When Kathleen received her first commission for a mural painting from The Public Art Workshop of Chicago, it was the beginning of a lifelong career in art. Her series of Reunion Island paintings were exhibited over a nine-month period in the main hall of the Museum of Mankind in Paris. In December 2023, she showcased her paintings in an exhibition entitled “Indian Women: Grace and Resilience” in the Town Hall of the 16th Arrondissement in Paris, France.&nbsp;

kathleen.jpg

Kathleen Scarboro

<h3 style="text-align: center">
 An Art Essay by the Joliet Mural Artists
 </h3>
 <h4>
 KATHLEEN SCARBORO is one of a school
 of artists who have developed the ‘Joliet style’ of mural painting in
 Joliet, Illinois, near Chicago. Here she shares their story, and the
 importance of public art in bringing a sense of cultural identity and
 community through environmental enhancement.
 </h4>
 
 Even a brief look at art history illustrates the vital link between
 artists and the societies they represent. We understand diverse
 civilizations by studying and enjoying the great works of art and
 architecture they created. It is a relatively recent phenomenon,
 primarily in western countries, that so many contemporary artists find
 themselves outside society, unable to assume their role as voices for
 the beliefs and aspirations of the populations to which they belong.
 
 <hr />
 <h5 style="text-align: center">
 All human beings, rich or poor, 
 need aspirations to give meaning to their lives. 
 The role of art is to take these aspirations from 
 a latent impulse and translate them into physical form 
 to be shared and used as a source of continued inspiration for
 all.
 </h5>
 <hr />
 
 Art has never appeared less necessary, and the artist has never been so
 alienated from society, but this unnatural situation is beginning to
 change. Starting in the 1960s, community-based public artists worked in
 cities to reunite artists and communities.
 
 
 <img
 class="img-float-left has-img-center-in-mobile lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/joliet2_bbd27497a8.jpeg?updated_at=2023-04-06T12:15:20.966Z"
 alt="joliet2"
 />
 
 
 For the Friends of Community Public Art (FCPA), in Joliet, Illinois, a
 not-for-profit association, the goal is to revive public art by renewing
 and revitalizing links among local artists, civic and political figures,
 and the people of the city. Local authorities support the association,
 as they see the need to invest in public art as a way to express the
 ideals of the community and enrich its environment.
 
 
 FCPA is dedicated to reflecting the entire community of Joliet,
 including its economic, ethnic and racial diversity. The organization’s
 founders and members believe art is the ideal vehicle to transform
 society from within. Without this projection by society into the future,
 humanity could remain stuck in material struggle, never going beyond the
 most basic physical level of existence.
 
 
 Martin Luther King’s simple and unforgettable statement, “I have a
 dream,” embodies this concept. Humanity advances by dreaming itself
 forward, and art is one of the most efficient vectors of this
 phenomenon. The existence of art and its support by the population are
 symbols of the vitality of the inner impetus toward fulfillment within a
 society. All human beings, rich or poor, need aspirations to give
 meaning to their lives. The role of art is to take these aspirations
 from a latent impulse and translate them into physical form to be shared
 and used as a source of continued inspiration for all.
 
 
 The unflagging efforts of FCPA to raise the level of cultural awareness
 in Joliet have been fruitful. Great progress has been made between
 artists and the public. This new partnership has allowed the
 association’s artists to learn and apply basic principles needed to
 promote the appreciation and material support of the visual arts. People
 have to identify with the artwork for a sense of belonging to develop.
 This sense of belonging and identification is vital. The aspirations of
 the public – its most productive and positive aspects – must be
 represented so that the desire for ownership can emerge.
 
 
 Another essential element in the nurturing of public art is the quality
 of conception and execution. Through FCPA, mural participants received a
 conceptual and technical education that guaranteed the quality of
 content and expertise of execution. What was created can be considered a
 school of painting, the result of constant communication among a number
 of artists, all striving to collaborate at the highest possible level.
 
 
 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyload w-100 h-auto"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/joliet3_bf0e358fba.jpeg?updated_at=2023-04-06T12:16:08.578Z"
 alt="joliet3"
 />
 
 
 The ‘Joliet style’ is as recognizable and definable as other schools of
 painting in the history of art, where artists grouped by an affinity of
 ideas influence each other. In Joliet, the shared workspace has not only
 been the interior of a studio, but also the city itself. The artists
 have had the exciting experience of sharing their discoveries and
 efforts with the community in a very immediate fashion. The public has
 been both spectator and actor in a contemporary art movement while it
 was happening.
 
 
 Joliet was ripe for a new vision of itself. Most people thought Joliet
 was not a very interesting place. Because of a lack of knowledge about
 its history, the city’s image had suffered, so it was more a place where
 one ends up rather than a place one would choose to live. We as artists
 began researching the city’s history, and discovered an endless number
 of dramatic and exciting stories concerning its past. These stories
 served as raw material for the elaborate works of public art. The
 community’s cultural identity started appearing on the exterior walls of
 the urban environment. The stories the city had to tell were exclusively
 its own.
 
 
 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyload w-100 h-auto"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/joliet4_103f392612.jpeg?updated_at=2023-04-06T12:16:59.712Z"
 alt="joliet4"
 />
 
 
 The development of public art in Joliet has spurred a profound
 transformation in the local mentality; one that is rapidly evolving. The
 opportunity for people to contemplate their history and heritage in a
 lively, colorful visual form has been educational. People are often
 surprised that their personal histories can serve as subject matter for
 a work of art and that people like themselves who are willing to get
 involved in the daily life of their communities can leave their mark on
 history. They realize they can make a difference if they see themselves
 as capable of making positive changes. And they start to understand that
 our urban environment is our collective work, reflecting what we are and
 how we see ourselves.
 
 <hr />
 <h5 style="text-align: center">
 Mural paintings, sculptures and mosaics have an overall 
 effect&nbsp;that alters our existence in a positive way, 
 just as everyone who puts a flowerpot on a windowsill makes a
 small, 
 yet appreciable, gesture toward making our daily lives more
 poetic.
 </h5>
 <hr />
 
 Mural paintings, sculptures and mosaics have an overall effect that
 alters our existence in a positive way, just as everyone who puts a
 flowerpot on a windowsill makes a small, yet appreciable, gesture toward
 making our daily lives more poetic. As attention to the environment
 awakens, and we see not only our homes but also our neighborhoods and
 cities as belonging to us, then a great transformation can take place.
 As the city is ‘dressed up’, we start seeing ourselves differently, too.
 The exterior environment reveals how we feel about ourselves. If we make
 efforts to enhance our urban surroundings, we give form to our desire
 for inner refinement. As we reflect our environments back to the
 community, it creates and reinforces a sense of pride and dignity of
 belonging to a special, unique place.
 
 
 If FCPA has been given space and material support to create lasting
 works of public art in Joliet, we can assume that other cities will
 recognize a need for similar programs. All it takes is a few enlightened
 and devoted minds to put the wheels in motion. It is our hope that
 Joliet’s example will inspire other cities to awaken their innate need
 for environmental enhancement and education through the revelation of
 cultural identity.
 
 
 <img
 alt="joliet5"
 class="has-img-center lazyload w-100 h-auto"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/joliet5_bd06a9d12c.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T12:17:36.997Z"
 />
 
 <hr />
 <h4 style="text-align: center">
 Article by KATHLEEN SCARBORO 
 Art by THE JOLIET MURAL ARTISTS
 </h4>
 <hr />

Cultural identity

<h4>KATHLEEN SCARBORO tells her own personal story about being the best grandma
 she can be.</h4>
Becoming a grandmother revolutionized my existence. It was a chance to be the loving
 parent I wish I had been when my son was young. When my son was little, I knew I wasn’t as mentally available
 for him as I should have been. I lacked patience and was worried about too many other things like money,
 constantly looking for work – all the pressures of daily life. I was an anxious, guilt-ridden young mother.
Coming to a spiritual path and slowly divesting myself of my mental burdens made
 life become more and more palatable. Gradually life seemed to be less of a battle. I came to realize that I had
 made things unnecessarily complicated for myself. I was on a slow but sure path towards inner balance.
It took about 20 years of spiritual practice to completely change my mental attitude
 and feel grateful for the joy each day could bring.
So when Alice came along in 2012, I was given the opportunity to be the best grandma
 I could. Even during the first week of her existence I was the one who could get her to sleep. She was one of
 those babies who would fiercely fight to stay awake, so I would empty my mind and walk and dance with her until
 she slid into sleep.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">If we devote ourselves&nbsp;to the
 children, 
 the world will move&nbsp;in the right direction.
</h5>
<hr>
For Alice, I know my presence is totally reassuring. Even when she was only one and
 her parents left her alone with me for a couple of weeks, we had a great time. She did not cry once.
Why are meditators reassuring? I think it is because they have made peace with
 death. We can only reassure others if we are at peace with ourselves and feel safe. And we can only really feel
 safe if we are not afraid of leaving this world at any moment. We also feel safe and confident because we have
 taken responsibility for our lives and believe things happen to us for good reasons and for our benefit. So we
 don’t think that we are in danger and our children profit from our attitude. We show them that they can be bold
 because life is not threatening.
Alice will have to face many difficulties, as all of us do, but I think the
 unconditional love and solidarity of her parents and grandparents will give her the confidence to always feel
 like she can cope with whatever life brings her way. She knows we all think the world of her and feel blessed to
 be her family. All we want from her is for her to be totally herself.
Wouldn’t it be a different world if all children who came here were surrounded with
 helpful, caring, devoted, happy adults? Diogenes said, “The foundation of every state is the education of its
 youth.” If we devote ourselves to the children, the world will move in the right direction.
<h5 style="text-align: justify;"></h5>
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Art and article by KATHLEEN SCARBORO</h4>
<hr>

A safe future for our children

<hr><h4>KATHLEEN SCARBORO has a career in public art. Here she describes the motivation behind her painting and how she has developed her themes and techniques over the years.</h4><hr>Why would an American artist from Chicago, residing in Paris, choose India as a theme for her paintings? A lifelong interest in other cultures than my own eventually led me to this choice.In the mid 1970s, many American artists were tired of being isolated in their studios. They wanted a role that would allow them to participate in the lives of their local communities. The Public Art Workshop of Chicago was a group of urban artists who painted murals in cooperation with the local inhabitants, so when I received my first commission for a mural painting I contacted them for mentoring. This was the beginning of a lifelong career in public art. With each succeeding commission, I synthesized the preoccupations of a particular group (ethnic, professional, etc.) into a work of art that was placed in a specific public site. So I spent a lot of time observing and listening to others and putting their ideas into visual form. I realized that artists can have a useful and meaningful role of sharing aspects of a designated culture with others.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/KATHLEEN_SCARBOR_2_66a3fa6288.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-03T08:20:16.665Z" alt="KATHLEEN_SCARBOR_2">Life is But a Dream<hr>In France and in Reunion Island I continued painting murals. Eventually I felt a need to paint about village life on the island back in my studio in Paris. A series of these paintings were exhibited over a nine-month period in the main hall of the Museum of Mankind in Paris at the Place Trocadero.My interest in meditation and consciousness studies, as well as art history and general culture, motivated me to go to India in the mid ’90s. For a person who loves to paint people, India offers an infinite source of inspiration. Traveling around the country, the colors, the textiles, the elegance of the women in their saris, the temples, the landscapes and citiscapes all stimulated the painter in me, proposing a multitude of exciting visual possibilities. I decided to make India the theme of my paintings and continue to paint India exclusively today.<hr>&nbsp;<hr>For a person who loves to paint people, India offers an infinite source of inspiration.&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;My composition was strongly influenced by the Mexican and American mural movement. In these schools of painting, e.g. Diego Rivera and Thomas Hart Benton, many different images are combined, creating a collage effect. By combining imagery – a landscape, a figure, a close-up of an object – all can co-exist and collectively tell a story. A narrative of this type would be closer to poetry than prose if we search for a literary analogy. In other words, the viewer has some leeway to make up his own tale from the elements presented. The difficulty with this type of composition is to create a coherent image from components that do not visually co-exist in the real world. The eye should be able to travel around the canvas smoothly, and not be shocked or halted by the transition from one segment to the next.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/KATHLEEN_SCARBOR_3_bbd6aa3013.jpg" alt="KATHLEEN_SCARBOR_3">Introspection<hr>Aesthetics really matter to me, and beauty is a goal. In each painting I am preoccupied by color harmony, fluidity of composition and execution, as well as technically good drawing. Everything and its opposite can be found in this world; I have chosen to concentrate on a positive vision.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/KATHLEEN_SCARBOR_5_7320d1bcda.jpg" alt="KATHLEEN-SCARBOR5">Blessing&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;I adopt subject matter that reminds us we are fortunate to be human. My goal is to bring people an instant of respite from our difficult world. I believe it was the American author John Barth who said that we could judge our own behavior by asking ourselves whether we were adding to or subtracting from the general misery. Every day, every moment, we are bombarded by negative and frightening information concerning our society and environment. I try to create compositions that encourage hope and reveal the innate elegance of humanity. Hopefully I am bringing some solace and joy to those who take the time to look at my paintings.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/KATHLEEN_SCARBOR_4_1_e20f82dccb.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-04T04:31:26.784Z" alt="KATHLEEN_SCARBOR_4">Learning Hearts<hr>I trained at Southern Illinois University in the US, then at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. During my years in art school at Southern Illinois University, I found a teacher, Mr Patrick Betaudier, who had mastered Renaissance oil painting technique and taught me his painting methods. I didn’t realize until much later in life just how rare excellent teachers are and am very grateful to have benefited from his guidance.<hr>&nbsp;<hr>I try to create compositions that encourage hope and reveal the innate elegance of humanity. Hopefully I am bringing some solace and joy to those who take the time to look at my paintings.&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;My works are classical oil paintings; I work with oil glazes, using thin layers of color over an underpainting. The underpainting is sketched in, then the forms of the picture are enhanced with white. Between each glaze, a layer of white is brushed over a darker tone (scumbling), and when it is dry a glaze is applied to reinforce the color. For strong color, many layers of glaze and scumbled white are required. To assure longevity, I also use a glue emulsion, which I make myself. I am generous with the number of glazes, keeping in mind that oil paint becomes transparent with age. Paintings of this type take weeks and months to complete; in a normal year I can make four paintings.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/The_innate_elegance_of_humanity_768x333_3b11021e9c.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-03T08:18:57.737Z" alt="The_innate_elegance_of_humanity">A Glimmer of Hope<hr>Currently I am working on a book entitled Painting India: Women and Color with Catherine Servan-Schreiber and Deva Villeroy. We are combining reproductions of my paintings with quotes derived from the works of talented Indian writers of the past and present on the themes developed in the paintings.&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;www.kathleenscarboro.fr<hr>&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Art Essay by KATHLEEN SCARBORO</h4>&nbsp;<hr>

The innate elegance of humanity

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">KATHLEEN SCARBORO shares her journey as an artist, explaining why she has chosen the subjects that are so dear to her heart. In December 2023, she opened an exhibition entitled “Indian Women: Grace and Resilience” in the Town Hall of the 16th Arrondisement of Paris, France, to celebrate that journey, and we showcase some of those paintings here.</h4>&nbsp;When I met Chariji in 1988, I had no idea that India would be important in my life, or that for thirty years I would devote myself exclusively to painting this subject.&nbsp;For meditators, life unfolds and reveals its main themes over time. As I look back over my trajectory, it seems that there was an inner logic that had its own momentum and all I had to do was follow along and do the work. I remember my painting teacher, Patrick Betaudier, used to say that when a painting is ripe to come into existence, it paints itself. I often feel that way.Before starting meditation, I was already a professional painter. I had a good technique and I had the desire to produce art, but my true message, what exactly I wanted to paint, was not clear to me. So much art had been created, in so many directions, by so many artists, and I wasn’t sure of my place in the general scheme of things. One day, as I was working on murals on Réunion Island, it suddenly seemed obvious what I wanted to paint, why, and for whom. I am certain this realization was the result of the meditation I had begun practicing. Meditation gives us the clarity to know ourselves, which leads to an understanding of how to use our abilities to share with others.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/painting_india3_b4dfcf1fa8.webp" alt="painting-india3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_painting_india3_b4dfcf1fa8.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_painting_india3_b4dfcf1fa8.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/painting_india3_b4dfcf1fa8.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;What inspires me are the lives of people of modest condition, in tune with nature, and the beauty and harmony of the natural world. I generally paint women and children; their universe is more accessible to me, and I share the love of drapery, textiles, and vivid color with the women of India. The beauty that inspires me is not that of movie stars or the perfection of youth. I seek a quieter beauty that is unaware of itself and not dependent on passing modes.Nature is an important element in my work. I love gardening and the delicate designs and&nbsp;the fleeting&nbsp;elegance of&nbsp;flowers. I enjoy interweaving natural elements and landscapes with portraits of people in various postures and activities.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:60.29%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/painting_india4_79d1eeb8b7.webp" alt="painting-india4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_painting_india4_79d1eeb8b7.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_painting_india4_79d1eeb8b7.webp 800w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/painting_india4_79d1eeb8b7.webp 800w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;Indian women are often mothers and combine a practical sense of daily reality, work, caring for others, and a graceful, natural elegance. They are the pillars of our world. I try to evoke this in my paintings, and this is why my latest exhibition in Paris has the title, “Indian Women: Grace and Resilience.”<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">I generally paint women and children; their universe is more accessible to me, and I share the love of drapery, textiles, and vivid color with the women of India.&nbsp;</h4><hr><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:70.08%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/painting_india5_d5d7ddf2bb.webp" alt="painting-india5.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_painting_india5_d5d7ddf2bb.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_painting_india5_d5d7ddf2bb.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/painting_india5_d5d7ddf2bb.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;My approach to painting was greatly influenced by classical art. I make my medium and emulsion myself, and my technique is a modernized version of the techniques of the Flemish and Italian Renaissance. Paintings take months to do using this method, and intense color is created by layers and layers of transparent oil glazes.I became a professional artist in 1981.&nbsp;Throughout a career in public art, I always dealt with a commission system. In other words, customers would request a work of art and I would find a way to express their ideas and ideals.&nbsp;This kept me very close to a general audience who generally knew nothing about the art found in galleries or museums.&nbsp;Thanks to this link with an&nbsp;audience, working with cities, schools, and other public entities, I came to understand that the basic role of a work of art is communication. To be successful, the work has to please the client and myself on the conceptual and aesthetic levels. This was the hardest part of public art.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:70.26%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/painting_india7_eb397d9152.webp" alt="painting-india7.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_painting_india7_eb397d9152.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_painting_india7_eb397d9152.webp 800w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/painting_india7_eb397d9152.webp 800w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;Strangely, public art prepared me as an easel painter; I sensed that my mural and sculpture experience taught me to concentrate on grand themes and pulled me to a situation where I was no longer interested in my own personal trajectory, but with our shared story. This is the opposite of what we&nbsp;learned&nbsp;to do in art school where we were encouraged to explore our own personal psyche and idiosyncrasies.&nbsp;Thanks to this public art orientation, my eyes were directed toward the outside, toward other people and their ways of life, rather than looking inside. I was first given many opportunities to explore a culture different from mine in Réunion, where I visited villages, spoke with people, photographed their animals and their environment. For ten years, I worked on this theme.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:71.51%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/painting_india6_f78b4d6dd6.webp" alt="painting-india6.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_painting_india6_f78b4d6dd6.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_painting_india6_f78b4d6dd6.webp 800w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/painting_india6_f78b4d6dd6.webp 800w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;Then I turned my eyes toward India. Going from Réunion to India, the light, the iconography, the style of dress, the architecture were all different; the range of colors too. As a result, my painting style changed completely. India has provided a marvelous opportunity to explore intense, highly saturated color as well as the power, compositional opportunities, and opulence of drapery (thanks to the women in their saris). The Indian pantheon of gods and goddesses,&nbsp;the non-temporal landscapes and temples, and the Indian people&nbsp;provide an unending inspiration for my paintings.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:70.57%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/painting_india8_c54dd887bd.webp" alt="painting-india8.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_painting_india8_c54dd887bd.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_painting_india8_c54dd887bd.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/painting_india8_c54dd887bd.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Artwork by KATHLEEN SCARBORO</h4><hr>

Thoughts about painting india

Kids Section

Kiffer is Assistant Professor in Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada. He is also affiliated with The Pacific Institute on Pathogens, Pandemics, and Society; The Canadian Alliance for Social Connection and Health; and the GenWell Project.

Kiffer-George-Card.jpg

Kiffer George Card

<h4>Could public health guidelines help stop loneliness?&nbsp;KIFFER GEORGE CARD shares both research and his perspective on how we can address the pandemic of loneliness. He advocates coming together in a whole-of-society response, which means addressing the very problem he is seeking to solve.&nbsp;</h4>United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently called&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/loneliness-surgeon-general-epidemic-covid/">loneliness an epidemic</a>&nbsp;and issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf">public health advisory</a>&nbsp;on the healing effects of social connection and community.&nbsp;The report warned of the considerable adverse effects of loneliness and social isolation – comparing it to <a href="https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2013.301261">other leading risk factors</a>&nbsp;for premature death such as smoking, obesity, elevated blood pressure, and high cholesterol.<h4>Loneliness and social isolation can be harmful</h4>In my work as a social and behavioral epidemiologist, I have studied how social and community connectedness shapes health outcomes,&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-017-1939-7">ranging from HIV</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2018.1439186">substance use</a>.&nbsp;For example, my colleagues and I have previously shown that social isolation is associated with a&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-03000-2">48 percent increase</a>&nbsp;in odds for premature death, and that lonely people have&nbsp;<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech-2019-213566">71 percent higher odds</a>&nbsp;of reporting fair or poor health.&nbsp;Other researchers have also documented the havoc that loneliness wreaks on individuals, showing that lonely and isolated people have&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaaa029">poorer immune function</a>, experience&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2019.08.189">higher levels of inflammation</a>, and are at greater risk for&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2015-308790">heart disease</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/ncponc1134">cancer</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4948-6">and diabetes</a>.&nbsp;While everybody’s vulnerability to loneliness and social isolation differs, we all need social connection. Perhaps just as importantly,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-secret-to-happiness-heres-some-advice-from-the-longest-running-study-on-happiness-2017100512543#:%7E:text=The%20Harvard%20Study%20has%20found%20a%20strong%20association,isolation%20is%20a%20mood%20buster%2C%E2%80%9D%20says%20Dr.%20Waldinger.">Harvard research</a>&nbsp;from the longest-running cohort study ever conducted suggests that warm social relationships are the most important predictor of happiness across the life course.&nbsp;In other words, people who are disconnected lead sicker, sadder, and shorter lives.&nbsp;<h4>Public health guidelines</h4>In response to this epidemic of loneliness, my team at&nbsp;<a href="https://casch.org/guidelines">the Canadian Alliance for Social Connection and Health&nbsp;</a>has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.universityaffairs.ca/news/news-article/university-researchers-are-helping-to-create-a-canadian-guide-for-social-connection/">engaged experts from across Canada</a>&nbsp;and globally to develop the world’s first public health guidelines for social connection.&nbsp;Similar to the&nbsp;<a href="https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/">nutrition</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.participaction.com/">exercise</a>,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://ccsa.ca/canadas-guidance-alcohol-and-health">alcohol use</a>&nbsp;guidelines promoted by many national governments, social connection guidelines have the potential to improve our health and happiness by helping us all prioritize social connections in our daily lives.&nbsp;They can also raise awareness among healthcare providers and policymakers to ensure these experts are taking actions consistent with the latest evidence highlighting the importance of social health.<h4>Promising guidelines for better social health</h4>Regardless of levels of introversion or extroversion, insufficient social connection is associated with poorer well-being. While everybody’s vulnerability to loneliness and social isolation differs, we all need social connection. Yet, people generally&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2022.02.007">underestimate the benefits of connecting</a>&nbsp;with others and overestimate the costs, which include the emotional labor and mental energy needed to manage relationships and your self-presentation.<a href="https://doi.org/10.1027/1614-0001/a000048">Regardless of levels</a>&nbsp;of introversion or extroversion, insufficient social connection is associated with poorer well-being.&nbsp;This is because social connection is a biological imperative. We evolved in&nbsp;<a href="https://theconversation.com/dunbars-number-why-my-theory-that-humans-can-only-maintain-150-friendships-has-withstood-30-years-of-scrutiny-160676">close-knit communities</a>. For ancient humans, social exclusion was a death sentence. Loneliness is our body’s way of&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2013.837379">keeping us connected</a>, but sometimes&nbsp;<a href="https://casch.org/theory">we get trapped</a>&nbsp;by it.&nbsp;Public health guidelines can help raise awareness of the importance of social connection and provide us with a road map for better social health. But what should these guidelines look like?&nbsp;This is exactly what&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/from-social-distancing-to-social-connection-the-genwell-project-s-nationwide-survey-reinforces-the-importance-of-human-connection-as-canada-transitions-to-post-pandemic-recovery-822887144.html">my team has set out to understand</a>&nbsp;as part of a multi-phased, mixed-method study funded by and conducted in partnership with the Canadian government.&nbsp;<figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/7tips_social_connection2_68d5da4a3a.jpg"></figure>So far, we have identified a few promising approaches that each of us can act on right now:<ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li>Make sure to have&nbsp;<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60283c2e174c122f8ebe0f39/t/645a88655583045704102e40/1683654757592/CSCG_Evidence+Brief_Number+of+Friends.pdf">three to five close friendships</a>&nbsp;to call on when you’re in need.&nbsp; Research has shown that individuals who have at least three to five close friends experience the lowest levels of loneliness, anxiety, depression, and a range of other adverse health outcomes. Having too many friends can sacrifice quality for quantity. Having too few can leave you alone in a time of need.</li><li>Get&nbsp;<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60283c2e174c122f8ebe0f39/t/640e0384b9ce9e602bf93c77/1678640005938/CSCG_Evidence+Brief_Social+Time.pdf">one to three hours of social interaction per day</a>.&nbsp; That’s between 7 and 21 hours of social time per week – far more than the average of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/atus.nr0.htm">34 minutes of socializing most of us get each day</a>. This value aligns with the approximate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Robin-Dunbar/publication/235356868_Theory_of_mind_and_the_evolution_of_language/links/53dfc58b0cf2a768e49bddbd/Theory-of-mind-and-the-evolution-of-language.pdf">24 hours per week</a>&nbsp;that tribal and pastoral societies have historically enjoyed. While this may seem like a daunting jump in social hours for some, social interactions can include a wide variety of activities: chit chat with your barista, a phone call to a friend, conversation over dinner.</li><li><a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60283c2e174c122f8ebe0f39/t/640e03a10c9c9c5dbec35801/1678640034544/CSCG_Evidence+Brief_Network+Composition.pdf">Prioritize spending time with those closest to you</a>.&nbsp; We’ve found that individuals need to socialize with both “strong” and “weak” ties, but that the balance of your social energy should be spent on close friends and family with whom you have warm relationships. This is because close relationships fulfil our most important&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00901">relational needs</a>: to feel loved, acknowledged and validated. Building these&nbsp;<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0265407518761225">strong ties takes time</a>.</li><li>Diversity in your social network is important too.&nbsp; <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167214529799">So-called “weak ties” – those you don’t have a close relationship with – also matter</a>. In fact, studies have shown that&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaa009">talking to neighbors</a>&nbsp;can build a sense of community;&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/15555240.2018.1436444">making friends at work</a>&nbsp;can reduce job stress; and even&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2022.104356">talking to strangers</a> can create a sense of safety and provide a meaningful source of connection. Different relationships provide different types of support.&nbsp;</li><li>Recognize the risks of&nbsp;<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60283c2e174c122f8ebe0f39/t/63e67385a6ab9322c8125ea6/1676047237951/CSCG_Evidence+Brief_Living+alone.pdf">living alone</a>.&nbsp; People who live alone are at increased risk of loneliness and&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101677">studies have shown</a>&nbsp;that living alone,&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuv024">particularly for men</a>, is hazardous to your health. That means that if you live alone, prioritizing social relationships may be especially important to you.&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60283c2e174c122f8ebe0f39/t/6410a513a2173037c04a2141/1678812436160/CSCG_Evidence+Brief_Old+Friends.pdf">Reach out to old friends</a>&nbsp;and don’t be afraid to&nbsp;<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60283c2e174c122f8ebe0f39/t/640e03cb6924ff0526a018e9/1678640075343/CSCG_Evidence+Brief_New+Connections.pdf">make new ones</a>.&nbsp; Keeping and maintaining relationships can be hard – especially in today’s fast-paced world. Renewing old friendships can be an easy way to keep your social calendar full, but keeping a healthy level of engagement with new people will make sure your friendship well doesn’t run dry.</li><li>Don’t forget the importance of solitude.&nbsp; Just as time with others is important, it’s also important to have time alone. It is perfectly good, and even healthy, to spend time alone. We call this “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118427378">solitude</a>.” In fact, for some, time with others may even&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-023-00661-3">exacerbate feelings of loneliness</a>. Time alone provides an opportunity to restore your social reserves and meet your own personal needs.</li></ol>Following these and other strategies can improve your health and well-being. However, addressing loneliness, like many of the big problems we face today, will require a whole-of-society response. Public health guidelines for social connection can provide the foundation for such an approach.<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/7tips_social_connection3_6c8c0ad1cd.jpg"></figure>This article is reprinted with permission from the author and The Conversation under Creative Commons license from&nbsp;<a href="https://theconversation.com/could-public-health-guidelines-help-stop-loneliness-7-tips-that-show-how-crucial-social-connection-is-to-well-being-205358">https://theconversation.com/could-public-health-guidelines-help-stop-loneliness-7-tips-that-show-how-crucial-social-connection-is-to-well-being-205358</a>.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Illustrations by ARATI SHEDDE</h4><hr>&nbsp;

7 tips that show how crucial social connection is to well-being

Kiran is an Indian designer, educationist, education reformer, and social entrepreneur. She founded the award-winning Riverside School in Ahmedabad, along with aProCh to make our cities more child friendly, and Design for Change which is in more than 60 countries. Her most recent venture is the Riverside Learning Center which offers training program to empower schools worldwide using the codified processes from Riverside. Kiran, Riverside and Design for Change have won accolades and awards, including The Earth Prize, the Rockefeller Innovation Award, The Lego Remagine Award, The Lexus Prize, and the Light of Freedom Award.

Kiran-Bir-Sethi.jpg

Kiran Bir Sethi

Building community through education

defualt-profile-image.png

Kishore Debnath

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<h4>
 KISHORE DEBNATH
 explores how science, art, and spirituality all take us beyond the physical
 world into subtler realms where we must understand and describe phenomena
 through abstraction.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 In a world that often demands clear-cut answers and tangible results, the
 concepts of spirituality and abstraction may seem elusive and intangible. Yet,
 these ideas offer a profound understanding of the true nature of reality.



 As we delve deeper into the subtleties of life, we begin to perceive reality
 more accurately, even if expressing these insights proves challenging.
 Abstraction, while seemingly vague, provides a more accurate representation of
 physical phenomena than concrete objects alone.


<h4 >
 Spirituality: The Subtle Path to Perceiving Reality
</h4>


 Spirituality is a journey towards the subtle aspects of existence,
 transcending the physical, and delving into the essence of life. As we
 progress on the spiritual journey, we develop a heightened awareness of the
 interconnectedness of all things, often leading to experiences that defy
 conventional explanations.



 Discussing spiritual experiences can be challenging because they often extend
 beyond the limits of language. Words cannot adequately capture the essence of
 these profound experiences, as they are deeply personal and unique to each
 individual. To overcome this limitation, spiritual practitioners may rely on
 metaphor, allegory, and symbolism to convey their insights. In doing so, they
 embrace abstraction as a means to communicate the ineffable nature of reality.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="text-center">
 Spirituality is a journey towards the subtle aspects of existence,
 transcending the physical, and delving into the essence of life.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div >
 <figure class="aligncenter size-full">
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="491"
 height="695"
 alt=""
 class="lazyloaded"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/spirituality_abstraction2_bbed90288a.jpg"
 sizes="(max-width: 491px) 100vw, 491px"
 />
 </figure>
</div>

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<h4 >
 Abstraction: A Path to Greater Accuracy
</h4>


 The purpose of abstraction is not to be vague, but to create a new
 semantic level in which one can be absolutely precise.



 —Edsger W. Dijkstra, Dutch Computer Scientist, Turing Award Winner



 At first glance, abstraction may appear vague or ambiguous. However, it is an
 essential tool for accurately representing complex and multifaceted phenomena.
 Through abstraction, we can generalize and simplify concepts, enabling us to
 grasp the underlying patterns and structures that govern the physical world.



 In both science and art, abstraction allows us to understand phenomena that
 may be too intricate or vast for direct observation. For example, theoretical
 physicists use abstract mathematical models to describe the behavior of
 subatomic particles, while artists employ abstraction to evoke emotions or
 convey ideas that transcend the literal representation of objects.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="text-center">
 By transcending the limits of the physical world, we can develop a
 greater sense of interconnectedness, compassion, and empathy – qualities
 that are essential for spiritual growth.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4 >
 The Interplay of Spirituality and Abstraction
</h4>


 The relationship between spirituality and abstraction is one of mutual
 reinforcement. As we delve deeper into spirituality, we develop a greater
 appreciation for the abstract nature of reality. This understanding, in turn,
 enables us to perceive the world more accurately and holistically.



 Similarly, abstraction fosters spiritual growth by challenging our reliance on
 concrete objects, and encouraging us to explore the more subtle aspects of
 existence. By transcending the limits of the physical world, we can develop a
 greater sense of interconnectedness, compassion, and empathy – qualities that
 are essential for spiritual growth.



 While spirituality and abstraction may seem elusive, they offer a profound
 understanding of the true nature of reality. By embracing the subtle aspects
 of existence, we perceive the world more accurately and develop a deeper
 connection with ourselves and others. The interplay between spirituality and
 abstraction challenges our reliance on concrete objects, encouraging us to
 explore the intangible and ineffable aspects of life. As we continue to
 develop our spiritual and abstract understanding, we can foster a more
 compassionate and interconnected world.



 The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even
 touched – they must be felt with the heart.


—Helen Keller.

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<hr />

<h4 class="text-center">
 Illustrations by JASMEE MUDGAL
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

A journey beyond the concrete

Executive Vice President and the Group Head of Human Resource Development at Infosys. Krish has facilitated organizational transformation and building a strong talent pool. He is passionate about organizational development.

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Krish Shankar

<h4>
 KRISH SHANKAR is an Executive Vice
 President and the Group Head of Human Resource Development at Infosys.
 Krish has over 30 years of experience and has facilitated
 organization-wide transformation and capability development, and been
 instrumental in building a strong talent pool through a series of
 leadership development initiatives. He is an avid reader, and loves
 wildlife photography and trekking. A football enthusiast, he is
 passionate about teaching and exploring new ideas in Human Resources and
 organization development. In this exclusive interview, he speaks with
 V SRINIVASAN and
 SHARAT HEGDE in his hometown of
 Bengaluru, India.
</h4>

 Q: What is your understanding about the role and importance of
 character from a leader’s perspective?


 KS: Character is what I would call a
 set of values that are very strongly expressed. If you were to take
 three or four values that a person strongly believes in and
 demonstrates, then that really becomes his or her character. These
 values are basic, like honesty, transparency and trust. While skills are
 there, connection with leaders comes from their character, these deeper
 values. We build trust with people through these values, through the
 integrity and honesty that we show. And I think they are very important
 for building relationships, teams and long-term things. They are very
 important for leaders, because they describe what kind of leader we
 really are.


 Skills are also important. I think both go hand in hand, but if you look
 at really successful leaders, it’s their character that stands out. They
 may or may not be very successful at work, but they’re always
 well-regarded by people, they’re always the ones who people look forward
 to meeting. If they also have skills, if they are also good at strategic
 thinking, then they will be good at their jobs also.


 
 Q: A lot of conventional interventions in organizations emphasize the
 importance of building role-based capabilities and competencies, etc.
 Do you feel that the element of character, and its formation and
 development, needs attention, or is it something that you expect the
 candidate to have brought along with them?


 KS: A lot of character is formed
 early on: the family has a lot to do with a person’s character. But as
 people enter organizations, organizations can give them time to reflect
 on this, and give them good role models, because in the end all of this
 is through role models. If you look at it, the first job that you have
 in any company, and the first leaders you interact with, have a big
 impact on how you think about leaders and leadership. Exposing employees
 to role models with character helps them, and they say, “Okay, these are
 the things I want to see in myself.” So role models are very, very
 important.


 Character is not formed in a day; it is formed over time. It takes a
 long time to form, and even longer to change. Though the basic stuff is
 from your childhood, it can still be shaped as you go along, because
 your mental model is how you deal with people, your mental model is how
 you deal with adversity, your mental world can be shaped over time. It
 can be sharpened over time. I think character can be developed, and I
 think leadership development has to focus on the following things: role
 models, mode of mentorship, time for reflection, feedback, and giving
 people the opportunity to decide what they want to be, what is it that
 they want to be known for.

<hr />
<h5 style="text-align: center">
 If you’re not enjoying what you’re doing 
 then look for something else. 
 There is always enough to do, 
 but enjoying your work is more important.
</h5>
<hr />

 
 Q: What is your advice to young professionals who are at the start of
 their career today?


 KS: Wow, this is the mega question I
 think. We need to write a complete book on this! Well, I shouldn’t be
 giving you clichés or preaching here. It’s very tough, because the world
 is different today, and people are different. There are a few principles
 that I will share, and then we’ll leave the individuals to decide how to
 take them forward.


 Enjoy what you’re doing. 
 When considering a career path, I would say explore, decide, look around
 and enjoy what you’re doing. If you’re not enjoying what you’re doing
 then look for something else. There is always enough to do, but enjoying
 your work is more important.


 Have a measure of what will keep you motivated. What is it that you
 want to achieve? 
 A little bit of deeper thinking and road mapping your career is very
 important. It’s difficult to say what you will be doing by a particular
 time, but at least have a principle of saying: What keeps me happy? What
 is it that I really want to be doing? What is it in five years from now
 that I want to be doing for my community, for myself, and for my family?


 <img class="lazyload w-100 h-auto"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/cultivating_leadership2_220a98788d.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-03T07:54:38.149Z"
 alt="cultivating-leadership2" />


 Take everything you do as a learning opportunity – every job and
 every activity.


 You can keep doing the same things, but if you step back and say, “Okay,
 what did I learn from it? What can I do better?” then the next time it
 will be something very different. With every mundane thing that you do,
 consider it as a learning activity and see how you can improve.


 Career is not just work, but a set of mentors, a set of friends, a
 set of people with whom you want to interact. 
 Build this right from day one. Have mentors in the company, and mentors
 outside the company. Have friends in the company, and friends outside.
 It will give you a fuller understanding of what is happening.


 In this day and age there is no one career that you will
 follow. 
 I would say that everybody will go through two or three different
 inflexion points in their career. You may be doing something for five to
 ten years, and then you may move and do something else. So you’ve got to
 be learning and ready for those pivot points, moving around and doing
 something different.


 
 Q: Can you give one example of any initiative that you have launched
 in a company, for example Infosys, which has had a profound impact on
 people in terms of any of those values we have discussed so far?


 KS: One of the things we thought
 about in Infosys was: How do we get people to connect with their
 purpose? So about a year or two back we came up with the concept of
 ‘power teams’. It was a small experiment. We got people to come together
 as a team and think about what they’ve loved doing; what they’ve
 enjoyed; what they’d like to see for their own learning and development.


 We talked and brainstormed, and at the end of it we asked them to give
 feedback to others in the team on: What are you good at? What will make
 you great? So the others would say, “Yes, you are good at this, this and
 this, but by doing this you’ll be greater,” which created a real bond
 among them.


 Many of our HR people ran this program across the organization. The idea
 was to give people time to reflect on what they want, their own
 development and the purpose of their team, but also at the same time
 bond with the team. They were exploring how they could really help each
 other, which they had never done before. It was a small thing that we
 did to bring a little more focus on themselves, their teams and their
 purpose.

<hr />
<h5 style="text-align: center">
 There is a cognitive surplus, 
 so they want to do something more. 
 That’s why so many people are writing blogs, 
 because they want to express their interests; 
 their minds are working and they’re not able to 
 really utilize all of their capacity.
</h5>
<hr />

 Q: You mentioned that individuals have to reflect on balancing their
 individual work life, family, serving humanity, and developing their
 own interests, hobbies and things like that. Do you see organizations
 taking these ideas and enabling their employees to contribute to
 social and community causes outside their work?


 KS: Well, there are many! If we just
 take Infosys, there are many people who are doing things other than
 work. We have something called Samarpan, which is all about giving
 people opportunities to do CSR projects. They go to nearby schools and
 teach. They’re part of various clubs. We also have the Samaritans
 Counseling Network, where people are trained to be counselors. They
 learn, they’re trained, and they can identify when people are in
 difficulty.


 We found that many people are interested in things other than work.
 Generally their minds are not fully occupied. There is a cognitive
 surplus, so they want to do something more. That’s why so many people
 are writing blogs, because they want to express their interests; their
 minds are working and they’re not able to really utilize all of their
 capacity. Many organizations are using CSR, and they also have internal
 clubs and various other initiatives. For example, at Infosys there is a
 running club. Many people are members, and some are organizers. They’re
 trying and doing something. Many companies are starting clubs and
 activities in their organizations, because they get people together,
 remove some of the stresses of life, and build a stronger social
 bonding.


 Q: Finally, would you like to speak about someone who has been your
 role model?


 KS: I have had many role models
 during my career. When I was a student at Xavier Labour Research
 Institute, Father McGrath, one of the founding Fathers, was one such
 role model. An American Irishman who came to India at an early age and
 stayed in India for 50 years, he embodied many admirable human qualities
 and did a lot for the community. He was respected and trusted by the
 workers of Tata Steel and the local villagers. He was a great listener,
 not at all pretentious and he valued people.


 I also remember one of my first HR Directors at Unilever. When my mother
 was going through an operation within two weeks of my joining Unilever,
 he empathetically listened to me and granted me leave with an open
 heart. He became a mentor to me and even today we are connected and
 meet. Such people make a big difference to us. They stand out in their
 humanness, empathy and the fact that they are prepared to invest a lot
 of time in us.

Q: Thank you so much.
KS: Thank you!
<hr />
<h4 style="text-align: center">
 Interviewed by V SRINIVASAN and SHARAT HEGDE
</h4>
<hr />

Cultivating leadership values - part 2

Krishnamurthy is a physician, a public health specialist and a researcher, active in the space of public and global health for two decades. Currently he is Professor of Public Health, Dean of the Faculty of Life and Allied Health Sciences, and Dean of the Office of Research and Innovation at Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, India. 

He is a certified Heartfulness trainer and part of research team that examines the effects of contemplative and integrative practices on well-being and quality of life. He established the Center for Integrative Health and Wellbeing in Bangalore, India, and has published a book, Science & Practice of Integrative Health and Wellbeing Lifestyle, to inspire people to embrace a healthy lifestyle for holistic well-being.

Krishnamurthi-Jayanna.png

Krishnamurthy Jayanna

<h4>
 Dr. KRISHNAMURTHY
 JAYANNA is focused on the big picture: how do we ensure health and well-being for all? Here he writes about
 Sustainable Development Goal 3, the importance of Integrative Health, and the actions we will need to make to
 realize that goal.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 The third UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) is about health and
 well-being. It aims at “ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for
 all at all ages.” Before this, the UN’s Millennium Development Goals focused
 on disease, and those conditions that contributed to the most illness-related
 deaths around the world. While that continues to be a priority, the current
 SDG also showcases the UN’s commitment to improving people’s well-being and
 quality of life. This is a huge, progressive leap in terms of how we envision
 the betterment of humanity and the world as a global community.


Is this realizable by 2030?


 While it is good to be ambitious and aspirational when setting goals, unless
 our approach is backed by effective intervention and implementation processes
 that are contextually and culturally relevant, realizing the vision will be a
 challenge.



 It is also important to be creative and innovative as we design ways to solve
 complex challenges, by bringing together the problems and the stakeholders.
 “Integrative approaches” appear to be promising, based on the evidence, and it
 is important that we review them critically for adoption within the public
 health ecosystem.



 The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), the lead
 agency of the U.S. Government for scientific research in this space, describes
 Integrative Health as “an approach that brings together conventional and
 complementary healing processes in a coordinated way. It lays emphasis on
 multi-modal interventions for treating the whole person, rather than, for
 example, one organ system.”



 The integrative approach focuses on the “person,” with various disciplines
 collaborating to achieve a common goal. The focus is also on the “whole
 person,” including feelings and emotions, not just the physical symptoms and
 physiological factors.


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<div>
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="612" height="708" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/realize_SDG_3_2_da86b5168b.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T04:04:33.979Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

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 Research points to the gaps in well-being and quality of life due to the rise
 of chronic diseases. Treatment can be lifelong, with a greater demand for
 lifestyle management and treatment compliance, which can be stressful,
 hampering the quality of life. 40% of the U.S. population is engaged in
 complementary and alternative approaches (CAM) such as Tai chi, natural
 products, yoga, and meditation. The CAM approaches are perceived by clients as
 friendly and holistic, while providing more autonomy. Integrative approaches
 like Ayurveda recognize the unique nature of the human body-mind constitution,
 and offer personalized recommendations for treatment and lifestyle change.
 Yoga and meditation have been studied to understand their effects on physical
 and mental well-being, and are explored as complementary approaches to
 mainstream treatments.



 In this context, the adoption of “Integrative approaches to Health and
 Well-being” within national health policies is a welcome change. In India, the
 AYUSH systems of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy are integrated
 within the primary health care systems. More recently, “Ayush man Bharat,”
 a flagship program of the Government of India, is giving renewed impetus to
 well-being by setting up 150,000 Health and Wellness Centers across the
 country. The Western nations have also demonstrated openness to researching
 the effects of integrative approaches in specific conditions.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 Countries across the world
 have to focus on strengthening the
 implementation of integrative approaches through methodologies such
 as Implementation Science and Implementation Research.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 While these developments are certainly encouraging, they are not enough from a
 public health perspective. Countries across the world have to focus on
 strengthening the implementation of integrative approaches through
 methodologies such as Implementation Science and Implementation Research.
 These methods focus not on a single intervention, but a package of
 interventions, and an intervention model as well as implementation processes
 that influence community health and well-being.



 Research agendas and investments need to align in this direction. The small
 pilot studies, predominantly conducted in hospital settings, can expand into
 large-sample, community-based studies. Disease-centric studies can expand
 their focus to address the entire continuum of health – from disease
 prevention to treatment to rehabilitation.



 Integrative health policies have been framed. The next step is to strengthen
 the science and research for a population-wide impact. Collaboration between
 implementation stakeholders and institutions is going to be critical, as we
 continue our march toward this vital SDG.


<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

References

<ol type="1" class="has-text-color" style="color: #576a7c; word-wrap: break-word;">
 <li>
 Sustainable Development Goals [Internet].
 https://sdgs.un.org/goals. UN [cited 2022 October 11]. Available from:
 <a href="https://sdgs.un.org">https://sdgs.un.org</a>.
 </li>
 <li>
 Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: What’s in a Name?
 [Internet]. https://www.nccih.nih.gov. [cited 2021 Jul 19]. Available from:
 <a
 href="https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/complementary-alternative-or-integrative-health-whats-in-a-name">https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/complementary-alternative-or-integrative-health-whats-in-a-name</a>.
 </li>
 <li>
 Clarke, T.C., L.I. Black, B.J. Stussman, P.M. Barnes, and R.L. Nahin, 2015.
 “Trends in the use of complementary health approaches among adults: United
 States, 2002-2012.” National Health Statistics Reports.10, 79:1-16.
 </li>
 <li>
 Lobb, R.and G.A. Colditz, 2013. “Implementation science and its application
 to population health.”Annual Review of Public Health.34:235-51.
 </li>
 <li>
 Roy, R, 2010. “Integrative medicine to tackle the problem of chronic
 diseases.” Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine.1, 1:18-21.
 </li>
 <li>
 Lahariya, C, 2018. “Ayushman Bharat” Program and Universal Health Coverage
 in India. Indian Pediatrics. 55, 6:495-506.
 </li>
</ol>

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How can we realize SDG 3 by 2030?

Krista Tippett

Turning up and doing it again

kristi-ling-spencer.jpg

Kristi Ling Spencer

Honor your needs

Kristin Neff

Transforming lives

Kumaresh is widely regarded in Indian classical music for his collaborative project with his brother, Ganesh. They have captivated worldwide audiences for over four decades with their remarkable creativity and technique steeped in Carnatic traditions. Their music is international and their communication through music crosses all boundaries.&nbsp;

kumaresh-rajagopalan.webp

Kumaresh Rajagopalan

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">KUMARESH RAJAGOPALAN performed at the Global Spirituality Mahotsav, along with Shankar Mahadevan and Shashank Subramanyam, and here he speaks about music and how it unites us.</h4>&nbsp;It is so important to show the world the beauty of being spiritual, and of our country being spiritual by nature. Being spiritual can take away the differences, take away the violence between people, and bring everyone together in this divided world.And music is one element that brings all of us together. It is beyond meaning. It is beyond division. It is beyond race and religion. Just like you cannot see the Divine, you cannot see music. You can only perceive the Divine, and you can only perceive and experience music. You cannot grasp the Divine, and you cannot grasp music in your fingers. The Divine is beyond; it’s not the earth, nor the wind, nor the air, nor the fire. Music is also none of these. So it is good fortune that we have the ability to connect to that soundscape. And the Divine is using us as a channel to express that sound, which evokes a lot of different emotions in people. So we feel blessed, so honored to be part of this very unique spiritual program.The source of sound, the source of music, is the aural and visual reflection of silence. Music is an aural medium, but when we sing a song, there are words. So the words bring out the visual element. If you take the melody without the words, it is just an aural experience. Beneath that, where does it come from? Silence. To be silent is very important, to be silent within, so that we can grasp the nuance of that sound.Each swara (note) is connected to each chakra in our body. The seven notes, sa re ga ma pa dha ni, are connected with the seven chakras, from Muladhara to Sahastra Dal Kamal. So, it is a beautiful journey. We are so fortunate that we are able to embark on that journey to unravel the mysteries of sound, the mysteries of what is music. It's a kaleidoscopic reflection of Om. The seven swaras are the kaleidoscopic reflection of all. And we are able to connect to that and sit in silence and then let the music happen. It’s beautiful.It is very important to be spiritual. I would say natural rather than spiritual, because that’s our natural state, to be musical; all of us are musical in our own way. The music has an impact on us. Some people are able to experience music, some are able to express music, some are able to find joy in music, some are able to create music. It’s all each person’s connection to that beautiful source. Like a Wi Fi connection, those who can access the network feel blessed.I play my violin, and people say it is good. I don’t know. What makes it likeable? It is what is called the Divine, and a blessing. So I cannot thank my guru, my parents, my spiritual gurus enough for their guidance. I’m ever grateful.Music is such an important part of my family. My brother and my wife are absolutely phenomenal musicians. The conversation helps us all a lot to give different perspectives. The beauty is this: when our father guided both my brother and me, he never wanted us to follow one path. He wanted us to find our own identity so that we could identify with our own sound, our own philosophy. “What do you want to convey through your music? There is a lot of information given by great saints, great spiritual gurus, great musicians, but what do you have to say? Each of you should have a story to tell, it should not be the same.” That is the guidance he gave us.And my wife has a totally different thought process. So the conversation enhances my experience, my expression, my understanding. I love being a student of music, as it unravels so many beautiful things.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Each swara (note) is connected to each chakra in our body.&nbsp; The seven notes, sa re ga ma pa dha ni,&nbsp; are connected with the seven chakras,&nbsp; from Muladhara to Sahastra Dal Kamal. So, it is a beautiful journey.&nbsp;</h4><hr><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/mysteries_of_music2_5ae8de7124.webp" alt="mysteries-of-music2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_mysteries_of_music2_5ae8de7124.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_mysteries_of_music2_5ae8de7124.webp 600w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/mysteries_of_music2_5ae8de7124.webp 600w," sizes="100vw"></figure>While playing with other musicians, it’s just like having a conversation. We are talking; you ask me something, I tell you something, and we carry the conversation forward. So, for an ensemble to happen, it is very important to understand the personalities. When somebody sings, or somebody creates art (music is an art), it is their personality that is being expressed. When we understand the personalities, it becomes that much more comfortable to communicate through music. We seek to speak the same language, sapt swara, so it should work. As long as we complement each other, as long as there is no competition, it’s beautiful.The beauty is the way our rishis have set it up to have a direct reflection on life. To understand something in life, you need discipline and freedom in your thought process. Similarly, in music, you need discipline and freedom, the freedom is a melody, the discipline is a thought. Only if you have freedom with discipline will you be able to express things in an expanded manner. With freedom in thought, then the discipline of the subject takes you deeper to get an expanded idea of what it is. What are the different things you understand from the depth of that subject? What is your inner impression? How can you say it better than previously, because music changes with each generation. What we play now is totally different from what was played forty to fifty years ago. Fifty years on, it will be a different sound altogether, because the impression of the social and economic goes in and comes out as sound. The more tapasya you do, the more disciplined you are, the better you will express.For example, the South Indian Manodharma is an improvised form of Carnatic music that uses the discipline of the raga, the melodic composition, and the tala, the rhythmic composition, as a framework in which to allow freedom. The same principle applies in both Carnatic and Hindustani ragas. It’s a beautiful parallel between life and music.You create within the freedom that is given to you. It is like creating your own identity, creating your own thoughts, your own way of life, which can be different from everybody else, while the social structure, the framework is the same. You have to work within that framework. Raga and tala is the same; the same Raga Bageshree is played differently by each musician, but the core structure of the raga cannot change.And in this time of incredible change, music is always in safe hands. We are talking about the Divine. There’s always somebody who will take it up and bring about a larger picture for their generation to look up to. As long as humankind is there, music is there.Experiencing music within is the best music you can ever hear. It’s like this: There are so many things you can think, but you can’t say everything when you start talking. The thought process changes completely. Similarly, when you listen to music in silence, unheard melodies are the best.&nbsp;

The mysteries of music

Music brings us together

Kunal is a clinician in the field of infectious diseases in Dayton, Ohio. He is also medical director of employee health for Kettering Health Network and director of the antimicrobial stewardship program at So in Medical Center. He is involved in research projects on the effect of Heartfulness Meditation on lifestyle.

Kunal-Desai.jpg

Kunal Desai

<h4>KUNAL DESAI is
 an infectious diseases clinician from Ohio, whose research highlights the relationship between gut microbes and
 health. He explores how an imbalanced gut microbiome can affect our immune system, leaving us vulnerable to disease
 – physical and mental. Inner harmony is key, he suggests, and meditation can help us achieve It.</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Various events and life experiences teach us and help us evolve, if we accept
 them with an open heart and a contemplative mind. All of us have experienced
 how a subtle single-celled microbe can influence the entire humanity
 –Covid-19. The pandemic not only impacted our physical health; it tested our
 mental strength and well-being. We clearly noticed a significant rise in
 mental health problems during and after the pandemic. As an infectious
 diseases specialist and a seeker embarking on a spiritual journey, I witnessed
 this pandemic unfolding from a different vantage point. It led me to an
 obvious question: what can we learn from this experience? What message does
 this subtle microbe have for us?



 Let us first explore some science! We may not like microbes, but we are home
 to millions of them, primarily in the gut, known as the gut microbiome. Many
 chronic lifestyle diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and
 obesity, are considered risk factors for severe infections such as
 Covid-19,and studies have shown a clear link between these health problems and
 a disturbance in homeostasis among gut microbes, defined as dysbiosis.1
 It can be understood simply as a “subtle disturbance in a harmonious
 relationship among widely diverse colonies of microbes.” Have you ever had a
 nervous stomach when you were stressed or anxious? We have all experienced how
 our mental state impacts our gut at one time or another. In fact,
 psychological stress is considered to be one of the most common causes of gut
 dysbiosis. Research has now described a link between the gut microbiome and
 mental health problems in the context of the Gut-Microbiome-Brain axis.2
 The millions of microbes present within us seem to react subtly to our
 thoughts and emotions, positively or negatively, resulting in significant
 physiological and immunological changes. These changes influence mental and
 physical health.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 The millions of microbes
 present within us seem to react subtly to
 our thoughts and emotions, positively or negatively, resulting in
 significant physiological and immunological changes. These changes
 influence mental and physical health.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 When we carefully observe the spectrum of Covid-19 infections, we see that the
 degree of immune response to the virus determines the severity of the illness
 to a large extent. Studies have shown that gut dysbiosis contributes to a
 dysregulated immune response to Covid-19.2 An optimal immune
 response is vital in fighting such infections with or without vaccines. Based
 on scientific evidence, we can deduce that pre-illness health status and
 stress, and the anxiety associated with the disease play a considerable role
 in the outcome of many illnesses.



 So, how does this science help us? What is the message from the Covid-19
 microbe? Unexpected events, illnesses, and difficulties, small or big, are
 inevitable. In his book, As a Man Thinketh, James Allen explains,
 “Anxiety quickly demoralizes the whole body, and lays it open to the entrance
 of disease.” We can certainly strive to improve our response to such
 challenges.



 Entrepreneur and author Jack Canfield gives us a simple equation: Event +
 Response= Outcome.



 Psychological and emotional well-being are not only vital in maintaining good
 health, but also impact the outcome of an unexpected physical alignment. It is
 only wise to learn techniques to maintain emotional balance as a caregiver or
 patient. An inner state of balance and harmony is a hallmark of our
 psychological and emotional well-being.



 The simple practice of Heartfulness Meditation has helped me maintain this
 inner state of balance during both challenging and good times. It allows me to
 access inner resources to cultivate poise, leading to calm amidst crisis and
 chaos. Don’t we all seek such a state of mind?



 We conducted a study during the Covid-19 pandemic where we assessed the
 effects of an 8-week Heartfulness Meditation practice on psychological
 well-being, as measured by the level of stress, sleep quality, and subjective
 experiences.3 Interestingly, when we asked how worried the
 participants were about acquiring Covid themselves or in their families during
 the study period, no change was noted during the 8 weeks. We did observe,
 however, a significant stress reduction and improved sleep quality.
 Participants were also able to cultivate inner peace and resilience. Only a
 few weeks of Heartfulness practice helped to change the “R = Response” to the
 event or crisis.&nbsp;


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 An inner state of balance
 and harmony is a hallmark of our
 psychological and emotional well-being.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="600" height="821" alt="" class="mx-auto d-block lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/message_from_microbe2_29d51f3c30.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T04:20:18.019Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Some of us from a purely scientific background may question contemplative
 practices like meditation. The word “yoga” is often misunderstood to mean
 physical exercises, whereas yoga truly means the union with the higher self.
 Heartfulness incorporates all eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga, but unlike many
 yoga traditions, it starts with the contemplative practices first – the sixth,
 seventh, and eighth limbs, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi.4
 Science helps us understand that the practice of meditation is not merely for
 spiritual pursuit. It impacts all aspects of human well-being, including
 psychological and physical. This pursuit of inner balance and harmony is
 possible through simple practices that are practical in everyone’s daily
 routine, regardless of vocation. A virus, considered an enemy, and the
 millions of microbes living within us, seem to convey a subtle but profound
 message that humans must strive to seek inner balance and harmony. Future
 research may shed more light and bring an eclipse of science and spirituality.
 In the meantime, we have enough reasons to embrace yogic practices like
 Heartfulness, that bring us inner harmony and health.



 References


<ol class="has-text-color" style="color: #57697d">
 <li>
 Cuevas-Sierra, A.,et. al., 2019. Diet, Gut Microbiota, and Obesity: Links
 with Host Genetics and Epigenetics and Potential Applications. In:
 Advances in Nutrition. Vol. 10. Oxford University Press. S17-S30.
 doi:10.1093/advances/nmy078
 </li>
 <li>
 Rieder, R., et. al., 2017. Microbes and mental health: A review.
 Brain Behav Immun. 66:9-17. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2017.01.016
 </li>
 <li>
 Desai, K. et. al., 2021. Impact of virtual heartfulness meditation program
 on stress, quality of sleep, and psychological wellbeing during the covid-19
 pandemic: A mixed-method study. Int J Environ Res Public Health.
 18(21). doi:10.3390/ijerph182111114
 </li>
 <li>
 van’t Westeinde, A. and K.D. Patel, 2022. Heartfulness Meditation: A Yogic
 and Neuroscientific Perspective. Front Psychol. 13(May).
 doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.806131
 </li>
</ol>

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