At some point in our lives, most of us feel the gentle calling of our soul.Sometimes it’s so quiet we can barely hear it. Some of us may even pretend that we didn’t hear it. For others, the calling is louder; in the form of a persistent ache or a nagging sense that there is something amiss.
In the dead of our sleepless nights, we find ourselves thinking about how we got caught up in the treadmill of our daily grind and wonder if this is really it. Our heart tells us there is a better way of living and that we need to stop ignoring what really matters – the suffering of others, the future of our planet or even fulfilling our own dreams, but our head tells us to get on with our lives as they are.

The call may take the form of a crisis such as a relationship breakup, a betrayal or loss. Sometimes, it’s the challenges that we face daily; the never-ending house chores, work assignments, anxiety, depression or another serious illness, that forces us into moments of self-reflection. For some of us, the fasting month is a time to cleanse our soul and repent of our wrong doing. Others find that it is a time of reflection; to slow down and see life beyond their own business and spend quality time with their loved ones.
Ramadhan is an opportunity for us to take a step away from the monotony of daily life and embark on a journey of self-reflection to get ourselves centred again. Many of us may have resisted the calling for months, years or even decades, but this doesn’t have to be the case.
You can choose to take action and live a more meaningful life and unleash your unlimited potential. If you’ve heard the call, then this write up is for you.

Five qualities of the Healthy and Fully Functioning Person

1. Open to Experience

   They accept both positive and negative emotions as part of experience, and embrace life as it is. They maintain strong self-awareness while being aware of others at the same time. They have a solid trust in the wisdom of life.

2. They live in the Moment

   They are in touch with their own life experience and avoid having preconceptions. This means that they are able to live and appreciate the present, not preoccupied with looking back to the past or forward to the future (i.e. living for the moment).

   “People do not realise that now is all ever there is; there is no past or future except as memory or anticipation in your mind” – Eckhart Tolle

3. They Trust

   They pay attention to their true feelings, instincts and gut reactions and learn to trust them. The moment this is achieved, they become tolerant, loving and kind, with themselves as well as the people around them.

4. They welcome Creativity

   Creative thinking and risk-taking are features of a person’s life. A healthy and fully functional person does not play safe all the time. They know they are the one who are responsible for their lives, they will do whatever they can in order to make a change, and in order to create something that will last long even after they’re gone.

   They know that they are here for a purpose that is bigger than themselves. They will do whatever they can to make their dreams become reality while helping the world along the way.

5. They lead a Fulfilled Life

   They are happy, satisfied and content (“bersyukur”) with life but they are also constantly looking for new challenges and experiences.

   Part of living a fulfilling life is also being responsible for your own lives. A fully functioning person knows that choices play an important role in defining their lives.

   The idea is, no matter where you are in life whether you are a student, unemployed graduate, or a home-maker, whether you are the CEO of a successful company, a teacher, a nurse, a mechanic, or even a street cleaner, you CAN make a difference. WE ALL CAN. And you will be able to accomplish this by doing something that you really love and loving that which you do, because when you do what you love, you will be the best at your job and Insya Allah, success will follow.

   Ultimately however, the decision rests upon you. It’s your choice. It’s your call.

   “In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety.” – Abraham Maslow