The Wisdom of Rumi

In Rumi’s poem, the Guest House, he describes, cogently and movingly, how every day we experience different emotions or actions, light or dark, and the importance of accepting them (and ourselves) without judgment, embracing them for the gifts they are. 

This being human is a guest house. 

Every morning a new arrival. 

A joy, a depression, a meanness, 

some momentary awareness comes 

as an unexpected visitor. 

Welcome and entertain them all! 

Even if they're a crowd of sorrows, 

who violently sweep your house 

empty of its furniture, 

still, treat each guest honorably. 

He may be clearing you out 

for some new delight. 

The dark thought, the shame, the malice, 

meet them at the door laughing, 

and invite them in.

 
Be grateful for whoever comes, 

because each has been sent 

as a guide from beyond.

I was reminded of this poem only this week, and have found it immensely helpful as thoughts and doubts and wonderings, sometimes momentary, come and go. By remembering to invite them in with gratitude and lightness for what they will give, all negatives become positives, and indeed there can be no negatives.  Rumi has summed up perfectly what it means to be human.