Saturday, 18 May 2019

Ramadan 2019/1440: Thought of the Day 13


The quote for Day 13 of Ramadan from my box of things to think about is:

“The moment you accept responsibility for everything in your life is the moment you gain the power to change anything in your life” ~ Maulana Rumi (according to quote in box)

When I think of the words of Maulana Rumi, I think spiritual and sometimes a little abstract or with deeper meanings that are not always immediately obvious.  But this quote is clear and direct with a meaning that leaves you with no misunderstandings.  On doing a Google search, it seems that the quote is from Hal Elrod, author of The Miracle Morning, not Maulana Rumi.  Well that’s not so surprising…

The words challenge the million and one excuses we create to give away our own power:
I can’t afford to
I have no time
I don’t have the confidence
I don’t deserve it
I don’t know how
It’s someone else’s fault

As I get older, more and more in life I realise that the biggest blocker in my life to doing anything I want to is me – my confidence, my courage or my self-belief. And more and more I have come to realise that you don’t have to have courage, or self-belief to take steps towards what you want.  You just have to start – the courage and self-belief will grow as a result.

Even when it comes to other people’s behaviour and treatment of you, you cannot step aside from your own role in the situation you find yourself:
What are you willing to accept from others?
What would really happen if you decided to do your own thing?
What if you let go of the need for approval?

I am currently enrolled in a leadership course at work and one of things that the facilitator come back to often is legitimacy: self-belief and its importance in being a good leader in our life – not just work, but community, family and home.  Easier said than done, but if we could turn the concept of confidence on its head so that we are not confident before we can take a step, but take a step so that our confidence and legitimacy can grow then perhaps we an start to take back our power a little at a time.


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