HOW WELL IS YOUR WELL?

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Visualise yourself as a well.

A well relies on the water table for its own
supply, and supplies water to people, animals
and plants in the vicinity.
What happens if the outgoing supply from the
well is greater than the incoming supply from
the water table? As long as there are periods of
low or no outgoing activity to allow for
replenishment, the well will be fine. But if
consistently over time the outgoing supply is greater than the incoming replenishment,
then the well will become ineffectual. The well itself will suffer because the walls will
dry and crack , and the community it serves will suffer because they will not receive
water.
And what happens if the tools (equipment) for raising the water (bucket, rope, pulley,
piping, motor etc) are worn or broken? Can we even reach the water and bring it up?
How well is your well? On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your water level now?
Which way on the graph is your water level moving up or down? Any cracks yet? Can
you supply sufficient water to your work colleagues, your family, your friends, your
community? If not, is it because you have given out too much in the past and cannot
keep up now, or is it because others are wanting too much and you cannot say no?
What causes a well to be well?
What causes a well to be ineffectual?
What is it that you draw on your source, your water table? How can you improve
access to it?
Do you have enough tools (equipment) and are they well maintained?
How can you improve your boundaries to better manage the distribution of water
from your well?
Can you see when others' wells are taking strain? Can you help them improve
their access to their source, and help them improve their boundaries?
Can you visualise how we are all linked via the water table?
Work on these issues through silence, waiting, personal reflection, journal writing,
painting, singing, reading, praying, conversation, physical exercise such as walks, yoga
and swimming, and interaction with nature, etc. Listen for, and listen to, your own
voice / your own source your deep, original, old self. The self that is wise and
knowledgeable from experience and the history of the DNA within you which carries
the courage and tenacity of your ancestors, and connects you to all of creation.
The premise underlying this work is that of interconnectedness as we understand and
care for ourselves, we can better understand and care for others and the planet. We all
share the same water table.

Dr Richard Steele BA, HDE, MTech(Hom), Homeopath and Educator, 110 Cato Road,
Durban.
031-201-6508 / 082-928-6208 / rsteele@telkomsa.net

TENSION
1. the act of stretching or the state or degree of being stretched
2. mental or emotional strain; stress
3. a situation or condition of hostility, suspense, or uneasiness
4. a device for regulating the tension in a part, string, thread, etc, as in a sewing machine
5. knitting the degree of tightness or looseness with which a person knits

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tension

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------STRESS
Stress is a feeling that's created when we react to particular events. It's the body's way of rising to a
challenge and preparing to meet a tough situation with focus, strength, stamina, and heightened
alertness. However, major incidents of stress and long-term stressful situations can produce stress
overload where the nervous system senses continued pressure and may remain activated and continue
to pump out extra stress hormones over an extended period. This can wear out the body's reserves
leaving a person feeling depleted or overwhelmed, weaken the body's immune system, and cause other
problems.
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/emotions/stress.html

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------HEALTH. Definition of health, according to the World Health Organisation: A state of complete physical,
mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
www.who.int/about/definition/en/
The goal of health work is to move from dis-ease (tension) back to ease [RS].
Homeopathy was founded in 1796 by Dr Samuel Hahnemann, a German doctor. Homeopathy is a medical discipline which is concerned with
maintaining good health and aiding recovery from ill health. Homeopaths regard physical, emotional and spiritual health as equally important.
Homeopathic medicines are highly diluted natural substances which stimulate the mind and bodys own powers of management and recovery.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------HEALTH EFFECTS OF CHRONIC UNMANAGED STRESS

Long-term studies conducted by Dr. Hans Eysenck and colleagues at the University of London
have shown that chronic unmanaged emotional stress is as much as 6 times more predictive of cancer
and heart disease than cigarette smoking, cholesterol level or blood pressure, and much more
responsive to intervention. [Institute of Heart Math. n.d. Science of The Heart: Exploring the Role of the Heart in
Human Performance. http://www.heartmath.org/research/science-of-the-heart.html]

Research has demonstrated that the induction of a negative emotion such as anger and/or
frustration suppresses the immune system for up to 5 hours, whereas induction of a positive
emotion such as care and/or compassion strengthens the immune response for up to 6 hours.
[Rein et al. The Physiological and Psychological Effects of Compassion and Anger. Journal of Advancement in
Medicine. 1995; 8(2): 87-105. http://www.heartmath.org/research/research-library/research-library.html]

Studies conducted across a broad range of settings have linked positive emotion and
psychological wellbeing to numerous organizationally relevant benefits, including reduced
absenteeism (Iverson et al., 1998), increased cognitive flexibility and innovative problem solving (Ashby
et al., 1999; Isen, 1998), improved negotiation style (Carnevale and Isen, 1986), creativity (Isen, 1998;
Isen et al., 1987), improved decision-making (Isen, 2000), job performance (Staw and Barsade, 1993;
Wright and Staw, 1999), job achievement (Staw et al., 1994), and job satisfaction (Woodward and Chen,
1994). [McRarty et al. Impact of a Workplace Stress Reduction Program on Blood Pressure and Emotional Health in
Hypertensive Employees. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2003; 9(3): 355-369.
http://www.heartmath.org/research/research-library/research-library.html]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NUTRITION BASICS. Eat like our ancestors. Eat food as close to its natural state as possible i.e. as few
steps as possible between the food in its natural state and how it appears on our plate. Eat many
colours of foods colours carry the anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory content. Eat at least 6 portions of
vegetable/salads/fruits a day. [RS]
NUTRITION AND DEPRESSION
People who consume a diet rich in high-fat dairy products and fried, refined, and sugary foods are
at increased risk of developing depression, whereas those whose diet is rich in fish, fruit, and vegetables
are at lower risk of developing depression. [Akbaraly et al. Dietary pattern and depressive symptoms in middle
age. British Journal of Psychiatry. 2009 Nov;195(5):408-13. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/711867?
src=mpnews&spon=34&uac=41877BX]

Results from a study of more than 10,000 initially healthy Spaniards shows that those who
followed the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP) rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and
2

Dr Richard Steele BA, HDE, MTech(Hom), Homeopath and Educator, 110 Cato Road,
Durban.
031-201-6508 / 082-928-6208 / rsteele@telkomsa.net

fish were less likely to develop depression during the next 4 years than those who ate more meat,
meat products, or whole-fat dairy. The risk for depression was substantially lower in participants with
higher adherence to the MDP depression rates were about 30% lower in those with the highest
consumption of fruit, nuts, legumes, and monounsaturated (e.g. olive oil) vs saturated fats. The authors
state that healthier food habits may lead to an improved brain function and consequently to a greater
resilience to better face the frustrations of every day, to control stress, and to overcome personality
deficits. [Snchez-Villegas et al. Association of the Mediterranean dietary pattern with the incidence of depression.
Archives of General Psychiatry. 2009 Oct;66(10):1090-8. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/710145?
src=mpnews&spon=34&uac=41877BX]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------WRITING AND HEALTH

Writing about emotional upheavals in our lives can improve physical and mental health. Write for 15-20
minutes a day for at least 3 or 4 consecutive days. Write about anything (past or present) that you feel
is affecting your life in an unhealthy way.
http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/faculty/pennebaker/Home2000/WritingandHealth.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------TREES, BREATHING
Trees absorb carbon dioxide which is toxic to humans, and emit oxygen which is nutritional to
humans. Symbolically speaking, when we hug or touch or look at a tree we can release toxicity/stress
from ourselves which is then absorbed by the tree and cleansed by the earth. Visualise the stress being
drawn down to the roots and cleansed by the earth. Then visualise the tree drawing fresh nourishment
from the earth, drawing it up the roots and trunk and releasing it into the atmosphere for us to breath as
oxygen nourishing, refreshing, energising.
Trees are working all the time to absorb carbon dioxide, and working all the time to emit oxygen.
As we touch or look at a tree/trees (even through a window, at a distance) we can visualise and
participate in that cycle breathing out the trees absorb our toxins, breathing in we absorb the trees
oxygen. Breathing out, breathing in. Breathing out, breathing in.
Trees also show us how to deal with storms. Trees cannot control the weather conditions to
prevent themselves from being injured. They can prepare themselves to weather the storm by putting
down deep strong roots linked to the solid soil, and by staying flexible so as to sway with the winds then
come back to upright and central again in due course. [RS]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The F.A.B. rule
The emotional hijack is that moment where you lose control of your emotions and verbally attack
whoever or whatever has just pushed you too far, where your emotions are overtaken by irrationality
due to an underlying frustration, causing you to explode.
Try this exercise the next time someone says something that would usually lead to an outburst:
F - Fascinating: someone says something that winds you up. Instead of rising to it, think to
yourself: Fascinating! It acts as a pause button to stop you flying off the handle.
A - Acknowledge: Recognise your feelings; yes, this has just wound me up and made me feel
angry, but I'm not going to let my emotions get the better of me.
B - Breathe: It sounds simple, but deep diaphragmatic breathing can make you feel calmer.
Breathe in deeply, hold it, then breathe out. Relax your shoulders. Repeat.
[Excerpt from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1259707/Defuse-ticking-time-bomb-A-new-book-help-curbemotions.html.] See also Alec Grimsley, Vital Conversations. For details visit www.alecgrimsley.co.uk.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------THE 90 SECOND rule. Although there are certain limbic system (emotional) programs that can be
triggered automatically, it takes less than 90 seconds for one of these programs to be triggered, surge
through our body, and then be completely flushed out of our blood stream. My anger response, for
example, is a programmed response that can be set off automatically. Once triggered, the chemical
released by my brain surges through my body and I have a physiological experience. Within 90 seconds
from the initial trigger, the chemical component of my anger has completely dissipated from my blood
and my automatic response is over. If, however, I remain angry after those 90 seconds have passed,
then it is because I have chosen to let that circuit continue to run. Moment by moment, I make the
choice to either hook into my neurocircuitry or move back into the present moment, allowing that
reaction to melt away as fleeting physiology. [Jill Bolte Taylor. My Stroke of Insight. Hodder & Stoughton, 2008]
See lecture by the author at http://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html

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Dr Richard Steele BA, HDE, MTech(Hom), Homeopath and Educator, 110 Cato Road,
Durban.
031-201-6508 / 082-928-6208 / rsteele@telkomsa.net

CHOICE
Dr Viktor Frankl, an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist who was imprisoned for 3 years in Nazi prison
camps (including Auschwitz) during the Second World War simply because he was Jewish, writes in his
book Mans Search for Meaning: But what about human liberty? Is there no spiritual freedom in regard
to behaviour and reaction to any given surroundings? Is that theory true which would have us believe
that humans are no more than a product of many conditional and environmental factors be they of a
biological, psychological or sociological nature? .... The experiences of camp life show that humans do
have a choice of action . We who lived in concentration camps can remember those who walked
through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in
number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a person but one last
thing: the last of the human freedoms to choose ones attitude in any given set of
circumstances, to choose ones own way.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------COMFORT OBJECT
Carry an object such as a stone, shell, seed, trinket, champagne cork, photograph etc. Like an icon, the
symbolism of this item can be a reminder of, and represent, an experience of peace, safety, love,
happiness, joy, accomplishment, confidence etc. [RS]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------REST. Look at the phases of the moon, the tides, the seasons. Does it ever stay full moon, high tide,
mid-summer all the time? No, that is unnatural. There is advance and retreat and advance and retreat;
cycles of up front activity, and cycles of withdrawal, recuperation, renewal, rest.
I Ching No. 24 RETURNING. Movement in the beginning, therefore, must be strengthened by rest, so
that it will not be dissipated by being used prematurely. This principle of allowing energy that is
renewing itself to be reinforced by rest, applies to all similar situations. The return of health after illness,
the return of understanding after estrangement; everything must be treated tenderly and with care at
the beginning, so that the return may lead to a flowering.
http://www2.unipr.it/~deyoung/I_Ching_Wilhelm_Translation.html#24

Dr Richard Steele BA, HDE, MTech(Hom), Homeopath and Educator, 110 Cato Road,
Durban.
031-201-6508 / 082-928-6208 / rsteele@telkomsa.net