Welcome to another post in the spiritual and mental well-being department. Before we begin today, I would like you to follow the steps below:
Stop whatever you're doing
Take a deep breath with your eyes closed
Look around yourself
Do you see a roof, clean water, family or friends, or your possessions? If you do, congratulations because you have been blessed.
Tis the season of recalibration of your Iman (faith), and today we are going to discuss strategies for living a more peaceful life by centering your life around gratitude.
What is Gratitude?
Most of us are aware of this term by now but in case you're not, Gratitude is the feeling of appreciation and thankfulness for the good things in our lives. It is the recognition of the positive things that we have, both big and small, and the acknowledgment that they come from sources outside of ourselves.
What are the benefits of Gratitude?
Gratitude often has the power to bring us joy, contentment, and inner peace. It can also have a transformative effect on our mental and emotional well-being, helping to reduce stress and anxiety, improve our relationships with others, and boost our overall sense of happiness and fulfillment. It cultivates a sense of awe and wonder. It helps us become more mindful, especially during hard times, because we stay focused on the positives in our life and realize that what we have been blessed with so far in life outweighs what has been taken away from us.
Gratitude in Islam
So much to tell you that I don't even know where to start. In Islam, gratitude is considered a fundamental aspect of faith and is highly valued as a means of achieving closeness to Allah and attaining inner peace. Gratitude, or "Shukr" in Arabic, is mentioned numerous times in the Quran and is considered to be a cornerstone of Islamic spirituality.
But you may ask, how does gratitude in Islam change one's perspective in life?
Being grateful for the good in our lives helps us to recognize the divine hand behind it all and strengthens our faith and trust in Allah's mercy and provision.
Gratitude helps us to focus on what we have, rather than what we lack. This leads to a greater sense of contentment and inner peace, as we learn to be satisfied with what Allah has provided for us.
Gratitude teaches us to be mindful of the blessings in our lives and to recognize the efforts of others who have contributed to our well-being. This cultivates empathy and compassion towards others and encourages us to be kind and generous in our interactions with them.
Islam teaches that all blessings come from Allah and that we are merely stewards of them. Gratitude reminds us of our dependence on Allah and helps us to maintain a sense of humility and gratitude towards Him.
Biggest Struggle While Practicing Gratitude
After talking to many people, I have realized the biggest struggle for most people that prevents them from practicing gratitude is comparison and forgetfulness.
For example: Let's take Mo. Mo prayed and prayed to get his BMW for years. Once he got his BMW, Mo quickly forgot the value of his BMW and started looking into other cars. Very soon he started feeling that his car was of no value as compared to his friends' cars. This made him feel terrible about himself. What he didn't realize is that he was blessed with something he prayed for years and instead of being grateful, he started comparing himself to his friends. He quickly forgot about all those nights when he prayed to Allah day and night about this car and the sense of accomplishment he felt when he first drove it home. One day, Mo got into an accident and lost his BMW. Mo was deeply saddened by this, but very soon realized how the power of gratitude works.
In Conclusion
If you ever feel like you don't have enough in life or Allah doesn't like you, just start counting your blessings. Even the tiniest blessing possible. I can promise you that whatever you have today, someone is praying for it at the moment. If you wake up and you are healthy, say Alhumdullilah. If you have both your parents and they are healthy, say Alhumdullilah. If you have the power to make your own decisions, say Alhumdullilah. Never compare yourself to others because that is a great way to live an unhappy life. Make Alhumdullilah part of your life, and notice how life becomes peaceful and content for you.
May all your Inshallah turns into Alhumdullilah!
Until next time, Peace🌹
#blog #blogger #ramadan #healinghearts #mentalhealth #spiritual #wellbeing #mentalwellbeing #lifestyle #detox #fasting #gratitude #grateful #alhumdullilah #islam #ramadan
Comments