Ramadan

20 ways in which fasting for 30 days can change you

An old manuscript of the Quran. The opening chapters. The Quran was revealed in the month of Ramadan.

For many Muslims around the world , our holiest month is coming to a close, with the last 10 days and nights already well under way. In this post I want to share some self reflections on the impact that this month of fasting has on me.

…So here we go:

1. Makes me more patient. Patient with myself because I’m mostly broken all the time from the hunger and normal everyday things take a lot more effort.
2. Makes me more grateful, especially about smaller things, like being able to drink or eat whenever I want, or having the energy to go for a run.
3. Gives me a greater sense of self-control. Besides not eating or drinking, you also have to be on your best behaviour when fasting, no swearing, hurting others (including animals) or naughty business! — almost monk like.
4. More responsible with money. I don’t go out much and only have to buy enough groceries for a light breakfast and dinner a day. With the lockdown this change has had an even more positive impact on the bank balance!
5. I develop a closer connection with the ultimate, eternal source of all creation. By spending every night in prayer, communicating and connecting with God, I am able to rekindle my own sense of purpose and connection with the universe and all that’s in it.
6. Kinder and humbler; as a result of being able to put things into perspective and tame the ego. The constant struggle of fasting and the way it slowly weathers down your physical and mental well-being makes you realise how dependant you are on sustenance to keep on carrying on.
7. A greater sense of self awareness. You become a lot more conscious of the way you think and act, especially because you haven’t had anything to drink or eat. You begin to notice the constant changes in your mood impacted by your slowly dissipating water and blood sugar levels.
8. Empathy for the plight of others less fortunate than you. I’m reminded that the pangs of hunger I am feeling may be an everyday reality in someone else’s life.
9. More self belief and respect for my mind, body and soul. It’s amazing how, as humans, we are able to adapt. I especially find the change in my appetite and need for large portions of food changing, which always is a wake up call to the glutaneous lives we’ve become so accustomed to living. I realise I need to eat and drink a lot less than I actually think I do.
10. Worrying less about the small things. I don’t have the energy to quarrel or get hung up over silly things.
11. Makes me more loving. In this state you become more emotional, your heart becomes softer, you begin to care a lot more for yourself, for others and the world around you.
12. You lose some weight. If done right, you can shed a good few pounds! that’s if you don't gorge yourself after sunset and ensure when you do eat you’re eating healthy !
13. Greater appreciation for the hours in a day. At this stage in the month most of us are in a solid routine – but it can be quite intense to maintain. Waking up at 2am and eating, having to work all day and only getting to drink and eat again around 9pm , then there’s night time prayers from 10pm — 12am. And repeat. Oh and cooking and cleaning and all the other ‘normal’ stuff somewhere in between all of that.
14. The power of a routine in establishing good habits – this regimented routine however helps you to build and cement in new habits over the month. For many of us struggling to change something about ourselves Ramadan presents the perfect opportunity to make or break a habit — as you probably already know — it usually takes about 30 days to do this. Many Muslims give up smoking for example.
15. Less time spent on social media and watching TV. You do find you get a lot more time back and more peace of mind from going on a digital detox in this month – most of our workplaces now recommend this when we are off on holiday. Muslims have been doing this every Ramadan way before it became fashionable to do so.
16. Highlights the importance of sleep – what with having to wake up in the middle of the morning to eat its difficult to get uninterrupted sleep in this month – this in itself adds to the physical and mental fatigue of the month. I definitely have a new found adoration for sleep post this month.
17. More charitable – we’re encouraged as Muslims to give as much as we can to charity, particularly in this month — we see it as gaining not giving.
18. More forgiving – this is a change very much brought about by the other changes listed in this list, as mentioned your heart softens as a result of the state you find yourself in, with a shrunken ego you are more easy going on others and over look things that may erk you normally.
19. Reflecting and self improvement. This month forces you to take a look inwards at yourself and delve into your conscious state of affairs. It helps you cut out all of the noise and provides you with a sense of clarity of being. Stripping the world away to expose the true nature of your self allows you to recenter yourself and set yourself in the direction that you would like to be heading in.
20. Celebrating and treasuring what it is to be human. A whole month of fasting and spiritual path finding is super nourishing for the soul. It gives you a new found appreciation for being alive and is the reset and recharge you need to take the rest of your year into superdrive.

I’d like to think we all need and should have our own Ramadans in our lives — irrespective if you’re a Muslim or not. A focused period of self realisation and positive change brought about through sacrifice and harnessing the power of your will to recalibrate, renew and realign the priorities in your life is a powerful process for ensuring you make the most out of your life. For us Muslims, the only difference is, that the purpose of the changes brought about in this month are for the benefit of both this life and the next.