Prosperity & peace

I think it is intuitive to link prosperity and peace, after all the more prosperous a place is, more peaceful will be. I wonder if the same is true for people…

In the past few years, news has come up of very prosperous people who would be suffering for some reason or another, even going to the extreme of suicide.

It is true there are not too many news to reach to the conclusion of money does not bring happiness… or peace. However, if you know someone who is really prosperous in terms of wealth, you probably know that person has many problems and has to face many crises. Worry and anxiety is a common trace associated to prosperity.

Maybe we have to look into prosperity beyond money or material wealth. When we look at a very prosperous country, besides their material wealth, there is an immaterial wealth: their culture, their values, their touristic places and many more things.

In the same way, besides wealth, every person has a huge treasure of qualities, inner powers, and talents. When those people join others, that treasure replicates in an infinite way.

In fact, looking back into countries that did not have a material wealth some time ago – like India or China – by investing their energy in their immaterial wealth, they are nowadays considered prosperous countries… So, if a person does not have material wealth, but they are connected to the immaterial one, then they are, without a shadow of doubt, very, very prosperous.

Now, because their focus is on the intangible part, PEACE will be developed since it is there too.

So if you feel you are not experiencing peace, work on acknowledging your own prosperity. Peace will come.

If you are not feeling that prosperous, tour around your inner wealth from time to time, and connect to your inner peace. Prosperity will come.

About life in these strange times

On one hand, our society is so advanced… Human rights, development and even entertainment are the best, particularly if we compare with old centuries.

And yet…

After a long time, we are witnessing a war between big countries and we are feeling its effects.

After a long time, the number of people starving is about 800 millions! It seemed we were almost winning over this and then…

After a long time… the list is long and because of this, it is difficult to accept what is going on.

But, what about embracing this reality? What about accepting it?

I am not saying or suggesting that we think these things are right, but they are real and if we really want them to change, it is only when there is acceptance that magic happens.

So, instead of trying to avoid news or talking about irrelevant things (to avoid the BIG talk), just embrace that is the reality we are all living.

From that, understanding will come and solutions will come up.

You are not alone, I am not alone; we are all in the same boat and in one way or another, we are all experiencing the effects of the very strange times we live.

Quicksand and slow-sand

I was “playing” with the idea of a quicksand… OK, maybe it is not a nice image as per the general perception, if someone steps on a quicksand, they are swallowed by earth! That’s why the first rule is CHECK THE PLACE WHERE YOU ARE STEPPING.

However, if you do step on a quicksand, slow movements will help and the best you stay quiet, the hardest will be for the quicksand to take you in. Your chances of survival will increase by doing that.

Now, if we think about SITUATIONS as quicksand, we can extract a few lessons and turn it into a slow-sand, a process in which you are changing the pace of life and going deep.

• Always be cautious. If you can foresee a bad situation coming, don’t step into it just like that; wait a bit, reflect, contemplate and meditate… If it is a quicksand – something that will swallow your energy, your potential, or your wealth – don’t step into it. Look for alternatives instead.
• If you are feeling situations are already taking too much from you, slow your movements, that is, be more reflexive and contemplative. Take your time whenever you can and talk with someone you trust about what you are living. Don’t let yourself be dragged by circumstances.
• Silence does three things when situations are like quicksand: 1) silence empowers and so your resilience increases; 2) silence clarifies what you are going through and, in this way, you are not afraid, and 3) silence heals since many times this type of environment may hurt you.

So, are you ready to convert the quicksand of your life into a slow-sand?

The power of being fearless

Fear is an energy that moves reality, but not in the best way possible. It is so powerful that many things around us were created out of fear – fences, big walls, security system, firewall, etc. It is so powerful that moves the economy in many places and can even elect new rulers.

However, it is a very bad energy and for many reasons:

• It prevents looking for more opportunities and big changes.
• Self-esteem is affected negatively.
• It can create problems between people.

This small list helps us to understand the real power behind being fearless:

• When you are able to overcome fear, you will be able to embrace new opportunities and be an agent of change for yourself.
• Your self-esteem will increase in an amazing way, which will transform your life.
• Another chance for a healthy relationship is so important; relationships trigger parts of the self that otherwise will remain in the potential, not in the reality.

Being wise instead of knowledgeable

We live in a society that is hungry for knowledge and learning. It has been a beautiful dream of a long time for many people and it is no small wonder to see even the simplest people accessing technology that was available only for high class or academics in a very recent past. However…

There is a cost for life in this knowledge-centered society: knowledge cannot solve all problems. This impossibility generates frustration and even feelings of depression. A high number of articles on topics like 5 Common Mistakes Smart People Make shows this reality. But why knowledge is not enough? That is when wisdom comes in…

After all, besides solving math problems and design complex strategies, a leader or any person also needs to solve relationship issues or to face health problems, for which that person’s knowledge won’t be necessarily useful. But wisdom will be!

It has a variety of meanings, but I would indicate a few levels of wisdom that can be applied to resolve different circumstances in life.

1. A knowledge-based wisdom. I think the first level is pretty simple: just apply knowledge! For instance, you can research about courses that will help you to improve your relationship or heal your health.
2. Intuition. Although some affirm it is restricted to a particular gender, it is not my experience. Basically, it means to listen to the non-logical part, a side of our brain or perception that is able to “catch” signs our conscious self didn’t, and it is not conditioned by gender, age, race, religion or any label. It will guide you in giving a special gift to that special person or talking to a different doctor who would have an unorthodox solution for your problem.
3. Contemplation. There is a point your wisdom comes from a deep contemplation. A few years ago, I tried to discern the difference between contemplation, reflection and meditation; when you reflect, you speak to yourself, while when you contemplate, you let your own self to speak to you… (meditation unites both in one practice). To be wise at this level means you don’t take decisions in a rush; you rather take your time, check between several possibilities and then you take a decision. Therefore, you won’t rush into a solution for a relationship or health, but you will think it deeply and the solution will come to you.
4. A master. It is not the final level, but you can call it a final stage of the path of wisdom. You start sharing and teaching others, and they are able to learn and follow a similar path. Success is measured here not for the master’s achievements – which are still important as they show their own wisdom, – but for their followers’. A master will teach about relationship and health, and their disciples will find solutions.

In which level of wisdom are you?

About life in these strange times – taking advantage of an opportunity

Three recent scenes summarize for me how we are living:

1. People were avoiding a place close to their houses due to the COVID virus, and yet that same people travelled to another country, exposing themselves to the same virus (no masks on the way)!
2. I’ve passed through sunshine, drizzle, storm, cloudy and rain… in just one walk, less than an hour!
3. A dog walking with its dog walker… without leash!

What is the meaning and the lesson to be learnt?

• There is a lot of fear, illogical unreasonable fear, which makes people to not reflect and instead to act on instinct, wasting wonderful opportunities. Fear prevents people to take a chance.
• Another reason people don’t take a chance comes in the form of an obstacle. In fact, whenever someone is trying to change something in their life, complications come on the way as if life doesn’t want the person to change. Keep going, keep moving; the weather in your life will change and you will adapt.
• Freedom comes from the power of adaptation to new situations. Not adapting in the sense of losing a dream or an objective, rather than that, by throwing unnecessary thoughts and emotions away. In other words, enjoy the ride, life is giving!

What are the scenes in your life that inspire you to understand the world?

About love and compassion, mercy and understanding

Many times, while reading the news, the conclusion is that our world has turned into a very dry place…

So, would you try to use a bit of water of love? Just give other people something: a smile, a kind word or an object wrapped with good intentions.

Maybe a bit more water: the water of compassion. Embrace the other one – it could be physically or spread your warmth around the other person, telling them I am here for you.

More and more water… this time the water of mercy. Like a nurse, help others in their healing, by tirelessly offer them something special – maybe your role as mother, your capacity as an engineer or your ears as a friend.

But it is the last water that will make all your effort fruitful: the water of understanding. With understanding, forgive and open new doors of opportunity for people; with understanding, change the best you can and help others in their own change, and with understanding, help the world.