I’ve been noticing how much the Covid-19 shot has become a very hot topic these days. Instead of people respecting others for their choices, judging and shaming have become the norm.
People who have been against getting the shot, have discovered that either the pressure from loved ones or the lure to be able to travel with less restrictions, are the reasons to subject themselves to the shot. Instead of those who are fully onboard with getting the shot, respecting people who choose not to get the shot, they are blaming them for being the cause of future potential, variant coronaviruses. People who choose to trust their own immune system and ability to stay healthy and establish a natural immunity to COVID-19 have the right to make this choice.
This is where the three wise monkeys from Japan popped into my mind, with the principles of “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” It’s a reference to a lack of moral responsibility by looking the other way or feigning ignorance. The idea is to not dwell on evil thoughts.
My take on this proverb is that the perpetuated fear of COVID-19 has been established for over a year now, and I think that many people just want their lives to go back to how it used to be. Depending on what culture demands, many are choosing to follow the dictates of government and what the mainstream media report. Those that are on the fringes attempt to share a different perspective, but are condemned as conspiracy theorists and named as paranoid and crazy.
Even if you close your eyes, cover your ears, and shut your mouth, please don’t stop asking questions when something doesn’t seem to make sense. Otherwise, we selectively begin to hear things we want to hear and if ideas go against the accepted norm, we turn a deaf ear.
The power of words have an impact, and they often get amplified by the tone used to deliver the message. This is where I believe that each and every one of us, as hard as it may be, should stay open to opposing ideas of thought. Stepping back from a charged situation regardless of how passionate you may be, helps to soften judgment and encourage open lines of communication.
I would love my members to be aware and to learn to trust their bodies and make choices that will create more ease and harmony in their lives, however, who am I to say that I know what’s best? Over the past 22 years of practice, I have witnessed that sometimes an intense health condition (such as irritable bowel syndrome, vertigo, extreme low back pain, and even cancer) was the person’s body attempting to get them to pay attention, and take time to reassess and see if they are living in alignment with their values. The mind and body and spirit are not separate, but work in unison for you to live your life fully. I do know that when your mind and body are aligned, and they are communicating properly, living an amazing life is available to you.
If we allow people of authority to override our own inner truth, or if we allow the fear of hurting or disappointing someone to take over, we essentially go against our own nature and create more inner turmoil. In dealing with this fear or desire not to hurt someone, I’ve discovered that the only reason another person may get hurt is for the simple fact that their expectations were not met. If a person expected you to be supportive or nice all the time, the moment you aren’t, will hurt them. If you act outside of yourself, you end up hurting yourself and preventing true transparency and openness.
Learning to trust yourself and apply the principles of the three wise monkeys can be achieved if you first learn to own who you are, you learn to discern between concepts that may be contrary to your ideals, and you’re able to respect another human being. The mirror aspect comes in to play here, because if you cannot even respect or honor your own body or self, how could you do that for another?
Start building trust in yourself, connect with your body, and make it your best friend that will guide you and hold you accountable for the thoughts that are true for you. Don’t put blinders on, and question, when something you hear disturbs you.
By keeping your eyes, ears, and mouth open – instead of not spreading evil – you become aware of what works and doesn’t work for you. Staying open in your mind and heart will be the key to navigating this COVID-19 world, and will bring ease and harmony back into your life.
The three wise monkeys are a Japanese pictorial maxim, embodying the proverbial principle “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”.[1] The three monkeys are:
- Mizaru, who sees no evil, covering his eyes
- Kikazaru, who hears no evil, covering his ears and
- Iwazaru, who speaks no evil, covering his mouth [2]
