Spiritually Alive

Blocking out disturbances is the best way to stay sane, barring focus on the Chinese pandemic, Ukraine annihilation, and negative atrocities faced and that chip away into the nervous system and cause worry and stress. Block out the pain to gain affective stimulation that nourishes good vibes and prepares internal forces to conquer fears.

Don’t let external forces penetrate your soul, and alternatively create emotional stability to cope with pessimism. Cut them out early on to encounter greater forces that set us in a league of our own. Let feelings out of the bag like Aladdin’s genie inasmuch as we encapsulate an almighty energy that takes us above the threshold of despair. Life is a moment of greatness.

By all means, we should take stock of what goes on, but at the same time try to maintain a strong posture to not get emotionally vulnerable. Emotional weakness weakens the ability to focus objectively and carry on in life. Being spiritually alive then is the strength from within that allows a deeper understanding to cope with daily atrocities that defy belief and chisel away like free radicals damaging our state of health and ultimately reducing longevity.

Incidentally, oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body. Free radicals are oxygen-containing molecules with an uneven number of electrons. The uneven number allows them to easily react with other molecules. Free radicals can cause large chain chemical reactions in the body because they react so easily with other molecules. These reactions are called oxidation.

Effects of oxidative stress on the body is important as oxidation is a normal and necessary process that takes place in our bodies. Oxidative stress, on the other hand, occurs when there’s an imbalance between free radical activity and antioxidant activity. When functioning properly, free radicals can help fight off pathogens. Pathogens lead to infections. Oxidative stress contributes to aging.

Antioxidants are substances that protect our cells against free radicals, which most likely plays a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Free radicals are molecules produced when our bodies break down food or when we're exposed to tobacco smoke or radiation.

Good advice would be to eat antioxidant rich foods: broccoli, spinach, carrots and potatoes are all high in antioxidants, and so are artichokes, cabbage, asparagus, avocados, beetroot, radish, lettuce, sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkin, collard greens and kale. Using lots of spices in cooking is also good.

Looking after our wellbeing contributes to staying spiritually alive. Trying to find time to work out not only adds to happiness, but it provides meaningfulness to life.

Take care!

Prof. Carl Boniface

Vocabulary builder:

Barring (prep) = except for; if not for. "Barring a miracle, you’ll lose" From the text, ‘barring focus’ banning the negativity around us, stopping to think about tragic instances, or in other words; ignoring problems

Inasmuch as (conjunction) = 1. in the degree that: insofar as. 2. in view of the fact that: since. You use inasmuch as to introduce a statement which explains something you have just said, and adds to it. “This was a good decision inasmuch as it worked for you.” Inasmuch as, written in two words, is usually used as a long and very formal synonym for because or since. “Inasmuch as you have expressed your desire to marry, we shall not oppose your wishes.”

Advice (n) = information, guidance, instruction, assistance. “The advice made a positive difference during the meeting.” Advice isn’t to be confused with the verb advise which is to give an opinion, give advice, or a recommendation, counsel, suggestion, “I advised him to wear a tie to the meeting.”

Meaningfulness (n) = meaning, importance, significance, seriousness, relevance, consequence, (ant) meaninglessness