TRANSCENDING HIV/AIDS

The fear based dogma of many religions has coerced us to believe that HIV/Aids is a God-given scourge, sent to purge humanity of a wickedness. Whilst that inane concept may readily be adopted by the "unthinking masses", the essence of God is unconditional love which is the very antithesis of revenge and punishment.

No one can profess to fully understand the mind of God, but considering that God is absolute intelligence, it is hard to imagine a God who endlessly creates perfection, who then seeks to destroy what has been wondrously made. HIV/Aids may not be a punishment as we are led to believe, but a masterfully skilled opportunity for Man to transcend himself and therefore to grow.

The vast majority of HIV infections come to people who are radically disempowered, who hold very low levels of self-love. HIV/Aids is the disease which mostly reflects a dire lack of self-love, which having been infected, comes to teach the doctrine of self-love. HIV/Aids has now become a chronic manageable disease, like diabetes, which can be effectively managed so long as the infected sufficiently practice the art of self-love in every possible arena of life.

Every illness comes as a profound teacher and the more serious the illness, the greater the potential learning. Humans naturally gravitate to thinking like victims because we readily seek the sympathy and attention of others. If we are ill, we most frequently choose to behave like victims to attract the attention of others, rather than trying to understand what it is we are meant to learn from our malaise.

Because of the shame associated with HIV, rather than seeking attention, many of the infected choose to go into self-imposed exile to avoid potential stigma, thus bringing extreme isolation and limitation to their lives. In some cultures, those diagnosed with HIV see their affliction as a death sentence and willingly choose premature death. Rather than trying to find the "gift" in their situation, they literally curl up to die. This is one of the great tragedies of human misunderstanding which is resulting in countless unnecessary human carnage, especially in the less educated parts of Africa.

I have lived openly with HIV (and Aids) for five years. My infection taught me how little I previously loved myself to have even considered engaging in dangerous unprotected sex. Having contracted the virus and seeing my health wither before me, largely induced by a period of extreme stress, I began to learn the art of self-love - which came as the sublime yet disguised gift from my HIV infection. HIV taught me to nurture and appreciate the gift of life in every conceivable way and to never take anything for granted.

Furthermore, I came to realise that rejection always begins with me and that nobody will reject me if I feel good about myself. Having HIV was no reason to feel less about myself; in fact it encouraged me to stop worrying whether others were talking about me, but to rather use that precious energy to hold the most empowering thoughts about myself most of the time.

Rather than just being HIV+, I chose to use the concept of "positivity" to transform myself into a channel of positive thought. Every thought is a stream of energy which attracts energies of a similar frequency. By holding empowering thoughts, we attract the very best to ourselves, despite HIV.

Earlier in this article, I stated that HIV tends to settle with people who are disempowered. HIV is a minute aspect of my total being and I have taken back my power, refusing to live like a victim to something I can easily co-exist with. Any illness or disability can rob us of our power or we can use it as a vehicle to become fully empowered!

Any life threatening disease creates its own platform of fears - fear of suffering and most importantly, the fear of death. Living with Aids is not easy, as life becomes a perpetual journey of dealing with one infection after another. Just as you appear to conquer one health challenge, so another emerges sapping your energy. Any opportunity to walk boldly through our fears, to defeat that which is most to be feared, fear itself, is a valuable chance to transcend the greatest obstacle in human thinking. Overcoming any fear is one of the greatest potential victories anyone can achieve. Instead of cowering from fear, we should use every chance to engage it and progressively come to conquer it.

Whilst in the deepest chasm of my walk with Aids, I was forced to understand the fragility of life and to face potential death. Death is something that no man can avoid and rather than being feared, it should be seen as the greatest healing that awaits all of us. Any understanding of the spiritual realm opens our minds to a vista beyond this lifetime which is glorious, rather than to a dread which should be given no foundation.

I was infected with the virus as a thinking, adult man. To blame others for life's great challenges is to waste the opportunity which they bring to grow and become MORE. Becoming responsible for one's own life is to take ownership for the foundation of our very being. An attitude of responsibility allows us to take charge, to become the architects of our own existence. Until we do that, we remain like direction-less pawns under the control of an unknown chess-player.

To be diagnosed with HIV was initially a considerable shock which took substantial processing. Having lived through a variety of permutations of this disease, I have come to believe that my HIV infection came for good reason. Here was an opportunity to grow beyond my wildest expectations, to become MORE. Medical science tells us that once infected, this is something that never goes away but that can be adequately managed. With a viral load that is now undetectable, I am still HIV+ but its impact has diminished to be an issue that no longer warrants my considerable attention.

Life sends challenges to force us to grow. Once the growth has been fully engaged, the potential exists for the "lesson" to go. I am grateful for all that HIV came to reveal to me and it has expanded my life considerably, rather than contracting it. Whether you have HIV or not, it has come to bring a huge evolutionary shift to all of mankind! What has HIV come to teach you? How can you be an instrument of positive change rather than opting to be a victim of circumstance for which you believe you are powerless?

Always choose to be MORE!


(Please share this article with anyone who is infected or affected by HIV/Aids)

IN THE BEGINNING...

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Learn MORE at:
http://www.2cover.co.za/2010/06/27/in-the-beginning/

BIRTHING THE NEW

Every birth or subsequent re-birth is characterised by struggle. This is the natural order, the preparation for the new!
Rather than focusing on struggle, we should see every step as part of becoming MORE, of embracing the dance of our own evolution.

FOOLS' PARADISE... BE WARNED!

The global financial system faces daunting challenge. How are we meant to learn from the past?

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http://www.2cover.co.za/2010/06/20/fools%E2%80%99-paradise/

I THINK, THEREFORE I AM!

Understanding the simple workings of the human mind is the clue to developing personal mastery!

Learn MORE at:
http://www.2cover.co.za/2010/06/15/i-think-therefore-i-am/

HUMAN RIGHTS/RITES

Homophobia, gender discrimination and racism are the same human travesty. The real abomination!
A shameful violation of God's unconditional love.

THE LIFE OF YOUR DREAMS

A dream for your life is borne out of self-love!
Until you love yourself enough, you can never know what YOU want.
Until you love yourself enough, you will never believe YOU deserve to receive the abundance of that dream.
Choose to be MORE!

LOOKING BEYOND SELF

Self-obsession only deepens the intensity and limitation created by personal turmoil.

Choose to be MORE!

ON PURPOSE?

To discover purpose is to find the key to happiness. Purpose brings meaning.

Learn MORE at:
http://www.2cover.co.za/2010/06/06/on purpose/

CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT

Conflict used effectively is always an opportunity to become MORE!

MONEY MATTERS

Manners maketh man but man's attitude to money defines him. The way someone reacts to money soon reveals their real nature, motivations and intentions!
Money is always a powerful watershed.