I noticed that a recurrent topic in Baha’i circles is that of compliments. Many have a tough time receiving compliments graciously, that is, with a simple, heartfelt thank you. Instead, we recoil; we shrug, chuckle, and deny the good others see in us – typically, by pointing out something negative about us, shedding light on… Read More Compliments of the Insistent Self
Sometimes we talk very comfortably about things that we do not quite understand. One such thing is calling someone “husband” or “wife”. I do believe that a husband and wife are linked together for all eternity on a path of service towards God. But what does that really mean? Does it mean that the wife… Read More Like Two Trees
I had a conversation today similar to ones I have often been having in the last couple of months. Friend: “Wow, Sahar, you look so relaxed!” Me: “Wait, what?” Friend: “You are always in such a good mood!” Me: “Excuse me, what?” Friend: “How do you stay so calm?” Me: “Are you talking to me?”… Read More The Secret Ingredient to Faking it until You Make it: Mantras
I have been participating as a tutor in a Ruhi Book 5 study circle for over a month now. The book, Releasing the Power of Junior Youth, is a study in who we would want to be as youth/what kind of youth we would want the junior youth we are serving as animators to become,… Read More From a Whack-A-Mole to a Three-Headed Dog: The Insistent Self is a Tough Beast to Overcome
I met Lorraine a little over a year and a half ago. The tall brunette with the big brilliant smile immediately charmed me with her quiet yet quick sense of humor. Her love of the arts and her interest in using them for the greater good added a unique depth to our friendship. When she… Read More Interview: Lorraine Sherrill, creator of The Journey West website
I was this reading this article on the CBC website and it hit me. We are most vocal about the things that scare us about ourselves, the things we perceive as the darker side of our nature that we refuse to acknowledge. It is as if being against it in the public sphere will just… Read More Scared of the dark… Inside of us
I have been a part of the Bahá’í community for a long time, and a curious phenomena has had me intrigued all these years: while the strength of the community is completely dependent on each one of us doing our best, we are, each one of us replaceable. It’s like each one of us is… Read More The Curious Case of Being Needed and Being (Easily) Replaceable
I noticed awhile back that when I am not in a good mood (unfortunately, it happens) and ask people for something, I get it a lot faster than when I am in a good mood. Similarly, people do not say no to me when I am in a bad mood, whereas when I am in… Read More The intriguing phenomenon of “Get me this. Now.” working better than “Could you please get me this?”
Christmas is around the corner and with it comes the usual crack down on drinking and driving. Driving when under the influence is a terribly irresponsible act that put too many others in danger. But is the way of decreasing drinking and driving through scare tactics really efficient? Perhaps an innovative way of preventing drinking… Read More Scare Tactics: Efficient only on Halloween?
I was wondering if I would continue being lucky with reviews. Although it is only the second review to The Spirit Within Club to be released, I am still incredibly grateful and really excited that it is just as overwhelmingly positive as the first one. You can find the second review to my book here.… Read More And a second review to “The Spirit Within Club”