A thought on living!

A thought on living!

To get you engaged in this article, I need you to take a moment to reflect on these questions:

How do you see your day?
What do you think about before going to bed?
What comes to your mind the moment you open your eyes and wake up?
When you drift away during your day, what do you think about?
Do you spend your time with it or day dream?
Do you think you're the only one trying to figure things out?

All people come and leave what we call life, all people share the happiness and misery that life brings. But not many people realize that life is all about a simple opportunity to make things happen and to live it.

You don't need to consume your energy on how others perceive you. You don't need to dedicate your life trying to prove a point or to try to prove that others are wrong!

The key to seizing this opportunity that you're alive right now is to Simply BE.

Don't BE in the past nor in the future, both are not happening right now. Who would want to spend their lives in a virtual world inside their heads?

But still, our minds would always try to take us from the now to a more secure realm with secure thoughts and emotions. In these thoughts one could also experience fear and doubt, but it is secure for one's mind! 

Accordingly, you might reach the point of frustration as a result of the gap you find between these thoughts and reality.

So we should agree that we all have experienced this gap, we might still do, but it's about time we do something about it.

Are the thoughts in your mind living your own life?

You can't be a product of your mind, your mind is a product of you!

Actually you're not only a mind, but you are a body and a soul!

The body and soul do have needs that have to be fulfilled as well, are you doing something about this?

But there is something that you should notice when doing so, it is that the mind and body have selfish needs. However, your soul's needs are not selfish but rather selfless. 

Your soul needs to stay connected to a higher power, your soul needs inspiration, serenity and forgiveness even regarding one's self,  the ultimate selflessness!

Since your soul is something sublime, it will elevate you if you satisfy its needs and these moments are when you feel alive the most!

Think about the times when you were embracing nature, the times when you were focused in your prayers and the times when you helped the people around you and gave something to them.. a smile maybe.

You'll never live if you gave in to your mind, your mind is just a tool that you use to get things done, so don't make it use you.

As for your soul, now that is the gift of life.. so stay connected with the present and make it happen!

The Laser Revolution

The Laser Revolution

03/07/2013 was the day the people of Egypt earned their freedom from a fascist Islamic group called "The Muslim Brotherhood". If you want to know more about this revolution, whether it's a "Coup" or not or how and why did it happen, you need to understand something first about the Egyptian people.

25/01/2011 was the day when Egyptians decided that they will be no longer oppressed, silenced or intimidated by their rulers. The day when the paradigm shifted for this country, where the poles changed and the power has been with the people since then. 

The average Egyptian person is of great potential, creativity and ambition. Just like a Laser that emits strong light beam, an Egyptian does not necessarily shed positive energy due to lack of opportunities and weak economical state, but an Egyptian always emits Hope.

The Laser was noticed being frequently used by the protesters in the past revolution against the Muslim Brotherhood, there is a deep meaning behind this that people didn't recognize. 

The fascist group ruled the country for 1 year, and in this year their only focus was just to stay more, strengthen their group and spread in all state institutions. They were not driven by their loyalty to their country nor response to the welfare of the people but only driven by their greed for power.

Despite the fact that they marginally won the ballot, they have failed to seize the opportunity nor deliver what the people have aspired for after their tough struggle in the first wave of the revolution.

Unfortunately for them, they did not learn from their predecessors that the Egyptian people are unbreakable and their laser like light can not be switched off. 

In the first wave of the revolution, the people rebelled after 30 years of Mubarak's rule. In the second wave of the revolution, the people rebelled only after 1 year because they had the taste of freedom and broke down the barrier of fear.

The Egyptians, creative as they are, stipulated new rules for democratic revolution giving the world a new example of how to change the status quo by the power of the people in a peaceful manner.

It all started when a group of young people had an initiative called "Rebel" where the Egyptians needed to sign petitions to impeach the president and call for early elections because the president of Egypt violated the constitution and did not honor the oath he swore to declaring all power to himself. 

22 million signed this petition and on the 30th of June, 33 million people poured into the streets and squares of Egypt demanding to put an end to this regime only carrying their country flags and their laser beams in the largest ever demonstration in the history of mankind.

In response to the people's apprising and the obstinacy of the president and refusal to compromise, the army has decided to intervene to meet the demands of the people and protect them from threats made against them by the president and his gang.

Can this be called a Coup? A coup means a group of army officers seize power from the ruler and declare themselves rulers of the country by force. However, in this case it was the people who launched the revolution and the army backed it up.

Egyptians have changed the rules of the game with their genuine laser beam. The beam that pointed the way to their freedom, a beam which is just as the will of the people.. cannot be bent.

The Self Destructed

The Self Destructed

How many times do we use the words "Sure", "Yes, but" or "You're wrong!"?

The question 'How many' is asked just to have an indicator, but the real question we should be triggering is Why do we use such words? What could they possibly bring us?

Let's take a deep analysis over them.

They seem to defend something, or rather hide something that if was exposed would become so fragile and breaking it might might cost a lot. 'Sure' I know this or 'Sure' I can do that are only said when the person has reached to a level where he/she no longer perceives themselves as 'average' or 'normal'. Why would you be so sure? What more do you possess to be so certain? 

Saying the word is only an indicator of your self concept and mindset. The 'I might' does no longer satisfy you as you have elevated yourself to the 'I know' phase. But do we really know? Are we all sure? Actually, should we?

One of the major obstacles we find when it comes to communication is when you find it easier to move a mountain on your own than to try to make some people understand your own perception, NOT to convince them, but just to make them get what you say. There is absolutely no reason for that person to listen to anyone if he is really 'sure' of what he's doing or what he's thinking, he will gain no benefit by listening to you instead he will be conscious that your conversation with him would be wasting his time just because of the barrier that automatically surrounds his 'sure' being. What if you are that person? Have you thought about it, sure?

Such barrier not only prevents us from connecting with people but also from connecting with ourselves! The irony is that when you're so sure you would always want to be in this state and never leave it as it is very satisfying to know that you don't need to worry anymore. You then isolate yourself from life and start founding your new world that only revolves around you. Not necessarily that you are in search for serenity, but along the way you are losing many peoples' respect and interest in you as you might easily get motivated by the 'assurance' you are in and not only treat people differently, but attack them for what they are not 'sure' of! And when you see this unjustified offense working, you feel more satisfaction and 'sure'.

So what about the 'Yes, but'? 

That is when you start feeling that you might lose your edge, your magic, the thing you have that makes you worry less. In a reaction to this fear of losing such thing, you invest all your thinking to fireback to whoever poked your 'precious'. 

The phase of 'Yes, but' could actually be translated to 'Yes, but I am also right'. Well some might think that nothing is wrong with such justification, but the reason we're digging to these statements is not to judge whether to use them or not, but to understand the need to use them.

Why do we need to state that we're 'also right' or that 'we are right' from the first place? Do we really care for others and wish to earn their respect? Well, do we give them respect and care when we prove that they're wrong just so we could prove that we're right? 

I believe this is one of the lies we feed ourselves with, we think we want to help people whom we do not think they deserve our help, we want recognition from people we hate and we want respect from people we despise, that's the lie! We give this to ourselves just to feed something else, to sharpen our edge, to feel better about ourselves and to keep our 'precious' safe and sound.

'You're wrong' is the final declaration, sure is a declaration of independence, it probably could not get any worse! The phase you get at where you see yourself at a golden throne, where you become the king of your own island that you've claimed yours by the power stated in 'sure'. Where nothing else matters but to defend this kingdom you've built, even if you sense that the land is poisoned and you need to leave it. A kingdom where you no longer feel guilty, where you feel superior to all mankind, where you feel unique, where you feel no worries or self critique... you know why? 

Cause this kingdom you've been building and feeding made You so damn Sure that You are Surely Right and you need nothing from the rest! 

Now, it is not impossible to demolish this kingdom. But doing so needs great courage, strength and determination. As even if we've been building our own poisoned kingdoms, it took a lot of our time and energy to accomplish it. 

So if anyone decided to stop constructing this kingdom or to annihilate it, you first need to acknowledge and locate it, the rest will be easier (The Bulldozing part). 

"If you want to change, something you have to first accept it." And by accepting and acknowledging the sources that feeds this kingdom, we can easily stop wasting our time and energy in originating it. And then finally, you need to locate your demolishing tools to this land, the place where no sane person want to be, a place where you are no longer alive or compassionate, a place that buries your soul and takes away your freedom.. a place called "Ego."

      

Start Over

Start Over

What do you think life is about?

An opportunity, a game, a platform, a series of choices or mixed perspectives? Life is obviously bigger than us, than the things that make us down and the things we wish we could have. Is it that complicated to comprehend something that big? Well, we don't need to. All we need to know is that life is not about you or me, but it's about everyone who lived it, will live it and currently living it.

We spend most of our time doing things for ourselves just to find momentary satisfaction, true fulfillment comes only when we give to others. You only live when you give, that's when you feel the most alive and connected to the whole world. How do you think life carries on? 

Would life be the same without Newton's 3 laws of motion? or beethoven's 5th symphony? or without Angelo's chapel? or Gandhi's vision? or Che Guevara's charismatic leadership? or Bill Gates' innovation?

Of course not, life has taken a different course because of these people and many more. That is only because they gave something to humanity and mankind, their names and actions will forever be remembered because of their contribution to Life, NOT their life, but the life that we all share, the one that goes on even after we are gone. 

Would it matter to you the life of others when yours come to an end? Do you care about doing something to people you will never have the chance to meet?

Just like the great people who lived by their honorable contributions, most of them never met you but they've done something for you and that's what's keeping them alive.

Now what is bringing you down in your life? what is it that's hindering your success or happiness? Do you realize that life is bigger than all that? 

Yes, it is definitely bigger than wasting it on your self. Now think of the last time you gave something to someone, an advice, charity, a piece of knowledge.. remember how it feels like?

Why don't we all start living for each other so that we actually experience the essence of life. 

And since we often try to change our concept and attitude towards life but fail to keep such change, we have to keep in mind that the moment we go back to live for our selves we need to start over and do something for the people around us, no matter how small our contribution is but it will always make a difference.

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.