Why Fasting is Spiritually and Physically Beneficial

On By Zeenat Merchant Syal-Counseling Psychologist|Spiritual CounselorIn Heal Your Soul Column, Heart& Soul-Motivation&Inspiration, Mind, Heart& Soul-Motivation&Inspiration, Positive Self Reflection8 Comments

Why Fasting is Spiritually & Physically Beneficial

Fasting is not just staying hungry and thirsty. Its not just staying away from food and water…..

Fasting is an act of cleansing. Cleansing the body, cleansing the mind, cleansing the heart, cleansing the Soul…..cleansing your complete being from all the negativity that we carry within.

As I blur out the outside world and dwell within, I would like to share with you what the Holy month of Ramadan and Fasting truly mean to me.

Having studied almost every religion under the sun, I know for a fact that every community, every faith has a form of fasting embedded within their system. Fasting that is meant to inculcate physical & spiritual growth. Continue reading “Why Fasting is Spiritually and Physically Beneficial” →

8 Positive Life Lessons from Rumi

On By Zeenat Merchant Syal-Counseling Psychologist|Spiritual CounselorIn Heart& Soul-Motivation&Inspiration, Mind, Mind-Mental Health19 Comments

“Study me as much as you like, you will not know me, for I differ in a hundred ways from what you see me be. Put yourself behind my eyes and see me as I see myself, for I have chosen to dwell in a place you cannot see.” ~ Rumi

Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī, also known as Rumi, was a 13th-century Persian poet, jurist, theologian, and Sufi mystic who, and in my personal opinion, wrote some of the most beautiful and most profound words that were ever written.

Rumi’s words, his verses and his poetry has always inspired me. Its moved me at the soul level. Its made me understand so many of life’s truths that sometimes when I sit to soak in his words, I am astounded by what they reveal. You can read the same poetry a hundred times over and each time you will come to understand another layer of the wisdom it offers. Amazing right?!

I was introduced to Rumi by my very brilliant dad. He loved all things poetry and I was always surrounded by books and debates discussing essential life philosophy. I started reading Rumi when I was just 12 years old! While other girls my age read Nancy Drews I was reading Rumi and Gibran…yeah go figure 🙂 I obviously couldn’t process Rumi’s words at the time, but I loved how his words calmed me. Dad would often quote Rumi in his day to day interactions. He would quote him in Urdu, Farsi and English. All these years of being exposed to this Sufi wisdom tends to rub off  🙂
I often say that I am a Sufi at heart. Continue reading “8 Positive Life Lessons from Rumi” →

Positive Prompt for May: Your Positive Growth Depends on This

On By Zeenat Merchant Syal-Counseling Psychologist|Spiritual CounselorIn Mind, Mind-Mental Health, Positive Prompts15 Comments

“I am still learning.” ~ Michelangelo at age 87

Michelangelo (6 March 1475 – 18 February 1564) was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance who is considered to be the greatest living artist during his lifetime, he has since been described as one of the greatest artists of all time.

And even after being considered the greatest living artist of all time, he still said “I am still learning.” at the age of 87. An age where people usually think they have done it all and need to retire and take it easy. Michelangelo at that age knows that he is still learning….That’s the difference between greatness and mediocrity. That’s the difference between humility and ego.

“We now accept the fact that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. And the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn.” ~ Peter Drucker

Are you open to learning everyday? Or do you live in the “I know everything” mode? 

Being closed to learning is like being closed to life itself.

Saying “I know everything” is NOT being wise, its being foolish. If you aren’t learning in every given moment of every given day, then its a waste of the grey matter we are all SO blessed with. Continue reading “Positive Prompt for May: Your Positive Growth Depends on This” →