Are people really getting meaner or is it just your imagination? From the halls of Congress to the main streets of small-town America and our big cities, it seems like no one is capable of civilly listening to others whose viewpoints are different.

As I write about in my books The Joy Factor: 10 Sacred Practices for Radiant Health and Walking on Air: Your 30-Day Inside and Out Rejuvenation Makeover, I believe that we are in the midst of an epidemic in which few people have the time to be kind. This rampant form of business is nothing short of a sickness—a form of self-centeredness brought about by people rushing around trying to make ends meet and cope with mounting stress and numerous health issues.

Do you feel overwhelmed in your life and less compassionate than you did years ago? As I counsel people around the country, and even worldwide, it's been my experience that most people are burning the candle at both ends—daily; most people are experiencing severe sleep debt; most people have no time to call their own; and most folks are living in what I refer to as a spin-cycle lifestyle. Can you relate to any of this?

The more you rush around without keeping your life in perspective and in balance, the more you lose compassion for others and yourself, too. People are in such a rush these days, living on the fast track — talking fast, eating fast, and moving fast. What a difference from 50 years ago. Did you know that you'll probably do more in this year — with appointments, people to meet, and places to go — than your grandparents did their entire lives? Given our current pace, we barely have time to relax and cultivate relationships with our spouses and children, friends and nature, much less with God. Is it any wonder that stress-related diseases are on the rise? We are under pressure to keep busy even in our leisure hours. Computers have sped up our lives. We want to do everything, and we want to do it all at once. We talk on the telephone and text while we drive (even though there are now laws against this), watch television while we read, and conduct business while we listen to the radio. I see this as a sickness of epidemic proportions — a "busyness" or "hurry" sickness. This type of lifestyle also drains our hearts of compassion, according to many studies of late. If you understand the speed of life, you can slow it down by enjoying it more and by making a conscious choice of being more compassionate. Start with yourself. You'll find tips in one of my recent radio interviews entitled Have Americans Lost Their Compassion? and also below.

Step 8 of 8 in the series Metabolic Weight Loss & Body Tune-UP Tips

CLICK HERE to start with the Introduction.

Accelerate Fat Loss & Get Fit for Life in 8 Easy Steps

8. Nourish your spirit. To maintain a healthy body, you must first nourish your spirit. The real epidemic in our culture is spiritual heart disease—the experience of low self-esteem combined with feelings of loneliness, isolation, and alienation that pervade our culture. I talk about  this in detail in my audio books Wired to Meditate and Choose to Live Peacefully and my new books The Joy Factor and Walking on Air. Many people who suffer from spiritual malaise use food or stimulants such as drugs, caffeine, alcohol, sex, or overwork to numb the pain and get through the day.

Stretching, deep breathing, spending time out in nature, and meditation (for details on all of these subjects, refer to Renew Your Life) will relax your mind and you will experience a greater sense of peace and well-being. Then you’ll be able to make eating and exercise decisions—and other lifestyle choices—that are life enhancing rather than self-destructive. Engage in physical activities that nourish your body and soul. Cherished activities I enjoy include hiking, in-line skating and biking on the bike path on the Santa Monica beach, gardening, walking in a botanical or flower garden, or stretching or yoga (without being in a hurry!).