Why Connect?

For a long time now, I have felt that part of my purpose in life is to connect individuals with holistic resources to support their health and personal growth. I know this site serves as one key platform in which I can do exactly that—share helpful information, tools, and resources that may connect with individuals in recovery seeking to enhance their wellbeing.

What precisely does the word “connect” mean? Here are a couple dictionary definitions of connect:

• to link to a power supply
• to join together so as to provide access and communication

When I think of the concept of “connecting” and the ways in which we connect, a few things come to mind. I think of one person connecting with another (whether physically or emotionally); connecting with a higher power, or your inner self (through prayer or meditation); or connecting with nature (physically engaging with the natural environment—i.e. taking walk in the woods, a swim in the ocean, listening to the birds, gardening, etc).

I also think of “connecting the dots,” as in putting together pieces of information to better understand something or “see the whole picture.” We connect to sources of information or educational outlets. Information is powerful when it is used to apply appropriate action.

More or Less Connected

These days, with the explosion of technological advancements and social media—Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.—we seem to be constantly “connecting” on our latest gadgets. Certainly this phenomenon has successfully expanded opportunities for connecting people. Or re-connecting for that matter. How else would you be able to ever communicate again with that random friend from kindergarten that moved the following year, if you hadn’t come across their photo on Facebook over 30 years later?

Alternately, technology supports a form of disconnection. We have become more disconnected perhaps from ourselves and certainly from nature. Kids today certainly spend more time in front of a screen than playing outside compared to just a couple decades ago. Consider how much your own daily habits have changed just since the advent of the cell phone. Remember when waiting for an appointment or the train, you simply sat or stood alone with your thoughts? Maybe you watched a bird fly by, said hello to a stranger, noticed the cloud formations, paused to reflect on your day? We tend to do this a lot less these days when we have our smartphone on us 24/7 and the invisible pressure to constantly be connected through our devices.

While the advancements in technology have in fact helped us connect with each other more across the globe in new innovative ways, we are also simultaneously doing harm to ourselves by decreasing our time otherwise spent doing healthy activities that stimulate our brain and body. We inevitably end up cutting back on activity that promotes connecting to the earth’s natural magnetic field which helps us be in harmony, while increasing our exposure to unhealthy EMFs which cause discord in our systems. But that is a whole topic of it’s own to be covered!

A Power Supply

As the first definition of the word connect is “to link to a power supply,” what might be examples of a “power supply?” Looking back at those previously discussed, it could be another human being, a higher power in terms of spirituality or religious belief, the earth or nature, information, or really any form of energy—including electrical energy.

In 12-step recovery groups, there is reference to a “power greater than yourself” and the exact association is left up to the individual as to what that “power” is for them. It could be one’s personal higher power, that perhaps they call “God.” It could be the group of individuals (the power of more than one individual coming together; and, like in Gestalt theory, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts). Or some people may rely on some specific set of Principles—benevolent ideals that, when aligned with, may provide power to that individual.

For some of you, perhaps your personal beliefs include a concept of a “power within.” Regardless of whatever your individual beliefs may be in terms of spirituality, in the field of Energy Medicine or Energy Healing, we know based on science that our body is made up of energy and runs on energy. That energy can be considered a source of power. When you learn how to harness it properly, the results demonstrate the effects of this power.

Access and Communication

As previously mentioned, information itself can be a source of power. English philosopher Francis Bacon is credited with the simple quote,

“Knowledge is power.”

The second definition of the word connect that I referenced above is “to join together so as to provide access and communication.”

Famous novelist, Tom Clancy, also is quoted on the subject. He said,

“Information, knowledge, is power. If you can control information, you can control people.”

Conversely, I believe if you share information you can empower people. That is the essence of my mission – to empower through awareness. I envision a world in which effective tools for self-care and empowerment are available to everyone, and aim to do my part by creating awareness via information, education and resources that are accessible from anywhere and offering something for everyone.

However, knowledge alone is not necessarily powerful. AA founder Bill Wilson conveyed that warning in recounting his own story when he wrote, "Surely this was the answer: self-knowledge. But it was not, for the frightful day came when I drank again." Knowledge that increases awareness that can then be followed accordingly by taking action – that is definitely powerful.

There are many different paths that lead to greater health in recovery; choose the routes that resonate with you. I will continue to share more options for you here so "keep coming back." If you have thoughts or questions about anything mentioned in this article, leave a comment below to connect and contribute to the discussion.