Key Points:
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Rumi was a highly regarded Persian poet and scholar who lived during the 13th century in and around the area of what today is Iran. He had an incredibly strong influence on Persian literature and Sufism in particular. For those not familiar with it, Sufism is a specific type of Islam that focuses on the concept of finding God by looking inwards and learning about oneself.
His inspiring thoughts on love and humanity changed the course of the modern world. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential poets of all time and his poem Mathnawi has been said to be the greatest poem ever written. Today, his words are still popular among people who share a common interest in spirituality, self-help, and philosophy.
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Here are 10 quotes by Rumi that will help you understand life better:
1. On what real legacy is.
Most of us grow up believing that our legacy should be some grand gesture that will help change the world for the better. What we don’t realize is that in order to create those ripple effects we should first start by focusing on ourselves. Spending time on learning who we are, what we want out of life, and understanding how our struggles shaped us. All those things, and the ability to share them openly, can create a safe space for others to do the same. That in turn can be the lifelong legacy of change we always dreamed of.
2. On surrounding yourself with the right people.
Have you ever heard the phrase “you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with”? We’re pretty confident Rumi would agree with whoever said it. His version of the saying tries to convey a similar idea. Spend time finding what sets your life on fire and then find people who will encourage that. Whether that’s a hobby, a new job, or a new city, it’s important you choose people that will want to see you happy and succeeding.
3. On the power you hold within you.
When we feel lonely it can sometimes be hard to remember that even when surrounded by others, we’re still technically on our own. Your journey through life is only yours. You will meet people along the way whose paths will cross with yours for a while. But in the end, we all walk through life on our own two feet.
4. On unleashing your inner self.
You were born with immense potential in you. Be careful to never let other people, or society, convince you otherwise. Discover what you love and what you’re good at, then take the time to develop that skill. Face any fears that may come up during that journey. From there, all that is left is to spread your wings and allow that passion to lead the way.
5. On choosing your own path.
Have you ever given up a project or a big passion of yours for fear of what others would say? That they would make fun of you, or judge you for trying something new? Rumi teaches us that we should never allow others to dictate our choices. We should approach those things we enjoy and want to do with conviction and passion. Because in the end, it’s not them who will put in the work and reap the rewards but us.
6. On looking inwards and not outwards.
Jealousy can be a difficult emotion to deal with, especially when it comes to experiences, we wish we had ourselves. Seeing someone else achieve what we deeply want can be jarring and upsetting. But if we focus on ourselves and the work that we can do, we’ll feel less inclined to compare ourselves. If we do end up comparing, knowing we’re working towards our objective will make the sting less intense.
7. On the joy of helping others.
It’s often the case that when we think about what we need to be happy we only come up with things that affect us directly. We never consider how helping others actually can bring us even more satisfaction. It’s also worth keeping in mind that this is not a new concept. There are reasons people that are truly happy, spend hours volunteering helping their communities. It’s also something Rumi was a big advocate for. In this quote, he maintains that being a guide to other people, helping them through pain or confusion, is one of the best things we can choose to do.
8. On what fulfillment really is.
Have you ever noticed that when you feel truly fulfilled its normally when you’re doing something that seems small? Like hanging out with friends, finally finishing that big project, or waking up to a random warm and sunny day. In those moments you’re experiencing gratitude. And learning how to feel that way every day can create a deep sense of fulfillment. It soothes our mind and soul making it hard to let negative things get to us.
9. On where anxiety comes from.
Perfection will always be like that little voice inside your head telling you you’re not good enough. That if you’re not doing things exactly right then there’s no reason to do them at all. But we all know, all that does is create a sense of anxiety and dread any time we start doing something new. Rumi offers us a solution to those feelings by explaining that the search for perfection (or harmony, in his words) is not what we should be aiming for. Instead, we should embrace imperfection, and a bit of chaos, in order to find that calmness and peace.
10. On leaving those you love.
Goodbyes can be a difficult thing to go through. From family members moving abroad, to work friends changing jobs, to your favorite hang-out spot closing down. But Rumi tells us that goodbyes are only there when we appreciate those things at surface level. When instead we carry them deep within our memories they’re never really gone. Anytime we miss them we can bring up said memories and relive them all over again.
Related Readings
Professional Leadership Institute is an educational website providing professionals from all types of businesses with practical education in entrepreneurial leadership. To keep evolving your leadership toolkit, additional PLI resources below will be useful:
