The second Pillar of the spiritual side of success is fasting.

When we think of fasting, we think usually about doing a fasting diet, but we can do a different fast.
It can be fast from something we do every day and often unconsciously,
It can be fasting from sorrows, hectic, and stress, this can be a practice that makes us more aware.
Worry and doubt open up to fear. Hurry and worry are two ways we express our doubt and fear.

What if we today do fast from doubt and fear?

If we catch ourselves hurrying, these are actions that are expressions of fear or finding ourselves worrying,
which is thinking about things and possibilities which may happen or may not happen at all?
We are sending our minds to play with our fear. What if we fast from these problems today and are in our minds with God?
Notice when these Problems come up, catch yourself, and change them. Because even if we have the intention not to worry or hurry,
it will show up unconscious. Let’s slow down and walk in slower steps; let’s take deeper breaths and fast today from all worry, hurry, and doubt.
Whenever stress and doubt come up, be aware and change it, take a deep breath, and slow down.
Do this for a day and see what happens.
Make an appointment with stress, doubt, sorrow, comparison, or fear; tell them, not today; I deal with you another day.

What do you think about fasting from the hurry and worry?
I think it is a good practice for us.
Will you give it a try?

Next time we explore the third Pillar of the spiritual side of success.
It is being of Service.

Here are some quotes about fasting:

“The purpose of fasting is to loosen to some degree the ties which bind us to the world of material things and our 
surroundings as a whole, in order that we may concentrate all our spiritual powers upon the unseen and eternal things.”
Ole Hallesby

“We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving.
Fasting requires that we rediscover all that is alive around us, and reconcile ourselves with our environment.”
Tariq Ramadan

“If you’re having a difficult time making the best decision then consider fasting. Fasting is simply taking something
you regularly do and replacing it with praying and seeking God. For example instead of eating a meal you can take
that time to seek God and allow Him to speak to you about the decision.”
Dan Black

“Fasting is a natural method of healing. When animals or savages are sick, they fast.”
Paramahansa Yogananda

“Religious ascetics, who led their lives abstaining from food, came to the conclusion that fasting improved not only
their spiritual state, but also their physical condition, and through fasting many diseases could be cured.”
Dr. Inamura Motoo

“Fasting is the single greatest natural healing therapy. It is nature’s ancient, universal ‘remedy’ for many problems.” 
Elson Haas

“Fasting is the greatest remedy– the physician within.”
Philippus Paracelsus,

Here I have a little story from another kind of fasting

Reza Shrine Mashhad

When I was living in Iran, I experienced the Ramadan fasting time.
We have been living in Mashhad, which is a holy pilgrimage town for Shiite Muslims.
Mashhad is the capital of the province Khorasan and was in the past a major place along the silk road.
Also famous because of the Poet Ferdowsi and his “Shahnameh.”

An abundance of all kinds of tasty fruits and the most famous Safran grows there.
Mashad is located northeast of Iran near the border of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.
There is a big Mosque called Haram by the people. it is the shrine of the 8th Iman, Imam Reza.

I lived with my husband and my two kids there, in our street and area all the people knew me.
Sometimes, the whole roof around was full of kids, who gathered there to see what I was doing.
There was one store where I used to get my knitting wool and needles. My mother came for a visit and
called the owner, the Super businessman.

the Super businessman

Whenever we showed up at his store, everybody else had to wait.
He has a shelf full of little boxes with no labels on them, and when I was searching for needles or hooks, he was patiently ready to open them all up and let me find the right ones.
Always happy to have a chat with me.

Ramadan time

During Ramadan time, I noticed that the mood of many people was not very good after a while.
I knew this came from not eating and drinking. In the beginning, everybody was ambitious, but after a week, it changed slowly. Every Muslim has to fast, but the sick do not need to fast.
I was studying at that time about different religions and it was interesting to interview the people around, but this would be a whole book to tell about this.

One Ramadan day I visited the store of our Super businessman and saw he was sitting
on the floor and eating. I was astounded and asked him about it. he showed me a huge bandage around his thumb and told me he had cut his finger. It looked much more serious than only a cut. But I knew and smiled, and he smiled back because he
realized I knew what was going on. He said:” I am sick and cannot fast.”
This was his way to avoid fasting in an allowed way.

I was amused by this clever trick.
But good for him and his customers; he was in a good mood.
This was in 1973, today it is not as easy as back then to do tricks like this.
I think fasting should be a decision and not forced, which it is today over there.

Me and my kids on the way to the park of Ferdowsi by Carriage

In front of our house

Would you excuse the Super businessman for his trick and being rather in a good mood than fasting?

Please leave a comment and share your thoughts 

Thank you