Perhaps we are simply more stressed ?

“So while it is true that acceleration is found in some contexts [speed of technological change, climate change] the pace of development is actually falling in others [food production, new oil finds, population growth]. The reason we perceive more change is simply that we are more stressed by the increased global competition, the individualisation demands of culture, and our mobile 24/7 preparedness. The chronological myopia of our culture and our own egocentricity simply encourages us to believe that change we are currently experiencing is much greater and more important than that of our past.”  Anders Bjerre – economist and senior researcher at the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies

I think Anders is suggesting here, that we need some perspective. As I write this, large world economies are teetering on the edge of collapse. Australia is facing the challenge of moving to a low carbon economy, via a new tax. Is any of this really any worse than what our grandparents lived through?

And yet, I read in a report from Lifeline that 93 % of Australians are suffering so much stress they are at risk of serious illness.

“We cannot solve the more complex societal problems until we have developed better technologies to help people de-stress” Torben Larsen, economist, neuroeconomsit,University of Southern Denmark.

For most of us, technology is a big part of the problem. We are oversupplied with mental stimulation and negative news. As Anders Bjerre says, the changes we are experiencing are not bigger or worse, it’s just that we are more stressed and our coping strategies are poorer!

Luckily, we have the great meditation traditions  of our world to fall back on, re-discover and enjoy. Meditation is now a proven technology to help you manage your stress and improve your health.

Meditation triggers change in the electrical activity of the brain, improving the mind and body in measurable ways, the latest study on work stress, led by Dr Ramesh Manocha at Sydney University, reveals. ( SMH July 12, 2011).

I first taught Meditation for Health back in 2004. My own practice extends back over 30 years. Meditation has become a pleasure. Regular practice has improved my physical health, my emotional health, increased my experience of joy and compassion.

At Kaye Gartner’s Health Centre every practice meeting begins with 10 minutes of meditation. This practice means our meetings are something to look forward to! It supports us in our daily work life. It helps us to remain attentive and focussed on your needs when we leave the meetings. Meditation will do the same for you. Please note, it’s meditation practice, not meditation perfect! Imperfect meditation works really well!

Contrast our experience with these predictions:

Modern life requires work before play. Productivity before relaxation. Ability to afford the time to exercise before one actually gets the time to exercise. Hey, that's life, but take it to the automaton extreme (and add processed food and partially hydrogenated fat), and it rots our brains and ruins our bodies. But we will spend and spend until we have no more credit left. We need to change some of the incentives out there. Chronic, expensive disease is on the back burner, and it will bankrupt us.

Reagan LP, Grillo CA, Piroli GG. The As and Ds of stress: Metabolic, morphological and behavioural consequences. Eur J Pharmacol 2008;585:64-75.

The choice is ours to make. STress can be running and ruining our lives, or we can educate ourselves to wisely manage.

Meditation is available for free on the internet, www.freemeditation.com.au.

Our own Meditation for Health Course is available again in August (Call Linda for details 9960 6339).