When we stop seeing the signs!
At times it is easier to travel the path of least resistance. To just keep doing what other people tell you to do without question when the financial reward means that you can feed and support your family in a comfortable way. We create a disconnect when we do not align with our values and beliefs, creating a lack of fulfilment. Perceptions are clouded when we stop seeing the signs!
Choices!
Choosing to earn a comfortable wage, at the cost of sacrificing religious principles, personal health, and family values can have devastating consequences. Commonly, we can all experience this, Getting caught up in the cycle of trying to fast-track our career, Trying to make a better life for ourselves and our family, or just simply wanting more.
Exploitation!
The Sherpa documentary highlights how easy it is to get caught up in doing work that you do not believe in. The impacts can affect many. This documentary highlights the plight of the Nepalese ethnic tribe, the Sherpas, who are quiet, gentle, and unassuming people. These people act as guides to prepare the way up the mountain to make it as safe as possible for the climbers to reach the summit.
The Sherpas earning more in the two-month climbing period each year than what they would earn from an annual Nepal wage. Bringing to light how tour operators in collaboration with the Nepal government exploited their good nature.
Expedition climbers paid an extraordinary amount of money to climb Mount Everest. A portion of this money went to the local government and the tour operators. In comparison, the Sherpas only received a small amount.
The Risks!
For the expedition climbers to reach the summit, the Sherpas had to risk their lives to make the passage up the mountain as safe as possible. This entailed conducting many trips up the mountain under hazardous conditions, carrying large volumes of equipment whilst setting up camps for the climbers.
The 2014 Everest climbing period, marked the turning point of the exploitation of the Sherpas. Being a Sherpa is more than a job. They are a religious tribe that are spiritually connected to the mountain. But despite their respect for the mountain, they ignored the fear that was growing inside them, knowing that the climbing had become too commercial. Respect for the Sherpas and the mountain had waned.
Consequently, the Sherpas were forced to take more risks. During a night climb, a 14,000-ton block of ice crashes down on the group, killing sixteen Sherpas. However, the expedition climbers all escaped injury and wanted to continue the climb.
The Change!
The Sherpas were angry and fearful. Even the government failed to support them. Eventually, they cancelled the climbing season. The healing process began as the Sherpas went home to their village to grieve for the loss of their family members and friends.
A year later, again, the climbing season was cancelled due to an avalanche killing over 22 people. Two major tragedies with loss of life forced the Sherpas to revisit their values, culture, and religious beliefs. They had lost sight of what was important to them, family, friends, and the spirituality of the mountain.
Tragedy should be utilised as a source of strength.
No matter what sort of difficulties,
how painful experience is,
if we lose our hope,
that’s our real disaster”.
Dalai Lama
Can you relate?
Can you relate to this? Have you lost sight of what is important to you? Has your career and earning capacity affected your decision making? Have your values and beliefs been impacted on choices you are making that may not be serving your best interests?
When we stop listening to the messages! It is a timely reminder that it is time to “put the brakes on” and reset. What are the messages that you have been ignoring? And what will be the consequences if you don’t start listening and make some changes?
The Price to pay!
Unfortunately for the Sherpas, two major tragedies occured with many fatalities occurring before they were forced to take a look at what had happened to them, their culture, and their communities.
They had just been ignoring the messages from their families when they told them they didn’t want them climbing the mountain. The families were fearful for their lives. They had become out of balance with everything.
So, where to start?
- Take time to listen to what your instincts are telling you and resonate with them, your feelings and emotions will guide you to make the right choices.
- Ask yourself, does your job, lifestyle, career make you happy, or do you feel “empty” and unfulfilled? If so, you know what you need to do.
- Practice short bursts of mindfulness or meditation, clear the mind fog, and give yourself space to think clearer
- Drink 8 – 10 glasses of filtered water every day to start to flush out some toxins and rehydrate your brain cells so they can work more efficiently.
Simple steps will allow you to make the changes that you need in life. Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today. When you’re ready to take the next step, check out the “Heal in Noosa” Retreat, this might just be the nudge you are looking for to make different choices!