Let's build whole free lives

Dear friend,

I hope your Thanksgiving gatherings this weekend
are bringing you comfort.

I hope being with your dear family
is filling your heart with gratitude
and reviving your spirit.

November has been a deeply painful month.

Since the election result hit us
many of us have been in a state of shock and alarm
asking ourselves:
What is happening to the state of our union?
How is our beloved country?

These questions are vital and important.

But what about the state of you…
The state of me…

How are we?

Let’s take a look

As we move into December
it’s good for us to pause
and ask ourselves how am I doing?

By that I mean
not only how am I feeling
but how is my life going?

My life as a whole.

How strong and free am I
in all dimensions of my life?

For us to become effective
as we move forward
to build a whole free country
we each need
—as far as we possibly can—
to become a whole free person.

That’s what I mean when I say:
Each one of us IS the Republic.

Dimensions of our well being

Let’s gently take a look at our current well being
in these key areas of life:

mind
spirit
body
character
identity
capability
contribution
love

I’ve crafted a statement
that I believe embodies
essential wellbeing in each area.

I encourage you
to deeply ponder each statement
then ask yourself:

Is this statement true of me?

I have provided clarification of the first two statements.
The rest are pretty much self explanatory.

1. Mind: I am my own best friend.

   I do my best to give myself what I need most.

   I stand up to the destructive part of my own mind

   and do not passively play victim to the destructive part of others.

2. Spirit: My spirit is strong and tender.

   I have faith in life.

   I have a generous heart

   and show compassion for those in pain.

   Instead of being cynical and angry

   with those who have been misled, I forgive them,

   while not allowing them to harm me or others.

3. Body: I take good care of my health and look my best.

4. Character: I am honest and honorable, and show respect for others.

5. Identity: I know who I am.

6. Capability: My education and work make me proud.

7. Contribution: I am a builder and uniter of my community, country and world.

8. Love: I love and am loved, and I do so responsibly.
   

As you ponder these statements, ask yourself:
In which dimensions am I already strong?

Be proud of your wellbeing in these areas
and give thanks for each one.

Then gently ask:
Where do I need to grow stronger?

The path forward

I believe every one of us
is capable of growing stronger
to the point that all these statements
can become true of us.

It does take work,
but it is good work.
Liberating work.

In the coming weeks and months
I will offer you step by step solutions
to common everyday problems
that are holding us back in each area.

As we proceed to build our freedom
we will be secure in knowing
that as we strengthen ourselves
we strengthen our beloved country.

Blessings,

Dr. Hall