Have you ever looked back at a version of yourself from a few years ago and felt a little bit of secondhand embarrassment? I certainly have. Rumi’s beautiful words remind us that there is a profound difference between the restless energy of cleverness and the quiet strength of wisdom. When we are young or simply caught up in the rush of life, we often think that if we could just fix the politics, the environment, or our neighbors, everything would finally be okay. We focus our eyes outward, trying to rearrange the pieces of a world that feels broken, often forgetting that we are part of that very world.
True wisdom, however, is much more inward-looking. It is the realization that while we cannot control the winds, we can certainly adjust our sails. Changing ourselves doesn't mean we are giving up on the world; it means we are preparing ourselves to be a better part of it. This shift requires a deep sense of faith—not necessarily in a religious sense, but a faith in the process of growth and the belief that small, internal changes can ripple outward to create a massive impact.
I remember a time when I was feeling so overwhelmed by the negativity I saw on the news. I spent my evenings doom-scrolling, feeling angry and powerless, convinced that if people just understood my perspective, the world would be a kinder place. I was trying to use my 'cleverness' to argue people into being better. One afternoon, while sitting in my garden, I realized that my anger was actually making my own world much darker. I decided to stop trying to fix the headlines and started focusing on how I could be more patient with my friends and kinder to myself. That shift didn't change the news, but it changed my entire experience of living.
It is a much quieter way to live, but it is infinitely more sustainable. When we focus on cultivating peace, patience, and integrity within our own hearts, we naturally begin to change the atmosphere around us. We become the light we wish to see in the darkness.
Today, I want to invite you to take a deep breath and look inward. Instead of worrying about how to fix a massive, complicated world, ask yourself what small part of your own heart is ready for a little more love or understanding. What is one tiny way you can change yourself today?