General
If you’re not content with your own situation, you can’t be happy. If you’re not aware of what you have, you can’t be happy. Unfortunately, many people have become insatiable; they’re never satisfied. Of course, it’s not wrong to always want something better or more beautiful. But first, let’s take a moment to calm down and look at the blessings we have. Our most important blessing is our health. There are so many people around us who have lost their health. If people who say they’re unhappy were to visit hospitals, they’d quickly realize what a blessing they have. We’ve forgotten how to be grateful. In all our prayers, when we say “estağfurullah” and “elhamdülillah,” we’re essentially saying “I ask for forgiveness” and “Thank you, God.” Of course, if you repeat these like memorized phrases, they lose their meaning. We need to repeat them not like parrots, without understanding their essence, but with a genuine awareness of their meaning. Of course, our dreams should be lofty; of course, we should strive for something better—but at the same time, we must give thanks. We no longer give thanks, nor are we satisfied with what we have. We buy the house we’ve dreamed of for years, but the moment we buy it, we lose our excitement. Everything loses its meaning almost immediately.
The frenzy of consumption is pushing people to spend a little more every day. People shouldn’t lose touch with their true feelings. Once we cross that line, there’s no turning back—we start wanting more and more without limit, and we become insatiable. We become like a truck with failed brakes. We need to calm down a bit. We need to stop and observe. That’s where mindfulness begins. We need to look at what we actually have. We panic, thinking, “I’m healthy, I have a family, my career is going well… But my friend has more, and I have less!” We compare ourselves and our beauty to another image, to another person. We compare our appearance, our homes, our cars, the jewelry we wear, and even our children. But if we calm down, we can truly appreciate life. We must never forget this. To avoid saying years from now, “Why didn’t I realize the value of what I had?” we must free ourselves from the greed that throws us off course. We often encounter people—who have healthy, happy families, successful careers, and degrees from prestigious schools—yet make a problem out of their lives simply by focusing on the empty half of the glass because of their extra weight. There’s still some space left at the top of the glass—so what if there’s a little empty space? No one is perfect. Besides, how could anything ever be perfect?
When we sense the birds in flight, the rustling leaves, and the sun rising in the morning, we can realize the meaning of life. Let’s start using our five senses a little more consciously and begin to notice the life flowing past us. We didn’t come into this world just to work and make money. Of course, being successful is a good thing. But if you think of life as a journey, you’ll enjoy that journey. Think of a bus ride. If you keep your eyes closed the whole way and only open them when you reach the final stop, the entire journey will have been for nothing. Don’t travel in vain—enjoy the ride.
The only difference between those who are happy and those who aren’t lies in “doing.” We shouldn’t compare ourselves to others; we should be grateful, learn to calm down and pause, and take a moment to reflect on ourselves. We should ask ourselves, “What’s happening in my life right now?” The biggest cause of unhappiness is failing to recognize what we already have. If we don’t show gratitude, the universe won’t give us things to be grateful for. If you don’t appreciate it, don’t thank it, or don’t express your gratitude, the universe will give you situations where you won’t receive the appreciation you deserve or get what you’re entitled to. “The universe is like a mirror. It gives you exactly what you are.”
We are guests in this universe; we came here, and we must be grateful for the blessings we have been given. Just as we say thank you when we are offered something as guests in someone’s home, we must also be grateful for the blessings the universe has given us. The more we give thanks, the more there will be to be grateful for!