Comic Heroes

Last week I watched the movie ‘King Arthur, Legend of the Sword’ in 3D. I love the ‘larger than life’ effects that 3D filming allows; they challenge our concept of reality. But, as the film progresses we quickly forget that we’re wearing the glasses; 3D becomes the norm. Also. I recently re-watched the Batman series and saw the new ‘Wonder-woman’ movie – escapism at its best. There is a common theme through all these movies – good triumphs over evil as in all Hollywood blockbusters but there’s more. Each of the heroes is on a mission in which they must fearlessly deploy their unique gifts to achieve their goals. Their mission is usually unknown to them at the outset but emerges in response to events. There is an important metaphysical interpretation of all these stories. We are all individual manifestations of the Divine, possessing infinite power, which is directed by our thoughts and beliefs. This same power, by which we are formed in the womb, by which the stars of the universe were created, by which nature has been brought to perfection, far surpasses the limitations of our mortal existence – the 2D version. Our challenge is to master our skills and be channelled by a higher purpose so that we can deploy them for the benefit of all. This is the stuff that makes really good organisations stand out. There is an inspired leadership which draws the best efforts of every employee in the service of the business as a whole. We’ve all heard of the NASA janitor who viewed his role as ‘helping to put a man on the moon’ How many of us are able to see the bigger picture in our daily toils? As a Health Coach I have come to understand that there are two essential components required for client success – - They have to want their health badly enough to rise to the challenge of lifestyle change - They have to believe that improved health is possible The manner of their discovery differs but the underlying themes are consistent. When we each become our own comic hero what appears magical and fantastic becomes our reality. We have the innate power to live inspired lives and to build a world which we’ll be proud to leave to future generations.

Drain the Swamp

Tonight I watched Leonardo Di Caprio’s 2016 documentary ‘Before The Flood’ about climate change. If it had been chilling it may have been useful but it was truly terrifying as it showed the gathering pace of global warming destruction to low lying regions across the planet. This evening we learn of President Trump’s decision to leave the Paris climate change accord with the claim that he must put the interests of the American people first. He wants to renegotiate an agreement that is fair to American businesses, citizens and tax-payers. Interestingly, his Rose Garden address did not deny that Climate change is happening, nor did he challenge the scientific consensus that our problems are man-made through excessive emissions of greenhouse gases. Without doubt, President Trump’s campaign slogan drew popular support, but the millions of American people who elected him to office could not have understood how deep the swamp is nor how many personnel of his administration are swimming in it. On this side of the Atlantic we struggle to understand how so many people can be duped and systematically poisoned through poor air quality, poor water and food quality while all the time believing that fortress America needs to increase military spending and to send its youth to die abroad. Quite literally these ‘Smoke Screen’ politics serve to distract attention from the practical steps that ordinary citizens can take to protect themselves, their families and societies by modifying their buying decisions at the supermarket each week and by campaigning against the erosion of civil liberties. As Di Caprio illustrated, individual health and global health are interlinked. Choosing to reduce our meat consumption by half would save us from excessive release of the Greenhouse Gas methane from livestock. It would also help to reduce rates of bowel cancer. Reducing our consumption of cooking oil could prevent continued destruction of rainforests in preparation for Palm Oil plantations. I enjoy breathing and I want that our planet can also breathe; but it’s easier with lungs. As ever, we elect politicians and abdicate our responsibility to them. Their shiny policies woo voters long enough to win office from where they can serve their own agendas and those who finance them. When their activities have fallen from favour we wring our hands and file our problems in the ‘too difficult’ bin. This belief in our helplessness is just as much an illusion as what we were sold during the election campaigns. When we live consciously with regard to our health, and that of the environment, we change our buying decisions. When enough of us do it we realise that we can drain the swamp for ourselves. Indeed, we’re the only ones who can.