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Practising Patience and How to Stay Focused and Positive During Hard Times

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Practising Patience and How to Stay Focused and Positive During Hard Times

Tough times come, and tough times go. But sometimes, it can feel like you can’t get ahead and things just continue to pile up It just doesn’t seem like it can get anywhere worse – and then it does, and does again. So how do we maintain our patience during times that test us?

To accept that difficult times are going to happen, whether we always do good or not is a skill.

Patience has been mentioned multiple times in the Quran and the Sunnah of the beloved Prophet (SAW). It has such a great status in the sight of Allah and in Islam. It is one of the best deeds and has limitless rewards.

Allah Almighty said in the Holy Quran:

“Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without Hisaab (without limit, calculation, and estimation).”(Quran, 39:10).

Islam is a complete code and guide for how to live and lead a life that Allah (SWT) would be pleased of.

Allah (SWT) said to those who are facing difficulties or trials that He is with them by guiding and supporting them and granting them a clear victory.

 

Allah said:

“Surely, Allah is with those who are As‑Saabiroon (the patient)” (Quran, 8:46).

 

From this verse of the Holy Quran, we can say that no matter what’s the situation we are facing we should be faithful and patient as Allah is with us, He will never leave us alone.

 

The Reward of Patience

Everything is about perspective. If you see everything that happens or comes your way is from Allah, and that everything happens for a reason, you are more inclined to think about the lessons from it instead of why things happened. Patience is a virtue, and it enables us to proceed towards worthy goals.

Ever been in a state where something terrible happens to you and you just feel like it was THE worst thing that could have EVER happened? But when you look back on them, you realize that a difficult time had happened for good to come. This is why it is important to have patience during at all times, especially when you feel like things are going all wrong. By believing that Allah (SWT) wanted things to go the way they do, then we can better appreciate our lives and the things we go through. By seeing obstacles as a lesson and a blessing, our perspective changes.

Always remember that your patience will never go unrewarded whether it is in this life or the next. The reward of every deed is known except for patience, imagine being amongst those who the angels will salute on the day of judgement- yes those will be the people of patience.

 

“…And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, [saying],”Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home.” [ar-Ra’d 13:23-24].

 

We are encouraged to always  Alhamdulillah, no matter the situation.

“And seek help in patience and As-Salah and truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for humbly submissive [to Allah]”[Quran chapter 2, Verse 45].

 

 

 

How to Make Wudu Before Praying Your Daily Salats and When You Need to Redo Your Wudu

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How to Make Wudu Before Praying Your Daily Salats and When You Need to Redo Your Wudu

1. Start with intention. Everything we do in life stems from our intention for the outcome. Before you begin making wudu, make the intention to purify yourself before performing salat.

2. Start with pouring water on both palms and wash up to your wrists. Run a finger through your fingers, and make sure no parts of your hands are left dry. This action is to be performed three times.

3. Rinse your mouth thoroughly, and inhale water gently into the nose with your right hand, and exhale and clean it out with your left hand. This action is to be performed three times.

4. Wash your face completely, and be sure to not leave any part of your face is left dry. This action is to be performed three times.

5. Wash your right hand and all the way up to and including your elbow. Make sure no part of your right hand, all the way up to your elbow, is left dry. This action is to be performed three times.

6. Repeat step 5 with your left hand and elbow.

7. Wipe both your wet hands over your head, from front to the back. Then wipe from the back of the head starting from the nape of your neck to the front of your head. This action is to be performed only once.

8. Wipe inside of your ears with your index finger and outside of both of your ears with your thumb. This action is to be performed only once.

9. To clean the feet, first start with your right foot and wash it thoroughly all the way up to and including the ankle. Use your left hand to run water through your toes using your pinky finger.

10. Repeat step 9 with your left foot and ankle, this time using your right hand to clean in between the toes.

 

What to Do After Performing Your Wudu

Recite this dua below upon completing your wudu:

Ashhadu ‘an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la shareeka lahu, wa ‘ashhadu ‘ana Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasooluhu.

Allahummaj ‘alni minat-tawwabeena waj’alni minal-mutatahhireen

I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone and I testify that Muhammad (SWT) is His slave and His Messenger. (Muslim)

O Allah make me among those who repent and make among those who keep (themselves) pure. (Timridhi)

What will break your Wudu

There are several things that will break your wudu and require you to re-perform prior to praying your salat. These are:

  1. Falling into a deep sleep.
  2. Eating camel’s meat.
  3. If you pass urine, excrement, or wind.
  4. If you touch your private area without any cover.
  5. If you lose consciousness due to fainting or lose your senses due to madness.

Allah knows best.

What happens if you Do Not Have Access to Water?

If you do not have access to water or you only have enough to drink from or is contaminated, you can perform a dry ablution or Tayammum.

The process for this is done by these following steps:

  1. May the intention to purify yourself and your heart, and say Bismillah, which translates to In the Name of Allah.
  2. Place your palms on clean earth or dust, for example, the wall or stone.
  3. Blow into your palms.
  4. Wipe both of your palms over your face.
  5. Wipe your right palm with your left palm.
  6. Make the dua for when you have completed your wudu (see above)

 

We hope that this helps you in making proper wudu to purify yourself prior to performing your daily salats. As said in the Quran:

 

Allah does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you. (5:6)

 

 

 

Why You Should Read the Quran During Ramadan and How to Complete it This Month

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Why You Should Read the Quran During Ramadan and How to Complete it This Month

Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar and is when the Quran was revealed. It would only be fitting to be a time when the Quran is read with attention and comprehension.

Ramadan brings about a time filled with love, happiness, and rewards – lots of them! The mere mention of Ramadan brings prayer and Quran to our minds.

Allah (SWT) mentions in the Quran that:

The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. (Quran 2:185)

The Holy Quran was revealed to us in the month of Ramadan and on the night of Laylatul Qadr. Every single letter of the Quran that is recited hold ten rewards! Now imagine knowing to have this multiplied 70 times! Did you also know By knowing this, it is necessary to know about the essentials in reciting the Quran during Ramadan and easy ways to complete it.

Photo by Syed Hussaini on Unsplash

Nowadays our spare time (if we ever have any!) is filled with social media, Netflix, and other non-extracurricular activities. Time is never enough for anyone, and most people hardly find time to read the Quran. However, Ramadan brings the best opportunity to bring us closer to Allah (SWT) through Quran. Reciting the Quran serves as a good study and contemplation over the wise words of Allah (SWT). While the Arabic speaking Muslims can seek the help of Tafsir, those who do not speak Arabic can read or listen to an authentic translation of Quran.

It is mentioned in the Quran that:

[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded. (Quran 38:29)

5 Easy Steps to Consider to Help You Complete the Quran During Ramadan

The Quran may look like it’s a lot to read from cover to cover, but it is the most valuable book you will ever need in this life. To make the most of this beautiful month, we put together a few easy tips to get our minds in the right headspace so we can maximize our time.

Have a True Intention to Not Only Read the Quran, but to Complete it During Ramadan

Islam puts value in our intention, or niyaah, and our actions are based on our intentions. If you have the intention to not only recite the Quran or read its translation in the language best for you to understand it, you are already making headway.

By making a goal to complete the entire Quran during Ramadan, you can then make time for this goal and replace unnecessary activities or hobbies you would usually participate in. Remind yourself regularly about your true intention for this goal to help you stay on track.

Make a Plan That Fits into Your Schedule and Write it Down!

It may seem like an impossible task, but this could be due to you comparing your time with someone else’s who seems to have more time to spare than you do. Not everyone has the same day-to-day schedule, so make your own plan that works best for you without stressing yourself out. Write down our anticipated schedule the night before so you can see the things you have to do (go to work, drop off your kids at school, go to class), and see the gaps that are available for you fill in. Schedule in your Quran recitation times so you won’t feel hurried or anxious about the time you are spending on doing so.

You can also make use of a few minutes before and after each obligatory prayer where you are already making time for Allah (SWT). Other good times can be when your kids are napping, on the bus or subway during your daily commutes, or just before you begin iftar preparations.

Revisit your schedule every night before bed or every other day to tweak as needed and see what times worked well and what times can be adjusted.

 

Read with Comprehension and Contemplation

If you are unable to read or understand Arabic, don’t be too hard on yourself. There are now translations of the Quran in almost every language, Alhamdulillah! You can read each and every verse of the Quran and it’s translation and meaning. By reading with meaning and reciting with understanding, it can make you more appreciative of the beauty of Islam and encourage you to learn more and practice long after Ramadan has passed.

 

Take Advantage of Every Moment of Ramadan!

During Ramadan, try your best to recite and understand as much of the Quran you are able to daily. This doesn’t mean countless hours per day and it does not serve to be considered a hard task or chore. By realizing the limited time a month has, you can make more time and cut out doing things that are unimportant or that can wait until after Ramadan is over.

Consistency is Key to Making a Habit Stick!

Did you ever hear that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit? Ramadan has 30 beautiful days and this can serve as an excellent time to make healthy habits and discontinue harmful ones. By making your time with Allah (SWT) reading and understanding the Quran daily, you are better able to make time for Allah (SWT) even when Ramadan is over.

Ramadan is a true blessing every year it comes around. It serves as a reminder for everyone to re-focus on good habits and try to end ones that aren’t beneficial. By indulging more in the Quran it can help reconnect our minds and hearts to Allah (SWT). This can be easy for some, but a serious challenge for others. By making a plan best designed for you to help complete the Quran, you are better able to stick to your goal and remain consistent throughout this month. May this Ramadan be your turning point and your best one yet, Ameen!

How to Ease into Fasting for the Month of Ramadan By Intermittent Fasting and its Benefits

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How to Ease into Fasting for the Month of Ramadan By Intermittent Fasting and its Benefits

Ramadan is fast approaching and preparing is important to do especially for the long spring and summer fasting days. Intermittent fasting is a useful method to help in this transition. It is a timed approach to eating and unlike a dietary plan that restricts where calories come from, intermittent fasting does not specify what foods a person should eat or avoid.

Intermittent fasting involves cycling between periods of eating and fasting. At first, it may be difficult to eat during a short window of time each day. Here are tips on the best way to begin fasting, including identifying personal goals, planning meals, and establishing caloric needs.

Identify Personal Goals

Typically, a person who starts intermittent fasting has a goal in mind. It may be to lose weight, improve overall health, or to get in the habit of fasting during the days of Sunnah. A person’s ultimate goal will help them determine the most suitable fasting method and work out how many calories and nutrients they need to consume.

Alternate Day Fasting Using the 5:2 Method

Some people fast on alternate days to improve blood sugar, cholesterol, and weight loss. You can also try to incorporate the sunnah of fasting on Mondays and Thursdays to get you on track for Ramadan every year. The idea behind the 5:2 method is to consume 500 to 600 calories on two non-consecutive days each week. For the rest of the week, you consume only the number of calories that you burn during the day. Over time, this creates a habit and mentally and physically prepares you for the month of Ramadan.

Figure Out Caloric Needs

There are many tools available to help you work out your caloric needs and determine how many calories they need to consume each day to sustain daily physical and mental needs of our bodies. Once you have an idea of your necessary caloric needs, you can then work out meal ideas that can meet these requirements and give you the energy you need to last the days of Ramadan.

Figure Out a Meal Plan

Meal planning offers many benefits, such as helping you to find creative and healthy ways to stay alert, energetic, and provide the necessary nutrition your body needs. It can help you ensure you have the essential foods on hand for cooking recipes, quick meals, and snacks to munch on during the hours we are able to eat.

If you are interested in losing or gaining weight, having a meal plan in place may help to plan what you are going to eat during the day or week. This also goes for someone who is interested in fasting throughout the month of Ramadan.

Meal planning does not need to be overly restrictive. It considers calorie intake and can help you to incorporate proper nutrients into the diet.

Make the Calories Count

Not all calories are the same! Although there isn’t set restrictions on how many calories a person should consume when fasting, it is essential to consider the nutritional value of the food.

In general, you should aim to consume nutrient-dense food or food with a high number of nutrients per calorie. You may not have to abandon junk food entirely, but you should still practice moderation and focus on healthier options to gain the most benefits.

How Effective is Intermittent Fasting?

Fasting has several effects on a person’s body. These effects include:

  • Reducing levels of insulin, which makes it easier for the body to use stored fat.
  • Lowering blood sugars, blood pressure, and inflammation
  • Changes gene expressions, which helps the body protect itself from disease as well as promoting longevity.
  • Dramatically increases human growth hormone, or HGH, which helps the body utilize body fat and grow muscle.
  • Encourages your body to activate a healing process called autophagy, which essentially means that the body eats up its own damaged cells.

Other research backs up the claims that fasting can help a person lose weight.

Effects of Fasting on Exercise

For healthy individuals, intermittent fasting should not affect their ability to exercise except during the period when the body is adjusting to the new eating schedule. After the adjustment period, a person should not feel any ill effects from fasting on their exercise routine.

If you are worried about losing muscle while fasting, be sure to consume enough protein during eating periods and participate in resistance training regularly. By keeping protein intake up, you are less likely to lose muscle mass from fasting.

For more information on intermittent fasting and using a keto diet, be sure to check out HVMN post on both! We also share their article on our site, click here to access it as well.

 

Infertility Does Not Define Me

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Infertility Does Not Define Me
  • Trying to Conceive Since 2007
  • of IUI (Intra Uterine Insemination) Cycles – 3
  • of IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) Cycles – 3
  • Eggs Retrieved – 22
  • Eggs Remaining – 7
  • Pregnancies – 2
  • Miscarriages – 3

Found my calling for a life without children in 2016. Still, infertility does not define me.

I don’t know when the first time is when someone puts that image of motherhood in your mind. You see it all around you. There’s nothing wrong with that image until you think it’s the ultimate life goal. No one talks about the fact that it may be not be a destiny for 1 in 8 women in this world. I am that 1 out of 8. This year, after 10 years of undiagnosed, unexplained infertility, I decided to speak up.

Here’s my why. Most of the influencers on social media who choose to speak up to raise awareness about infertility end up having two to three children and proclaiming that have had infertility for two or three years. I get it. The pain is the same, the isolation is the same, but the destination is different. They ended up having children. I and women like me, didn’t.

Most of the time, its fate and sometimes its what you decide for yourself, for the sake of sanity, for the sake of your partner, for the sake of your family.

One day I blew up on Instagram after an influencer shared her journey of infertility of two years and ended up with three kids. I questioned her right to call this ‘sphere’ hers. It broke my heart to see so many women followers approached her for advice, still childless, knowing she had very little to do with it. So, I reached out to her and asked her why she thought that gave her the authority on such a topic because clearly, she ended up with a family she wanted. To which she said, she wished more women with indefinite infertility came forward and told their story because someone’s got to do it.

That was more than six months ago.

Here I am telling the world that I choose not to speak about infertility for so long because it doesn’t define who I am. I refuse to embody that label to wear down on my intellect, my emotional health, my years of life experience and the contribution I make to the community every day, that if nothing else, should matter the most to the world around me.

However, this influencer had a valid point. Because of women like us, who never come forward to speak about their journey through infertility, who never end up having children but do lead a healthy and fruitful life, other people choose to take up that space.

Is it because we think we have no happy ending? I am here to tell you how wrong we are.

Before you judge me, let me quickly tell you it’s not about fighting over some social media sphere, it’s about giving the voice to the most vulnerable yet the most silent survivors of infertility, hence the silent heroes of such stories.

I have always been an ambitious girl. I have been commented on by some very close loved ones, ‘she never wanted kids’ or ‘have you really tried?’ not knowing the full extent of my every day battles. They didn’t see me through the three cycles of IVF, I went through, in a different city in a different province because such facilities weren’t offered in our town, all this while working full time, being a wife, a friend, a neighbour and wearing so many hats that I wore unknowingly.

 

The first time I miscarried, I was at work getting ready to train 15 of my staff and had to go home for an emergency. I bled on my friends’ coach that day as my husband was out of town and no one in town knew what I had gone through. Nothing is lonelier than that. What came out of it is a bond that I and my friend share and is unbreakable to this day.

A year later, I miscarried for the second time losing two this time, hence bleeding and hurting even more. I inflamed my sciatic nerve that day and it aches from time to time when my sciatica flares up. A piece of my soul, my spirit, died that day. I fell into an abyss of depression. My whole body ached for weeks from the tears my soul shed every day for something that could have been. My shoulders still carry the weight of that sorrow.

Contrary to that, life didn’t stop throwing curve balls at me. The day I went back to work after the second miscarriage, I got laid off from a I job I really liked.  A month later, I tripped and fell on a concrete slab, almost smashing my elbow (it didn’t break, it popped out and popped back itself) and ended up in cast. I was hurting both outside and inside.

A major shift happened. It had to happen. Things that I craved and cherished, like a corporate career, kids etc., events that I wished for in life like first day of school, graduations and eventually grandkids, didn’t matter anymore. I started to seek a spiritual connection with my Creator. I searched for a purpose in my being. To me, surely, if He created me and put me on this earth, I must be for a reason. I became a seeker for that reason. I find solace in my prayers, in my reading the Quran and in listening to and connecting with real human stories. Helping others in need has become my go-to mantra in life.

I learnt very quickly life is not worth running after what you don’t have. What if you are chasing a dream that is taking you further from your life’s purpose. That’s when I stopped. As a couple we explored the option of adoption and realized very quickly it may not be for us. We decided to stop before we lost everything good about us. We took the time to heal. We took the time to think. We took the time to reclaim our own narrative and our own stories.

I am a loving wife, a responsible daughter, an understanding sister, a doting auntie, a hardworking employee, a compassionate colleague, a good listener and an everlasting friend. Where do you see ‘infertile’ in that list? I don’t. So, shouldn’t you.

For the remainder of April, when Infertility Awareness Week occurs annually, find gratitude in what you have. Be compassionate to those who don’t have a similar journey as yours. Maybe they are not there yet. Maybe they will never be. Be open to that difference. Create a safe space for them to talk about it. Respect the courage they have. They wake up every day, look the world in the eye and say ‘bring it on’.

 This article was written and submitted by Jamal-e-Fatima Rafat

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News of the bombings in churches during Easter in #Srilanka , has a de ja vu effect on me. It's too fresh, too real. When #churches, #synagogues and #mosques are under attack during religious proceedings, it's the whole of humanity under attack. 💔 ⛪ . 🕍 . 🕌 #canadianmuslims #prayersforsrilanka #srilankaattacks #prayers . #travel #Turkey #traveltheworld #traveleurope #travelasia #travelturkey #Ephesus #selçuk #EphesusIzmir #turkeydiaries #ancienthistory #ancientcivilization #wondersoftheworld @tripadvisor @bookingcom @hotelsdotcom

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9 Tips to Get Your Mind Ready for Ramadan and How to Make the Most of the Holy Month

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9 Tips to Get Your Mind Ready for Ramadan and How to Make the Most of the Holy Month

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – well almost! Ramadan is around the corner, and we are here to give you some useful tips to get you right for this Ramadan.

Even though it only comes around once a year, it is 30 days that should be used wisely. Preparing for it is a great way to make the most of your days and can help you break habits and make new, healthy ones.

We want you to be ready in all aspects. Your mind, body, and soul should be in harmony during Ramadan and to prepare, we have created lists of tips and useful resources to get you started.

This blog post will focus on how to get your mind right. Keep reading to see our list of ways to prepare you and get you started for this beautiful time.

 

1. Make the Intention to Have a Productive and Spiritual Ramadan Experience

 

The beauty of Islam is often lost in interpretation and our busy lifestyles we live. We find ourselves focusing on our job, schoolwork, and our friends or family. By the time the day is done, you are exhausted and ready to fall asleep and miss Isha prayer.

Ramadan is only 29 or 30 days long, and for this very reason should be used wisely as a time for personal growth. Even though it isn’t here yet, any preparation we do for the beautiful month can be vital to our Ramadan experience. For all we know, this could be our last Ramadan.

Ramadan is a time to refuel our love for Islam and reconnect with the beauty of being a Muslim. Make a list of things you want to learn more about that you keep pushing off for when you have time, and prepare your mind for a month of no distractions. This can take a lot of skill and patience, so start slow and ahead of time before Ramadan begins. Keep reading below for ways to help you with this journey.

 

2.Download Apps So You Get Notifications to Alert You When It’s Time to Pray 

 

We all have good intentions to stay on track with our prayers, and we know that one of the five pillars of Islam is dedicated to praying the five obligatory daily prayers. As mentioned in a previous post our phones have great ways to help us up to date and on time for prayer. Download apps that can alert you with notifications for each prayer, and come with a tracking feature so you can check off each prayer as you pray them. Some also have a countdown next to the next prayer time so you know how much time you have until the next prayer.

Apps like Athan: Prayer Times & Quran are extremely helpful. They also have useful features like duas helping find the prayer direction and where to face for the Qibla. Also, check with your local mosque and see if they have their own app. Some mosques have their own application and the prayer times are more accurate for your location. They also most likely have details about events happening at the local masjid and the surrounding areas.

 

3.Get Your Mind and Body Ready for Ramadan by Participating in Voluntary Fast Days

 

What better way to prepare yourself for Ramadan than through practice? Try doing a few fasts in the weeks leading up to Ramadan to help you adapt. This is also a great opportunity to make up for any missed fasts from last year. Also, you can try to align them with the Sunnah fast days Monday and Thursday.

 

4.Regulate Your Sleep Pattern to Train your Body and Mind for Early Suhuur Mornings

 

If you currently sleep late and wake up late, this is a good time to start regulating your sleep. During Ramadan you will be waking up early for Suhoor (or at least try to!). If you keep doing this over a few days, you might find yourself sleeping earlier as a result. If you are finding it hard to adjust, try to have an afternoon nap so you aren’t completely drained before the end of the day.

 

5.Do a Brain Dump and List Everything Taking Up Valuable Space in Your Mind to Make Room for Intentional Tasks and Increasing Your Knowledge of the Beauty of Islam

 

Too often we waste our precious time on unnecessary tasks, which aren’t really tasks but we force ourselves to believe they are to justify why we do them. We watch things that don’t benefit our minds and hearts, such as Netflix (guilty!), and listen to songs that are derogatory and obviously wrong, but we justify them as just a song and just a show. We promise ourselves we will get back to what we have to do later, and most of the time we never get to the important tasks. This Ramadan, make room and time for intentional tasks that will help you either progress at work, at home, or in your faith and take the time to actually do them.

A great example is replacing your music listening time with Quran, or podcasts about Islam. A great one is the Muslim Central Mufti Menk podcast discussed in our post.

Pro Tip: Make lists of things you want to accomplish this Ramadan (big or small). Then make a list of things you want to cut back on during the month of Ramadan. This isn’t to say you can never do them again, think of it as a break from them. Remember, Ramadan is only here for a month – you have 11 other months to do those other things!

 

6.Try Not to Snack During the Day to Avoid Random Spurts of Hunger During Ramadan

 

Get used to having three main meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner – and avoiding snacking in between. During Ramadan, you will have to get used to having two main meals, Suhoor and Iftar. This way, you will only have to cut out one meal. This is also a great time to implement an intermittent fasting routine before Ramadan begins.

 

7.Start Having an Early Healthy and Well-Balanced Breakfast Every Morning – Even on Weekends

 

During Ramadan, we wake up early for Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal before the fast begins. It is extremely important not to skip this meal, especially if you live in parts of the world where you could be fasting to upwards of 15+ hours. Start having an early breakfast from now to help your body get used to the earlier hours, especially if you are not much of a breakfast eater. This can also encourage you to train your body for fasting by practicing intermittent fasting which is a great opportunity for the body to cleanse itself of waste and to increase one’s metabolic rate, helping burn more calories.

 

8.Work on Your Patience and Try to Be More Understanding of Others

 

Too often we jump to conclusions or get mad during a drive-thru line up that you are stuck in. During this lead up to Ramadan, try to be more mindful and aware of your emotions. When you find yourself annoyed or frustrated, take a mental step back and breathe. Reevaluate the situation, and see it from a different perspective. Chances are, it’s really not that serious!

 

9.Think, Speak and Act with Intention!

 

Social media has made it so easy for us to unintentionally think and say things about people because we literally have them in the palm of our hands (well, their photos and videos, that is). Next time you are scrolling through your Instagram or Facebook feed and see someone post a selfie or a video, try to speak or think positively. It is very easy to go into a critical spiel about the person, but it is wiser and more beneficial for both parties to speak well and with purpose. Remember – if you have nothing nice to say, then don’t say anything at all!

 

Meditation Monday to Get Your Mind Right For The Week

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Meditation Monday to Get Your Mind Right For The Week

When we meditate, we are resting the mind in what is generally quite a peaceful and relaxing place. That doesn’t mean that it is always easy and it certainly doesn’t mean that the mind is always quiet, but nonetheless, the experience for most people is an increased sense of calm and clarity. The more often we do this, the more we refine the experience, so over time, even short periods of meditation can be very effective. This type of rest for the mind is very important.

5-Minute Meditation to Free Your Mind Daily

First Minute

Close your eyes, rest your arms and legs comfortably, and take a take a few deep breaths through your nose and out through your mouth. While breathing in and out through the nostrils, scan your body for any places you are holding any tension and send your energy to those spaces – allow your body to become heavy and relaxed.

Second Minute

Bring your attention to the point of your nose where the air enters and exits your nostrils. Feel and notice the air move through your nose, down to fill your lungs, and return back out the way it came. Begin counting your breath – the count of 4 for the inhale, and the count of 6 for the exhale.

Third Minute

You will begin to settle in this space, begin to let go of the counting of the breath. Find a rhythm for your breath that feels natural and soothing. Anytime a thought pops up (which they will!), acknowledge it.

Fourth Minute

Just be in this moment with your breath. Feel the rise and the fall of your belly with each breath. Feel the air moving in and out of your nostrils. There is no right or wrong here – there is simply what is there in the moment.

Fifth Minute

Bring the image of something or someone that you are grateful for. Let that come to the forefront of your mind. Allow the emotions that come with that person or image fill your body (if you feel a smile creeping on, smile away!). spend some time in this space. When you are ready, release that image and with each breath check in with how you are feeling after this time with yourself. Notice the shifts in your body, shifts in your mind, and any shifts in your emotions.

Bonus Tips

Express Gratitude For Everything – Even the Small Things

Send some thanks your way for taking time out of your day to check in with yourself and give your mind and body a reset. Maybe take some time to reflect on all the things you have in your life to be grateful for. Gratitude is a powerful tool to help shift our mind and attitude into the lense of positivity and abundance. The more we feel positive and abundant the more we bring into our lives positive experiences and abundance

Journal Your Journey

As your meditation practice begins to develop, you are also going to experience heightened levels of self-awareness. There will also be changes in your inner and outer world. Journaling and reflecting on your experiences can help in reflecting on your journey with mindfulness. It is a great tool for getting things that are going on in your mind out of your mind.

Add More Time to your Meditation For More Benefits

Once you feel comfortable and are enjoying the five-minute meditation, whenever you feel ready, try moving it up to seven minutes, then ten, and longer. The ideal time for a substantial amount of meditating time is twenty minutes. Be kind and gentle with yourself. You are doing amazing with any time you give to you and your breath.

5 Bullet Friday: This Week’s Must Read Top 5 Effective Skills

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5 Bullet Friday: This Week’s Must Read Top 5 Effective Skills

Another week has gone, where does the time go? Here is a list of 5 things this week has taught me and I hope it can give you some insight on these topics. They are in no particular order – just like our thought processes!

  • Motivation to Continue When You Don’t See Quick Enough Progress

Don’t lose your motivation! Just because you are not seeing results to what you are working towards, it does not mean that you won’t ever achieve your goal. It does not matter how slow you go, what matters is that you do not stop!

Anything worth having does not come easy and success does not happen overnight.

If you haven’t noticed, we haven’t been posting as much lately, and this is partly due to lack of motivation. By remembering our vision and why we are here as a platform, our motivation to work hard for our subscribers and readers got us back on track!

  • Time Management Skills

This was so crucial to learn and fully understand. The ability to plan and control how you spend the hours in a day to effectively accomplish short and long term goals. Some of the skills we learned to include our daily routine included buying a planner and make a schedule – daily, weekly, and monthly schedules to be exact. Be sure to set some boundaries and account for all kinds of distractions. One thing that helped was to write things down right away – not in 5 minutes, not when I had time later, but right away. I also made a list of things to do before 11 am, courtesy of Tim Ferris’ book 4 Hour Work Week. We will be doing a book review on this effective book to talk about the benefits of doing things early in the day.

  • There is a Time for Learning and a Time for Earning

Instead of jumping into tasks and work without knowing the full details, we decided to take some time and learn. By taking the time to learn how to effectively run a website, how to connect with like-minded people in your niche, and take advantage of the resources available to you, you can then take time to earn by implementing what you have learned.

It’s exactly how school works. You go to university or college to learn a career in detail before you go out in the field, work and earn money with the skills you have learned.

  • Learning to Time Block to Increase Focus and Get Things Done Properly

We all do this – multitask. Granted, some things are better done this way, but not the important things that can affect your long-term goals. Try sending an email to your boss, while cooking dinner and trying to watch your favourite show on Netflix. All three of these tasks and activities individually are important to you, but by doing them all together you aren’t doing focused on all of the three equally. By time blocking, you set aside certain times for certain tasks or activities. For example, you can set aside 4 hours out of your day to respond to emails and do some work from home, uninterrupted and fully focused. You can then set aside an hour and a half for cooking your meal with love and actually taking the time to eat and enjoy it. Your Netflix and chill time can then be fully enjoyed with no worries before bed!

  • Take a Moment to Breathe and Relax

Sometimes we are so busy and try to convince ourselves that we have everything under control, including a healthy mindset. This week we tried to really try to take a moment. Stress and a rapid thought processing mind can take control of our lives, resulting in stress overload and anxiety. If we don’t manage our stress in healthy ways, It can create higher cortisol levels which trigger the body to react in a fight or flight response.

By taking a moment to just be and relax the mind, we reduce the stress response in our bodies and calm down our warning signals in our body. It can help increase your mood and make you more aware of your emotions. Having control over your own life is important for your mental health and your physical well-being.

These are, again, in no particular order and are just a few things we learned over the past week. We will be turning each of these into blog posts so we can dive into each topic.

10 Health Benefits of Celery Juice and Why You Should Start Juicing It Today

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10 Health Benefits of Celery Juice and Why You Should Start Juicing It Today

Celery is one of the most underrated vegetables that have enormous benefits and is not talked about enough! It has so many health benefits that a majority of the general population face and it is not recommended by physicians and professionals. Along with it lowering inflammation, supporting weight loss, helping heal the digestive tract, it also fights infections, reduces bloating and even helps with skin issues like eczema and psoriasis!

Juicing celery is easy with the right tools, and the Breville The Juice Fountain Cold Juicer is amazing for juicing all kinds of fruits and vegetables. You can also use a nut bag to extract any leftover juice from the pulp that the juicer generates. The best time to drink celery juice is first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Try not to have anything else for about 15 to 20 minutes after. You can sore away freshly juiced celery juice in the fridge for up to 5 days. A beneficial dose of celery juice is about 16 ounces, but you can also build up your tolerance to that amount. For best results, drink celery juice every day for 7 days and you can start to feel the effects!

Here are 10 health benefits of celery juice that are helpful to our bodies and can detox your system to restore it to optimal health.

Fights Autoimmune Disease

Pathogens are the actual cause of inflammation that is most commonly mistakenly considered autoimmune. Celery juice has undiscovered sodium cluster salts that can break down and flush out these pathogens.

Helps Eradicate Strep Bacteria

Strep is responsible for many conditions like acne, UTIs, small intestinal bacterial growth (SIBO), yeast infections, and more. Celery juice helps destroy strep.

Contains Undiscovered Sodium Cluster Salts that Reverse Illness

Celery juice’s undiscovered sodium cluster salts act together as an antiseptic. When they make contact with viruses & bacteria—troublemakers responsible for chronic illness—the salts begin to break down the pathogens’ cell membranes, eventually destroying them.

Powerful Weapon Against SIBO and Bloating

Celery juice is a powerful stomach acid replenisher so that gastric juices can kill strep, which causes SIBO. It also breaks down rotting protein & rancid fats in the stomach & small intestinal tract, helping bloating.

Brings Down Toxic Liver Heat

Celery juice purges a sluggish liver while bringing down liver heat.

Repairs Hydrochloric Acid and Liver Bile Production

Celery juice strengthens hydrochloric acid and bile production, which help strengthen the liver, and therefore allows for better bile production.

Kills Epstein-Barr & Shingles Viruses

The white blood cells of the liver’s personalized immune system add the cluster salts to their cell membrane coatings, making them toxic to viruses. The viruses are flushed out of the body.

Neutralizes and Flushes Toxins Out of the Liver

Celery juice’s sodium cluster salts bind onto neurotoxins, dermatoxins, and other viral waste. They also bind troublemakers and draw them out of the liver.

Critical for Chronic Acid Reflux

Acid reflux means 3 things are happening: low hydrochloric acid production, unproductive bacteria such as strep and e. Coli and a weakened liver. Celery juice helps improve these.

Helps Restore Adrenals

The same undiscovered sodium cluster salts in celery juice help keep your adrenals stable and functioning. The adrenals are at the top of each kidney and the hormones secreted by the adrenal glands help the body regulate blood sugar, burn fat and protein and react to stressors such as a major injury or illness. Most importantly they help regulate blood pressure. Two of the most important hormones they secrete are aldosterone and cortisol, which are directly related to stress.

Learn about the miraculous healing powers of celery juice and more in the books Thyroid Healing, Life Changing Foods and Liver Rescue written by Medical Medium.

Qasil: Skin Care World’s Best Kept Secret: How To Use It and Where to Find It

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Qasil: Skin Care World’s Best Kept Secret: How To Use It and Where to Find It

You’re probably wondering what qasil powder is and why you never heard of it. That’s because it isn’t widely known about but is insanely popular in East Africa, more specifically in Somalia.

What is Qasil?

Qasil is an age-old secret of the nomadic tribes in Somalia. It is made from the shredded leaves of the Gob tree, which is native to Somalia and countries that share a similar environment in East Africa.

It is considered a natural soap due to its gentle cleansing components. It leaves the skin feeling clean and soothed. When it is finely grounded, it appears as a green powder and gives out an aroma similar to dried hay. When mixed with water, it creates a paste that is used as a face mask.

What Is So Great About it?

Qasil has numerous benefits. When mixed with various ingredients to make a face mask it deeply cleanses, balances and purifies the skin as it draws out impurities! It also gently exfoliates and moisturizes the skin, leaving it soft and supple. The qasil powder face mask can improve the condition of your skin and making it even-toned with a healthy glow.

Common Ingredients to Add to Your Qasil Powder Face Mask

So if you’re wondering how to best use your qasil powder, here are a few ingredients you can try.

You can add various ingredients to help with whatever facial problems you are currently experiencing, or if you just want to enhance your beautiful skin appearance.

I usually add organic honey, lemon, egg white, and water to qasil to make a paste ready to use on it.

Honey is great because of its moisturizing, antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

Lemons also possess antibacterial properties that can help treat acne. It is also high in vitamin C so it contains skin-brightening properties as well. This is great for those with hyperpigmentation to help even out their skin tone.

Egg whites are excellent to include in a face mask because they have astringent properties that help shrink pores by tightening the skin. It also has a purging effect so don’t add egg whites if you have an important function to attend, do not add them! It is best to add egg whites when you have serious downtime and no major events planned for yourself.

Other common ingredients you can add to your qasil face mask include turmeric, olive oil and coconut milk.

Turmeric is excellent because of its anti-inflammatory qualities. It can help heal the skin and reduce scarring.

Olive oil works great if you have dry skin and can help keep your skin moisturized while cleansing.

Coconut milk is fascinating because the fats in them do not clog pores and works great to help gently exfoliate the skin. It is also high in vitamin C, which can help maintain elasticity and flexibility in the skin.

“A popular mask that many Somali women make is by combining qasil and turmeric. Create a small mask by mixing equal parts of each product and then applying it to your face. Let it sit for a couple of minutes (five to 10), and proceed to wash it off afterward. Your skin should feel soft and look more vibrant.” — Said via Byrdie

What Are the Benefits of Qasil Powder?

Ok, so now that we know all of the great benefits of qasil powder, how often can you use it? Depending on the ingredients you include in your face mask, the number of times per week you use it can vary.

For example, if you consistently add lemons to your face mask and you live in a location where it is sunny, then try to only mask 2 to 3 times per week at night. This is due to the effects vitamin C has on your skin; it makes it more sensitive to the sun and can cause serious damage. If you do have to go outside after using the face mask, use sunscreen!

If you only add water, I don’t see a problem with using the face mask 3 to 4 times a week. I say this because over-exfoliating is a real thing and can actually strip your natural oils from your skin. If you aren’t replacing moisture into your skin after you mask, this can cause more problems.

Where Can You Find Qasil Powder?

After reading all of that, you’re probably wondering where to buy qasil powder, like ASAP! If you live in a major city like in the UK or Toronto and have an East African or a Somali store near you, they will most likely have qasil powder. It is insanely cheap (you can get a decent amount for anywhere between $5 to $10).

If you live in a rural area and do not have any stores nearby that carry qasil, then you can purchase a pre-made blend by Qasil Organics on Amazon. So if you’re like me and literally live in the middle of nowhere, have no fear, qasil is available Amazon now! Be sure to read the ingredients they included in case of any allergies as the one on Amazon comes as a pre-prepared blend face mask.

By having qasil on Amazon, it doesn’t matter where you live, you could be in either Japan or Kenya and you can get it shipped right to your door!

So there you have it! An affordable and natural skincare remedy that can help with common skincare issues like acne and scarring. It is also very versatile to suit your skincare needs by adding the appropriate ingredients your skin needs at any time for any season.

 

Try it out and let us know what you think! Leave us a review on our Forum section and tell us what you added to your qasil powder face mask!

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