When external oppressive forces have come against you, what do you do? I am going to start this off with the most direct and earnest plea. I don’t think this applies to any of you, but you can never be too sure.
IF YOU ARE BEING ABUSED, CALL 911.
If you need any further help, call someone who is above reproach to help you. If you don’t have anyone else, contact me.
Now, that the most important concern has been addressed, we can discuss other external oppressive forces. Let’s explore other people and your environment.
Others
It is crazy how many of us have let others trample on us at times in our life. This can happen because they are mean, nasty people who only brighten a room when they leave, or people who are completely disintegrating their fears, anger, or personality. Regardless of the cause, these people are unhealthy.
Again, I am assuming that there is no abuse going on here.
The number one thing you can do when it is others is – drumroll please – know who you are. What? That’s it? No. That’s not all, but it is the first step. Knowing who you give you the confidence and certainty to not be bullied, oppressed, or beaten down. It allows you to have an internal resolve that gives perspective on what is happening. You can see the person for who they are in their disintegrated state while not taking on their stuff. It allows you to rebuff their arrows that are only meant to hurt.
My son plays a game where the main character can activate a superpower that allows him to see the whole game differently. Time slows, dark places become clear, the birds-eye-view allows easy navigation – the game becomes easier. This power only lasts for fifteen seconds or so. But when it is activated, the character is nearly invincible.
That is what it is like knowing who you are. Every trait I wrote about in part 1 applies here. Know your principles, philosophy, and core values so innately and intimately so you can create a “superpower.” That way you can’t be rocked easily.
Just because you can’t be rocked easily does not mean you are immune to hurtful words or actions. You must make decisions to elevate yourself from the muck and mire of others. That means you might have to find a new job, a new group of friends, or even a new place to live. I never said this would be easy. It often isn’t. But the rewards can be substantial. Freedom.
Environment
What if your environment is bringing you down? How do you cope with that? I am always an advocate of first making yourself healthy so that it will allow you to excel in harshest environments. Strength from the inside out. However, you may not be strong enough to do that at this point in your life. If that is the case, then you must find ways to alter your environment to adapt to you. This on only a temporary fix! More on this later.
Inside out is the way to go. What does that mean?
It means that you do what you can to build your body’s fortitude so that it can adapt and respond properly to most conditions you can find yourself in. Growing up, I had a friend TJ. Brilliant guy who had terrible asthma. Being active caused him major breathing issues. One day, while at KU, he was late for a class and borrowed a friend’s bike to ride to class. That almost killed him. But that day’s asthma attack was the catalyst that gave him the resolve to conquer asthma. He began riding his borrowed bike daily. I met with TJ about 4 years ago for lunch. I asked him how his asthma was? “Gone,” he replied. He kept up bike riding. He lives near 95th and Nall and rides his bike to his job downtown to his law firm. He made the decision not to let heat, cold, humidity, and exercise take his ability to breathe away. TJ made his internal function so strong that it overcame his asthma.
For some of you, that may mean you need to change your diet. For others, it might mean you need to get physically strong. (BTW, I highly recommend you check out Move Right KC www.moverightkc.com. Tim is the owner and a patient.) Where are you weak? That’s what you need to strengthen. Need help? Ask me. I can help point you in the right direction.
I will say that most of you should consider taking a whole food supplement like Catalyn and some omega 3s. Catalyn is a whole food supplement that made from real food. No refined powder of vitamin C, B12, or whatever thrown into a hard pill with the RDA of other nutrients that are all made in a factory somewhere. Want it? Just let me know. It’s been around since 1927 and always grown organically from the same farm in Wisconsin.
How about gut issues? Yup, they are a big problem. Talk to me if you have issues digesting food. This is a major problem for a lot of people today. The gut plays a vital role in your overall health and well-being.
If you would like a special class on a topic, let me know. I will see what interest there is and we can make it happen.