“The Guest House” by Rumi
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.
— Rumi, translation by Coleman Barks (The Essential Rumi)
I first came across this beautiful poem by the renowned poet Rumi over 10 years ago, and it immediately resonated with me.
At the time, it made me realise at a deeper level that I was ignoring negative feelings and trying to be ‘positive’
—which, ironically, was disrupting my mood even more.
Life is full of ups and downs, yet we are often sold the belief that the downs are somehow bad and that we shouldn’t experience them at all.
But this poem reminded me to release my inner resistance to what I think should be and instead accept what is.
To shift my expectations to reality. To go from what how I want things to be to what actually is.
But that’s not the easiest thing to do.
The poem offers a powerful perspective on the inner world —one that feels particularly relevant in today’s fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
We often resist emotions and experiences that feel uncomfortable.
Stress, frustration, upset, self-doubt, insecurity—we want them gone as quickly as possible. But what if, instead of fighting against them, we welcomed them as part of the human experience? Not to stew in them but instead to be with them in connected detachment.
Every emotion, like every guest, arrives with something to teach us.
Sometimes, discomfort is simply clearing space for new clarity.
Other times, it’s nudging us toward an insight we wouldn’t otherwise have found.
So the next time an unwelcome guest shows up in your mind, instead of pushing it away, maybe try meeting it with curiosity.
What if this feeling we’re having wasn’t an obstacle but a guide?
What if it was here to help?
This week…
Perhaps consider what emotions have you been resisting lately?
And what might happen if you welcomed them instead?
Best,
Shane
MindShift – You Can Still Join Us.
We had a soft start last week with a group of ambitious leaders but you can still join us before we start the first online workshop tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday 25th @2pm Irish Time) Details here.
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Ep 219: The Solution To Hurry
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