If you’ve ever found yourself in need of a little pick-me-up, a dose of wisdom, or a splash of inspiration, you might have stumbled upon the 13th-century Persian poet, Rumi.
His timeless poetry has been touching hearts and stirring souls for centuries, offering sage advice on life, love, and everything in between.
Rumi’s words are not just beautiful; they’re packed with powerful lessons that can help us become stronger, wiser, and more in tune with ourselves and the world around us.
Today, I’m diving deep into these lessons. Here are ten gems from Rumi that will light your path to becoming a better version of yourself.
1. Embrace change
One of the first lessons Rumi teaches us is to embrace change. In his words,
“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”
Sounds deep but it’s all about realizing that setbacks and heartaches are not the end of the world. They’re opportunities for growth. They allow us to become stronger and wiser.
So next time life throws a curveball at you, remember Rumi’s words. Embrace the change and let it guide you towards becoming a better version of yourself.
2. Love yourself
Rumi once said,
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
This tells us that self-love is just as important as loving others. We often forget to take care of ourselves while we’re busy taking care of everyone around us. But remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
Start by appreciating yourself more, forgiving yourself for your mistakes, and prioritizing your needs. You’ll be amazed at how much stronger and wiser you’ll become!
3. Trust the journey
Rumi wisely said,
“What you seek is seeking you.”
It’s all about trusting the process, and it’s a lesson I’ve personally learned in my own life. A few years ago, I decided to switch careers. It was a scary move, filled with uncertainty and self-doubt. But I believed in my heart that I was meant to do something different, something more meaningful. So, I took a leap of faith and began the journey.
There were tough times and there were moments of triumph, but through it all, I kept reminding myself of Rumi’s words.
Today, I am happier and more fulfilled than ever. Trust your journey. It might be difficult at times, but it’ll lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.
4. Raise your words, not your voice
In one of his poems, Rumi said,
“Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.”
What he means is this – we should focus on being kind instead of getting angry or bitter with others.
The next time you feel like getting mad, remember Rumi’s advice: Use kind and positive words instead of raising your voice in anger. All you do when you raise your voice is get the other person to stop listening. If you really want someone to hear you, it’s your words and tone that are the most effective.
Next time you find yourself getting negative or angry, remember Rumi’s words and choose to raise your words, not your voice. It’s better for you and those around you.
5. Live in the moment
This is an important lesson from Rumi. In his words,
“The past is gone, the future is not yet here. There’s only one moment for you to live, and that is the present moment.”
This beautiful quote carries a powerful message – the importance of living in the moment.
In our busy lives, it’s easy to get lost in worries about the past or anxieties about the future. But when we do that, we miss out on experiencing the present moment, the here and now.
I’m sure many of us have lost someone dear or missed out on special moments because we were too caught up elsewhere. It’s a heartbreaking realization and one that underlines the power of this lesson from Rumi.
So, let’s try to be more present in our lives. Let’s appreciate each moment as it comes and make the most of it. After all, life is a collection of moments, so let’s make each one count!
6. Release fear
Rumi once said,
“Don’t be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.”
This quote speaks volumes about letting go of fear and charting our own path in life.
I remember when I wanted to start doing you tube videos. I was scared. Scared of failure, scared of criticism, and even scared of success. But then I stumbled upon Rumi’s quote. It made me realize that I was holding myself back because of fear. That was the moment I decided to unfold my own myth, to tell my own story.
I started creating videos, and it felt liberating. Of course, there were bumps along the way, but overcoming them made me stronger and wiser.
Don’t let fear stop us from unfolding our own myths. Remember, we’re the authors of our own life stories!
7. Accept your flaws
Rumi stated,
“The moment you accept what troubles you’ve been given, the door will open.”
This quote hit me hard. It’s about accepting our flaws, our troubles, and our shortcomings. It’s about realizing that we’re not perfect, and that’s okay.
It’s not easy to accept our flaws. It takes a lot of guts to look at ourselves in the mirror and say, “Yes, I have flaws. Yes, I make mistakes. But that’s okay.”
We live in a world where we’re constantly told to be perfect. To have the perfect body, the perfect job, the perfect life. But the truth is, no one’s perfect. We all have our struggles and our insecurities.
So let’s accept our flaws. Let’s acknowledge them, learn from them, and use them as stepping stones towards becoming stronger and wiser. Because once we do that, the doors to growth and self-acceptance will swing wide open.
8. Practice gratitude
Gratitude is a powerful emotion that can transform your life. Rumi once said,
“Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life.”
Practicing gratitude can actually make you happier. Research shows counting your blessings can increase your well-being and life satisfaction.
Start practicing gratitude every day. It could be as simple as being thankful for a warm cup of coffee in the morning or a good book at night. By focusing on what you have rather than what you lack, you’ll find strength and wisdom in the most ordinary moments of life.
9. Let go
Learning to let go is an important lesson. Rumi once shared,
“Life is a balance of holding on and letting go.”
These words resonate with me deeply and have made me realize that sometimes, holding on does more harm than good. Sometimes, we need to let go to regain our balance.
Sometimes, it’s necessary for growth and healing.
Remember, life is all about balance – knowing when to hold on and when to let go. It’s about trusting that when one door closes, another opens.
10. Keep learning
Rumi wisely said,
“The cure for pain is in the pain.”
This quote is all about learning from our struggles. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s something we all need to hear.
Life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. There are times when we fall, times when we hurt, times when we feel lost. But here’s the thing – it’s during these painful periods that we learn the most about ourselves.
I’ve had my fair share of painful experiences and I’ve made lots of mistakes. But every time I fell, I learned something new. I learned about resilience, about courage, about perseverance.
The lessons you learn from your struggles will make you stronger and wiser.
At the end of the day, life isn’t about avoiding the storms; it’s about learning how to dance in the rain!
