The Wellness Poet
By Krissy Regan The Wellness Poet
How many people do you know who have a social conscience? 1, 2, 3, 10, 100? Depending on the circles you move in you may have more or less. For some people they are passionate about the environment, animals, domestic violence, world hunger, world poverty, homelessness, diseases, human rights, and so on. There is a very long list of social issues to care about.
If you met your friends for lunch, would you talk about these topics or would you spend time gossiping about old school friends? Do you consistently support any causes or share awareness of social issues?
It’s true that we have many commitments and obligations in our own life and unless we are affected or impacted by any of the above, we can live in a pretty safe and privileged bubble of ignorance. After all ignorance is bliss, and the burden of the world’s problems are too much for some to comprehend, let alone dealing with our own challenges.
As we move towards 2023, I would like to offer up some ideas and questions for fostering a social conscience and having your own personal CSR (Me-SR) Statement. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is now an oldish term for businesses doing the right thing and giving back to the communities they use on their path to make money. A Me-SR Statement will enable you to create a personal legacy through giving.
So how can you develop a Me- SR Legacy? Ask yourself a question. Who or what inspires me?
- Look with an open mind at the social issues in your local community? Are there high rates of domestic violence, homelessness, poverty, or lots of loneliness?
- What are the global issues that impact your work-life balance?
- What things could you do on a consistent basis and ad hoc basis to help others?
- What is your personal legacy?
- Is material gain your focus, or spiritual gain?
- Do you have a relationship with your neighbours?
- Have you participated in any community events recently with a different cultural group than your own?
- If you had all the time and money in the world, what would you do?
We know that when we help someone, we also help ourselves. The feel-good hormone called dopamine is released when we do something kind for someone else. Not to mention a sense of achievement and pride that goes with random acts of kindness or in service to others.
It is easy to be a bandwagon person and just get on board with what others are doing, however I would rather encourage people to find their own CSR (Me-SR) purpose and create their own blend of wholistic SR (social responsibility). The blend could include things that you do physically, financially, emotionally, and verbally.
Such as:
- Talking and sharing knowledge.
- Fundraising or donating.
- Praying or meditating.
- Researching and capacity building.
- Starting something new to fill a gap in services.
In 2022 my personal blend of Me-SR consisted of:
- Creating a FB group to support Ukraine and enabling others to fulfil their personal Me-SR objectives.
- Public Speaking to community groups about, The Power of Helping just One Person.
- Volunteering on the Management Committee of an NGO.
- Supporting events that raised funds for domestic violence, sexual violence and inclusion.
- Financial donations to flood victims.
- Donations of books to individuals, charities, and libraries.
- Harvesting oranges to sell and make marmalade raising funds for our local Ronald McDonald House.
- Donating proceeds from book sales to local animal charities.
- Creating a Facebook Group for Authors in my regional area to share knowledge and opportunities.
- Running Marathons to fundraise for Ukraine’s War Victims.
- Financial donations to Indigenous Australians running marathons to inspire their local communities.
- Sharing knowledge gained during Reconciliation Week and running with the Aboriginal flag.
My blend of Me-SR fits with my #1 value of Helping. I was able to do these things whilst working full-time hours, building a business, raising two small kids, and training for a marathon. Those experiences have given me so much personally and spiritually. Some of them have been tough emotionally and physically but I’m grateful I was able to do them and share my good fortune with others. The good fortune to be healthy, and to have an opportunity to make money which I can share and use to benefit others.
Recently I’ve been reading about Social Modelling, Gossip and Toxic Behaviour. In our modern world it’s quite hard to avoid those but they’re issues that have been around for generations. These issues keep people stuck in a negative cycle unable to see the bigger picture. I recognise the direct correlation to unhappiness, discontent, selfishness and ignorance to small-minded thinking, gossip, and unhealthy competition.
Recently some people I know were gossiping about a woman who keeps to herself! I pointed out that she had done a lot of good for our community in the past few years and perhaps she was trying to avoid gossip and people who think they are better than everyone else!
Clearly, I’ve decided to say No to Gossip which is Toxic and Negative. We all can!
Seeing people for their value is not just seeing what kind of car they drive!
There is No Competition to how much, or little you do. But I do hope that people embrace a blend of Me-SR that is beneficial for themselves as well as the world around them! It’s more impressive to see people helping others than people helping themselves, IMHO!
Krissy Regan is The Wellness Poet and Founder of Mindful Mums Queensland. 2022 Finalist in the Australian Small Business Champion Awards for a Women’s Organisation Category and an Influential Woman Category.
She is author of 5 books.
- Broken to Unbreakable, 12 Steps to an Unbreakable Mind, Body & Spirit.
- The Koala who Lost his Heart.
- Bobby, a Horse who teaches a young girl how to Love.
- London to Townsville, a story about a little girl who moves from England to Australia.
- Go Get-em Mumma!
You can contact Krissy Regan at mindfulmumsqld@gmail.com or follow Mindful Mums Qld on Facebook and Instagram @mindfulmumsqld and view Krissy’s work here: https://lnk.bio/krissyregan
