Have you had an epiphany?
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Peace all,
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(feeling)
Epiphany
the sudden realization or comprehension of the essence or meaning of something. The term is used in either a philosophical or literal sense to signify that the claimant has "found the last piece of the puzzle and now sees the whole picture," or has new information or experience, often insignificant by itself, that illuminates a deeper or numinous foundational frame of reference.I recently had one that related to my own personality and the flaws therein. I was acting out of balance with how I knew I should have been acting. And this had been going on for years. The amazing thing about it is that I knew I was out of balance. I knew there was something wrong - and I was working on improving. Yet, I could never really make progress because I was only dealing with the superficial layers of my issues. It wasn't until a loved one expressed deep concern that I was able to look at myself completely objectively and locate the roots of my issues.
In that moment, I felt completely liberated. I felt 50lbs lighter and energized with a new-found passion for self-improvement - and a new-found respect for my loved one.
I realized that as open and honest I think I am, I've really been quite bottled up and a slave to my own ego. Now, the path before me has a fresh glow about it, and I am truly excited moving forward. Since my epiphany, many things have sort of slid into their proper places. It's hard to express but it reminds me of how God's laws are built-in to life, and once we get back to the right path, things just get better and better.
So, I'd like to know if any of you have had epiphanies. What triggered them? Was it a word from a loved one, as in my case? Was it a moment of deep fear, or sadness? A moment of joy? An intoxicated state? A work in progress, such as meditation/prayer?
What triggered your epiphany and how has it changed your life?
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Peace Tay,
Excellent topic!
I kind of had an epiphany while playing volleyball. You see, I pretty much suck(ed) at it... and everyone knew it. I like volleyball because it doesn't need me to move a whole lot but I can still call it a sport. There was a downside to it though; no one would pass me the ball except by mistake, quite understandably. And it used to annoy me, for how was I supposed to become any better if no one let me try handle the ball?
It was when I was playing volleyball, being totally underestimated, that I realized that I'd been doing the same thing to my friends for the length of my life. I'm resourceful when it comes to school, and therefore I would always hand over the
easytasks to other members of the group; the tasks that I didn't deem too important, those I reserved for myself. And I just couldn't help realize that I'd been treating my friends exactly the same way as I was being treated by them in volley. How were my friends suppose to get any better at school if I kept stealing all their challenges? I felt the frustration they must've felt. I could relate to the shame, and that made something inside my click.I felt like I knew something about me that I could change, commend and improve for the benefit of both me and my friends. From then on, I've tried not to underestimate those around me, and this might be why, I get the ball coming my way more than before
Peace,
Nadeem -
Peace Tay,
I believe that's what happens when one actually listens to God. Just as you said, you know you're doing something wrong, God's speaking to you, but you're not listening. But when you do... you open up and you get that 'feeling'.
Several times. Nearly killed myself the last time.
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Peace Tay,
I believe that's what happens when one actually listens to God. Just as you said, you know you're doing something wrong, God's speaking to you, but you're not listening. But when you do... you open up and you get that 'feeling'.
oSo true, but we don't listen to God or ignore God when He tries to tell us something. Sometimes He uses people to tell us things and we feel we are above them.
My question is how can we be open to God's communication? Can we train ourselves to "hear" him?
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Salaam,
I believe that's what happens when one actually listens to God. Just as you said, you know you're doing something wrong, God's speaking to you, but you're not listening. But when you do... you open up and you get that 'feeling'.
Don't you guys think this may be taking it a bit too far? I mean an epiphany is a nice thing, but I'd hardly compare it to the espisode Moses had with the burning bush. One reason I brought that up is because, isn't it a the worst sin to utter a lie about God?
When something like a epiphany happens I believe we aught to be in observance mode and not get too excited about it's effect to the extent of thinking it is God speaking to us.
The practicle results of an epiphany are much more valuable than the excitement from such an experience. That moment that Tay so nicely described
In that moment, I felt completely liberated. I felt 50lbs lighter and energized with a new-found passion for self-improvement - and a new-found respect for my loved one.
has a practicle side to it that if observed, I believe can become a source that one can tap into more regularly. Still I would not be as bold to think it is "God talking" etc.
The reason I say this is because I remember since we hit geometery back in high school, math became a series of epiphanies for me. I remember at first I would struggle to understand the concepts and it was as if in a single moment the concepts and understanding would come in a blink of an eye. This continued through out my time in high school and was something that I learned to tap into (sort of say) for math. This is why I believe there is something much more practicle about the experience of an epiphany, even though the experience may be very profound in its effect... it's best not to put oneself in a state where one becomes overly excited about it.
I'm very sure Hitler and had many a epiphanies too. -\ We need to learn to tell the difference between those who are made of clay, smoke, and light.
peace. )
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Peace M,
When something like a epiphany happens I believe we aught to be in observance mode and not get too excited about it's effect to the extent of thinking it is God speaking to us.
We need to be 'observance' almost all the time.I'm very sure Hitler and had many a epiphanies too.
I'm sure he did.We need to learn to tell the difference between those who are made of clay, smoke, and light.
handshake -
Peace Tay,
Excellent topic!
I kind of had an epiphany while playing volleyball. You see, I pretty much suck(ed) at it... and everyone knew it. I like volleyball because it doesn't need me to move a whole lot but I can still call it a sport. There was a downside to it though; no one would pass me the ball except by mistake, quite understandably. And it used to annoy me, for how was I supposed to become any better if no one let me try handle the ball?
It was when I was playing volleyball, being totally underestimated, that I realized that I'd been doing the same thing to my friends for the length of my life. I'm resourceful when it comes to school, and therefore I would always hand over the
easytasks to other members of the group; the tasks that I didn't deem too important, those I reserved for myself. And I just couldn't help realize that I'd been treating my friends exactly the same way as I was being treated by them in volley. How were my friends suppose to get any better at school if I kept stealing all their challenges? I felt the frustration they must've felt. I could relate to the shame, and that made something inside my click.I felt like I knew something about me that I could change, commend and improve for the benefit of both me and my friends. From then on, I've tried not to underestimate those around me, and this might be why, I get the ball coming my way more than before
Peace,
NadeemNadeem, when you're doing a project in class, those kids don't want to challenged! They want to do as little as possible for that A. I'm sure you're one of the smarter ones, so they let you do all the work. The way they see it, you're doing them a favor by giving them the easy assignments. If you give them all the hard ones, they will not like you.
Volleyball is very different. They don't pass the ball to you because you suck. Which is the same thing you do in class.
The difference is this you actually WANT the ball.
They don't want to do harder parts of the project, but you want to play volleyball.
So you didn't do anything wrong, but they did.I would suggest having more trust in your group members, and divide the work equally.
For volley, I guess you could practice individually until you got good enough. -
Peace Zenje,
Don't give me that look, bro...
Peace Aly-Sam,
So sorry to hear that...How did you recover from that or gather strength to go on?
I never did. Somewhere down the road I just got used to the feeling. Besides, cowardice and a sense of responsibility towards my family kept me alive. I guess I shouldn't be sharing this, but I've got a bad case of cold and fever (a cocktail which is most likely curtailing blood to my cerebrum), plus I'm stressed out about the Arabic Exam I'm having around 12 November when I can't even count in Arabic or understand any of its grammar even though I've been sitting for 18 hours trying figure it out, and the chemistry test next Monday where I haven't read any of the two chapters, or Norwegian-class task that I don't even understand! ... so I figure, what the hey, I need to let it out.
Breathing out..... Sorry Tay, this was inappropriate.
Peace Lobster,
Nadeem, when you're doing a project in class, those kids don't want to challenged! They want to do as little as possible for that A. I'm sure you're one of the smarter ones, so they let you do all the work. The way they see it, you're doing them a favor by giving them the easy assignments. If you give them all the hard ones, they will not like you.
Volleyball is very different. They don't pass the ball to you because you suck. Which is the same thing you do in class.
The difference is this you actually WANT the ball.
They don't want to do harder parts of the project, but you want to play volleyball.
So you didn't do anything wrong, but they did.You're right, these leeches do exist. But I think that a lot of them can be saved. I think a lot of them refuse to participate because they think that anything they could possibly contribute isn't good enough because others do it better. So they don't contribute at all. I've been there once; it's hell.
But... I go to an affordable private school now (remember, my father drives a cab, so it's no rich-only school) and most students here are quite motivated.
Nadeem
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I never did. Somewhere down the road I just got used to the feeling. Besides, cowardice and a sense of responsibility towards my family kept me alive. I guess I shouldn't be sharing this, but I've got a bad case of cold and fever (a cocktail which is most likely curtailing blood to my cerebrum), plus I'm stressed out about the Arabic Exam I'm having around 12 November when I can't even count in Arabic or understand any of its grammar even though I've been sitting for 18 hours trying figure it out, and the chemistry test next Monday where I haven't read any of the two chapters, or Norwegian-class task that I don't even understand! ... so I figure, what the hey, I need to let it out.
You have it the other way around don't you bro? I wouldn't call it cowardice, it was actually courage that kept you alive. It's a growing phase in my opinion. I was foolish enough to keep a written record once a diary some would call it, and I perfectly recall one of the times I felt like kicking the bucket due to domestic and other issues that never really ended and not one of us knew when they began and so on...later one one of my bro's recalled the passage (due to them secretly reading it, cliched but true) and I couldn't believe I wrote that stuff (though I remember it just fine, to save face and all you see). It was quite hilarious later but at that time, it was serious as could be. Anyways, I don't think I could've ever pulled it off, even at those times. Most of this was during the teens, eventually, life and experience kinda kicks in and cuts us down to size and we adjust.
About the exams, it'll pass. I felt the same way about urdu, always failed miserably but somehow in the final exams mysteriously cough managed to get exactly the passmark of 33 (yes that's 33 out of a hundred). We all go through this unhappy phase and if we're lucky we marry rich spouses who work and we can sleep the day in. I understand everyone might not be able to do this but it's good to keep the dream alive. Infact, some people even out of school have to deal with the embarrassment of not knowing counting in a foreign language. In our Karate class, a blue belt screwed up miserably when asked to do the count for a particular kata...it was ich ni san hey nonny no...quite amusing. I felt good about myself that day, white belt as I am, so what if I can't do the chinese splits, got you there didn't I...er yeah and getting back to the subject, trust in God and be patient bro. It all does work out eventually in many ways if we keep an open mind and try to lead a balanced life.
And um, didn't read the entire thread so my response is solely based on the part I've highlighted. I'm sorry if I overlooked anything or seem as if I'm putting it in a neat little box. Just thought I'd post that I did go through something like this too at one point and that is my take on my experience.
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I had one about FOUR years about with free-minds/PM was debating what salat is on this very site. I realize that many in here don't (nor truly want) to know (or seek) the truth, but simply want to express their opinions and ideas. After that i stop looking at free-minds as a place for fair & balance knowledge.
but i like the forum for what it really is.
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You have it the other way around don't you bro? I wouldn't call it cowardice, it was actually courage that kept you alive.
Peace Aly-Sam,
I never did. Somewhere down the road I just got used to the feeling. Besides, cowardice and a sense of responsibility towards my family kept me alive.
Nadeem
I agree with savage-carrot. And as you yourself have admitted that you have a sense of responsibility towards your family....no coward would think of that...its very brave of you.
Good luck!
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Peace,
I hope all is well with you Nadeem and aly-salam. Keep fighting, you have to to lose to win, you have to be weak to become strong.
Good luck.
428 God wants to make it easy for you; and mankind was created weak.
Thank you for your encouraging words and quotes...
Reminds me of my favorite Duran Duran song which had lyrics something like
"Theres always sunshine after rain...Laughter after Pain
Things will never be the same ...So Dont Worry"