I drove home from Seattle to Vancouver about 10 days ago.  I had just returned from a Caribbean cruise and now was on the last leg of the journey home. As I approached the border, I could see the line-up stretched for miles. It was a good two to three hour wait to get through.  The joys of a strong Canadian dollar!

However, I noticed a tiny sign that indicated another border just 12 miles east.  Much to my delight,  the border crossing was empty with just one car ahead of me. Going 12 miles out of my way saved me a couple of hours. Meanwhile, the masses lined up at the better known border crossing and waited, on auto-pilot, believing that this is what they need to do, and rarely looking for a better solution.

I realized again this month, as I sailed the Atlantic Ocean stopping at beautiful islands like St. Thomas and St. Marten, how programmed people are to follow the crowds.  For a week I watched the masses line up like pigs to the trough for the buffets, (and I was right there with them believe me).  We were herded like cattle on and off the ship, we were poked and prodded through every sort of security measure, and conformity was the accepted norm.  In my healing work, I call following the masses ”Tribal Mentality”. The tribe believes certain things, follows the rules, makes the rules for the masses and expects compliance. They work together as a group and they expect you to conform. People do it so automatically, they don’t even realize they are doing it.  I have made a point of getting out of the tribe as much as possible and I noticed how much I resented being put right back in the middle of it. 

Watching 3,500 people eat like starvation was imminent was quite fascinating, as well as revolting. Obesity is at an all time high on this continent. I know I was shocked when earlier this year I found out that my Body Mass Index put me in the OBESE category. I thought impossible!  I know better. I eat fish and vegetables, fruit and grains.

But those highly addictive ginger cookies at Starbucks and that Cappucino Frozen Yogurt had done me in!  I too had fallen victim to the way of the tribe and it sure didn’t feel good! What about you? Are you part of the masses, part of the tribe? Do you have beliefs you have adopted that play out in your life and you don’t even realize it?

Several months ago I forgot something and out of my mouth came the words, “I must be having a blonde moment.” Now consciously, I do not believe that blondes are dumber than brunettes. Yet at a subconscious level, I had obviously bought into that particular Tribal Mentality belief.

We actually have lots of them. “Money is hard to come by. You always pay a high price for success. Women make less money than men. Life is a struggle. It’s normal to be overweight. In the winter you get more colds and flu. If you make lots of money, your friends won’t like you. It’s normal to spend more than you earn. You need to be smart to earn lots of money.”  Those are all beliefs that people have bought into without even thinking and there are literally hundreds of thousands of them.

Every one of us lives by beliefs that hold us back financially, mentally, physically and spiritually and we don’t even know it. It’s why I found the cruise extremely difficult.  It was great to get away and I was with a wonderful group of people.  The Caribbean was beautiful but it was challenging to be surrounded by thousands of people who are on auto-pilot. They hit the bars before the ship even left and spent hundreds of dollars on alcohol  they can ill-afford financially or physically. They ate like there was no tomorrow with not a thought about how their body was going to handle five desserts on top of a bowl of pasta! They never questioned being scrutinized and treated like a criminal because Homeland Security has put everybody in such an incredible place of fear and terror. It concerns me.

Things are happening to the natural resources in my own province that are alarming and very few people are saying anything about it. World leaders are maneuvering events that are going under the radar that we should be aware of. Yet the masses line up at the all you can eat buffet, worry about how to pay the phone bill while spending more than they earn and watch hours of television every day.

I haven’t had a television for years now but I get to watch it at the gym as almost every piece of equipment has a television screen attached to it. There may be some good programs but I’m still shaking my head and asking: What has happened in the five years that I haven’t watched TV? Since when does the Food Channel have programs that require an adult language content advisory? The other night, the woman next to me on the treadmill was watching a program on her TV screen that involved bisexuality and lesbianism.  After my shock wore off, I felt sad that the masses are not protesting that type of programming. I’m no prude that’s for sure, but there is an appropriate place for such things and it is not on public television at 9:00 p.m.!

So what can we do? Start noticing where you follow the tribe. Look at various aspects of your life? You could start with finances, or career, or relationships? Are you feeling guilty, for example, of not being in a relationship at 40 when everybody around you thinks you should be?  Are you feeling pressured to stay in your job and put your travel dreams on hold because your friends say that it is irresponsible to leave in your prime earning years?

Who says you need to be doing anything that you automatically do? Usually the tribe.  Start forming your own opinion about things and follow your own path. If everybody goes right, you do not have to go right. If everybody jumps off the cliff, you don’t have to go too!

They did an exercise where everybody, except one person, was told to get into the elevator and face the back of the elevator, rather than the door.  At first the person who wasn’t given those instructions was surprised as everybody turned to face the back.  Finally, he gave in and turned to face the back too!  He couldn’t handle the pressure of being different, of not being part of the tribe.  It’s natural to belong to the tribe.  It definitely takes courage to be different and get out, to stand up and to speak out.

We need more people who are out of the tribe, who can think for themselves and who are fully conscious.  We’re all part of the tribe in some areas of our lives but the more you can separate yourself from the “herd thinking” and connect with the power you have within, the world will be a better place.  Your life will be quite amazing.  You just watch!With love and light, Jan

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