WITH-HUMANITY

Choose the life ‘you’ wish for in 2025 … … our thoughts are super powerful and put us into what I like to think of as a ‘jet stream’ where we either live above the toxicity or within it. What comes to mind is the saying “if you can choose to be sad, you can also choose to be happy” it is simply the state of consciousness we become aware of. This is something my friend Neil Bindemann & I have in common, is this idea that our state of mind is a choice. However, what I know that he doesn’t tend to engage in, are the negative forces from “deprivation of liberties” that others often try to impose on us and when you’re entitled and privileged, this is so often difficult to get your head around, as per a discussion had recently with Steven Lichty That said, if you’re searching for inspiration read “man’s search for meaning” a true story where against all odds “Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. At the heart of his theory, known as logotherapy, is a conviction that the primary human drive is not pleasure but the pursuit of what we find meaningful.” So here’s to my quote “your cross to bear is your gift to share” Sammy McDonald - a guide to finding your purposes and meaning in this spectacularly available new year 🫶🏻 “Helping individuals and collectives flourish” www.with-humanity.co.uk

Are you going into the new year emotionless?? The ‘Wheel of Life’ is a simple tool to show us how a balanced life is not only possible, but more importantly, essential, yet too many individuals will be marching back into 2025 to pick up where they left off without any changes to what brought them to an ‘emotional shutdown’. “Emotional shut-down is a psychological defence mechanism – a way for the brain to cope with intense stress by disengaging from overwhelming emotions. This process occurs when the nervous system is overloaded, as the brain seeks to protect the individual from further emotional harm”. The ‘invisible’ elements that drive dysregulation in how we think, feel, and behave include our biochemistry and how this impacts our brains and our physiology. “In many cases, high-achieving professionals use productivity as a coping mechanism, leading to a phenomenon where stress becomes intertwined with their self-worth. For some, it can even develop into an ‘addiction’. Studies suggest that individuals may become addicted to the rewards of productivity, such as recognition or financial gain, which only serves to reinforce the cycle of stress. This ‘addiction’ to being productive is further complicated by the fact that society often rewards – and even normalises – such behaviours” Biochemicals such as noradrenaline, dopamine, and acetylcholine become addictive sources of reward and pleasure, yet the downsides are, because introverts tend to have more acetylcholine receptors in their brains than extroverts, and extroverts tend to have more dopamine receptors in their brains than introverts, this assault of overstimulation can become hugely damaging. “For professionals facing hidden stress, the real danger lies in its slow accumulation.” “When stress becomes chronic: emotional shut-down - Chronic stress is the long-term accumulation of stress, where individuals remain in a heightened state of tension over extended periods. Unlike acute stress, which is a short-term reaction to a specific event, chronic stress results from constant feelings of pressure, whether from personal or professional demands. This prolonged exposure slowly erodes mental and physical health, depleting psychological resources and taking a significant toll on the brain and body” Understanding who you are at your core is imperative, because authenticity helps maintain homeostasis, essential for optimal functioning. This may mean surrendering inauthenticity and becoming more of his your intrinsically wired, changing jobs, roles, environments, and generally waking up to the consciousness of self and one’s impact on self, others, and the greater environments you play in. “Helping individuals and collectives flourish” https://lnkd.in/eHRTzEQt https://lnkd.in/enRpcEvc

“Ernest Hemingway once said: In our darkest moments, we don’t need solutions or advice. What we yearn for is simply human connection—a quiet presence, a gentle touch. These small gestures are the anchors that hold us steady when life feels like too much. Please don’t try to fix me. Don’t take on my pain or push away my shadows. Just sit beside me as I work through my own inner storms. Be the steady hand I can reach for as I find my way. My pain is mine to carry, my battles mine to face. But your presence reminds me I’m not alone in this vast, sometimes frightening world. It’s a quiet reminder that I am worthy of love, even when I feel broken. So, in those dark hours when I lose my way, will you just be here? Not as a rescuer, but as a companion. Hold my hand until the dawn arrives, helping me remember my strength. Your silent support is the most precious gift you can give. It’s a love that helps me remember who I am, even when I forget.” -reshare This reminds me of a story I read from the Himba Tribe in Africa who help “sing your song back to you to remind you of who you are” … … if you have forgotten your own authenticity your natural system will be out of sorts, manifesting in physical, mental, disruptive ailments that take us away from our unique homeostasis, a complex adaptive mix of elements that help us remain in a state of optimal functioning. Go back to the ‘natural order of things’ - remind yourself of who you are at your core. When Socrates said to “know thyself” he was on to a winner. Start there. “Helping individuals and collectives flourish” https://lnkd.in/eHRTzEQt

Wishing you a very happy day today with many Christmas filled blessings 🙏🏼

Isn’t it time we took away the human invented construct of ‘Mental Illness’ recognising systemic elements are at play that only now are beginning to be understood… https://lnkd.in/eqa7fHHe

A gift for you … With the festive season bringing time for families to come together we often forget how difficult it is sometimes to navigate this family time. We have all been shaped by the relationship we had with our parents and other family members and this can and almost always will have a knock on impact on our adulthood. This is why this article is such a gift. It highlights why judgement needs to be left at the door, instead replaced with holding people accountable in a loving way for the things that may have shaped us, but not served us. It’s an article bringing much insight to grow our relationships into something much much deeper and long lasting and perhaps even healing 🙏🏼 https://lnkd.in/eXZXVPsG

Seeking Internship for young graduate Kindly share for greater reach This is being shared with our network in search of an opportunity for a young graduate with 2 years international experience teaching, who is seeking an internship with a humanitarian organisation. Kindly inbox if you’re able to assist 🙏🏼

“Why is it in a multifaceted world we continue to blame the individual when they lose their authenticity, instead of holding this “f&@ked up world” accountable, the very world our misguided decisions helped create?” Sammy McDonald The Future is Now https://lnkd.in/difNDSW6 Image author unknown

Remember there’s always someone there for you, even if it’s the love of a volunteer who’s there to listen 🙏🏼

"Someone has to be wounded for others to be saved, someone has to sacrifice for others to feel happiness, someone has to die so others could live" Khaled Hosseini - 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' Your thoughts? “Helping Individuals Flourish” www.with-humanity.co.uk