A few years ago, I was living in Sydney, sharing a flat with two friends. I was fascinated by the sincerity and devotion with which my flatmate, Sanaul, fasted during Ramadan. He told me how every year (except this) he used to celebrate the festival with his family in India. So next year, I decided to support my friend and fast with him through the holy month of Ramadan. Yes, all 30 days! As a Non-Muslim who had never fasted in his life, it was a huge achievement! And I must say it changed my life in more ways than one. Not only was it a test of my will power and self-discipline, but the experience also presented some unique lessons that have changed my perspective towards many things in life. So let me tell you all about what I learnt while fasting during Ramadan that made me a better person for myself and others around me.<\/p>\n
While supporting my friend was my primary motivation to do this, few other reasons made me curious:<\/p>\n
Here are 5 things I’ve learnt as a Non-Muslim fasting during Ramadan:<\/span><\/p>\n I always thought it would be nearly impossible to fast continuously during Ramadan. That I would feel weak, grumpy and so low on energy that I would quit within the first few days. I couldn’t have been more wrong!<\/p>\n The first few days were hard as hell. But persisting through the initial days, made me invincible. All you need is a strong intent.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n It made me realise that one can go without food and water for long periods – it’s all in the mind. One doesn’t need to eat all the time to get energy for day-to-day activities. Nor is food the only option to get comfort when stressed. I realised what we often experience are cravings, not hunger. When you get cravings, the mind thinks: I’m bored, let’s eat! When you are truly hungry, the mind thinks: my body needs nourishment!<\/p>\n There is always a choice! Whether to give in to your cravings or take control of them. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n It’s all about what story we tell ourselves. I was aware that food and drinks were not the options to lean towards during the day. So, I had no choice but to focus my attention on something else. People across different cultures fast as part of their religious practices. But when it comes to their health and wellbeing, controlling the urge to eat that extra dessert seems like a crazy idea. Fasting during Ramadan made me internalise that we have full control over our desires. <\/p>\n It was the winter season in Sydney when I fasted during Ramadan. My flatmate and I were unable to wake up early morning for Sehri (pre-dawn meal). In all honesty, we did try for a few days. But eating a full-fledged meal at that time of the day, seemed unreasonable. I didn’t even feel like eating something as light as fruits. So we ended up with a small eating window between Iftar (after sunset) and sleep time.<\/p>\n We all have a finite amount of energy within us on any given day. That energy can neither be created nor destroyed. It can only be transformed from one form to another. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n#1 You can learn to distinguish between cravings and hunger <\/h3>\n
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#2 You can conserve energy by gaining control over your emotions<\/h3>\n
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