So, there is a particular YouTube video that I find myself watching over and over, one that I always come back to, one that I want to share with you on this edition of The Sunday Morning Post. Originally aired in 2012 by, this presentation by Dr. Gabor Mate is more relevant now than ever. In it, he discusses how a grave lack of sense-of-self living an “inauthentic life”, brings undue stress to our bodies and, contributes heavily to our health and wellbeing.

With 20 years of family practice and palliative care experience, working for over a decade in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side, with patients challenged by drug use and mental illness, Dr. Mate is an expert on addiction, trauma, childhood development, and the relationship between stress and illness. A renowned speaker, and bestselling author, he brings thought provoking scientific research, case histories, and his own insight, experience and humor to present a perspective that educates and empowers people to become aware and live more authentically, by consciously participating in their own healing.

An integral part of the healing process and what is motivating imbalances in our bodies, causing suffering and disharmony within and outwardly in our health and wellbeing, Dr. Mate challenges you to look at yourself a with a discerning eye, and shows us that not doing so, often comes at a very high price.

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Dr. Mate’s talk is about the relationship with stress, illness, early trauma and conditioning. He encourages us to take charge of ourselves in our everyday life, to lessen stress and contribute to the prevention of illness by becoming aware of the part of us: our authentic self and beginning to lead with that in our everyday life.

From his personal and professional experience, he believes that chronically going against your inner knowing, your gut feeling, combined with neglecting self-care and dismissing how you really feel, causes stress to the body, triggers chemical reactions, motivates imbalance and causes suffering and disharmony within us and, I can’t say, I disagree.

This resonated with me, made sense to me, as I too, have lived imbalance in my own life and underestimated the effect of the stress of living an inauthentically. To consistently go against how I truly felt about something, overextending myself, compensating to avoid confrontation because it was uncomfortable, effected my health, my wellbeing and my ability to enjoy fully each experience. It took a huge wake up call, from a part of me that was desperately trying to get my attention – my inner voice, my authentic self – to finally see the implications of living that way and begin to take a more balanced approach, for my own sake and, to strive, to be that, by example.

Stress is an insidious beast, we understand the effect it has on us, but we actively dismiss and ignore the effect it has on us and at some level, we really don’t comprehend the effects it has on our health and quality of life, we don’t want to know, I know I didn’t. Taking a long hard look at myself, what fit and what did not and doing something about it, is a scary thing. And, the early trauma and conditioning, well, that brought up anger, resentment and meant giving forgiveness to my parents and to myself for not knowing. Understand that I had a good childhood, but each generation brings with it beliefs from past generations, that may or may not fit for us in this life.

Ultimately, it is living inauthentically and the implications and impacts of doing so, that results in the most stress in all of us, causing us anxiety, depression, a longing for something we are meant to have and a deep knowing that we have the resources, tools and support to renovate.

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This video continues to inspire me and my hope is to inspire you, to honor your true nature and inner wisdom and adopt a balanced approach to living, with joy, love, and awareness, before the body really amps up for you to take notice in some way.

Encouraging you to become even more aware of your gut feelings, Dr. Mate’s words are a reminder, that your gut feelings never lie, because it is your authentic self speaking. Your Life Force Energy, your authentic self, is desperately trying to get your attention to connect with it, to tap its wisdom and use this resource to live more authentically. Ultimately, to support your immune system, your mental and physical health, your wellbeing and quality in life.

If we can muster up the courage to go within and take a long hard look at ourselves, our beliefs, behaviors and actions, we can begin to build a relationship with our true self and start living authentically in our everyday life; adopting new patterns and behaviors that honor the self, feel right in your gut, and encourage a balanced approach to living that gives as much love to ourselves as we do to others.

We are all muddling along trying to figure it out, searching for answers. Turns out, much of the knowledge we seek, resides within.

For a look at other inspirational, thought provoking videos, visit my You Tube Channel Playlists