You are not alone

                                                     You are not alone!
In previous posts, we have talked a lot about different forms of toxicity and illness. Now it’s time to talk about another elephant in the room, mental health. Here are some quick facts:

• 1 in 5  US adults experience mental illness each year. 
• 1 in 20  US adults experience serious mental illness each year. 
• 1 in 6  US youth age 6 to17 experience a mental health disorder each year.
• 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24. 
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people age 10 to 14. (Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness.)
  
  

It seems clear that people in the United States are suffering. How is it possible that one of the richest and most prosperous countries in the world can be suffering so greatly? To find the answer I feel we need to look deeper than the commonly held talking points.  Certainly, the recent pandemic has influenced these numbers (they continue to increase), but what is really going on?

I have been asking myself this question and watching the trends in society, since I first started asking serious questions at about age 13. Yes, you heard that right, what a challenge I was for my overwhelmed parents!
I observed at that young age that most everywhere I looked around me people were operating out of fear. My immediate family, my neighborhood, the school systems, the local state, and even federal governments. I had to ask, isn’t there more? This question led me to the study of physics and science, while simultaneously exploring spirituality. I have traveled all over the world, including India, Japan, and China, trying to find answers to some of these deeper questions. After many years, here is what I found:

• You have a choice. In each moment you, yes, you can choose love not fear.
• Despite the onslaught of mainstream media to the contrary, people are basically good, and we all want the same things. Love, community, meaning in our lives, safety for our children.
• Life is not a school. Karma does not punish us mercilessly for mistakes of the past. We get to choose how we create ourselves in each moment. This is a daunting responsibility, but also an incredible opportunity for freedom and self-expression.
• Don’t take yourself too seriously. God definitely has a sense of humor!

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From these findings, I created guidelines for myself to live by. Continually practicing the following ideas has created increased connectedness, ability to step into love over fear time and time again, and enjoy the experience of life.

1. Get off your cell phone, shut off your TV, and reengage with real people!
2. Listen more, talk less. 
3. Reconnect with nature. Get outside, breathe some clean air, feel the ground beneath your feet. (The Japanese have found this practice so helpful in their highly technological society that they've come up with a name for it: Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing). It's now a full-on raging trend in Japan and elsewhere in the world. 
4. Love yourself and Love others. (sound familiar?)

Loneliness and isolation, (along with a serious dopamine addiction) seem to be one of the root causes for the mental health statistics listed above. I hope this has helped you ask some questions and take a look for yourself at what is most important to you in your life.
Go get it!!!