Breathe Words

Social Inequality and Scarcity

    One of the things that intrigues me most in the world is social inequality. Why do some have so much while others have so little? Why do the treasures of the universe open up for some, while for others these doors remain closed?

    For me, these doors have always been closed. But a few days ago, I had a small sign that they could finally open — not through magic, but through a personal discovery: a path to follow.

    Only someone who has always had plenty cannot understand the dilemma of living with scarcity. May I share a personal experience? Recently I had to help a very close family member pay some overdue bills. This relative works hard as a public servant, but their responsibilities are many.

    Because of another sick family member and financial difficulties, the debts piled up. I wanted to help, but I didn’t have much in my account. Want an example? If a chocolate bar has three pieces, I only had one — and it was already running out. Still, I helped, because this family member was too important to me.

    The feeling of insecurity when you lack resources is one of the worst feelings you can experience. But, incredibly, even with so little, I was never left helpless.

Gratitude Even in Scarcity

    I never went hungry, never lacked medicine, never lacked some leisure. Somehow, the universe always nourished my needs. Even though I have little now, I know I will not be abandoned.

    Here is the first lesson: even with little, we must cultivate gratitude and practice empathy.

    There is an unforgettable scene in the film The Pianist. Władysław Szpilman’s family is in a courtyard, segregated with other Jews, just before boarding a train to the concentration camp. A little boy appears selling candies at a very high price. Hungry, they pool all their resources and buy a single candy. The father then divides it equally among the children.

    This scene shows how we must be empathetic and show solidarity, even when we have little.

Spirituality and Spiritual Evolution

    I cannot say that I have already learned everything about this. Like you, I am just a human being in the evolutionary process, trying to become better. I still have many steps to climb.

    I am a Spiritist and spiritualist. I believe in spiritual evolution: we have passed through the plant and animal kingdoms, today we are in the human kingdom, and finally, we will reach the angelic kingdom. In Spiritism, this is called evolution.

    The curious thing is that not only do we evolve, but planets evolve as well. First, a planet is primitive, then it enters trials and atonements, moves to regeneration, and thus continues until it becomes celestial.

    This shows that God — whatever the belief — does not like idleness. Everything He creates is meant to evolve and develop. This force is always in motion.

Purpose In Life and Life Mission

    At the beginning of this text, I said I had found a path. What I am doing now is part of it. And what does this have to do with living in times of scarcity? Everything.

    When someone discovers a purpose in life, a talent to invest in, the treasures of the universe open up. Do not be afraid to dive into your unconscious and discover something for yourself. Anything you can invest your time in, no matter how simple it may seem, can be your life mission.

    And be sure of this: even with little, we will never be abandoned. This vision gives us strength to invest in projects, dreams, and our life mission.

Belonging and Human Connection

    Since I can remember, my family has experienced scarcity. We never had much, and “no” has always been part of daily life. Even so, our scarcity never reached the extreme faced by many people. And for that, I am grateful.

    We, human beings, have a need for belonging. We are social animals and only thrive when we help one another. Even my life mission depends on this — to help in order to also be helped.

    An example is found in the biblical metaphor of the creation of humanity. First, God created Adam, but he did not want to be alone. Then He created Eve. Many interpret this only as the need for reproduction, but it also proves that Adam, as a human being, could not live alone. He needed human connection.

    I myself find it easy to connect. I may be sitting at a bus station, next to someone, and soon we are already exchanging personal experiences.

Solidarity and Courage

    Today’s times show how the world is dichotomous: on one side, movie stars at luxurious events; on the other, children being shot in Gaza.

    But once again, humanity proves its solidarity. There are international mobilizations to bring food and medicine to that region. In other words, we simply cannot witness the suffering of others without acting.

    During the Nazi era, courageous men helped Jews escape. It takes great courage to be light in the darkness.

    Even with little, I — and perhaps you too — have not stopped helping others. You do not need to be perfect, pure, or religious. You just need to be human.

A Necessary Warning

    I leave just one warning: there will be moments of impatience. Sometimes we want to help, but the other person does not help themselves. Do not be alarmed if you feel this — it is normal. I feel it all the time and need to take a deep breath to regain my balance.

    I do not intend to act like some religious people who present themselves as perfect and incorruptible, dictating rules of conduct. I will not do that. But I hope that by sharing my experiences — with flaws and imperfections — you can reflect on yourself.

    After all, we human beings are not that unpredictable.

If you liked this post, please leave a comment so I can write more for you. Thank you for reading this article.

Samantha Leal

 Anxiety, Anxiety Disorder, and the Power of Resistance

    One of the things I have learned in recent years is that Chaos is a 'social state'. It does not choose people by financial condition, skin color, or fame. We are all subject to it. It is impressive how life can suffer a seismic shock in just a few months. I say this from personal experience. Right now, as I write, a family member has just left the ICU due to a heart problem. It was more than twenty days of hospitalization. Nobody slept, terror consumed us, and fear—I don’t even want to recall. 

    For a long time, I believed it was some sort of persecution by God, the universe, or life itself. Soon, I realized it was not. I was in a hotel near the hospital where my relative was, with my mind racing. I didn’t want to go out to eat, so I ordered something through a delivery app. I stayed in the room trying to distract myself with the second season of Wednesday. It is easy to isolate yourself when the world is collapsing around you. The next day, at breakfast, another guest sat at the table to have coffee with us. I was with another family member. We greeted each other, and within seconds we were already sharing our problems. That person’s husband was also hospitalized with a serious condition. 

    At that ordinary moment, where people meet and exchange experiences, I had an insight. Life was not picking on me, no—it does this to everyone. As a tarot reader once told me, we are on the hero’s journey. Problems will always be part of our routine. At some point, the world will shake our structures, and we must have an umbrella to shelter under.

Inner Strength, Willpower, and How Not to Give Up

    If you turn on the TV and watch the news, it is only tragedy. In my country, there is even a television program that reports nothing but tragedies. People dying, people being raped, people disappearing, accidents, corrupt politicians deceiving their voters. It never ends! 

    I find it contradictory when people say “this world is ending” or “these are the end times.” The world has always been this way. Let me bring a religious perspective now—the Holy Bible, Christianity’s sacred book. Read chapters from the Old Testament to the New Testament, and even before cuneiform writing, it was always the same: brother killing brother, incest, people enslaved and stoned, rape, crucifixions, people burned alive. Was the world ending at that time too? But people today say: “Ah, because now it’s worse.” Worse where? Are you sure? 

    In the past, a woman could be stoned and nothing would happen, but today homicide is a crime under the law. So, the world has always been in chaos. The question is: how do we survive this? If you think this article will give you the roadmap, you are mistaken. I do not have ten commandments for surviving chaos. I am just another person, like you, trying to stay strong. But then, why share this? Because sharing is a way of surviving chaos. I would rather speak and share my feelings with people than bury myself alive in sadness.

No Motivation to Live, Collective Chaos, and Resistance

    I have dealt with chaos since birth. I have a health issue, an anxiety disorder, that has caused me much suffering. I have lived with it since the age of ten, but I only began effective treatment at eighteen. Can you imagine how much I suffered until reaching adulthood? And how much I have suffered since then? But do you know what is beautiful? I survived.

    Whatever you believe in, whoever you believe in, it will keep you alive. What I want is for the scales of justice to be balanced for all of us. Will we face chaos? Yes, but we will also experience joys and victories. I want the pendulum of Hermeticism to be real—that it swings to the left and to the right, but never stays only on one side. And it will swing! 

    We must accept that chaos is also collective. In moments like the Covid-19 pandemic, we witnessed a shared chaos. Thousands died daily in my country. Mass graves were opened every day. I lost a close relative, and saw people around me lose loved ones too. It was one of the greatest collective chaos events I have ever experienced. Yet, even in collective suffering, resistance becomes our strength.

The Hero’s Journey and the Power of Overcoming Problems

    The world is changing, but the change is slow. It may feel like we cannot see progress, but things are happening. Thousands of years ago, it was normal for a woman to be stoned for adultery, while the man went unpunished. Today, there are laws against femicide. That is progress. 

    In ancient Rome, people were enslaved for debt. Today, in my country, the worst consequence of unpaid debt is having your name listed on a credit protection service. Humanity is gradually learning empathy, slowly ceasing to be unconscious animals. Much evil will still happen, but when we stand as resistance, those who bring chaos lose their strength. 

    I also believe in past lives and reincarnation. Sometimes I wonder what mistakes I must have made to go through what I have endured. But then I realize: we have all made mistakes! It is not punishment, it is not persecution. It is life. God, or the universe, can sometimes seem cruel, but even so, we survive. 

    Suffering teaches us resilience. Like the story of the Three Little Pigs, chaos is the Big Bad Wolf. Those who build on a weak foundation will fall, but those who construct a solid base will endure.

Be Strong, Be Resistance

    Life is not simple. There is no magic formula to survive on this planet. Surviving requires discipline, constancy, desire, and effort. I commit myself every day, and I hope you do too. You have one life, and you are responsible for it. This body you are using is a loan.

    That’s why I invite you: be strong, be resistance, keep your inner strength, and never let discouragement win. Chaos always passes. Storms dissolve, but we remain. Believe that even in the face of pain, loss, or crisis, life goes on and we are still here. Be a warrior in your own hero’s journey, don’t give up, because tomorrow will come and it will be different. You are not alone: we are resistance, and together we move forward.

If you enjoyed this article, please leave a comment. This will help me write more for you. Be resilient! You are strong!

Samantha Leal.