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Living life to the Full

The role of charity in different religions

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They say that charity begins at home and it’s good to keep this motto in mind if you want to raise your kids to have keen social consciences and grow up to be kind, altruistic adults.

While it isn’t necessary to be a member of a certain faith in order to do your bit for your fellow humankind, it’s interesting to know that charity plays a significant part in many of the major religions. Here we take a look at the role of charity in Islam, Christianity and Hinduism.

Islam

Muslims give in a variety of different ways. The most well known is ‘zakat’, which is compulsory almsgiving of a set proportion of one’s wealth. It was once given as part of an official, institutionalised system, akin to the modern tax system. Today, however, it is up to individuals to make this donation in a way they see fit, for example by making payments to charitable causes.

In the Islamic tradition, people also give what is known as ‘sadaqah’. This can be defined as any act of voluntary charity made out of compassion, love or friendship. It can be provided to anyone in any way and has no rules or limits. This type of charity does not have to involve donating money; instead believers can give through voluntary work or by encouraging others to do good deeds.

During the holy month of Ramadan, providing for the needy is particularly important for followers of Islam.

Christianity

From the parable of the Good Samaritan to the story of the poor widow who gave the only two copper coins she had, the New Testament is filled with Jesus’ teachings about the importance of showing generosity, compassion and love to others. Christians believe that mercy should be shown to friends and strangers alike and in giving to others they are following God’s word.

In the Bible, almsgiving is presented as an obligatory part of Christian life and followers are encouraged to make sacrifices for others out of love rather than recognition or reward. Today charity giving is an important part of the Christian way of life and is often viewed as an act of prayer, particularly during Lent and Christmas.

Hinduism

According to the Bhagavad Gita, giving without expectation of appreciation or reward benefits both the giver and the receiver. On the contrary, it says that giving reluctantly and with the expectation of some advantage is damaging to both parties. It also teaches that if you give a gift at the wrong time and without considering the feelings of recipient, it harms both you and the recipient.

Hindus are encouraged to detach themselves from wealth in order to achieve true peace and are taught that if charitable donation is motivated by selfishness, it loses its spiritual value. For followers of this religion, carrying out acts of charity or ‘dana’ is a duty. One of the most common ways of giving in the Hindu tradition is known as ‘anna dana’, which involves offering food and water to the the hungry and thirsty. Another major form of charity for Hindus is is ‘abhaya dana’, which involves offering protection to people seeking safety.

Whether you’re Muslim, Christian, Hindu or you follow another religion or no religion at all, you can make the world a better place by showing compassion and kindness to those in need.

How to Go From Couch to Workout Hero

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The idea of exercise has put me off for many years, in all of its forms, I have never been one to exercise and up until the beginning of last year I genuinely never thought that I would ever catch myself in lycra and running shoes. I have never been overweight, I eat a healthy diet, but I have never been fit and last year I set about changing that for good. Along with the help of my friend Heather Weber I started to go to the gym, go jogging and take fitness classes and I have never looked back, I feel great and I would recommend this to everyone. I understand how hard it is to get started and so here are my tips on getting from the couch to become a fitness freak in no time at all.

Start In a Tiny Way

I knew how low my energy levels were and how much I hated the idea of exercise and so I decided that I would start in the smallest way possible, 20 minutes per day. That’s right, the same amount of time that most people took to warm up would be my full work out for the day. The reason I started out so small was because I felt that it was achievable and that the more that I achieved, the more I would keep going, it turned out to be true. As the weeks went on I gradually increased my workout times to 30,40 and 50 minutes before hitting the magic one hour after just 6 weeks of working out.

Accountability

You do not have to do this in the same way that I did but creating accountability for yourself is a great way to ensure that you actually do what you set out to. I made a deal with my friend Heather that for every day that I did not complete my exercise, I would have to give her $50, something which I was not prepared to do, thankfully this never happened because it was enough incentive for me to keep going each and every day.

Low Impact First

If you are struggling with weight issues then you need to be smart about how you work out so that you do not do any damage. My first workouts were all low impact activities like yoga and pilates, it was only once I became more flexible and improved my condition that I started to run or do spinning classes. Don’t try to change the world in a day, take it slow and steady and gradually was yourself in to a workout schedule.

Routine

You must work out to a routine, this is not something  that you can start and stop or you will lose momentum, whether it is every day like I did or just 3 times per week, make sure that you work hard on sticking to that work out routine so that you can make the most of your efforts.

Are You The Target? Bullying In The Workplace

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You would be forgiven for thinking that bullying is a problem of the playground – name-calling and taunting probably happened to all of us – or was carried out by others – at some point during our schooldays, but as you grew up, you grew out of it – right? Not necessarily. This may come as a surprise to some, but bullying in the workplace is just as common as at school, and can even be more of a problem.

Knocking you down

Bullying in the workplace comes in many forms, and can often be more subtle than at school. There are differences between genders too; men are thought to be more openly aggressive bullies, whereas women are more likely gossip or manipulate others emotionally. It can also sometimes be difficult to realize if you’re the target, especially if it starts small and escalates over time. Think about whether it’s happening again and again, or if it’s just someone having an off day. Other sure signs include personal insults and criticism, sabotage or taking credit of someone else’s work, or intimidating and humiliating behavior.

The long-term consequences

What it is important to realize is that, as well as the immediate effect of the words or gestures making you feel intimidated, uncomfortable, or upset, is the long term effect that receiving these insults can have. This is particularly relevant for your health, and especially if long-term. Workplace bullying causes health problems including heart disease and high blood pressure, and depression is also more common. Trouble with eating and sleeping are also commonly reported problems of those suffering stress from workplace bullying.

What you can do

Finding the courage to stand up to bullies in the workplace can be really difficult; think about the situation carefully and consider your options before acting, and don’t be afraid to search or ask for help if you need it.

·         Stay confident and don’t blame yourself. This can be easier said than done, but bullying is more often about the bully than the person they target.

·         When speaking to bullies, stay calm and rational. Getting emotional and worked up serves no purpose, and will likely encourage the bully as they have got a reaction out of you.

·         Seek out support. Build friendships with other colleagues or research options of professional guidance and counseling.

·         Write notes about specific incidents in case you need to escalate the issue to your manager or HR department, and educate yourself on the company’s policies about harassment and equality.

Of course, you may well not be on the receiving end of bullying but instead see it occurring to others in your workplace. Other people may not be as confident or well equipped to deal with bullying, so be prepared to lend a hand and diffuse the situation.

Adopting a Gluten-Free Diet the Painless Way

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Eating a gluten-free diet is incredibly trendy right now, but for many people, going gluten-free is not just a lifestyle choice but a necessity. People with celiac disease, IBS, or any autoimmune disorder greatly benefit from cutting out gluten from their diet. Gluten is a well-known allergen, and if you are allergic or intolerant to gluten, it can seriously affect your health and cause discomfort.

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein found in grains, particularly wheat. If you are intolerant to gluten, your body will find it hard to digest gluten, which sets off an inflammatory response in the gut. Symptoms of gluten intolerance include bloating, wind, diarrhea, and gastric upset. Symptoms can appear within a few minutes or after a few hours of eating a food containing gluten.

People with IBS will find relief with probiotics from IBSrelief.com, but if you suspect that gluten is the problem, or you have celiac disease, cutting out gluten is a wise idea. Anyone with an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s Thyroid Disease is also advised to eliminate gluten from their diet, as even without symptoms present, gluten can trigger an inflammatory response and make matters worse.

Saying Goodbye to Gluten

The good news is that banishing gluten from your life is not half as difficult as it was a few decades ago. Most supermarkets offer a good range of gluten-free foods, so you should have no problem finding store cupboard items that are free from gluten.

Read Labels

It is essential that you read labels when buying pre-packaged food or grocery staples such as stock cubes or canned goods. Some manufacturers highlight any allergens on food products, but it may not be obvious if a food contains gluten, especially if you buy fresh bread or other goods. Watch out for any mention of grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. Also, watch out for anything with malt in the ingredients, as it is not gluten-free. If in doubt, ask for advice or refrain from purchasing the product.

Corn, rice, millet, and sorghum are gluten-free. Oats are technically gluten-free, but a fifth of celiac sufferers still have symptoms, so it is wise to ask for a blood test in case you are sensitive to the proteins in oats.

Eating Out on a GF Diet

Most large restaurant chains offer a selection of gluten-free dishes on their menu these days. You can now enjoy gluten-free pizzas and pasta that are just as tasty. If you eat out and the menu does not explicitly state whether a dish is gluten-free, ask your server for advice. Meat, fish, salad, and rice dishes are commonly safe, but avoid the sauces as they usually contain gluten.

Cooking the Gluten-Free Way

In general, preparing dishes from scratch is the best way to stay healthy and gluten-free. For example, if you make your own lasagna from fresh ingredients; as long as you use gluten-free pasta sheets, there won’t be a problem, but if you buy a jar of readymade Bolognese sauce, it will probably contain gluten.

Experiment with GF cooking and learn how to bake gluten-free cakes, bakes and pies. That way you don’t have to miss out on tasty treats!