As Within So Without

I've just finished watching a 10 part series on the auto-immune system created by Jonathan Otto. I found it very informative and have been implementing some of the suggestions it makes. A lot of it discusses the connection between what we eat, our lifestyles and our health.

image courtesy of Pixabay

As I was watching, it occurred to me that what helps our health usually helps the health of our planet. For example, pesticides harm our health and the soil, factory farmed meat harms our health, animals and our environment, and living in polluted areas damages our respiratory systems and our air.

Sometimes I wonder if this is what karma is really all about.

Nothing we do happens in isolation. We are but a thread in a vast tapestry; what we do matters. We are one small part of a constellation of relationships, communities, events and world views. And who we are and what we do affect them all. We're part of a bigger picture that we help to create.

image courtesy of Pixabay

Everything -- everyone -- has a past and a future beyond their present form. There are consequences, impacts and context to all we do, from where we spend our money to how we choose to live and who we spend our time with.

Where we spend our time, money and energy helps the world -- and ourselves -- heal or degrade. We fuel our lives with clean energy or fossil fuels that impact our planet in different ways. We buy fairly traded goods and say no to slave labour. We bank at credit unions and keep our money in our communities. What we do makes a difference.

When we look at life as a big tapestry, what are we weaving? Do our actions lead to a healthier, happier, more just world? Do they deliver personal and planetary health? Is our personal realm a place of kindness and understanding that invites others to also weave something beautiful?

When we expand our personal boundaries this way, I wonder if it creates more happiness and meaning on both the inside and the outside. When we do our part to create joy, health and beauty in the world, even in small ways, my sense is that it comes back to us. In these demanding times, it's worth being intentional about the way we live our lives, and the impact they're making.

image courtesy of Pixabay