Almost every religion in the world says that its teachings are the key to helping humanity. In this episode of The Missing Conversation, Robert explores just how much of our actions match what we have to say about our religious teachings.

Pause for a moment and think about the percentage of our wealth that's going toward bettering humanity and the planet. Now, what percentage of that wealth is inclusive — how many people are genuinely struggling to get help, to be given work opportunities, housing and a chance to live in a way that can be dignified, no matter their religious and spiritual affiliations?

Our society places a lot of emphasis on taking care of yourself, your family and loved ones, and then taking care of those within your specific community. Almost always in that order. But that means we don't use the resources we have to better the lives of others outside that group. So little of our time and energy is devoted to volunteering for those outside our communities — creatively giving opportunities to empower , people who need it the most but are different from us in thought, action, race, religion, political party etc.

The dangers of exclusivity in religion can have horrible consequences over time. We're already seeing how climate change is affecting our planet and how world hunger and poverty continue to rise despite the growing number of millionaires and billionaires.

So when it comes to our religious beliefs, it is crucial to ask — is our belief a separatist one or a source of love towards humanity? How can we orchestrate our life's desires to align with goodness — good actions toward others.

Other than exploring dialogue with our religious leaders and encouraging them to be more inclusive in their teachings, aid, and understanding, we can also work on our individual beliefs. The key is to try to move beyond our separate sense of self, family, and religion.

Our intentions to help our fellow brothers and sisters in the world without only devoting ourselves to ourselves and our families can be rewarding in a very true sense. Your intention can be seen through your eyes, tone of voice, behavior, and actions — it's a glimpse into your quality of heart. Finding ways to treat others with caring, integrity, and love showcases your intention to move toward inclusiveness. The payoff is a sense of well-being, because when this comes from a sincere heart it is universally rewarded.

Read the transcription and listen to this episode on The Global Bridge Foundation website.