Books, References, Influences

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Modern life normalises illness: toxic products, polluted air, processed food, and screen addiction erode physical and mental health. Yet change is possible—choose clean products, real food, filtered water, movement, rest, and digital balance. Conscious choices restore resilience and protect against the chronic diseases of convenience.

Consciousness underlies reality: perception co-creates the universe, challenging materialism. Quantum effects and cosmic fine-tuning suggest a participatory cosmos. Mind and matter are one field; attention shapes biology. Meditation deepens awareness, synchronicity reveals meaning, and evolution advances consciousness. Living consciously reduces fear and cultivates creativity.

The “War on Cancer” serves profit over cure. Drug-driven institutions neglect prevention and environmental causes while monetising survival. War rhetoric hides systemic failure. True progress demands open science, public health focus, and environmental reform to heal both people and the system profiting from their illness.

Know Thyself is André Duqum’s long-form podcast exploring consciousness, spirituality, health, and human potential through in-depth conversations with scientists, sages, and creators. Aimed at practical self-knowledge and growth, it blends perennial wisdom with modern inquiry, hosting guests such as Sadhguru, Gabor Maté, and Donald Hoffman.

David Ghiyam teaches spiritual wisdom and business consciousness through courses, live events, and a podcast, guiding people toward transformation, impact, and soul-aligned leadership.

Heroism is built through daily discipline, not glory. Consistent effort shapes character across mindset, heartset, healthset, and soulset. Focus, systems, and rest sustain progress. Mastery grows through steady work and service. True heroism is calm persistence—living purposefully, reliably, and well, even when unnoticed or difficult.

Trauma reshapes the brain, body, and perception, not just memory. Chronic stress disrupts regulation, embedding fear and dissociation. Healing requires safety, body awareness, and restored agency before memory work. Mindfulness, yoga, EMDR, and attuned relationships rebuild control and connection. Recovery integrates body and mind, restoring coherence and resilience.

Toxic shame turns mistakes into a judgment on the self. It drives people into secrecy, rigid self-control, and compulsive behaviours. It often begins in families and cultural environments where shaming is normal, and it is carried from one generation to the next. Recovery involves recognising the pattern, setting boundaries, acknowledging unmet needs, and addressing early emotional wounds. As the harsh inner voice is replaced with a more humane one, self-respect returns, allowing genuine relationships, steady creativity, and a more grounded emotional life.

No Bad Parts, by Richard Schwartz, presents the Internal Family Systems view that the mind is made up of distinct parts, all seeking to protect us, even when they cause harm. It shows how meeting these parts with curiosity instead of shame can relieve trauma, soften extreme behaviours, and restore a grounded, compassionate sense of self.

Margaret Thatcher believed in free markets, limited government, self-reliance, and personal ownership. She held that prosperity arises from enterprise, competition, and fiscal discipline, not state control. Applied today, her principles affirm that stable money, low taxes, and accountable leadership remain essential for economic growth and individual freedom.

Ronald Reagan stood for limited government, free enterprise, and individual liberty. He believed economic growth comes from reducing taxes, curbing regulation, and trusting people over bureaucracy. His principles remain relevant today: empowering citizens, encouraging entrepreneurship, and maintaining strong national confidence grounded in personal responsibility and fiscal prudence.

Winston Churchill championed national sovereignty, parliamentary democracy, and steadfast resistance to tyranny. He believed in duty, courage, and sacrifice in defence of country and civilisation. He valued tradition, the rule of law, and constitutional monarchy, while supporting free enterprise tempered by social responsibility. His outlook stressed moral resolve, strategic patience, and unshakeable confidence in victory, even in dark times.