Wellbeing & Meditation

WELLBEING is big business and a hot topic these days – in our personal lives and in our professional ones.

A wise Wexford person told me a few years ago that he had never known so many healthy and at the same time so many unhealthy people. We are a society of extremes and there are many factors that influence our wellbeing both positively and negatively. We all know that eating real food but not too much, moving more, sleeping well and having and making progress towards our goals all add to making us happier and healthier.

Beyond that some choose energizing crystals, and others tai chi, the gym, meditation, detoxification or even the keto diet.

According to a 2019 book, The Rabbit Effect, by Columbia University psychiatrist Kelli Harding, kindness is the key piece in our wellbeing jigsaw that we don’t always think about.

In the 1970s, when scientists gave a group of genetically identical rabbits the same unhealthy, high-fat diet to see how it affected their hearts, they noticed that some of the rabbits were doing surprisingly well despite their poor diet. As their food and genes where the same, they wondered why.

The differences weren’t related to their food or their genes, as those were controlled. ‘They looked around and realized what was different about that one group is that there was a researcher that wasn’t just giving the rabbits kibbles (food). She was actually picking them up. She was petting them. She was talking to them. She was giving them love and kindness’ Harding. What is true for bunny rabbits is true for us humans too. When the world is kind to us, this affects our world view – and whether we feel secure, anxious or avoidant and in turn how we live our life and our wellbeing.

#BEKIND

It seems there is solid science behind the #bekind hashtag that has been very active on social media since the sad passing of Caroline Flack, the former presenter of the popular show Love Island. This applies to how we treat others – and it also applies to how we treat ourselves. When we are kind and compassionate to ourselves, it is easy to be the same with others.

Harding makes many other interesting points in her book.

‘We spend a fortune on medical care…. But we’re not getting the health results we want ... it’s probably because we’re really doubling down on the medical care and not investing in our social world the way that we could,’ Harding argues.

Regarding workplace wellbeing: ‘Studies have shown that the strongest predictor of a man’s death from heart disease isn’t cholesterol or blood pressure. It’s his job,’. ‘Everyone knows it’s important to have a good doctor, but it’s also important to have a good manager.’

Arriana Huffington’s article in the New York Times this week gives further inspiration in this regard. Her company, Thrive’s number one coporate cultural value is compassionate directness

She says: ’Compassionate directness is about empowering employees to speak up, give feedback, disagree and surface problems in real time. But it has to be done with compassion, empathy and understanding’. Part of being kind is helping others to be and do better and giving feedback is a very healthy part of that.

We all learn about the importance of kindness when we are young and learning to communicate. In a world where there can be so much negativity, division and blame at times, it’s good to remember for anyone seeking wellness, kindness is fundamental.

IMMUNE SUPPORT

Patrick came back from a holiday abroad in September with a bad cough which he couldn’t get rid of. Then he got the flu.

He wasn’t impressed with himself. He got over the flu but a milder version of the cough lingered. He decided to try a new remedy called

Immune Support by A.Vogel. He thought it might help his immune system and help his cough. It did.

And in a very short time his cough was totally gone, he was delighted. He thinks you would like to hear about this remedy too.

NATURAL ENERGY

Nineteen year old Megan’s favourite supplement is Zest from Revive Active. Megan who is working full time sometimes finds she has low energy. Her energy has improved since she started taking the supplement. She feels more focused and generally feels better in herself. Megan normally finds it difficult to remember to take tablets or pills, but commented that she doesn’t have that problem with Revive Zest. She thinks of it more like a smoothie, taking it to work with her and drinking it throughout the morning. She thoroughly enjoys this refreshing drink.

We all have our favourite supplements, they might help you too.