LESSON OF THE DAY 498

Ayah of the Day:
God created you, and then will take your souls. And some of you are kept back to an old age, such that they know nothing they once knew. For God is Omniscient, Omnipotent. [16: 70]

Hadith of the Day:
Beware of the believer's insight, for he sees by the light of God. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:
I know of nothing more useful to you than four matters: surrender to Allah, to humbly entreat Him, and to perpetually renew your repentance to Him, even if you should repeat a sin seventy times a day. [Ibn Ataillah]

Guidance of the Day:
Transform your relationship to your problems. Obstacles and problems are a part of life. True happiness comes not when we get rid of all of our problems, but when we change our relationships to them, when we see our problems as a potential source of awakening, opportunities to practice patience, and to learn. Perhaps the most basic principle of spiritual life is that our problems are the best places to practice keeping our hearts open.

Certainly some problems need to be solved. Many others, however, are problems we create for ourselves. By struggling to make our life different than it actually is. Inner peace is accomplished by understanding and accepting the inevitable contradictions of life--the pain and pleasure, success and failure, joy and sorrow, births and deaths. Problems can teach us to be gracious, humble, and patient. Difficulties are considered to be so important to a life of growth that it is felt that when life is too easy, there are fewer opportunities for genuine growth.

I wouldn't go so far as to recommend that you seek out problems. I would, however, suggest that if you spend less time running away from problems and trying to rid yourself of them--and more time accepting problems as an inevitable, natural, even important part of life--you will soon discover that life can be more of a dance and less of a battle. The philosophy of acceptance is the root of going with the flow. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
Create an inner harmony where your loving soul guides your physical behavior, rather than having your soul always come in second place.