How to stay loving in the times of instability & fear
Dear friends,
I have been away from London for almost a month, and upon return at the end of June, I had the clarity of mind to reflect on the past events and the energy I feel back home.
Diversity
We live in one of the most abundant and diverse places on Earth. People from all over the world are living here, communicating in more than 300 languages. On our street, a few miles away from the Grenfell Tower in West London, we have neighbours from all religious and geographic backgrounds - Muslim, Christian, Hindu; European, African, American, British, South-American, Asian, Indian, you name it... Living in this diverse place and experiencing cross-cultural interactions challenges me and helps me learn to respect the unknown, stretching my comfort zone to surpass the habit of judging. I aim to see beyond my own beliefs as conditioned by my background, family, nationality and faith. Raising my son to see past stereotypes, accepting cultural diversity surrounding us is a top priority for me.
I grew up in a small town in communist Bulgaria, where people are still being discriminated by the colour of their skin or by their sexual orientation, risking their safety. I used to spend my summer vacations in my grandmother's village with friends from Turkish and Roma minorities, and it was natural for me to hear her speak different languages with her neighbours. She grew up with them in this small village, and it was her way to connect with them and their culture, and show her respect. Our doors were always open and we have celebrated Christmas and Easter together, and always enjoyed the sweet delights on Ramadan.
Remembrance
The dramatic incidents in London and across the world brought me back to this beautiful time of my childhood, where religious holidays were a reason to celebrate living together no matter what your faith or background is - living respectfully, caring about each other, sharing the moments of happiness or sorrow.
I have passed by the Grenfell Tower on my way to Queen's Club tennis final two weeks ago. The view of destroyed lives and the pain of all families was echoing in my heart while watching the game. I was present at a celebration of the human potential and could not stop thinking about the power to create and the power to destroy. Aren't they born in the same place? How can we help each other to be more caring and loving? London has been different after all these painful events, and it is our responsibility to be united in the face of sorrow, and not only.
Intentions
Being aware that I cannot control the events, my intention is to keep the focus on the positive things around the world and I believe that it takes simple steps. Have you heard the saying that we are the sum of the five people we spend the most time with?
Spending time with people I love and care about is my priority. An open-hearted connection is an ultimate aim, which brings me joy. Last weekend I had the pleasure of spending several hours with a group of Insight Seminars Graduates and working on creating photo & video materials for promoting Insight while learning more about ourselves and the world.
You Decide
I am so grateful to be surrounded by the conscious creators, people who want to create a positive difference in the world by working on the issues in their own lives and relationships.
The first step always starts by looking at self:
How can I take care of myself better to be able to take care of others?
How can I change my attitude and intentions?
What can I do to create a healthier environment for my son?
How can I be a better partner and a human being?
The answers are not always easy and can sometimes bring me deep in situations from the past that have been unhealed. Holding on to pain from the past is life blocking, and I was very excited by the Mental Health initiative launched by the Royal Family, which encourages people to speak up about mental issues to help overcome them. I also found, that talking about my issues is important to keep me healthy, and being vulnerable is a powerful step towards living the life I love.
We are facing times where hatred around the world, high expectations in the workplace, and media supercharged by constant tech connectivity, is causing us unprecedented levels of anxiety. In the face of sorrow, nothing is more important than our well being.
How do we keep the intention to take care of ourselves to be able to take care of others?
My formula is to surround myself with people who share similar beliefs and values, who care about the world and thrive to live the life they love. The heart connection has no age, no colour, no faith, no nationality. What is your way?
Gaia
The Insight Seminars UK
