The Meaning of Personal Transformation

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I have been reflecting these past days about the word transformation.

We know that life’s engine is through transformation. Everything alive evolves to fulfil a specific purpose. A small seed can transform itself into a wondrous Oak tree, just as a small caterpillar transforms itself into a  beautiful butterfly.

But what does that mean for us? How can we be aware of our own transformation?

Just the other day I heard a remarkable speech by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which precisely talks about transformation. He shared his own experience with this phenomenon. What he said really stuck with me and made me think further about the topic. 

He shared his own experience with transformation. During his youth, he used to be a drug addict and he even described himself as a “bundle of desires”. His life was completely driven by a total self-will. After a certain time, a life driven by self-will ends up becoming meaningless. He struggled to find meaning anymore to what he was actually accomplishing. The world seemed chaotic, dull and unbearable. Until one day, he decided to surrender, and turn his will to a Higher Power. Once he surrendered to serve a higher purpose, is when he understood the meaning of transformation.

Every decision in his daily life, whether small or big, had now a moral dimension, and he realised that by making the right choices his life started to change and rewards and blessings came very fast. He keeps on saying that when his life became fully rewarded he still tries to keep his humility in place because that’s the only way that you can keep connected to the Higher Source. It is particularly challenging when things are going well in your life, he says, because when things go well one hardly thinks about God or in asking for help. 

Most people who are desperate and helpless tend to turn to God for help. But what happens when you are doing great? How do you keep finding meaning in your life despite your many blessings?

This explains maybe why so many people experience anxiety and depression, even though theoretically they have everything: a house, food on the table, and even family and friends who love them. Why do so many people fall into addictions and cravings of all types? Wouldn´t it be because they are lacking a life with real meaning?

When I examine my own life, I realize that what keeps me going is my desire to help. I have a deep desire to be of service and to share everything I know that can help people navigate through this dense, toxic World. I know that I have the moral responsibility to act in the service of what is right and what I regard as the truth. I wake up every day thinking I have to report to God for another day at His service. 

To take decisions with a moral dimension is what psychologist Jordan Peterson would say is making your bed every day, tidying up your room and showing up at work even if you don’t feel like it- because it is not about you, but it is all about what you are offering to the World. Is to work towards becoming a much better person than what you are today. It is to explore the potential of being. It is in the limits of the unknown where we have the field play of becoming. 

Eventually, how others see you means nothing. What is meaningful is how you see yourself. A superior man thinks about virtue; a petty man thinks about comfort.

How do you feel about the word transformation?

How would you transform yourself into someone who can live purposefully and plenty?

 I would love to hear your experience.

To learn more about the topic, I invite you to read my book:

The Success Mindset: Take back the leadership of your mind

God bless,

Paola K.

¿Cómo prosperar en tiempos de crisis?

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Sabemos que se vienen grandes cambios en la geopolítica y la economía mundial. La humanidad está viviendo una época de turbulencia sin precedentes, que muchos de hecho la comparan con las profecías bíblicas a la llegada del Anti-Cristo. Guerras, desastres climáticos, gobiernos totalitarios y sangrientos, la pérdida de la estructura moral y la ética en las sociedades y sobre todo, estamos experimentando una crisis profunda del sentido e identidad humanas.

¿Cómo es posible que la humanidad sea capaz de auto-destruirse así misma de esta manera? Se supone que somos la raza más inteligente del planeta- algunos arrogantes incluso piensan que somos la única inteligencia que existe en el universo- si fuese así, ¿cómo es posible que gestionemos tan horrorosamente mal nuestra vida en esta tierra? 

Para la humanidad más consciente, comienza a tener sentido que hay más en juego, y que este juego es más profundo y oscuro que la simple estupidez y avaricia humana. Hay energías negativas poderosas que están controlando el campo de juego. Tienen y controlan todas las piezas claves del tablero de la vida humana tridimensional.

Nosotros no somos más que simples marionetas bailando al son de esta batalla que se da en las sombras desde el inicio de nuestros tiempos: la batalla del bien contra el mal.

Una pregunta que tenemos que hacernos antes de querer rebelarnos ante este juego perverso es, ¿De qué lado jugamos? ¿Estoy a favor de la luz, de la verdad, de la belleza, la justicia, el amor, la fuerza y la creatividad? O ¿Estoy en el bando de la oscuridad, la envidia, la división, el miedo, la confusión y del caos?

Sin temor a equivocarme, creo que la mayoría de los humanos queremos pertenecer al primer bando. El problema es cuando no somos coherentes con lo que pensamos, sentimos y hacemos. Cuando no hay coherencia ni orden, entonces reina el caos. El caos es terreno fértil en donde nacen las mentiras, las manipulaciones y las divisiones en general.

Ser del bando de la luz significa decir (y aceptar) la verdad de uno mismo y actuar de forma coherente. La ética es el fundamento principal de cualquier sociedad funcional. La falta de ética y moral debilita el carácter y crea terreno fértil para el totalitarismo, donde reina la razón y la negación total de Dios como la fuerza y fuente única de la creación.

Estamos en tiempos difíciles, eso nos queda claro. Son justamente en estos momentos cuando tenemos que afilar los dientes y salir a defender lo que es nuestro. La humanidad sufre de múltiples ataques en todos los niveles de la existencia. Nuestras instituciones, religiones, creencias y tradiciones; absolutamente todo está sufriendo una batalla cultural. 

¿Es posible ganar la batalla y prosperar, a pesar de nuestro obscuro pronóstico? 

Como dice el dicho popular, “Dios les da las peores batallas a sus mejores guerreros”. Nosotros estamos aquí, en este tiempo especial en el mundo, por un propósito mayor y más profundo de lo que creemos. Tenemos la responsabilidad suprema de preservar lo más hermoso que se nos ha otorgado en este plano tridimensional: La vida y la preservación de nuestra especie.

Entonces, ¿Cómo asegurarnos de estar dando una buena batalla y salir victoriosos de esta guerra? A continuación, te doy 5 acciones que te pueden ayudar a mantenerte firme en esta batalla cultural:

  • Aléjate de las noticias “mainstream” y buscar fuentes de información alternativas

El único objetivo de los noticieros convencionales o “mainstream” es empujar una narrativa específica como instrumento de manipulación para fines ocultos de quienes los patrocinan. En lugar de ver el noticiero matutino de toda la vida, mejor busca fuentes alternativas como sitios de internet de expertos, libros, videos, artículos, y plataformas de información que ofrezcan diferentes opiniones y puntos de vista.

  • Busca cómo generar ingresos de forma independiente

La era del trabajo estable ha desaparecido o está en proceso de extinción. Nadie te asegura que ese puesto que tienes ahora te va a durar toda la vida hasta que te jubiles.  A medida que seguimos avanzando en la era digital, muchos de los trabajos de oficina y de manufactura de hoy van a desaparecer. Nuestra responsabilidad moral es buscar la  independencia total, y eso significa en términos materiales, ser financieramente libres. Vender tu tiempo por dinero a una empresa es una forma moderna de esclavitud.  Tiempo= Vida por lo cual, estás dando tu vida para cumplir los sueños de alguien más.

  • Busca decir la verdad en todo momento

        Se sabe que el diablo se alimenta de las mentiras. Decir la verdad es un acto revolucionario en una era en donde reina la opresión, la censura y los ataques contra la disidencia de la narrativa oficial de los gobiernos y medios de comunicación. Cada vez que mentimos ya sea por nuestro beneficio personal, conveniencia o miedo, estamos alimentando el sistema opresor. No es libre quien no puede expresarse con entera libertad. La verdadera batalla la lidiamos en nuestro interior. Engrandece tu YO SOY,  viviendo y expresando tu verdad.

  • Aprende a pensar críticamente

 En tiempos de redes sociales y noticias instantáneas, todo mundo parece tener una opinión sobre todo. En las redes sociales abundan los “expertos” en geopolítica, salud, historia, ciencia, mitología, sociología, religión y demás. Cada vez que ocurre un hecho de trascendencia mundial o que se vuelve viral, no se dejan esperar los cientos y miles  de comentarios, análisis, desacuerdos, peleas, conclusiones y demás de lo que creemos que fue lo que pasó, cómo pasó, cuáles fueron las causas y demás. 

Pero las opiniones no son conocimiento. El conocimiento sólo puede desarrollarse con el tiempo. Ahondar en un tema en específico por un determinado tiempo en donde vas formando conexiones de información y contexto, donde puedes cuestionar, analizar, probar y formular tus propios pensamientos. Vale la pena tomarse el tiempo para aprender a pensar. Cuestionarlo todo, buscar fuentes alternativas y formar nuestras propias conclusiones. El que es capaz de pensar críticamente no puede ser manipulable.

  • Alégrate de tu existencia

Esta es un arma mortal para las energías oscuras y negativas. Cuando eres alegre, cuando rindes honor y respeto a la vida, cuando disfrutas de la naturaleza, cuando amas, cuando haces cosas por los demás, cuando exploras tu creatividad, cuando te maravillas ante el cielo y cuando eres agradecido, las fuerzas negativas huyen de ti avergonzadas. 

Las energías negativas y opresoras quieren ver a la humanidad arrodillada, humillada, con miedo, alejada de la divinidad, vibrando en lo más bajo posible, para hacernos por fin esclavos perpetuos. 

Esta batalla la ganaremos siendo alegres, solidarios, amando, respetando y defendiendo con coraje la virtud, la verdad, lo bello y lo sublime que representa nuestra existencia.

Alégrate de tu existencia, y ganaremos la batalla.

Si quieres leer más sobre el tema, consulta mi nuevo libro A World of Illusions

Are You Around Toxic People? Five Traits That Signal You Should Run Away

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We all have been surrounded by toxic people at one point in our lives, sometimes without even noticing it. In order to live a peaceful and successful life, we should surround ourselves with the right people. In fact, this is common advice from most leaders and mentors I ‘ve ever encountered: “If you want to know who you are, look at the five closest people around you”.  Are you hanging around with people who share your same thoughts, values and contribute to your life in a positive way? Or do you just accept anybody that crosses into your path?

Toxic people have bad intentions. They might come across as friendly and nice on the outside, but on the inside, they struggle to feel happy for others, and really just care about themselves. Unfortunately, those people will always get in the way when you are trying to accomplish something positive in your life.

Toxic people can cause detrimental effects in our life if we do not learn to detect them and do something about it; there is enough evidence from research around the world that confirm that toxic relationships are harmful to your health; they increase the risk of metabolism disorders, chronic stress, heart diseases, cardiovascular issues and even depression. The influence of toxic people can be very subtle, so it is imperative to learn to detect those in your life and get away from them.

So, how can you be sure that someone around you is being a toxic person? Let’s take a look at the top traits:

1.     They are the victims

Everything negative that happens to you is because “you deserve it”, but if something happens to them is a tragedy. They are the “poor me”, in every situation. 

2.     They love gossip and scandal

Toxic people feed themselves with negative news and gossip. Those are the first to know when something bad happens to another person. They like to be surrounded by people not doing well in their lives and therefore will try to impede that you get better or are improving in your life.

3.     They are always right and never ask for forgiveness

They think that they are smarter than you, and everything they do is righteous and flawless. If something goes wrong is your fault, they are just the victims. These people do not feel any regret for causing damage to others because they think “they deserved it”. 

4.     They attack you the moment you share the good news with them

It might be something very subtle like saying to you “Yes sounds great, but…” The moment they say a “but” it means that they are contradicting you or pointing out that you are wrong or something might not go as expected. They like to impose fear on you to make you feel doubtful about your decision, that is why they are “experts” in seeing all the risks in everything you do.

5. They drain your energy

Have you experienced an energy drop, irritability, uneasiness or even got a headache after speaking with someone?

That would be a clear signal of very negative energy attacking your immune system. Believe it or not, negative energies, once they can connect with the other person’s energy, can cause debilitation of our immune system. Negative emotions suppress the function of our prefrontal cortex and activate the amygdala, the area of the brain that deals with the “fight or flight” protective mechanism. 

In short, if you notice that people close to you have three or more of the traits mentioned above, better run away. Sometimes this might be hard because oftentimes those people are our partners, our parents or even our own children. However, regardless of the personal relationship, there is no justification to tolerate toxic behaviours for the sake of their well-being, putting yours at risk.

Form a circle of people that do care about you. Who show respect and love for what you do. Humanity is a big family, whether we are connected by blood, by soul or both. Select carefully your herd and strive! 

Healthy Families = Healthy Societies

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In Today’s state of the world, nobody talks about the role family plays in the preservation of human societies. In the last decades, the focus has been set on basically destroying the very core of a functional family: the role of men and women. 

Good families have a solid male-father figure who brings leadership, security and stability to the family members. They also have a caring mother, who primarily has the task of raising their children and are by excellence the food scientists, doctors, teachers, psychologists and multi-task talented of the family.

When each member of the family understands their role, there is more harmony and stability at home. Back in the 50s and 60s, one salary was enough to sustain a family of four, have a nice house and have a comfortable, decent life. However, as the decades passed and globalization started to become the hope for a “progressive future of prosperity and collaboration”- we started to see strange shifts in our cultures and especially in family structures.

The first wave of change is the encouragement of women to join the workforce. The women’s rights movement in the late 60’s not only triggered the feminist movement of that time, but also the value of being a woman and the priorities we should look after as a woman started to take a different direction, going more in favour of developing strong, emancipated and aggressive women and making obsolete the role of a loved, caring mother.

The second wave was that women became less interested in staying at home and having children. Societies started praising the new “Super Women” who climbed into leadership positions in business or became elite athletes, models or scientists. There was no room left to praise the ordinary Mother, the invisible soul that stays home and ensures the family stays together.

The third wave is a curious “cultural” explosion in gay communities. Suddenly, gay life was in Vogue. I’m not talking about the traditional homosexual or lesbian preferences, which are respectable. The whole community started to transform itself into a binary rainbow of infinite possibilities. Men that “feels like a woman” could actually get pregnant if they really want it. A trans woman can fall in love with a man. Or with a chimpanzee, or with a plant. Doesn’t matter. Your ideologies and feelings override biology and common sense.

A fourth wave is an emergence of “Feminazis”- extremist women that take “toxic masculinity” to the next level.  The anger towards men is such, that they consider the natural and beautiful act of making love a “subjugation to machist dogmas”. So if you have an orgasm, you might very well be collaborating in keeping the machos in power, a sin in today’s rainbow standards.

And what would come next?

It wouldn’t surprise me, that the trend goes towards the complete eradication of any sexual identification. Asexuals, transhumans- any sign of human sovereignty is gone.

You might think I am exaggerating, but just think a bit about it.

Without the traditional family construct, the moral values that hold our civilization become blurry and obsolete. The lack of values and tradition causes confusion. Confusion causes chaos and depression. 

Disconnection causes hate and wars. Connection causes love and harmony.

The family nucleus connects us to our core and our nature. The strength and assertiveness of a strong father and the loving care of a mother make you feel safe and loved. Anything else will lead to disconnection and chaos. 

This is the big dystopia of our times.

Destroy families systematically, and you will destroy humanity.

Maintain healthy families and your societies will strive. That’s our only hope.

¿Qué Es Lo Que Importa En La Vida?

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Es una pregunta muy subjetiva. Seguramente, algunos responderán que lo más importante es la familia, los hijos, la salud, o hacer lo que amas. 

Para otros será el dinero, ser reconocida, llamar la atención o simplemente el poder y la fama.

Aunque no lo creas, todas esas motivaciones, aunque parezcan completamente distintas, tienen el mismo trasfondo:  Conectar.

Los humanos lo que realmente queremos, es conectar con otros seres humanos. Después de todo, Aristóteles dijo alguna vez que somos en nuestra más pura naturaleza, animales sociales. 

El sentirse desconectado de la sociedad y del mundo genera grandes trastornos psicológicos. Esto es un hecho probado por un gran número de médicos y científicos que han hecho estudios a miles de personas en las últimas décadas. 

Algunos de los síntomas que las personas experimentan cuando se sienten “desconectadas” son:

  • Estrés crónico
  • Insomio
  • Pobres relaciones interpersonales- impresión de conocer a mucha gente pero sin tener “amigos verdaderos”
  • Impulsividad
  • Ansiedad
  • Problemas para enfocarse en hacer una tarea a la vez
  • Inflamaciones crónicas
  • Problemas de sobrepeso
  • Narcisismo
  • Sentimiento de soledad

Seguramente has sufrido uno o más de estos síntomas y desafortunadamente, tener múltiples síntomas se ha vuelto la regla más que la excepción.

Nuestro ritmo moderno de vida, en donde todo se exige al minuto, en donde la paciencia no existe, y en donde puedes saciarte de básicamente todo a manos llenas: Comer de todo y a todas horas, enterarte de lo último que pasa en el mundo a tan sólo unos clics, entretenerte al instante con los últimos videos de Tik tok, ordenar ropa, comida o hasta pareja en una App… en fin, puedes hacer todo hoy en día con tan sólo un teléfono móvil en la mano, cuando antes necesitabas realmente interactuar con muchas personas para poder lograr todo lo anterior.

La tecnología es una maravilla cuando se usa a favor de avanzar como sociedad. Pero le hemos dado el uso inadecuado y hemos terminado siendo víctimas de la tecnología, y producto- esclavos de los que controlan esas tecnologías.

También nos hemos desconectado de la naturaleza, y de nuestra sabiduría innata. Nuestros cerebros a través de los tiempos han sido interceptados por intereses comerciales que moldean nuestras decisiones de consumo y de vida y esto pasa sin que la mayoría se dé siquiera cuenta de ello.

La desconexión con el mundo y con los demás es lo que nos impide sentirnos sanos, felices, completos y en paz.

¿Qué tenemos que hacer para volver a conectar? 

La respuesta más simple a la que pude llegar es esta: Volver a lo básico.

Buena alimentación:

Aprender de nuevo que lo que comemos tiene una influencia enorme en el estado de salud físico y psicológico de las personas. Si comes nutritivo y bien, te sientes bien y te sientes más motivado para interactuar con los demás. Si te sientes mal, lo último que quieres es interactuar con otros. Por eso, es importante mantener una dieta sana, libre de carbohidratos ultra-procesados, de comida con gluten, azúcares y cosas sintéticas.

Siempre apuesta por comida orgánica, proteína con grasas saludables como la carne, aceite de oliva, quesos (con excepción de los ultra-procesados o azules), nueces, huevos, aguacates y verduras. Limita el consumo de fructosa (e.g. jugos y frutas enteras con alto contenido de fructosa como los mangos, plátanos, etc.) una fruta entera al día siempre va perfecto.

Dormir bien:

Ser estricto con tu tiempo de dormir. Dormir al menos siete horas y evitar desvelarse sin sentido. La mente y tu cuerpo necesitan regenerarse y durante el tiempo de sueño es donde más se regenera. 

Confiar en la inteligencia innata de tu cuerpo:

Tu cuerpo es parte de la inteligencia de la creación.

Tu cuerpo sabe perfectamente lo que necesita. Se auto-regula y se auto-regenera. Muchos piensan que los médicos que “operan” o “medican” hacen algo “milagroso”. Pero nada más lejos de la verdad. Los medicamentos y los doctores son simples instrumentos que intervienen cuando es necesario para dictaminar el curso de la “posible cura” tratando de atacar los síntomas y no la enfermedad. Pero es el cuerpo el que se auto-regenera. El consumo de medicamentos puede incluso ser contraproducente si altera la capacidad auto-regenerativa del cuerpo.

Mi consejo es: menos medicamentos, mejor alimentación, más ejercicio y dormir mejor.

El contacto con la naturaleza siempre, siempre, siempre será una de las gratificaciones más grandes de esta vida y no es algo especial, es simplemente porque la inmensidad del mundo es nuestro hogar desde siempre, y no paredes grises y mini cubículos con computadoras.

Usar menos las redes sociales y buscar más la compañía real:

El título se lee solo. Tener mil amigos en Facebook nunca se va a comparar con tener un amigo verdadero que realmente te escuche y esté ahí para ti en las buenas y en las malas.

Un “like” del Instagram no te va convertir en super estrella ni en super héroe. Pero la sonrisa de un hijo, el abrazo sincero de una amiga, o una conversación profunda con alguien cercano seguramente te hará sentir tan pleno que ni siquiera vas a sentir la necesidad de llamar la atención.

Conectar es simplemente volver a vivir como fuimos diseñados para hacerlo: en la inmensidad de los bosques, selvas, mares, desiertos… libres, con alimentos provenientes directamente de la tierra o los animales… interactuando constantemente frente a frente y no enclaustrados en mini pantallas con imágenes ilusorias mientras nuestro cuerpo y alma se degradan. 

Conectar de nuevo, eso es lo que le da sentido a todo.

In a World Built by Lies, Have the Courage to Speak your Truth

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Language is possibly one of the most powerful tools for survival in our human nature. It is only possible through language to live in communities, form entire civilizations and transcend the animal kingdom by being able to convert an idea into matter through the explicit use of our spoken language.

 We create our own world but we rarely think about the mechanisms about how precisely we are building that world for ourselves. How can we shape our own life?

The answer that came to my mind is simple: through language.

But language is so powerful, so magnificent that it can create wonderful things as much as it can completely destroy them.

By the use of language, you are crafting your life… word by word.

So, what happens when you use your language to distort reality? 

We know that we can say anything we want, and we shape our own reality by doing so.  That’s why lying is even considered something regular people do most of the time.

Everybody tells a lie, here and there right? It can be a white, non-offensive lie, or a big one; so big a grotesque nobody even can believe it is actually a lie.

As Joseph Goebbels, the sinister politician in the Nazi era used to say: “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it”.

Big lies can become collective realities, if the critical mass of people believes them and regard them as true.  A collective lie which is seen as reality can define the destiny of entire nations and the world at large.

Lies can be powerful allies when you want to hide from someone or something. Telling lies is a defence mechanism to avoid facing and dealing with the truth… with the pure and naked reality.

In that sense, it is logical to think that the more you lie, in order to get certain things in life (maybe power, money, recognition, acceptance… whatever it is) the farthest away you are from really knowing who you are.

You are lost in a thousand-mirror puzzle. One little lie has to be covered by a bigger lie, and the bigger lie by another very very big lie and if you are not clever and keep track of all the lies you will start to contradict yourself; you will lose the sense of reality. You will be disoriented and out of touch. Probably you need to invent a new lie to get out of that embarrassing situation- but it will be a weak foundation and will collapse again once you have to cover up the new lies associated.

What a strange world. Why do we ever have to rely on lies to live our lives?

Lying builds sand castles in unstable clouds, but telling the truth really keeps you firm on the ground.

Real and deep human interaction that is constructive only comes from a place of trust. And to be able to be trusted, you need to tell the truth. Here’s how you can start practising getting your true voice out:

·      When you talk, pay attention to your inner emotions. Do you feel nervous, or inadequate or does your voice sound weak? If that’s the case, you are talking from a place of fear, which is fertile ground for lying

·      Start to consciously recognize your own lies; every time that you caught yourself saying one, write it down and keep a log; are you capable of doing such exercise?

·      When you are caught saying a lie- ask yourself: what will be my expected benefit for having said that lie? What could be the consequence if I ever got caught? What result has more impact on my life and why?

·      If you want to discover who you really are, ask yourself: am I willing to pay the price of knowing who I really am? Even if that means being exposed to my own truth, my authentic thoughts and desires? Am I willing to defend myself by always striving to tell the truth?

People demand constant communication to keep their minds organized. Therefore, by communicating with the language of truth to others, you are not only helping your own mind come to terms with your true self but also, you are helping others to do so as well. Because as much as lies are contagious, truth is even more. People realise the spark in the eyes, the passion that emanates from the eloquent heart. 

The Benefits of Self-Authoring

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I write a journal with personal reflections since I’m 7.

Life was never easy, but to have a space where I could reflect and write about my whereabouts and my feelings certainly made things clearer to me.

Some people call it journaling, writing in a diary, that kind of stuff. Although self-authoring is quite different, in my opinion. When you have a journal, you can just write observations about everything- about yourself but also everything that surrounds you. Could be stories, reflections, experiences and the like. With self-authoring, you are going a step further. You open up to think -and- write- about who you think you are: You go to the depths of your being, as uncomfortable as it is. 

You are able to rip yourself layer by layer like an onion. With every depth you reach, the pain comes closer and closer. Most people give up by the second or third layer. We like to see ourselves as inherently good people and all we believe must be the truth. But is it really?

When a close friend reaches success and is doing fantastic and you feel jealous about it, what do you do with that jealousy? Do you confront it straight into the eyes, or do you hide it below the carpet, and pretend you feel happy for his or her success when deep inside you feel quite miserable?

The madness of this world is not easy to digest, because we don’t like to see the part we play in it. If we suffer a social crisis if the world is “mad” is because of the wrongdoing of others but not because of my own actions, right? Well, we are as guilty as charged in contributing to that madness. How so? By our own virtual signalling, by pretending to be morally superior and suppressing our darkness.

Allan Watts once said “The reason you want to be better is the reason why you aren’t”- this has a profound meaning. I think this phrase alone describes the tragedy of our civilization.

What does it mean to become better? Better than what? Why would a flower, a deer or a wave in the ocean pretend to become “better” than the other? Who or what defines what is actually better?

Self-authoring, which means, writing, reflecting and looking at yourself in the mirror with all of its untold truths- is what has kept my sanity all these years. To be able to write who I think I am in a raw sense of things- not pretending I am good, or right or wrong. Simply observing, documenting, reflecting. Yes, I feel jealousy. I feel scared. I feel sorrow and I feel lost. On paper, I cannot hide it to myself. I have to confront the judge. So, you feel miserable. Why is that so?

Yes, you feel jealous and resented that your best friend is doing much “better”. Why is that so? Is it helpful? Is it meaningful?

Confronting our own demons, and our own miseries are our main task in this human existence. Then and only then, we will be able to really see the light. You cannot recognize light unless you come from the darkness. That’s a way  to come in peace with ourselves, with others and with our destiny. 

 I believe in becoming more human, not a better human, simply more human. To keep our feet on the ground, our hearts wide open and embrace everything that comes with our human experience. 

Let’s Talk About Mental Health

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You might often hear that “No news is good news” but it isn’t the case when we talk about recognizing mental health disorders. Those tend to be silent witnesses. People that suffer from depression and anxiety do not recognize so quickly that something is wrong inside of them until it explodes and manifest as external acts of aggression, sadness and suicidal thoughts.

What can we do to become more aware of it? Can we do something about it?

It is one of the deepest mysteries of human nature: with our thinking faculties and our capabilities to become over-conscious about life together with the speed of events happening around us, it is becoming more and more difficult to grasp and take back our ability to control our minds and our emotions.

 I believe we have been losing our capability to become more resilient in difficult times. The progressive agendas in the era of hyper-industrialized and full-speed technological world is letting behind our human capacity to cope with difficult situations. It is simply too much for our brains to process and digest the vast amounts of information being received everyday by the little device we carry with us every single day.

The era of hyper-connectivity in all areas of our life is threatening our inner desire to be part of a small community. Slowly and dangerously, vast online network communities are replacing real personal connections. Some decades ago, it was unthinkable to have multiple contacts with vast amounts of people. Only our neighbours, school colleagues and family were the people we really had contact with. Now you are a click away from vast amounts of people in the social media world. But is this better? Is this an advancement towards a better and smarter civilization?

In many ways, it seems like it is. In the digital era, you can have everything available at your fingertips. On the other side, we train less our capability to be patient, to wait for proper and real human interaction. We become obsessed with superficial “likes” and attention, that lasts maybe a few seconds before the new feed shows you something new. 

I believe that the increasing levels of anxiety and depression are a direct consequence of the new digital world that is being pushed towards us with high speed and which is not our natural human way of living. Therefore, it is important to take a step back and reflect on how much this hyper-connectivity to the online world is harming your mental health.

I propose these simple but powerful steps to reflect and gain back some critical thinking about how to use the online world more consciously:

  • Recognize that you have an addiction to your mobile phone

It is a well-known fact that smartphone overuse is as addictive as any other drug. The apps we tend to use for social media interaction and other activities like shopping, gaming, etc. are designed to keep your attention as long as possible and as frequent as possible. Therefore, once you start to depend on the use of your smartphone for your daily activities, the higher the likelihood you will develop an addiction to it.

A well sound advice would be to go back to the old times when you just used your phone for making calls and use your laptop for everything else.  Delete the apps that you know cause distraction. Try to stay a day or two smartphone free. You will realize that is not the end of the world- you will actually feel more calm and more relaxed!

  • Make an effort to connect with your local community and meet your friends in person

Do you remember when you used to call a friend by phone and just talk for hours? Or go for a walk in the park, buy some ice cream and sit on a bench to observe people and have long conversations? Nothing the online world offers is more gratifying than that. A quick “like” or quick byline message gets lost in the enormous amount of info trash. 

Go out, meet your friends, have some drinks and have fun the old-style!

  • Do walks in the nature, swim in the sea or in a lake nearby

Direct contact with nature is a wonderful and natural anti-depressant. Just try it out- walk in a park barefoot and hug a tree. Close your eyes and see how this connection brings you a calming influence. Enough exposure to sunlight is a wonderful antidote against depression. 

  • Turn off the Wifi before going to sleep

Good sleep is key to maintaining a balanced and healthy mood. The increasing use of Wifi and the electromagnetic radiation soup to which we are exposed daily have negative consequences on our overall health, according to recent studies. Among the side effects of being exposed to EMF (Microwave electromagnetic frequencies) includes “oxidative stress, sperm/testicular damage, neuropsychiatric effects including EEG changes, apoptosis, cellular DNA damage, endocrine changes, and calcium overload”…

So, it is wise to avoid very long exposures to any place with strong wifi signals (be aware of 5G antennas!) and especially before going to sleep, turn off your wifi router. 

  • Talk about it and ask for help

I know it is very hard to talk to people when you feel down. If anything, we try to avoid people and feel like staying home watching tv at best. And sometimes that helps. But when you realize that you are feeling more and more down, it is time to reach out for help.

Talk to a counsellor, therapist, or a close friend. Dostoyevsky used to say “I like being alone, but I don’t like feeling lonely”. There is a difference between having time alone for reflection and peace of mind and thinking you are alone against the world. 

The Armored Man

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I have seen you in front of a mirrow, Armored Man

why are you so afraid?

Why do you move so rigidly?

I try to look into your eyes, but you don’t want to look at me,

you see me and lower your sight;

Are you afraid of me?

Are you afraid of what you will see through my eyes?

I guess you are, Armored Man.

You will see yourself, reflected.

The other day I tried to talk to you,

but you rolled your eyes and walked away;

You don’t want to listen,

it’s impossible to have a conversation with you,

you have eyes to see and ears to hear

but you refuse to use them;

You want to remind blind to your own realities.

Armored Man, why are you so afraid of the truth?

 You cherish the courageous, but refuse to take action;

You blame and judge others,

but are uncapable to see your own misery.

Armored Man, your life is so small inside that armor 

you can barely walk straight

there is so much heavy weight to carry on…

Armored Man,

you dream about Life,

but are unable to live Life.

Why are you so afraid?

Why do you want to remain hidden?

You cannot escape Life, Armored Man

it’s time to face it;

Take out your heavy armor,

and open your heart,

feel the living force inside,

and let it run free!

I have seen you in front of a mirror, Armored Man.

Paola Knecht- February 2022

Expressing Your Uniqueness… The Challenge Of The Century

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I still feel the Hype of this promising rhetoric, that has been sold to us by our “society” in the last decades-express your uniqueness, be yourself! Do not let others define your own desires. 

But, for some reason, it seems to me that the more we push this story, the less “authentic” we become. Just take a look at the social media- everybody wants to look the same. Everybody wants to go to the same holiday destinations; wear the same clothes; live the same experiences as the ones posted by others; believe the same ideologies like the famous people and the movie stars. We are social animals after all. We like to belong to a herd. You might think you are showing your uniqueness- but the merely show of showing off means you are not unique. You follow the trends of the rest.

So, what happened with being unique? What made this Promise fail so badly, specially on current times where “the greater will is the common will” and the will you should follow?

Who failed you? Your parents? Your friends? Your government? Yourself?

It turns out, being unique is not easy. It is one the biggest challenges in life. The “be yourself” commercial seems more doable on a TV screen than in real life. You have after all, many people around you, which have their own expectations about you. You have to show up to work, be obedient to your parents. Obey all the rules. You have to be a nice and quiet citizen. You want to be special? Belong to the rest. If you stand out like a solo nail, there will be a hammer waiting to push you down.

It turns out, it was never the plan that you develop your uniqueness. Just look at every institution governing our lives: Schools are designed to do standardized education, standardized testing and thus form standardized brains. The health institutions develop universal remedies for all, claiming is “equally effective to everybody”, and if you don´t follow, you are anti-science, anti-medicine. Politicians give promises on reaching equality, and prosperity for all (the lie of the Millenia). Religion pushes you in believing just a certain story about the origins of life. Science seems to go in the same direction, when supports certain theories and suppress, hide and crush alternative stories. 

It is not the plan, that you develop your own mind, make your own research and reach to your own conclusions- if- they do not fit with the status quo. People controlling the status quo want you not to believe in your own uniqueness- that makes them lose power.

So, has it all been a lie? Nobody cares about your uniqueness? That’s right, nobody does, and it’s not their job either. You have given this job and power away to others. 

So, how to regain your uniqueness and stop lying to yourself?

  • Speak the truth– Say really what you think and be honest about the state of things in your truth. Lies support the construction of status quos and fake realities.
  • Be courageous– Do not let others silence you. Do not be afraid to say what is really in your heart. Do what you really want to do. Do not fall into the “I did it because everybody else is doing it”, or “I’m afraid of being ridiculed”- If you are not ready to speak courageously, you are not ready to be unique.
  • Do not be afraid of being dangerous– People believe, especially in civilized, western societies lately- that being assertive and strong in character is being discriminatory, insulting or unpeaceful. Being assertive and demanding respect with a loud voice seems to be offensive and impertinent. But it is not. Our human survival depends on these traits. A dangerous person, is a person that demands self-respect and defends its sovereignty, its environment and the one of their loved ones. Be dangerous!
  • Do not apologize for your happiness– If you feel authentically happy, show it to the world! Smile, act energetically, spread good energy and kindness. Do not let the victims let you fall on their own trap; the spiral of negativity, conformism and misery. Listen to your inner knowledge- the good old forgotten common sense. You are not insensitive, selfish or negationist of the world misery. You are a miracle and as part of this wonderful universe, just like the stars, just like the mountains and the ocean, you have the right and the responsibility to shine in your own light.

   Only then, you will feel the glimpses of true freedom- the freedom of acting in tune with your own, unique Self.