What Fasting Taught me about Mindset and Attitude
Valuable Life Lessons I learned from fasting
Although fasting has many health benefits for the human body that are worth writing about, for the first time in my life I publicly reflect on some of the lessons I learned from fasting regarding the capabilities of our minds in this blog.
Since fasting requires one to abstain from food and water among other things, AlhamduliAllah (Thanks to God) I learned to lock in on the cues that predict eating and tune out everything else that could break my fast. The rules of fasting became a cognitive script that my mind automatically followed whenever I was fasting even if I had not done the act for some time or seen my favorite food. As I fasted more and more days, my cravings shifted to the rewards, feelings, and changes this noble act provided. In the process of fasting, I learned that our mindset and attitude towards something create mental thoughts that form what and how we respond in different situations. For example, whenever I feel hungry during the day when I am not fasting, I crave food and take the action to eat. But when I feel hungry on a day I am fasting, no matter how I crave food, I am able to discipline myself, endure the hunger, and look forward to the rewards that Allah (God) promised.
Fasting taught me that once you purify your intentions and put the effort in, whatever you set your mind to can be achieved. On the contrary, if you approach something with a fixed attitude, the chances are that your experiences in doing such a thing will be reflected through that frame of mind. Again, for instance, a fasting person approaches the day with the attitude, mindset, and plans to not eat and put up the weaknesses that come with an empty stomach and low energy levels and despite that gets done what they are supposed to do.
I learned through fasting that what might seem undoable and impossible to someone else, might be easy for you because of your beliefs and thoughts surrounding that thing. Fasting taught me that humans can tolerate pain so long as they are willing to. Fasting reminds me that once we know the intentions behind our actions and put our trust in Allah (God), we can achieve whatever we set our mind to, so long as we work for it. Fasting reminds me that humans can overcome challenges when they look forward to a reward in the end.
I observed that our beliefs about something make doing it either feel like a joy or a battle. Jus like the way when someone is really passionate about their work, doing it makes life exciting and fulfilling and they only find gratitude no matter how difficult and daunting it might be.
Fasting has helped me grow personally and strengthen my faith. It was a great act through which I learned to be self-aware, patient, prioritize, not waste my energy on unnecessary things, be productive with my time, and be conscious about each and every choice I make. The act of fasting also taught me that determination to achieve something makes the obstacles, the pain, and the challenges that come in the way conquerable.
All of these aforementioned lessons above echo the power of thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs. Therefore, the thesis of this blog is to make sure you evaluate your thoughts and attitudes towards whatever you do. Because, number one, our thought patterns and beliefs play a role in how we view, behave, and do things in life, and number two, we have the power to choose how we think.
