Ever thought about giving up? Yeah, most people do. There’s no person on earth who has never thought about giving up. It is one of the most common reaction to all problems, especially if one experiences a never-ending string of problems. However, Rumi, the Persian Sunni Muslim poet and theologian reminds us from time to time that problems, cloudy days, and everything in between – they’re only there to mold us into stronger people.
His words are short but on point, and we all need such short and on point quotes every now and then. Because life is so full of surprises, some we may not really want but there’s nothing we can do about it. So on days when things seem to be so bad, on moments when everything feels like it’s about to explode, hold on to a Rumi quote or two.
Keep in mind that you are far stronger than you think you are, and if you got to today, you can sure as hell get to tomorrow. Sure, there are countless moments when the universe feels like it’s going to fall on top of you, but hey, you’re strong enough to carry it on your shoulders. Be reminded of these Rumi quotes.
1. On Doing Beautiful
Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. ~ Rumi
Beautiful everything, that is. I know, I know, we all have cloudy days… but even in days when we don’t want to create, it’s important to know that you have the ability to do beautiful things. And these are usually what you love. You may not want to do them today, or you may not find a thing or two that you love, but you have it. Somewhere within you. Just be easy on yourself and in no time, you’ll get back to it.
2. On Being Born of Love
We are born of love. ~ Rumi
Fine, so this is a literal one, but Rumi knows there’s something more in this line. And there is, definitely. The thing about dark days is that we either feel nothing or a lot of feelings all at once. Our universe is either too quiet or too chaotic, and neither of those are good words to live. Thus, those days, know that there is love somewhere, and this love grows within you. You and only you own it.
3. On Dealing with Unhappiness
Why should I be unhappy? Every parcel of my being is in full bloom. ~ Rumi
Fine,, so we all have days when happiness feels like a mystery. Or more like an unknown entity. But please dear human, remember that your body is composed of happy cells. Literally happy cells. Know that while today may be a little gloomy, you can create happy moments in gloomy days. It’s not easy but it’s definitely worth it. You don’t really have to defeat unhappiness. You just have to learn how to dance with it.
4. On Reflecting Love
This is a subtle truth: whatever you love, you are. ~ Rumi
For most of us, when we love something, we think we can’t be it. I mean, just imagine how many people go to a museum, fall in love with the art, and then whisper to themselves how they wish they are an artist of some sort. You are. Because you are whatever you love. No matter how silly that sounds, no matter how impossible it feels, you are what you love. Because that’s exactly how the world works.
5. On Knowing What Is More Important
Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows the flowers, not thunder. ~ Rumi
How many times have you thought that the person who has the louder voice is the person winning? I often hear this from various people. they think as long as you got the loudest voice, you win the fight. Sorry to burst your bubble but this isn’t really how it works. Nobody cares about how loud your voice is. What the universe cares about is what you’re saying. What words you’re using. Because even in bad days, words matter.
6. On the Power of Love
Be foolishly in love, because love is all there is. ~ Rumi
Things can be really bad at time, we all know that. But no matter how bad things may seem to be, always remember love. It may not make your day better but it will surely remind you of why you’re still alive. Because you love yourself enough to stay alive and because there are people around who loves you too. See, it may sound like an ordinary pretty ordinary. It probably is. But no matter how ordinary, love is proven to keep us on track.
7. On Letting Your Soul Guide
My soul is my guide. ~ Rumi
This is probably one of my personal fave of Rumi quotes. Instead of being obsessed with taking control and wanting to know all the answers to everything, allow yourself to be in the unknown. Allow yourself to accept the fact that there are just some things you cannot control and things you have no idea about. This is when you give your soul a chance to guide you. And when it does, go follow. It will surely bring you some peace and clarity about life.
8. On Accepting Troubles
The moment you accept what troubles you’ve been given, the door will open. ~ Rumi
Okay, just to make it clear, accepting doesn’t mean surrendering to troubles and letting it take over your life. Accepting means acknowledging that you have troubles. Because there’s really no other way around. You have to acknowledge these things because that’s only when you will have full understanding of what this trouble is. Dark days don’t give warnings, so when they arrive. Let them in and get to know them, in order to know how to make them leave.
9. On the Beauty of Heartbreaks
You have to keep breaking your heart until it opens. ~ Rumi
When was the last time your heart broke and you thought, you could never do it again? You told yourself you’d be a lot wiser next time or you won’t give your all. This is pretty much why we experience heartbreaks in the first place. It’s not about you being a terrible person. It’s about life, giving us means and ways to learn lessons we can only learn through experiencing pain. It may be unbearably painful today but tomorrow, you’ll be over it.
10. On Seeking
What you seek is seeking you. ~ Rumi
What have you been looking for these past days? Have you been searching for love? success? Experience and the unknown? Have you been wanting to go out there and you’re looking for ways to do so? These things you’re seeking, they’re also looking for you. They’re waiting for you to get to them. This may sound insane or corny but in reality, it is this kind of mentality that allows us to get through the bad days. Because we know that someone, something out there is looking for us.
11. On Everything Exciting
Respond to every call that excites your spirit. ~ Rumi
Honestly, when was the last time you did this? The last time for told yourself to forget about the fears and worries and just do that thing that is making your soul jump in glee. See, we all want to be on the safe side. We all want to go for things that feel okay and where we’re sure we’re safe. Go out there, dear readers. Spend your dark days in unfamiliar places that your spirit wants to explore.
12. On Letting Go
Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop. ~ Rumi
Sometimes, bad days are caused by unknown entities from this universe. Other days, it is caused by things that we just can’t let go of. I know, there are so many things in life that are difficult to let go, but like this Rumi quote, let the dead leaves drop. Stop the habit of holding on to things that either don’t matter anymore or things that aren’t doing you any good. Because, well, they just won’t do you any good.
13. On Choosing Where to Stay
Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open? ~ Rumi
I love how liberating this Rumi quote is. I mean, don’t you agree that sometimes, we forget that we have the choice to stay or to leave? Don’t you think that while this is something so important, for some unknown reasons, we easily forget it. Keep in mind that on your crappy, sad days, you have the option to leave. The door is wide open, and it takes a brave man to step out. Be that brave man this universe needs to see.
14. On Listening
There is a vice that doesn’t use words. Listen. ~ Rumi
There’s no such thing as defeating an enemy that you can’t really see. Or perhaps defeating an enemy that you didn’t know was coming. Thus, Rumi was on point with this quote where he talks about the vice that we don’t use words. See, we all have to learn how to listen carefully. We all have figure out the vices that moves through this world without words. This is the only way to get around it.
15. On Letting Love In
Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. ~ Rumi
On our most cloudy days, one of the common things we do is shut down. As in, not let any emotion in. It’s always easier to drown in negativity and gloom than to seek for love and light. But keep in mind that nothing else can spare us from these crappy days but love. So let yourself be drawn to it. Allow love to enter you space, and you will realize exactly how powerful it is than you might’ve originally thought.
16. On Showing Who You Are
Tear off the mask. Your face is glorious. ~ Rumi
When was the last time you became true to yourself? Do you remember the last moment you decided to care less about what others think and more about how you feel? This can be one of the many reasons why your gloomy days are staying longer – because you’re not proud of your own skin. You’re beautiful, dear. Always believe in that and always let that beauty show. Because at the end of the day, after all the dark days, it’s just going to be you and your beauty.
17. On Keep Going
If all you can do is crawl, start crawling. ~ Rumi
How many times have you heard the phrase keep going? You’re probably sick and tired of it. All your friends and family keep telling you to keep going and you’re tired of it. Worry not, dear. You’re not the only person feeling this way. It sucks, I know. But the thing is, keep going is all you got. Instead of yammering how tired you are, learn how to pause. And then after pausing, get back to keep going.
18. On Changing Yourself
Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself. ~ Rumi
See, it’s not about you changing the world. Because really, there’s no such thing. It’s all about changing yourself to be the kind of person the world would want to welcome. Be the person who has impact. That’s how life is meant to be lived, anyway. So on days when all you can see is darkness, remember the impact you caused on someone else’s life. Remember how much you affected other people in a good way.
19. On the Beauty in Small Things
Behind every atom of this world hides an infinite universe. ~ Rumi
The thing about us, people, is that we only see the surface of things. We only see the beauty when it’s right in front of us. when it’s the one and only obvious thing. Take time to dissect things. and mean, really dissect. Take time to see how much beauty hides even in small things and things you never thought beauty could grow. Because even when you think there’s nothing, there will always be something.
20. On Living Carefree
Run from what’s comfortable. Forget safety. Live where you fear to live. Destroy your reputation. Be notorious. ~ Rumi
Seriously though, what’s the point of living when you’re living in constraints? When you’re being ruled by rules and regulations… that’s nothing but a very sad and controlled life, my friend. Definitely not the kind of life you’d want to have. thus, instead of building walls and making rules, go and live freely. Forget the rules and safety, and keep in mind that life is all about daring choices and freedom. Because that’s exactly what it is.
21. On Going Forth
My soul is from elsewhere, I’m sure of that. And I intend to end up there. ~ Rumi
Tell me, where do you plan to be? What kind of life do you see yourself living? See, we all have these dream lives, right? I mean, who doesn’t? And on cloudy days, most of us forget about it. don’t you ever forget about your dream life. You may not be able to live that today, but soon, with hard work and persistence, you will be able to live the kind of life you’ve always wanted. And when that day comes, you will realize how strong you truly are.
22. On the Role of Feelings
Feelings are just visitors, let them come and go. ~ Rumi
This is probably one of the best ways to look at feelings. Instead of seeing them as permanent roommates, see them as visitors. I know, this sounds a little crazy, but there are better ways to look at feelings that how you’re looking at them now. If you consider them as visitors that would just come and go, you find it easier to deal with the bad emotions. Because you know that one day, they will go. They will leave.
23. On Rising
You’ve seen my descent. Now watch my rising. ~ Rumi
Do you think you’re done? Do you think you will always stay in rock bottom and not be happy ever again? That’s exactly how the universe wants you think. Don’t. Know that you have the power and the choice to stand up and rise. Know that you are capable of doing things the world never thought you could. Keep this kind of mentality and believe it or not, your bad days will be gone in no time.
24. On Burning
Being a candle is not easy. In order to give light, one must first burn. ~ Rumi
Have you ever considered burning for someone else? By burning, I mean, giving more than you could give because you love them so much. It’s tough, it’s it? It’s tough to be the giver all the time. And it’s okay if you feel tired about it. We all know being a candle is not easy. So when your days are just so dark, know that you can choose to be still in darkness for a little while. Your exhausted body and mind will understand.
25. On Being Big
Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion. ~ Rumi
Have you ever actually told yourself about this? That you are so big and so strong and that you can do so many things. Yes, you can. In case you’re forgetting it, you can do so much, my dear. Know that you can be the change or spark a change. Either way, that’s magical. And the best part, the universe is on your side. Maybe not every day, but most of the time, when you decide to give life your everything and leave bid sadness goodbye, you will feel how the universe is cheering for you.
