Learning from Fasting and Silence

Today is the fourth day this month I've fasted and kept silence in the hopes that I wouldn't be bothered by life's little annoyances. I realized that it is important that I not speak if the only purpose is to soothe my ego. Instead of engaging in ego-driven speech, quiet forgiveness is a more appropriate response.

But if someone has wronged me, and forgiveness is not in my heart, it can be even more destructive to fake forgiveness. Forgiveness must be genuine to be effective.

Forgiveness can be achieved through appreciation. It ties back to my belief that I must appreciate each person I come in contact with. True forgiveness also requires empathy. Everyone has their own issues and problems. We don't know what others go through, so we must attempt to be empathetic and not judge others.

More Lessons from Fasting and Silence

As I continue my weekly day of fasting and silence, I've realized that it often doesn't matter if we're right or wrong, it's our reaction that is most important. Even if we're right in a disagreement, if we react badly, our reaction then becomes the issue.

This week, I was nearly hit by a crazy driver. Then, as I tried to merge, and the woman would not let me do so, running me off the road and onto the shoulder. I honed and stuck my hand out to tell the woman to stop. The woman began honking and yelling wildly. I reacted poorly. I stuck my middle finger out at her and screamed at her indignantly that she had nearly swerved into me and then tried to run me off the road.

Had I reacted more appropriately, I would have completely held the moral authority. Instead, I ceded that power with my reaction. It stems back to not allowing things to bother me. And that comes from appreciation.

At 2am last night, I took a walk in the neighborhood. I had been fasting and silent for two hours. Electricity flew through my body. What I realized is that even seemingly mundane moments can create that feeling if we recognize that there is beauty in everything in this world.

Self-Belief through Silence and Fasting

Today, I've been fasting and not speaking. This is the second Thursday in a row. If something bothers me, I will say something about it, but I want to get to a place where I am not bothered by the aggravations of life.

Today, I've focused on seeing my own value as a person. If I can better appreciate myself and understand that I can and do contribute a lot to this world, then I will be confident enough in my own skin to not allow others to shake that self-belief. I've thought about specific things that I feel self-conscious about it and tried to diagnose why I feel this way.

It mostly comes down to societal expectations. I have my own value system and my own beliefs that do not always compute with those of society's. I do not have much money and I can't claim to possess other status symbols, but that isn't what is important to me. Being a loving, compassionate, and empathetic person is important to me.

Fasting and Silence

Today, I'm fasting and keeping silent. I'm hoping this will help me to not be bothered by little things as much. It's about sacrifice. If I sacrifice, I appreciate more. If I'm more appreciative, I become more content.

I can also learn to appreciate others, even if they are acting negatively. Often times, it is our own reaction that counts. If we act in a poor manner, it really doesn't matter if our actions are justified or not. So, we must act appropriately at all times and not allow others to influence the way we act. We can do that by realizing everyone has something to teach us. We must appreciate everyone, because each person has a lesson to teach us, whether they know it or not.

This sacrifice has also showed me that I must be compassionate to others. You never know what another person is going through. Right now, I haven't eaten all day and am unable to speak. I would hope people would be understanding when interacting with me in this condition. I must show that same understanding and empathy to everyone else.