Are we humanitarian?

Today, I would like to explore what lies behind human selfishness. I am trying to understand why we don’t care after each other at a global level, and see if it is possible to maintain hope for a better world. Sometimes, the only way to confront an offensive concept is to understand it.

Initially, it looks clear that we, humans, are not in solidarity with one another. Almost half of worlds population lives with $1 dollar a day. The UN report “The Inequality Predicament” states “…80 percent of the world's domestic product belongs to one billion people living in the industrially developed world, while the remaining 20 percent is shared by five billion people living in developing countries.” 12.000 children die every day of starvation. And we are only talking about poverty, not human rights, violence or diseases. It is obvious that there is something wrong in this organism called humanity. It seems clear that we are uncaring as a group, but, is that true at an individual level?

Charity and Non Profit organizations (NPO) manage multi million dollar budgets. Many governments and private associations send considerable amounts ofmoney for development projects in third word countries, destined to end hunger and improve living conditions. However, those amounts are insufficient, not only in proportion to the GDP of the country giving it, but specially, compared with the amounts that are needed. Since the creation of Unicef, in 1946, and many other organizations that followed, a lot of work has been done, but the situation has not improved. ¿Why are we not able to solve this situation? In fact the contrary is occurring, in 1960 the wealth of the richest countries was 30 times higher than the group of poorest countries; in 1990 was 60 times higher. As the total riches in the world increases, the poor get poorer.

Most people I know are touched by images of children, adults and elders that we see on TV, dying or barely surviving. I believe that if we were able to see that by not buying a videogame or by canceling a gym subscription somebody could be fed or looked after in any way they need, most of us would do it. But we don’t see that direct an effect. It seems to be a never-ending ocean between the two worlds: theirs and ours. We feel separated by an abyss that makes all the good intentions, the solidarity that they initially bring about, even the donations disappear. Never mind all the work that is done, what is left to do is always much bigger. Never mind all the years of effort of many organizations worldwide, the needs are always several steps ahead. Apparently, this is a lost race.

I want to believe that it is the frustration of feeling inadequate and small what makes us ignore the problem, and turn our backs on a painful reality. After all, regardless of the voluntary hours we do or the amount of money we share, it it is not enough compared with what is needed to be done. It even gets worse when we think about the victims of violence, slavery or war. Who is the hero that will fly to liberate all the oppressed and punish the bad guys? It is clear that to wash our hands of it is much easier, and it is also a defense mechanism for us.

In this space, we always look at situations from the point of view of the energy world in which we are living. In this case, what we see as a problem is not so. It is just a symptom and a consequence of our immaturity as species. The core of the problem is that we don’t realize yet who we are; we think we are separated and different from the other human beings around us. The solution is to realize that we are all a unit. Imagine that a cell from one of our fingers thought that it was totally independent of another from the brain or from the blood. What’s happens then when a cell from any part of the body turns against a neighbor? Cancer and other diseases appear. Socially, we should adopt a model that we all have near: our own body. Every cell is an individual, but they all together form a unit. The benefit from the collaboration is that they all develop in the best possible way. Nature, animals and plants are a perfect model of collaboration and solidarity. When there is a problem in a part of the system, the rest mobilize to fix it, giving priority to the parts that are more in need or more vital. The reason for us not to follow that model is that we see each other as separate from the rest. The success of the species depends of the survival of the components. The law of the jungle, the survival of the stronger, is not applicable any more when there is a superior consciousness.

I dream of a world where the term solidarity does not exist; instead, to help each other is the norm. To have problems is part of life, but most of the time they don’t happen to everybody at the same time, so today for you, tomorrow for me. When we live as a unit we don’t say we are supportive. When we help some family member we don’t say we are supportive. On the contrary, we think of it as something normal, as the person belongs to our same group; we are part of the same family nucleus. When the neighbor is the one with the problem, if we have a relationship with them or the problem is very serious, it is possible that we assist; but if they are outside of our social pyramid, it is difficult for us to feel the need to get involved. First of all, we perceive it as somebody else’s problem. Secondly, we feel that our resources will be diminished some how. Both perceptions are deceiving. When we finally understand that we are all one, that we are part of a bigger unit, and that what happens to one of us is shared for all, we will not need to be supportive. We will simply look after each other, because that is the way for all to benefit. It is not a question of being good and altruistic, but to be practical. The better off everybody is, the better for us, because we are in the same ship.

I don’t think the solution lies necessarily in the political arena. I believe it lives in every one of us, and I know that when there are enough people that adopt this view, we will manage to end this situation of injustice. The solution is to know, to feel that we are all one; we have to stop living in an insanely competitive mode, and start living in a positive synergy. Every day, in every situation, to practice this new point of view, like changing our position to look at something from another angle. For me, it gets easier when I remember when I was playing with my son and we made figurines with playdoh. It didn’t matter if it was a horse, a tree, a UFO or a baby, in the end they were all the same, they came from the same material and they were going back to the same bag after we finished playing. It would be very funny for me if one of the little figures believed itself to be different or better than the others, just because it was taller or had more details or more colors.

I want to make clear that I am not, of course, making a call for no action. I am not saying that the little we do is not worth doing. What I am trying to convey is that a true change starts always in our thoughts. There is a metaphysical law that says “The Universe is mind; all is mind”. It is true; everything that exists was created first in the realm of the thought before it gets materialized. To create what we want starts by creating it in our mind, and there are not excuses for that. It is ok if we cannot feed all the hungry, but we can feed at least one, and more importantly, we can change our thought process and know that we are not something different and separated from that other world that suffers. Psychologically, in what Jung called the collective unconscious, the shadow, the instinctive part, we all feel separated from others. In order to reach the change in this collective unconscious, sufficient numbers of individuals have to change, and that change has to be conscious. This way, through consciousness, we evolve as humans.

To sum up, let’s stop blaming governments and rich people for the lack of solidarity in the world. The change is in our hands. It is enough if we realize that we are all one, a whole entity, and we act accordingly at every level, starting with those nearest to us. The good thing is that we will end up finishing all wars at the same time, because it will not make sense to fight ourselves.

Helena Aramendia. Allowed the partial or total reproduction as long as the source and the author are credited.

What are your intentions?

Usually, this is something that a future father in law will ask a nervous son in law candidate; but in reality, it is something that we should often ask ourselves if we want to live happier and fulfilled lives. There is a big difference between having a clear intention when we do something, or not having one, so let’s see what it means to have clear intentions.

To set up our intention means to have well defined the objective that we are pursuing in doing something. For instance, if we are studying, we can study with the intention of passing a test, the intention of learning, or both. It is also possible that we are studying because it is what we supposed to do in that moment, and therefore it is done without real intention. When we are starting to do something, the fact that we think about it for a few seconds, about our purpose and the desired outcome, is going to make a clear difference in the result as well as in the process. It is like shooting a gun without aiming, or starting a trip without planning where are we going. The lack of intentionality is a sure and fast way to arrive in Disaster Ville.

Every day we do a number of things, many of them automatic, like going to the gym, to work, shopping, making dinner or even making love. When I say automatic, I don’t mean that are meaningless or mechanic, I just infer that, because they are something routine, we forget to consider their purpose. The importance of these acts lies in their frequency, and in the fact that most of them are related to basic aspect of life, like surviving or taking care of our health. When we are conscious of the intention behind them, we find added benefits; among these:

1.- Results are usually better.

2.- We are more aware of potential hazards or self boycotts regarding what we do.

3.- It is easier to avoid sadness and boredom that sometimes come with routine activity.

4.- It gives us an opportunity to understand and reconsider our intention in more relevant perspectives.

Obviously, if we can improve what we do every day, our life will improve. Therein lies the importance of intentionality.

Let’s look a practical example: I am preparing a weekly menu at home. If, when I start, I set up my intention to plan food that is balanced and healthy over other considerations, it is most likely that the dishes that come to mind will fall into those categories. If my intention is for impressing as a cook or pleasing somebody, the options that will come to my mind will probably be more elaborate or richer in variety. If I am doing the plan in a rush just because I know it is convenient to have it done, but without setting up any intention, probably I will write down my favorite foods or whatever is easier for me to do. The quality of the intention will determine the quality of the outcome.

Let’s see yet another example, this one familiar also (unless any of my readers have made a vow of chastity), but more pleasant: our intention when we make love. Behind the obvious reasons of having an intimate encounter with our partner, we can set up our clear intention; for instance, to have a soul union, or to have a synchronization at an energetic level. The encounter, then, becomes a strong tool to reinforce the couple’s union, so it becomes more transcendent and more interesting. Or just make your intent that the encounter is the longest of the year, or the less noisy… in those cases will not be so transcendent, but definitely funnier (transcendence is overrated, anyway)

We are often in the position of making decisions that are not a part of our daily routine, but it will determine how our life will develop. The more variables there are to consider, and the more people involved, the more difficult is to make a decision. To choose a job, a house, a partner, or to make important personal or professional decisions, can be made easier simply by setting up our intention. When our intention is clear and positive, decisions are easier because what we do is focus in what is more important, thus being more selective. Results then will be more in tune with our objective. To end with the examples, lets lighten up and see what can happen when we set up our intention before we go shopping:

Without setting our intention: we buy a pair of jeans that we love, and we have to go back and return them because what we really needed was a party dress for next week.

With the intention of been practical: we go directly for the party dress, and we also choose the bag with a discrete label, so we can return it later.

With the intention of taking the blues away: we go to a very expensive boutique, and we buy the dress, the shoes and the clutch. From there, we go to the hairdresser.

With the intention of passing the afternoon: we call a friend, we try on party dresses, working suits, coats, shoes and hats, but we don’t buy anything.

In conclusion, to set up our intention clearly before doing anything, helps to obtain results that are more in tune with what we want. We find what we focus our attention on. Just in case anybody is curious why or how that happens, the (simplified) reason is as follows: as we stated on previous occasions, we are energy living in an energy sea, and in constant interaction with it. At this level, unlike what happens with electronics, equal attracts equal. Feelings (intention is a feeling) are real and tangible energy fields, able to produce effects in a physical word, therefore, when we make something with intention, we are putting huge additional power into what we are doing. Our intention resonates with that part of the universe with a similar vibration (which is the sea of energy we are in) and by resonance, it gets greatly amplified. For example, did you ever brake one of those old mercury thermometers? I did, and I remember the tiny drops of liquid metal getting together as if they could recognize each other.

Similarly, we can imagine that we have a huge magnet, and we selectively attract, without any effort, only the metal pieces in a gigantic well with many different elements. Without the magnet, it will be much more difficult to find them and pick them up. The power of the intention is like the power of the magnet. When we set our intention upon what we do, we amplify the power of attracting the result that we want.

I hope you enjoyed exploring this concept. It is fun, practical, and it will only take a few seconds every time. Before doing or deciding anything, just be clear of what is your intention. Then, tell me the difference that this makes in your lives.

Helena Aramendia. Allowed the partial or total reproduction of the article as long as the author and source are mentioned.

Are you worrying too much?

I don’t know if is the after holiday blues, or it is just coincidence, but I am noticing that many people seem to be more stressed or worried than usual. I’ve also noticed that although problems are different, they have something in common: they are not really real.

I think it was Mark Twain that said “I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened”. It is true, if we think about it, many of our worries are not real. They are potentially problematic situations, that may never happen. They are just fears that we create when we insanely insist upon having negative thoughts. We make a world of other people’s comments, gestures, or opinions. Often, unimportant facts get in our way, if they do not fit our expectations. Moreover, when it comes to making difficult choices, we take into consideration factors that distract us from the core of the decision at hand.

I am aware of the fact that in life, things happen that create suffering, and there are very harsh moments that we have to endure. It is not my intention to be insensitive with anybody that is going throughout a moment like that. However, the rest of us can really reconsider if so much worrying about everyday life is necessary. The answer is, of course, that is it not.

Normally, the best advice is the most difficult to follow, and is the advice that triggers the most irritated responses: be calm, relax and don’t worry so much. My dear friend Ana usually has an answer for that. She says: “So, which button is the one to push?” , meaning if it was that easy to overcome we would just have a “don’t worry” button....

I see that when I advise somebody to be calm, to stop churning on the problem, to relax, they look at me with disappointment in their face, to say the least. They automatically think that it is much easier to say that than it is to do it. They look at me as if I had said something really moronically obvious.

At that moment I answer to their concern, “To worry is an automatic response learned with years of practice and is a mental trap we fall into. To remain calm, however, is an option we can choose, one that we choose to do when we finally realize that it is possible to do so”. Yes, it is possible. In fact, I can assure you that it is easier to do than it is to think about it. Like almost everything else, it is a question of getting down to it, and we are going to do it in three steps.

First: The first step is to make the decision to calm down. I assure you that it can be done. When we say we can’t we are putting in place a resistance. I don’t mean to think about calming down, but to decide to do it. Not like we do when we decide that “next month I will start an exercise program”, but like someone that leaves everything they are doing, leaves home and starts walking or biking for an hour in that precise moment. If we don’t make that decision seriously, it means that we are hooked into the adrenalinerush of suffering and being worried. Everybody knows that suffering is addictive. OK, we all choose our own addictions, but at least in this point, we can be aware that if we don’t decide to stop, we are choosing to continue our pattern and not to explore new ways.

Second. Once we have made our mind up, the next step is to relax our physical body. We live inside a cellular structure that supports more stress and tension that is advisable. We need to stop for a moment and be aware of the points where we accumulate tension, and how we feel physically. At this point, the temptation for us to go back and to start thinking again about what is worrying us. Success in “finding the button to push”, is in not giving into that temptation at the moment it arises. We leave the worry aside a few more minutes, and we keep ourselves centered.

By noticing all the accumulated tension, we may feel an emotional response, feeling angry, tired or overwhelmed with any other emotion. That is part of the process and it means we are making progress. Now we can do whatever is necessary to alleviate that stress, whether is it crying, resting, massaging the more tense areas, or any other physical or emotional response. Only by allowing ourselves to process this, will relaxation be possible.

We should start by finding a comfortable position, and noticing that our breath is calm for a few minutes; notice if there is tension, or not in your muscles. If there is tension, see if you can perceive it and accept it as it is, until you can do something more about it.

Third. Those of you that are thinking that the next step is to meditate, …nope. It would be great, and for those with the habit of meditating, this is a good occasion. However, I don’t believe that the path to finding the good things in life is just for those that meditate. On the contrary, I intend to avoid indoctrination and to simplify the way, and I believe that we can all be happier and have fewer problems, whether we meditate or not. That said, the next step is to remember a series of facts that, because of their nature, are able to improve our vibratory rate when we remember them and we immerse ourselves in them, such as:

1.- I am alive and I feel happy for it.

2.- I feel grateful for __________________ (fill the blank with anything you want, and feel that gratitude intensely. Take your time and enjoy every second).

3.- I love very much _________________________ (family, friends, partner, even pets, places or actions have space here. We shouldn’t forget to put ourselves too. Again, take your time and enjoy being with that feeling, as this is the whole point).

4.- I can’t change the world but I can change myself.

5.- I can’t choose what has happened to me, but I can choose how I react to it.

6.- Experiences are useful for growth, learning and improvement.

7.- Problems can not be solved in the same mind set where there were created, so I can see things different when I look at them from a different perspective.

For those with spiritual or religious beliefs, there is a number 8.

8.- I ask for and I am open to receive help and guidance from ____________________ (fill the blank with your guide, master, angel or divinity you like to worship, depending on your beliefs) for my own and everybody else’s good.

(Important note: If you feel unable to acknowledge the truth of any of the above points, then you DO have a real a problem, so you can forget about what was worrying you before and focus on the statement that you are having difficulty with).

Done. That’s it. We pushed the “button”. The problem has probably not gone away, but we are in a much better position to deal with it now. We are in a better, healthier and more mature state of being. It is like facing a mechanical problem with the right tools, the instruction booklet and all the time in the world. If we are able to really feel all the previous points, (only reading them does not count, as it is clearly not enough to change your perception) we are better equipped to face the situations that life brings towards us.

The reason for this is that the steps outlined above are examples of actions that make our vibration rate higher, and balance our chakras, which are the doors that we use in order to metabolize the energy that we need. When we do this this, it is easier for us to access more creative resources, more innovative solutions and more practical ideas to face our day-to-day challenges. We are more able to separate a real problem from an unnecessary worry and gain a more balanced perspective. Thus, we can take action in accordance with a more balanced view. From this emotional and mental state, we can stop worrying about things that don’t have a solution, and get focussed in a practical way with the things we can affect. With regard to things that create real suffering in our life, we will be in a better condition to refuse the suffering that does not belong to us and to face the ones that we cannot avoid.

We can do it, no doubt about it. We deserve, we can and we will have fuller and happier lives as a result.

I hope this simplified guide is helpful. Of course, we always have the option of calling a friend for help. Whether you are the final consumer or you are the friend in charge of reminding others of the path, I would love for you to write to me and tell me your story, tell me if this was useful or not.

Helena Aramendia. Allowed the partial or total reproduction as long as the author and the source are credited.