Army Boots by Tommy Ocediis @Flickr
we need Care Camps instead!
I don’t know about you, but I’m fed-up of hearing, seeing and having boot camps rammed down my throat!
Everywhere I look it gets mentioned; TV, magazines, Facebook and Twitter – somebody’s always pushing it. And sure, some people need more discipline but forcing it upon them without their underpinning knowledge and understanding of it is just, well, wrong.
Re-offending on whichever vice, is unlikely to be reduced if people don’t get in touch with the reasons or motivations behind the thoughts, speech or actions they indulge in.
Offering a compassionate alternative is what’s necessary, in my opinion; most people I know have experienced something frightening, dis-empowering or traumatic in their lives; the last thing they need is someone terrorising them or yelling abuse.
These traumas leave scars and wounds which are difficult for others to understand, especially if they can’t be seen on the outside; it doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
Each one of us has enough daily stressors to deal with, without adding more.
And everyone has a story to tell – IF we wait around long enough to hear it.
Having compassion can be the one healing aspect that a sufferer has little of; sometimes absorbing guilt or shame has more power so the individual can’t bridge their own gap to feel compassion for the self, the one who’s been wronged or abused. This makes the cycle more difficult, but not impossible, to break.
Working through past, and sometimes current, influences requires the desire to change something, while providing alternative ways of thinking, choices, coping skills and stategies. This will also involve more than a tad of introspection by the participant.
Getting ourselves back into touch with the land, with open spaces and the beauty surrounding us, is vital to enhancing feelings of freedom.
Self love or self-care isn’t something that comes easy to us humans; most preferring instead, to play down personal abilities and positive traits instead of feeling proud, for fear of appearing arrogant.
Those who are stuck in the old codes of ‘an eye for an eye’ have possibly become hard-wired to perpetuate abuse upon others, perhaps to feel better about themselves or their current situation. There is much work to be done, as this applies to a high proportion of the earth’s population.
It may be about feeling insecure in the world, or about amassing wealth at the expense of others but either way, if you’re existence depends on exploiting people or planet, there can be little peace in your heart.
For some that results in staring at four walls with a steel door and bars between them and the outside world. Long-term prisoners after having ‘spent’ their time may need re-educated in the [new] ways of the world they’ve been released into; having spent a large chunk of their lives in harsh surroundings. (They may only know tough, unaware even of the concept of tough-love.)
Unfortunately for some, ignoring these calls not only disturbs inner peace but may also have irrevocably upset the balance of mental stability.
At some point in life there will be wake-up calls or alarm bells ringing to signal a stop; when the conscience takes over, the heart and mind seek peace.
Enter care.
Care comes in different forms; self-care, caring for others and caring for the environment. It may be that we need lessons in understanding the concept of extending the self to enable a caring environment in which we can grow and develop, with other people’s needs in mind too.
It’s also our responsibility as sentient beings to create that safe, caring and compassionate environment to allow and enable others to grow – we already know that hostile environments only serve to create more hostility.
It may be that the ancestors are reminding us to look after each other; the plants, birds, animals and humans less privileged than ourselves.
Realise that each one of us has the ability to create either, with our attitude and demeanor. To preserve our land (and our mental/ spiritual health) we must learn to live with and respect difference; we must foster modern ideas that consciousness is shifting; that we are all connected, adopting the ways of the Wise Ones who’ve left us their messages – and their warnings.
Consider now the word care and its meaning. Apply it in large doses to the self and see how far you can spread it.
Take responsibility for your thoughts towards yourself and others; for the words which come from your mouth and for the actions you participate in today. Create an environment which promotes and sustains growth.
Let’s kick out the boot camp mentality and replace it with genuine love and respect for all living things.
Create with care and compassion.
Pingback: Move over Boot Camp… | Personal Development News | Scoop.it
Pingback: Celebrity Juice -