LESSON OF THE DAY 489

Ayahs of the Day:
And all in the heavens and all on the earth bow to God, from animals to angels, without being proud; they are in awe of their Lord above them, and they do what they are directed. [16: 49,50]

Hadith of the Day:
Every sin of a martyr is forgiven except debt. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The accomplished spiritual is the one who has achieved the balance between hope and fear. [Abu Othman Sa'ad]

Guidance of the Day:
Do a favor and don't ask for, or expect, one in return. This is a strategy that can help you practice integrating service into your life. It will show you how easy it is and how good it feels to do something nice for someone without expecting anything in return. So often, either consciously or unconsciously, we want something from others, especially when we have done something for them. It's almost as though we keep score of our own good deeds rather than remembering that giving is its own reward.

When you do something nice for someone, just do it, you'll notice (if you are quiet enough inside yourself) a beautiful feeling of ease and peace. Just as vigorous exercise releases endorphins in your brain that make you feel good physically, your acts of loving-kindness release the emotional equivalent. Your reward is the feeling you receive in knowing that you participated in an act of kindness, or don't need something in return or even a "thankyou." In fact, you don't even need to let the person know what you have done.

What interferes with this peaceful feeling is our expectation of reciprocity. Our own thoughts interfere with our peaceful feelings as they clutter our minds, as we get caught up in what we think we want or need. The solution is to notice your "I want something in return" thoughts and gently dismiss them. In the absence of these thoughts, your positive feelings will return. See if you can think of something really thoughtful to do for someone, and don't expect anything in return. When you complete your favor, see if you can tap into the warm feeling of knowing you have done something really nice without expecting anything from the person you have just helped. If you practice, you'll discover that the feelings themselves are reward enough. [Don't Sweat The Small Stuff]

Food for Thought:
Your own expectations are the key to the whole business of mental health. If you expect to be happy, healthy, and fulfilled in life, then that is where you'll place your attention, and that is what you will manifest.