"The Guest House" By Rumi (Journaling Prompt 7)

Hello and welcome beautiful Inside Timer community.

Today our journaling prompt is coming from The Guesthouse by Rumi.

This is absolutely one of my favorite poems for so many reasons.

I think having done a lot of work on myself I've come to realize how much of what we feel we try to suppress and The Guesthouse is an excellent metaphor to remind us not to do that.

It reminds us to embrace,

Not to fight whatever shows up,

To recognize yourself as The Guesthouse.

That every thought,

Every feeling,

Every emotion is a temporary visitor.

Comes and goes.

We change from day to day and I think when we acknowledge that it brings us more peace.

So here is the poem.

This being human is a guesthouse.

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 are a crowd of sorrows who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture,

Still treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you up for some new delight.

The dark thought,

The shame,

The malice.

Meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

And again I feel like this reminds us not to resist our thoughts.

Instead we can meet them with courage,

With warmth and be grateful for whatever comes.

A lot of the things I've learned through some of the toughest emotions I've ever had have really helped shape me into who I am and I'm sure it has done the same for you.

So let's put five minutes on the clock and let's journal about some emotions.

Maybe something that you haven't been comfortable dealing with or maybe something that you've become aware of.

Let's get to writing my friends.

All right my friends.

I hope that gave you a lot to think about and a few thoughts to jot down and feel free to continue writing.

And remember as that guest house you're the one with those random feelings and emotions.

There's nothing wrong with them.

Welcome them in.

Let them out and just remember that they come and go.

Have a wonderful day my friends.