The war against everything: what war are you fighting?
Have you noticed the world is at war? There is a war against everything: terrorism, cancer, obesity, drugs, smoking, and we can go on. Ask yourself, would you be happy to do so if you had to go to war?
Luckily most of us are not at war.
Instead, consider this. Are you fighting anything? Maybe you are fighting against a disease or a cold. Perhaps you fight with your neighbours, parents or siblings (top score to those giving somebody the “silent treatment”). And who isn’t fighting a bad habit such as smoking, drinking or food cravings? Let’s face it, fights are small battles in a big war, and they come at a price.
There are no winners in a war.
Wars never have a positive outcome. Victory comes at a price of massive losses. On both sides. I am not just talking about lost lives. I am also talking about emotional scars and injuries.
We keep on fighting wars. Are you happy to keep fighting wars against everything in the hope that you get to achieve what you value as being right? Are you willing to pay the price of winning the war? We are often determined to reach these aims, regardless of the physical and emotional costs and sacrifices. The attitude is that collateral damage is acceptable. Friendly fire kills, and we accept these victims as part of progress.
We need to find different ways to help us reduce the pain and suffering caused by illness and disease. We must find ways to reduce the impact of drugs and violence on our society. I am entirely supportive of improving health. However, I don’t see that fighting battles to win a war is the answer. I am not the only one. Check out this famous quote by Mother Theresa:
If you hold an anti-war rally, I shall not attend. But if you hold a Pro-Peace rally invite me.
Let’s stop fighting wars.
It is time to stop waging wars. It is time to take a different approach.
We need to learn how to connect again. I once spoke with a care worker who worked with indigenous people. She said, “There are many problems in the indigenous community because they have lost their connection to the land.” Around the same time, I read an article about a farm project helping addicts. Through the farm work, they helped addicts find a connection with others and the earth.
Maybe you even have experienced that loss of connection. This misalignment can cause you to eat less healthily and drink more alcohol. On top of that, you are more likely to get a cold when you are stressed. I am sure that you, too, have experienced that when things go well when you are in “flow”, you feel full of energy.
Stress and habits
It is well known that psychological stress causes disease. The weight of the pressure can have a significantly negative impact on your immune system. Even research suggests that anger can be a precursor to cancer. In other words, to reduce the risk of cancer, you also need to learn how to deal with your anger.
Your habits, such as smoking and what you eat, all contribute to cancer and other health challenges. But as you have seen, it is not that simple. To optimise your health, you must practice mindfulness and self-awareness. You have to learn how to handle your emotions. Control and clear your mind. The outcome will be that you find a connection within that will allow you to change your habits.
Let’s stop fighting a war against everything.
If you want to develop healthier attitudes towards life, I focus on your future and change. Coaching is not about fighting a war against everything or anything. It is about finding a connection that makes life worth living so you can achieve better results.
Contact me to change your mindset and experience more vitality.
