Cultivating Positive Emotions Before Ramadan
Dr. Samar Harfi (Licensed Clinical Psychologist)
Ramadan is not merely a month of fasting– but an opportunity for self-reflection and self-improvement. It can also be an opportunity to foster a healthier attitude towards improving our mental well-being. Nurturing positive emotions, though it may seem cliché, is a key factor in enhancing spiritual engagement, allowing us to experience and express our faith more deeply.
Embracing Positivity: Beyond Happiness
Positive emotions do not simply mean being happy all the time. Life is unpredictable —challenges, disappointments, and hardships are inevitable. True positivity is not simply about avoiding struggles but about transforming them into opportunities for growth. Just as animal waste nourishes the soil to produce beautiful gardens, our difficulties can become the fertilizer that strengthens our faith, patience, and resilience. When faced with hardships we might find ourselves feeling defeated. With informed and intentional shifting of our mindset— a hardship that “stinks” can become an opportunity to learn meaningful lessons, make heartfelt dua, and orient our hearts to trust that Allah’s wisdom is greater than our immediate understanding of life. Ramadan helps us rediscover appreciation of the small things through that first bite as we break our fast, engage in perseverance as we continue to fulfill our responsibility despite exhaustion and attain spiritual clarity as we practice self-discipline.
Gratitude: A Reality Changer
Attention shapes our reality moment to moment. When we focus on what we are grateful for, our perspective shifts toward one of abundance. By recognizing the blessings we have and the hardships we are spared from, we cultivate a more positive and fulfilling reality. Starting with small actions, such as journaling three things you’re grateful for each day or mindfully reflecting on Alhamdulillah, can significantly uplift your mood and enhance your overall well-being.
Blessings exist all around us, but as you start an intentional shift of your attention towards gratitude, you will start to notice more blessings in your life. With this mindset, your heart will fill with joy, your sense of displeasure will diminish, and your emotional reactions to challenges will become more balanced.
Dua: The Ultimate Positive Affirmation
Verbalizing our needs, hopes and feelings allows us to acknowledge our vulnerabilities– fostering self-reflection, clarity and emotional release. Self-affirmations have been shown to have many benefits including rewiring our brains to more positive patterns, increasing self-confidence, and fostering a more optimistic outlook. While self-affirmations only rely on self-belief and internal motivation, dua is rooted in complete trust in Allah’s wisdom and power. Putting our feelings and desires into words through dua, paired with unwavering trust in Allah’s wisdom, shifts our mindset from fear to faith, from uncertainty to reassurance.
May this Ramadan bring us all deep contentment and tranquility on our journey back home.
* To prevent oversimplification of human challenges, premature hopelessness or spiritual bypassing, it is important to keep in mind that more severe mental health pathology or significant emotional distress need specialized, professional support. These challenges can make it difficult to fully engage with or benefit from certain lessons, including those that are spiritual or Islamic. Therefore, a personalized approach, tailored to individual needs, is essential for effective healing and growth.