Waiting for Destiny

Waiting for Destiny 

So I was hanging out in a cafe like any regular day, when I decided to go to the bathroom. I arrived there and I found the door closed and locked, so I figured out that someone was in there. I kept waiting outside for more than 10 minutes, that's when one of the waiters came and asked me rhetorically "Why have you been waiting all this time?". So he checked the door, and he just opened the knob. I smiled, looked at him awkwardly and just entered. 

What happened was that I thought someone was in there. I was convinced of that and I acted upon that belief. That's why I kept waiting for someone to come out. All what matters is that I knew I was right.

However, when the waiter came and opened the door. That's when it hit me. Have I been wasting my time? Have I been standing all this time for nothing?

Now let's try to reflect on that in our lives. 

We do believe most of the time that we have the right reasons behind our actions, that we know what we are doing and most importantly we believe that we're walking the right path! Even though there might not be someone inside the bathroom, we are still waiting for someone to come out so we could go in. We are still acting upon our own assumptions and limited knowledge, and never have considered ourselves to be mistaken. 

So, what happens when we realize that there's no one in there, whether by the help of someone or by realizing that on our own?

This is where the self concept comes in.

Some people will just laugh at themselves or feel frustrated. And they will believe in the end that what has happened was just a coincidence or a funny story to be shared when they go back to where they were.

Those people believe that they have wasted their time, and they have stood there for nothing.

Those are the ones who fall down in life more often. Who whenever face obstacles, hard times or tough situations, fail to comprehend the reasons behind such events and eventually give up!

Those are the ones who do not learn from their mistakes, or do not actually learn from their experiences, so they never grow.

Nonetheless there is another type of people who will look at the waiter, smile and learn something from that, who will always reflect on what's happening in their lives and always believe that things happen for a reason, and they try to make the best out of their own experiences.

Which type of mindset you think is more effective for your self,  your growth and your life?

The way we perceive the events occurring around us is very underrated. If you fail to learn from each and every thing happening in your life..then you are simply not living!

We waste our time arguing whether destiny exists or not. While what we should be arguing about is whether we are living or not.

Destiny is inevitable, but it's up to us to know why.    

Now I've come to know the reason why I have been waiting for 10 minutes before I discovered that no one was there. It's to acquire this insight. 

If I got there and found the door was opened, I wouldn't have written this article nor would have someone else not read it.

This itself is living every moment, and you can do it starting right now!

The reason why I smiled in the end when the door was opened was not because I discovered that I was waiting for nothing, but I found out that I was waiting for Destiny.

Living a Dream

Living a Dream

One of the things that makes us special as human beings, is the ability to have our own Dreams. It is something that triggers our creative and emotional abilities. It's when you have nothing and you turn it into something.

Dreaming of being successful, dreaming of travelling the world, playing in a rock band or just being happy, there are no limits when it comes to having our own dreams, we only limit ourselves when it comes to believing that they could come true.

So the first obstacle to achieving your dreams is actually not faith, it's you. You are the only thing that is standing in your way. 

There's a saying "You cannot achieve more than you think you can."

It's only logical. Were Gandhi, Newton, Beethoven or  Columbus surprised of what they accomplished? Or was it that they had complete faith in themselves and of what they were capable of doing?

So maybe the first thing that we could do before judging and analyzing whether our dreams could be accomplished or not, we should start by evaluating the way we see ourselves.

Once you have the "I can" mindset and attitude, probably nothing could stop you from accomplishing anything in your life.

But what if you fail? Does this mean that you can't?

There is a concept that is important for us to comprehend, which I would like to call "Conflicting Dreams".

If someone is on the path of realizing his or her dreams, and they are facing obstacles that are out of their own control, that's because there is another dream that they want to realize and it must be done this way.

Let me give you an example.

Let's say that a student has decided to be the first in his class, that's his dream, he believes he'll be happy, successful and he'll make everyone proud. So he only dedicates his time to studying to accomplish that dream. But then he met new friends who started discussing the challenges in the working environment and so on, and he found out that he wasn't equipped and he's been somehow isolating himself. So he started to realize that his dream, being the first in class, will not ensure a successful career and life, and he discovers now that he has a BIGGER dream which is to be successful in his career.  Only when that happened, he got engaged more with people and expanded his learning circle, which led to less time studying and more time increasing practical and social skills, which also led him not to end up being the first in class, but nevertheless a very skilled employee.

From that example we can deduct that some dreams somehow conflict with other dreams. In order for some dreams to come true, others have to be partially realized or put off.

 SO WHO GETS TO SAY WHICH DREAM TO LIVE?

The answer is simply YOU.

This is where your set of values kicks in. The dreams that are aligned with what you value the most are the ones that attract you to them. 

All of us want to live our dreams and all of our dreams want to be lived.

The only solution

The only solution 

When you no longer have a variety of options, when your choices become very limited that you think you're being controlled. When you are frustrated and your rational thinking have no longer any effect and is just a waste of time, that's when you start to lose hope, that's when you know that you have nothing to do but endure whatever it is you are enduring, that's when you consider to quit.

Wait a second. Consider to quit?

Do you realize if you considered quitting, there is something to fight for?

If you have the choice of quitting, then you do have the option to go on!

But how could you go on and you know that your choices are limited?

Well apparently our minds trick us when it comes to choices or options. We have just established that quitting has an opposite choice, and it is not the only solution.

To break it down, we only see the choices that surround us based on our state of mind and emotions. We are the ones responsible for perceiving whichever choices that we have, therefore we are the ones responsible for creating our options and choices.

That must be a breakthrough, to realize that you are the one responsible for your options as you embark on the path of your life.

So if you think that you are weak or you have nothing to do, think again. You already got yourself to where you are, you already chose that fight, that journey, that revolution, that path, that mountain.. you think you can't climb it till the end?

Yes you can. And you always can bring for yourself opportunities to decide upon and take actions.  

"Where there's a will there's a way." 

Not only when your mind tricks you you no longer see all the options, but your mind affects your emotional state and being and starts to create negative emotions for you like frustration or fear. Fear of failure, fear of criticism, fear of rejection..fear itself is the strongest negative emotion one could face.

And if you are not well equipped, you will fall easily to this emotional trap.

Always remember that there is a reason why you got yourself to where you are, there's a purpose behind your decisions.

Do not lose hope, don't give up. If you face the choice to quit and stop..then the only solution is to go on and fight your weaknesses.

Dedicated to the Egyptian Revolution

Dedicated to the Egyptian Revolution

Bread, freedom and social justice!

On the 25th of january 2011, Egyptians have started an inspirational revolution. Egyptians have revolted against the regime who did nothing but cause death, poverty, humiliation of the people of Egypt.

This article or post will not be political, but it's about inspirational lessons Egyptians have taught the whole world.

1) Stand up for your rights

Although at that time, the idea of having a revolution happening was impossible, as the old regime threw anyone who was to speak up behind the bars. The urge to protest and revolt was different. Everyone felt that 'Now is the time' and people no longer cared about what was gonna happen to them or the consequences of protesting, Fear vanished.. and everyone united like never before sharing a dream of a free country.

2) Never underestimate anyone

The mistake the old regime made that caused the protests to succeed was that they've dealt with the protests as it would be under control. There's no harm that could come from a bunch of youth gathering together and chanting after announcing the time and date from a Facebook event. Little they knew, those young men are the reason for the regime to be behind bars right now.

3) The Power of unity 

During the 18 days of the revolution, people faced armed forces using weapons, gas, live ammo with nothing but being united! People protected each other. Christians were guarding the Muslims while they were doing their prayers and vice versa. Men protecting women and sheltering them. Children helping the old to cover and stay safe. Everyone had everyone's back. 

When people are united, they are stronger than all the armies of the world combined together.

4) Resilience

At many down moments, protestors were attacked and offended not by the regime they were facing, but by their own acquaintances and family. Imagine the stress of going to these protests knowing that you might not get back home, and having your loved ones attacking you for causing trouble and chaos in the country. At some point you might get lost, have doubts and become weak. But such moments only will pass if you know that what you are a part of is something that will bring a positive impact to everyone.

7) Hope

Is Man's greatest power to achieve. Hope is what we all need. Hope is knowing that there is a possibility for you to live that dream you want to, to accomplish that thing you want to and to be happy the way you want to. Hope is the reason we are doing whatever we're doing right now with our lives, its because we Hope to be better, Hope to be stronger, Hope to live happily and Hope to succeed.

Without Hope, there is no Hope.

6) Faith

It is the reason why everything I've mentioned above could exist. Faith is enough to change the world. The people of Egypt had faith that they can change, that they can remove the whole regime which was impossible for a man to comprehend or even imagine back then. Faith is stronger than an 'impossible' matter, it is what would unleash man's unknown potential and strength. 

These lessons were given by the Egyptians, it has been experienced by everyone who has participated in this revolution. Us Egyptians did nothing but dream, we actually did the opposite..we woke up!

Is existence a bless?

Is existence a bless?

Before we find out an answer to that question, we should dig deeper into this question, "What is existence?" 

It is that opportunity for us to be present right here right now with all of our being, mentally, spiritually and physically.  It is everything surrounding us (quoting the matrix is actually fun).

It is the gift of now, yesterday and hopefully tomorrow. It is the chance to make a difference, to learn and wonder or to live with apathy.

It is unseen yet it's everything that's out there, the one thing that connects us all.

It is such a philosophical topic, where we could go in circles reaching the same conclusions in the end. But all I seek is the common ground.

To put it in simple words: if you exist, you share life..if you don't exist yet then you don't share life.

That statement we could relate to. A thousand years ago, no one that is alive today existed back then. Therefore we had no idea, back then, what did people do, think about, talk or laugh about, fight or love about? we didn't even know that life existed and we could one day actually be a part of it..Do you remember this feeling? Maybe not, because you didn't even exist to feel that.

So now that you exist in life, you have the chance to think and ask and feel!

To wonder about the past, to experience the now and to hope for tomorrow. That is all bound in a state of existence and in life.

So what about not existing.. How's that like?
Dark?  Infinity? Nothing?
I don't believe our minds could comprehend such a state, as we're already liberated from such a state and have been brought to existence.

To come up with an understanding of the original question, "Is existence a bless?". we need to understand the other part of the question.. What is a bless?

Religious backgrounds will interpret it as a gift from God. Other backgrounds will refer to it as a talent, "She was blessed with a beautiful voice."

So again, let's all unite and look at things from a point of where we all agree.

A bless, is something special, to be grateful to have, to know that without it we would not have been the same.

So is Existence a bless?

Do you believe that experiencing, learning, thinking, loving, crying, hating, feeling.. are all something great to experience? or makes no difference?

Granted we are not given the choice to exist, but why not turn it to an opportunity?

Why, not!

Why, not!

I'll start with a familiar story, of a teacher who enters his class and asks the students to prepare themselves for a pop quiz. He wrote on the board the question "Why?" and asked everyone to write whichever answer they've found suitable.

I wasn't there but I could anticipate their reactions. Thrilled, challenged and mind teased. So after the professor had collected their answer papers, he read them with curious pleasure, again anticipating.

The following day, he announced the test results to the class. They were all graded but only one answer stood up against all the others, Guess which answer got the A+?

"Why not?".

This statement is much stronger than an A+, this statement is a life changing one. 

Every individual on this planet has been raised in a special environment, nurtured by different cultures and exposed to different schooling and education, if ever. Imagine if 6 billion persons on earth accept their realities to be the only ultimate truth, would we extinct as a race? Why not.

Having a powerful mindset that's able to take the risk of being wrong, discover truth and other possibilities is an outstanding manner. It's the best, if not the only, solution to our disagreements. As such a mindset will have literally the capacity of understanding others' perceptions, stories and backgrounds. Not only 'accept' others' realities, but actually relate to them. 

Such a statement shows challenge, identity and a taste of defiance. 

"Why not"..."Why accept things the way they are", "Why not change them?".

or "Why see things this way", "Why not that way?".

Liberation, that's what it is all about..and it only starts with the concept of "Why not?".

There is on the other hand, a very powerful concept as well. It seeks reasoning, understanding and above of all, purpose. 

The "Why?" is a question of wonder, those who tend to reflect always trigger that question. Passionate people always know why they are doing what they're doing, as well as people with a high level of faith. Recently the corporate sector has adopted this concept. It has been found that the global companies not only have their unique vision and goals, but they have a "why" for what they do.

Having a purpose in life is indeed a virtue and those who tend to use this mindset find their own.

So which mindset do you live in? Is it the rebellious or the wondrous one? Which resonates more with your experience?
But the most important questions are, Why? and Why not?

If you have understood both concepts very well, you will come to a conclusion that we have to live with BOTH mindsets and concepts.

We always have to open our minds and know that our reality is only one piece of the puzzle. There is more in the world that complete the full picture, we need to be aware of that.

We also need to find a blief, set of values and purpose to our lives. We need to ask and search for the things that resonate with our hearts and minds. 

Integrating these two concepts into our lives and personalities, will make us truly interdependent , wise and strong.

Can we integrate these concepts? Can we actually take our minds to a whole new level?

Why? .. Why not.?