Character and Culture through Pain, Awaken to Peace

(or “No gain without pain“) is an exercise motto that promises greater value rewards for the price of hard and even painful work. Under this conception competitive professionals such as athletes and artists are required to endure pain and pressure to achieve professional excellence.

It came into prominence after 1982 when actress Jane Fonda began to produce a series of aerobics workout videos. In these videos, Fonda would use “No pain, no gain” and “Feel the burn” as catchphrases for the concept of working out past the point of experiencing muscle aches.

It expresses the belief that solid large muscle is the result of training hard and suffering sore muscles repeatedly, implying that those who avoid pain will never reach a professional level as bodybuilders.

In terms of the expression used for development, the discomfort caused may be beneficial in some instances while detrimental in others. Detrimental pain can include joint pain; beneficial pain usually refers to that resulting from tearing microscopic muscle fibers, which will be rebuilt more densely, making a bigger muscle.

In the spiritual sense, we will focus on the heart as a ‘muscle’, opening our minds to the fact that trials in life can be a path to awakening, eventually leading our planet to world of ‘Character and Culture‘ through developing compassion, understanding and really growing a true appreciation for the ‘pain’ in our lives. Some of the greatest philanthrpists and spiritual leaders have lived deeply challenged lives, and through their own acceptance of a greater purpose to their own lives, found the awakening to Inner Peace.

First, the heart as a vital organ, a ‘muscle‘ that pumps blood throughout the body. We’ll focus on what the Bible has to say about the heart. The Bible mentions the human heart almost 300 times. In essence, this is what it says: the heart is that spiritual part of us where our emotions and desires dwell.

Before we look at the human heart, we’ll mention that, since God has emotions and desires, He, too, can be said to have a “heart.” We have a heart because God does. David was a man “after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22). And God blesses His people with leaders who know and follow His heart (1 Samuel 2:35; Jeremiah 3:15).

The human heart, in its natural condition, is evil, treacherous and deceitful. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” In other words, the Fall has affected us at the deepest level; our mind, emotions and desires have been tainted by sin—and we are blind to just how pervasive the problem is.

We may not understand our own hearts, but God does. He “knows the secrets of the heart” (Psalm 44:21; see also 1 Corinthians 14:25). Jesus “knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man” (John 2:24-25). Based on His knowledge of the heart, God can judge righteously: “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:10).

Jesus pointed out the fallen condition of our hearts in Mark 7:21-23: “From within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man unclean.” Our biggest problem is not external but internal; all of us have a heart problem.

In order for a person to be saved, then, the heart must be changed. This only happens by the power of God in response to faith. “With the heart one believes unto righteousness” (Romans 10:10). In His grace, God can create a new heart within us (Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 36:26). He promises to “revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15).

God’s work of creating a new heart within us involves testing our hearts (Psalm 17:3; Deuteronomy 8:2) and filling our hearts with new ideas, new wisdom, and new desires (Nehemiah 7:5; 1 Kings 10:24; 2 Corinthians 8:16).

The heart is the core of our being, and the Bible sets high importance on keeping our hearts pure: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

Physicists have discovered a jewel-like geometric object that dramatically simplifies calculations of particle interactions and challenges the notion that space and time are fundamental components of reality.

This discovery is a mathematical one, an equation that seems to account for many of the paradoxes around gravity, time, and entanglement that have baffled scientists – and seamlessly connects the large and small scale pictures of the universe.

As ancient sages have understood, the micro reflects the macro.

“As above, so is below.”

We can access and embody the universal creative energy of joy through the lens of the Amplituhedron, which is a mathematically accurate depiction of our holographic reality. By accessing the consciousness and resonance of this model, we can hone in on energetic aberrations with laser-like precision as never before.

Thank you quantum physics!

Within our own hearts lies a similar structure – that when activated and attuned – can resonate more fully with the infinite experience of joy and the radiant energy of love. There is a constant symphony of co-creation that emanates ecstasy and bliss and brings forth beauty and perfection within all that manifests in this material plane.

When Bad Things Happen to Good People (ISBN 1-4000-3472-8) is a 1978 book by Harold Kushner, a Conservative rabbi. Kushner addresses in the book one of the principal problems of theodicy, the conundrum of why, if the universe was created and is governed by a God who is of a good and loving nature, there is nonetheless so much suffering and pain in it – essentially, the evidential problem of evil. Kushner seeks to offer comfort to grieving people. His answer to the philosophical problem is that God does his best and is with people in their suffering, but is not fully able to prevent it.

Who hasn’t had the experience of asking someone whether anything is wrong–for it’s blatantly obvious from their expression or tone of voice that they’re upset–only to have them respond: “No, I’m fine.”? In such instances, clearly they’re not fine but retreating into themselves to avoid a dialogue they fear might end up making them feel worse.

Tendencies toward denial, withdrawal, and self-isolation are common in reaction to deeply felt emotional pain. In fact, one clue that a person is feeling distressed may be in their becoming unusually quiet or shut down. Such silence speaks volumes, and generally the message is: “I’m not going to risk your hurting me more than you already have . . . so I’m putting a wall between us.”

On the contrary, it’s also possible that the individual might suddenly become fidgety, restless, or hyper–attempting through activity to distract themselves from the hurt your words or behavior (however inadvertently) have caused them. Or they might unexpectedly lose their appetite, or start eating voraciously to “stuff” their feelings or numb their pain. And so on. After all, we have at our disposal all sorts of defenses to protect us from hurting.

There are many different reasons that we may endeavor to hide, or disguise, the emotional pain that comes in the wake of negative beliefs about ourselves evoked by a particular person or situation. But what they have in common is that they’re all fear-induced.

Perhaps paramount among our tendencies to conceal our emotional fragility from others is the fear that exposing it would make us look weak to them–and, indeed, make us feel weak and powerless ourselves. We assume that frankly disclosing our hurt feelings would betray our susceptibility to them–and thus define ourselves as “one down” in the relationship, with all that might imply about placing them in a position to exploit us, or take advantage of us. It’s as though in “exhibiting” our hurt we’re forfeiting our personal power, relinquishing it to them to use over us in any way they deem fit.

There are probably some sexual differences here, too.

Men, for example, are especially likely to avoid divulging wounded feelings for fear that doing so will compromise their felt sense of masculinity. And in fact they may have been made fun of as children for whimpering, weeping, or wailing. I’ve worked with many male clients who’ve talked about how they were tagged “sissies,” “wimps”–even (horrors!) “girlies”–when in growing up they weren’t able to suppress their softer, more tender emotions.

In such cases, it becomes a matter of personal pride not to let others know they have within them a “soft underbelly” quite susceptible to others’ words and actions. To them, keeping a stiff upper lip, and under no circumstances exposing their tender side, attests to their fortitude, “backbone”–an essential masculine strength.

Women, on the other hand, are much more likely to worry that disclosing their emotional distress may lead them to be told (particularly by their spouse) that they’re too “thin-skinned”–or, more commonly, “too sensitive” (which, literally, adds insult to injury). To examine another unfortunate aspect of this situation, men frequently react to their spouse’s tears with considerable discomfort, even anger. However unconsciously, their partner’s emotional outpouring makes them feel guilty, or at least responsible. And beyond this, if as children to show their more fragile emotions was to be harshly judged or ridiculed, they may experience an irresistible need to emotionally distance themselves from their wives whenever their partner exhibits the kind of behavior they can’t help but identify with their own parents’ disapproval and rejection.

“This tragic experience forced me to stop and reconsider my path… my life… my passions and my goals.” ~Dr. Amira Ayad Ph.D.

As Human Beings, We all desire happiness, success, health, and peace of mind.

The True Secret offers practical step-by-step program that you could use to evaluate your situation and begin to make changes in beliefs and actions, working towards success in this life and the next. The examples, tools, and explanations are in accordance with authentic Islamic teachings and yet, still, not surprisingly, in accordance with the latest scientific researches and recommendations.

We know that every thing happens with God’s will,
and this gives us security and peace of mind,
but still we know that we are accountable for our actions:

“Verily, God will never change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves” (Qur’an, 13: 11)

CLICK IMAGE to READ MORE ABOUT SEPTEMBER 20, 2015

In this special segment of the “HEALING” Program: Overcome Loss, Embrace Contentment, and Re-Ignite Your Passion, we interviewed Dr. Amira Ayad, Natural Health Consultant and Author of Healing Body & Soul. In this interview, she covered the top three challenges facing women today and how to manage them using practical, daily habits including nutrition, exercise, dealing with our emotions in a healthy way, and finding our life meaning and passion. There were many valuable and possibly life changing pieces of information.

Dr. Amira Ayad will be featured as one of our esteemed Keynote Speakers, sharing on the critical requirements for inner healing of one’s own heart so to grow a new society of Character, Culture and PEACE: “Character and Culture … are an Inside Job!” celebrating World Peace Day 2015.