emotionally and spiritually from our selfless actions to save the world from pollution.     

First, according to Rob at the Green Guide for Everyday Living, reduce “…is dubbed as the mother of all 3 R’s and it should be the first rule to consider when making any task at home.” For example, it is important to work upon reducing energy, materials, and electronic gadgets where you live. Making these simple choices to reduce the waste and consumption in your home is a big step to caring for the Earth and taking the focus off of you and onto something bigger and more important than yourself. 

            Next, pay particular attention to what you buy and why you buy it; this prudent decision helps our environment. It is easy to say reduce buying clothes, mobile phones, jewellery, shoes and so forth for many of us; however, this attitude swims directly against the current of our modern-day consumer driven world. The government measures economic success by how much we spend. The neighbourhood gauges you on the size of your house, the make of your car, and the price of your toys. The media, in its many forms, pushes the idea that more is better and you are worth more because you have more. This is not true wealth and happiness in life; it is spiritual and emotional poverty that occurs when you face unbridled shopping. What can you do? If you have a problem, acknowledge that you have the problem; don’t deny it exists. Many of us have real problems and issues when it comes to being able to reduce what we buy. The problem is maybe that you are a shopaholic; but don’t feel embarrassed or ashamed of this condition because you’re not alone…far from it. The well-known New York psychologist, Dr. April Lane Benson, estimates that over 18 million Americans are shopaholics. It’s a staggering number of people who suffer from this dilemma, and this is why Dr. Benson created Shopaholicnomore.com. If you think that you or a loved one has a shopping or spending issue, you can visit the site and download their free self-assessment questionnaire to discover if there is a reason for concern as well as what to do about it. This site and its useful information could change your life forever.

You can pick-up your digital or paper copy of A Me-ist to a We-ist at Amazon. Enjoy the read and a review would be greatly appreciated to help get the word out and help save our planet and our species from the portal of extinction.

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“Meditating for the mind is as important as exercising for the body.”

Meditation is our connection to the spiritual world. 

For thousands of years, humankind has practiced the art of meditation. In earlier times, religion and meditation were inexorably joined and all the major world religions incorporated meditating as a means to connect with the One; a means to silence the physical world and experience the spiritual world; and a means to transcend the seen world and to reside within the unseen world.

 

A deeply, devoted state of thinking

And it was the monks, priests, and mendicants who mainly followed a meditative life within the confines of their monasteries and caves, thus, it appears that the conduit to the spiritual realm all too often excluded the general populace. Nowadays, there is no longer a barrier which prevents us from accessing and practicing this time honored tradition. While meditation and religious practices are still tightly entwined, most people out of the realm of organized religions who practice meditation are in reality practicing discursive thinking – a deep, devoted state of thinking.

Our mental state changes our physical body 

Whether it’s achieving spiritual ecstasy or attaining physical enjoyment from regular meditation (or discursive thinking), the scientific community as a whole identifies that a change of mental state results in a change of physical state. A body of research indicates a litany of ills including anxiety, stress, pain, and depression are substantially reduced or completely eliminated by regular meditation sessions.

Our happiness increases with our meditation sessions

There is also evidence to support the lowering of blood pressure levels, improving sleeping patterns, strengthening immunity systems, and increasing general overall happiness. In fact, a number of studies have discovered that your overall Happiness Index number may increase by as much as 20% from regular meditation sessions.

Create a stronger connection between the Source and your Self 

New Age scientists have hypothesized that habitually meditating creates a stronger connection between the practitioner and the Source which in turn releases blockages of energy which are at the heart of the many problems which we suffer from in this modern age.

You can have a healthier brain

Even though we have an extensive list of benefits from regular meditation, researchers have recently discovered other reasons to make this a regular routine in our busy and hectic lives. As we age, we naturally have a thinning of our frontal cortex. One study finds that regular meditation slows down the process and it also helps thicken this area of the brain when practiced over long periods of time. After years of being committed to this sacred act, we end up with a healthier brain.

Meditate to rewire your brain and increase awareness 

A wide number of studies also discover that regular meditation sessions rewire our brain. It seems that the rewiring of the brain results in an increased awareness and focus upon the present moment. Most of us spend a great deal of our time, scientists estimate as high as 50% of the time wandering from idea to idea, hence, there is little focus.

A lack of focus can attract negative energy 

As our thoughts race around in our minds, we most often than not are attracted to the negative aspects of our life; the bill that is owing, the car that needs fixing, the tooth that needs drilling. So, our lack of focus results in obsessing upon the negative which then places us in a negative state which then attracts more negativity to our lives.

Quiet the white noise 

However, a wide range of studies have found that when we meditate, we quiet the white noise of the outside world and become less judgmental in our worldview. This change then manifests as a more relaxed attitude that is not obsessing upon the broken this or the unpaid that. It appears that the brain is able to respond to self-monitoring and retain and maintain focus and block-out worldly interference.

Science not speculation 

This is not just speculation. A recent study discovered that meditating monks and praying nuns activated the areas of the brain that dealt with concentration and focus while they also deactivated the areas of the brain that controlled responses to worldly stimuli. Over time, the ability to control your focus upon the inner world and not upon the outer world is a direct result of the rewiring of the brain which is directly influenced by meditation.

Focus upon the purposeful not the superfluous 

Meditation is more than just a few umm’s while sitting cross-legged on the floor with sweet smelling incense burning and exotic music playing in the background. Meditation results in significant health benefits that help us to live a long and productive life. It is our ability to control our thoughts and focus upon the meaningful things in life and not the superfluous which bring about true happiness and good health.

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“The health you attain, maintain, and sustain is dependent upon the strength of your connection with the benevolent One.”

connection

Separation causes us great harm   

We suffer physically, emotionally, and spiritually when we lose or weaken our most sacred connection; the connection to the benevolent Source. However, quantum physics helps us understand that when we change our focus we change our lives.

We are creators not spectators 

We are responsible for what manifests in our lives and awareness of this fact brings change to our unpleasant present situation to a wonderful future; this is a cardinal rule of quantum physics.

Anxiety feasts upon our immune system 

In the world we live in, we are witnessing immeasurable pressures which are threatening to tear the fabric of humanity apart. As this anxiety is leveled upon members of our society, it manifests attacks upon our immune systems which lead to a wide range of illnesses that ravage our bodies and minds alike.

Focus upon good health and not ill health 

All too often, a sick person’s family, friends, and even medical doctors focus upon the illness which only gives the illness strength and fortifies the negative, unhealthy energy against the positive, healthy energy. For example, doctors commonly quote chances of survival from an illness and naturally, patients as well as those who surround the patient listen to the experts’ opinions and accept all prognostications.

Our bodies have natural defense systems in place 

Still, our bodies and our minds cannot identify if a threat is real or imaginary. When we feed our minds and bodies messages of trepidation, consternation, and desperation the results are equal to the input; and when we feed our minds and bodies messages of calmness, happiness, and copiousness the results are equal to the input.

Input creates the same energy 

However, there are no moral judgments made, our minds and bodies simply react accordingly to the input, whether real or unreal, since our physicality is inseparable from our spirituality. Rather than listening about the evils of sickness, we should be focusing upon the sacred connection that unites these two elements of our Self as a means to attain, maintain, and sustain wellness.

Healers connect the spiritual with the physical world 

There are countless studies which have investigated healing and overwhelmingly, it appears that the results of these studies support what the ancients have been telling us all along; each and every one of us is connected by a sacred field or web of energy. At the heart of these various studies is that the healers, regardless if they represent organized religions, Eastern philosophies, or other traditional beliefs such as shamanism, connect the physical world with the spiritual world, the axis mundi, to visualize the ill person enjoying good health. The healer connects with the unwell person, achieves the same vibrational resonance, and resumes the blocked flow of energy which had caused the illness initially.

Our mind’s focus can heal our body 

The results of these various studies clearly demonstrate that we are all connected to the identical field of energy and we are then able to heal and be healed by our minds and our focus. There is further proof in that the sacred connection can occur with the sick person in the same room or even more dramatically, from over far distances. Scientific research has proven that remote prayer has helped groups of AIDS patients and others with coronary dis-ease live longer lives.

There are alternatives to traditional medical practices 

Once the medical community at large recognizes, accepts, and implements alternatives to the present forms of treatment now accepted by practitioners and patients alike, the sooner we can make huge leaps in correcting our unwell bodies and minds.

Make way for the ‘new medicine’ 

When this shift occurs, imagine how the ‘new medicine’ will be. The negatives that bombard us will be replaced by the positive. It will focus on reprogramming negative thoughts with positive thoughts; it will focus upon reprogramming negative beliefs with positive beliefs; and it will focus upon reprogramming negative actions with positive actions.

Prescriptions replaced with meditation

Rather than write yet another prescription for the latest wonder drug, medical doctors will write prescriptions to mediate daily, to read positive books, to talk about positive stories and experiences, to look at positive images, and to listen to positive news.

Your mind and body are one…and inseparable 

Accept the notion that your mind and your body are inseparable, and as such, your mind controls your spiritual and physical Self. The amount of control you have over your Self is based solely upon the strength of your connection with the Source. Surround your Self with positive energy to live a healthy and happy life.