by Jefferey Jaxen, Collective Evolution

No Tribeca, no problem for the new documentary Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe, recently withdrawn from this year’s New York film festival at the behest of co-founder Robert De Niro. It is safe to say that the buzz generated by the censoring of this film has overshadowed Tribeca’s 2016 film festival.

Adding more fuel to the soaring public interest was producer Del Bigtree’s release of his uncut interview with ABC news regarding the film. In typical fashion, the mainstream media sliced and diced Bigtree’s vital ten minute interview into a few soundbites to frame an anti-vaccine narrative.

by Arjun Walia, Collective Evolution

It’s hard to believe that approximately one in every two people will develop some form of cancer within their lifetime. As a result, cancer awareness has skyrocketed. Millions of people around the globe are helping to raise money and awareness for cancer and cancer treatment. This overwhelming support from the public just goes to show how many good hearts are out there, and in no way should we dismiss that generous spirit. There are, however, some important facts relating to this disease about which many people are still unaware.

While it is of course disturbing that cancer rates are at all time time high, the prevalence of this disease is causing people to take notice and to question, which is always a good thing. People are becoming more aware of the disease, looking into alternative treatment options and trying to determine the cause of this illness. People are starting to wonder why so many of us are so sick. So despite how gloomy it may appear, there is hope for all of us.

We have all heard the saying that Change is the only constant (other than death and taxes, of course), and for most of us, it’s becoming more and more a reality. Gone are the days of people working for the same company for 30 years, or the guarantee of finding a well paying, secure job after finishing a degree or training program. And although it has become much more acceptable than it used to be to start your own business, it’s still challenging to be an entrepreneur due to so many factors being in constant flux. The way the world works has completely changed and it means things are not stable or predictable anymore.

Personally, the last few years have involved constant change for me, and I’ve learned how to manage in this state pretty well.

One of the most important skills I have learned is to Embrace Change. Try avoiding it or resisting it and you’ll see: It doesn’t work. Yes, there is almost always some fear and even anxiety as you anticipate the worst, so step back, BREATHE, and sit in those feelings for a moment. Consider the worst case scenario, and really FEEL IT — see it happening and realize there are steps you can take to mitigate or deal with it.

by Danielle Fagan, Collective Evolution

Fear. Anxiety. Depression. Rage. Confusion.

These are powerful emotions that can quickly distort our perception when we let them take over. Even the way we speak about these emotions can reveal just how much they can change the way we see things:

“I fell into a deep depression,” “I saw red,” “I had an anxiety attack,” etc.

When our emotions spiral out of control, they completely warp what we see and can make it exceptionally difficult for us to make sound decisions. For example, if you’re wondering what direction you’d like to take in your life but feel depressed because of your current situation, how could you possibly find your answer? Or, if you’re in the heat of an argument, how can you find a resolution when you and your partner are in a “blind rage”?

In order to achieve clarity, we must be able to see things as they truly are without the distortion of powerful emotions.

Even feelings like infatuation and excitement can distort our judgement. How many times have you felt overly excited and jumped too quickly into a situation that didn’t turn out well? Or spent money on an “impulse buy” in a lineup at a store that you regretted later? Or kept yourself in a toxic relationship because you were infatuated with the person?

by Dr. Fahad Basheer, Collective Evolution

Hugging! We often hug each other when we are happy or when we see the person we love most. We often feel joy and happiness when hugging another person, and a hug can convey a lot about how we’re feeling and how we feel about each other. Each time we sincerely hug someone, we are actually conveying our love and joy for that person in a way that can never be explained through our words alone. We feel all our burdens ease away while we are in a hug, and those worries are replaced by increased feelings of happiness and trust.

Do you know why this happens while we hug each other?

Have you ever wondered what happens within you while you are hugging someone?

Let us examine some of the most amazing physiological miracles that happen in our bodies thanks to hugs.