Side Effects of Soda Drinks ☕

I was curious about when I drink pepsi what I actually drink and what happens afterwards :) .. I summarized the answer I found in the mentioned sources, hope everyone get the benefit from this info.

Information Source:

http://www.rodalenews.com/facts-about-soda

http://wellnessmama.com/379/reasons-to-avoid-soda/  

9 Practical Tips on Giving Da’wah

 

We understand that as Muslims, da’wah is an obligation upon us all. In my previous article, I discussed the benefits of giving da’wah. In this article, I will discuss how we can fulfil this important duty. I have listed some points below about how we as productive Muslims can bring this blessed act into our lives.

1. Take a Short Da’wah Course

Attend Dawah courses to learn how to give da’wah to individuals from various backgrounds in a variety of situations. I highly recommend IERA (check their online Youtube free course playlist), which specialises in offering free and focused training for Muslims in different parts of the UK. It offers sharp techniques that involve using logic, common sense, reasoning and evidence from the Qur’an and authentic hadith.

2. Pass on a CD or Book

This is an easy and effective solution to those who feel they do not have sufficient knowledge or even know where to start when having a conversation about Islam. Giving a CD of an experienced Da’ee (caller to Islam) who is able to break down the fundamentals of Islam in a logical manner may be better for you. Offering a translated copy of the Qur’an is probably the most effective device you can give to someone. You will not find a better read in the world than the Qur’an (and you can tell them that too!).

3. Inform Others About an Upcoming Class or Conference

This can be achieved through various means, for example word of mouth. You can tell people, Muslims or non-Muslims, about a local event that is taking place or the upcoming visit of a famous sheikh. This is something that can be done through modern means i.e. reminders sent by text messages, posting information on your Facebook/Twitter account, and any other means which you feel is effective in reaching people.

4. Look at Improving Your Character

Improving your character would be one of the most effective ways of indirectly giving da’wah. By showing high excellence, manners and conduct at all times, those around you are likely to be drawn to you as a person, and therefore, towards Islam. Many rewards of a good character can be acquired not only in this life but more importantly, the next. As the Prophet Muhammad said:

“Nothing is heavier on the Scale of Deeds than one’s good manners.” [Tirmidhi]

How to improve your Character?

1. A tip to help you improve your character is to study the seerah of Prophet Muhammad , where you will find the best of examples. 
2. We can also study the behaviour and mannerisms of the companions of the Prophet , as well as the pious people of the previous generations. 
3. It is also worth looking online for lectures regarding improving your character and how significant and pleasing to Allah having a good character is. 
4. Additionally, we should supplicate to Allah to help us work on our weaknesses and to positively develop our character.

5. Arrange to Post Lectures Online/Live Stream from Your Local Islamic Centre

This largely applies to centres that do not already have this facility. You would be able to create a stronger link between the local Islamic centre and the local community by providing materials to those who may not be able to regularly attend gatherings.

This is also an effective tool to help prevent you from being of those that withhold knowledge, as the Prophet Muhammad said:

“Whoever hides knowledge, Allah will brand him with the branding iron from the hellfire.” [Tirmidhi]

This may take a bit of your time initially, but if there is anything you can think of starting that will benefit the people then, In sha Allah, this will be a sound investment of your time.

6. Engage Yourself in Charity Work

A great benefit of this is that it will count as sadaqah for you In sha Allah. I am sure there are many forms of charity work you can get involved in your local area. Taking part in noble causes is also an effective way of helping to remove misconceptions about Islam.

Moreover, this is something that was part of the Prophet Muhammad’s life, as he fought for people’s rights before becoming a prophet. This made the acceptance of his message easier among his people as they were well aware of his true nobility, exalted character and mannerisms prior to his message. Finally, getting involved in charity work should provide you with great opportunities within your career and thus providing you with success in this life and the hereafter.

7. Try to Integrate Islam into Your Life as Much as You Can

This means that you live and breathe Islam. So whether you are at the park, in the masjid or workplace, you have a consciousness of Allah and what you should and should not be doing.

Having Islam in your life continuously will make it easy for you to do that which is pleasing to Allah and consequently, this will impact positively on your character. As a result, you can indirectly give da’wah and help to leave a positive impression of Islam and also remain alert to potential da’wah opportunities.

Lastly, if you are using public transport, be sure to have reading material with you. You will be using your time productively by seeking knowledge as well as potentially creating a da’wah situation where other passengers may be curious about what you are reading.

8. Obtain a Small Booklet About Common Questions About Islam

If it is not practical for you to attend a da’wah course, then having a booklet is a quick and easy way to know the types of questions running through the minds of non-Muslims about Islam. In sha Allah, this will provide you with confidence and the start-up knowledge in the field of da’wah. You can usually find them from local Islamic centres and also, for those in the UK, IDCI can provide cheap and effective da’wah material to help get you started.

9. Keep it Simple!

If you are speaking to a non-Muslim, try to mention the simplicity of the religion and what it requires to be a Muslim e.g. believing in one God, acknowledging the Qur’an as a direct revelation from God, and recognising Muhammad as the Messenger of God.

People may try to ask you lots of questions regarding Islam. For example, “Why does Islam allow such and such?” An effective response is to say, “I can answer that, but you need to understand Islam as a package. So if you have a few minutes I can answer that for you.” This is when you can start giving da’wah about the Creator and the greatness of Allah and create the beautiful picture of Islam.

Additionally, this approach applies to Muslims. When giving da’wah, it may suffice to remind others about the greatness of Allah , His names and attributes and to remind others of His favours and blessings. Keeping a simple approach makes your job easier and helps to avoid conflicts and philosophical debates.

 

Source:

http://productivemuslim.com/dawah-series-2/#ixzz3CAN5as8Q

Overcome Soft Addictions

We are witnessing a growing trend of addictions to what I would like to call demoralising desires and temporary pleasures.

We know of our purpose, we know of our destination — so why do we continue to live for the dunya (this world, as opposed to the Hereafter) as if it were our only goal and the real essence of our existence?

This life is but a preparation for the next. We must focus on our destination and choose our paths wisely.

And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. [Qur'an: Chapter 51, Verse 56]

Yet we find ourselves sitting in front of televisions, computer screens and game consoles, investing our precious time in unprofitable matters, and in many cases, haram exposure. We waste away our wealth in masking our insecurities and fulfilling a moment’s thrill for a lifetime of debt. We are even shamelessly falling deep into the culture of drugs and alcohol despite their clear forbiddance in the Qur’an!

These addictions are paralysing the progress of our Ummah (Islamic community), causing us to neglect our deen (religion) and preventing us from fulfilling our true goal as servants of Allah , Al-Hakam (The Judge).

Let us stop being an Ummah of ill habits. Let us change our course to a path that leads us to Allah , In sha Allah.

Addiction: An Islamic Perspective

The term addiction is most commonly understood with respect to a chemical association — the compulsive use and dependence on drugs, alcohol and nicotine.

While this does unfortunately exist in the Ummah and is something we most definitely should aim to cease, I want to speak more about those forgotten but most definitely dangerous addictions that we shall refer to as soft addictions.

Soft addictions are those seemingly harmless habits such as over-shopping, overeating, watching too much TV, endlessly surfing the Internet, procrastinating etc. that keep us from having the life we want.

❝ They cost us money, rob us of time, numb us from our feelings, mute our consciousness, and drain our energy. And we all have them. ❞ —Judith Wright, author of The Soft Addiction Solution

As Judith Wright described, soft addictions are those habits that keep us from the life we want. Surely, as Muslims we want Jannah (paradise) and seek the pleasure of Allah alone. These addictions, however, distract us from fulfilling our true purpose and goals in life. They have the dangerous potential to take us away from the pure path of Islam, and slowly guide us to a path that leads us to hell fire. May Allah safeguard us.

From excessive use of the Internet, mobile phones and television to the addictions of pornography, food and shopping, behaviors such as these provide us with the opportunity for immediate satisfaction. But as we know, everything in this world is temporary.

While we might engage in these activities to pass time or escape reality, the satisfaction does not last and we want it again. The immediate satisfaction we gain from these acts can very quickly become a compulsive pursuit, and before we know it, we are falling sinfully into the hands of shaytan (Satan), attaching ourselves to the dunya and neglecting our Creator!

A Reminder of Our Purpose

Allah reminds us many times in the Qur’an that this life is a test for us, that we were made to worship Him alone and that we will be questioned on the Day of Judgement. We should remind ourselves daily of the reality of death and judgement.

Ibn Mas’ud narrated that the Prophet said: “The feet of the son of Adam shall not move from before his Lord on the Day of Judgement, until he is asked about five things: about his life and what he did with it, about his youth and what he wore it out in, about his wealth and how he earned it and spent it upon, and what he did with what he knew.“ [Jami at-Tirmidhi]

We must protect ourselves from becoming servants to our desires, deceived by the world. We must learn to recognise the difference between the absolute and the contingent, the real and the fleeting.

The Real is gaining the pleasure of Allah , a pleasure that will transcend into the afterlife. The Fleeting is the attainment of self-pleasure, a pleasure that will remain contained in the illusions of this temporary world.

And indeed the Hereafter is better for you than the present (life of this world). And verily, your Lord will give you (all that is good) so that you shall be well-pleased. [Qur'an: Chapter 93, Verses 4-5]

Changing For The Better

This life is but a preparation for the next. We must focus on our destination and choose our paths wisely. So let us recognise the growing problem of addictions within ourselves and our Ummah, and aim to change ourselves for the better, In sha Allah. Here I have broken down a simple 4 step plan to help you battle those addictions.

On the Day when every person will be confronted with all the good he has done, and all the evil he has done, he will wish that there were a great distance between him and his evil. … [Qur'an: Chapter 3, Verse 30]

Step 1: Keep A Diary

The first step is very simple, I want you to keep a detailed journal for 1 week.

Look deeply into your daily routine and note down what you do and how much time you spend doing it. What did you do? When did you do it? Where were you? Who were you with?

The idea is to be very mindful of your day. The more detailed the entries, the better. At this stage, do not attempt to make any changes. You simply want to record your day to better understand your daily routine.

Step 2: Time To Reflect

Now that you have your journal, it is time to reflect and refocus.

Take some time to read through your diary and highlight any bad habits or things that you would like to change in your day. It is all about identifying the need, or even the space for improvement, and most importantly recognising your soft addictions.

We cannot stop an addiction or bad habit until we recognise it to be a problem to begin with. 

Maybe you notice that you spend a lot of time playing video games or watching television. One may find one is engaging in haram activities such as watching pornography or smoking. However small or large they may be, make a list of all the bad habits you are engaging in. You may want to then categorise them to help you better organise your priorities.

Tip: Your priority should be first and foremost to eliminate anything that you do that is haram. Second are those activities you engage in the most often or most time-consuming that are not necessarily beneficial (your addictions). Finally, those habits that you would benefit from removing or replacing.

Step 3. Make A Plan

Once the bad habits and addictions are identified and categorised, we can begin to make a plan to tackle them productively. It can be a little overwhelming when you have a list of habits you want to change but no idea how to do it! So, here is a simple tool you could use to break it down into an effective plan.

Researchers have found that behind every habit, there is a neurological loop consisting of 3 parts: A routine, a cue and a reward. If we can identify these, we can better target and prevent bad habits.

• The Routine is what you have already done in steps 1 and 2 above — identifying addictions or bad habits.
• The Cue is what leads you to engage in the habit. By identifying this, you can be prepared for the habit or even avoid it.
• The Reward is what you essentially gain from engaging in that habit. By identifying this, you can search for alternatives — healthier activities to replace the bad routine, one that will essentially give you the same reward.

So from the habits you listed in Step 2, think about the cue and reward behind each habit. You can use the handy table below to identify these 3 parts of your habit loop and then come up with a plan on how you can change, prevent or replace your habit. I have included some examples for you:

Tip: By replacing a bad habit with a healthier alternative that gives you the same reward, you are more likely to remain steadfast as you will not feel a sense of loss because what you seek is achieved through the healthier habit.

Work through your table one by one, do not overwhelm yourself with trying to change too much at once. Start with the first habit and only move to the next when you feel you are gaining more control over the first.

Step 4: Remind yourself

To successfully tackle your addictions, you must regularly, in fact, constantly remind yourself of your purpose and the reality of death and judgement. It is important to have daily reminders to help keep you focused and disciplined.

Personal Tip: I find the most effective reminders for me are attending regular Islamic classes or spending time in the company of pious and inspiring people. I also find leaving little motivational quotes on sticky labels around the house useful!

Whatever works for you — just do not forget to remind yourself!

I hope this article has been useful to you. Why not use the diary and habit change plan templates and try out these tips for yourself? Let us know if these tips have worked for you by sharing your experiences and your personal tips in comments below.

 

Source:

http://productivemuslim.com/overcome-soft-addictions/#ixzz3C0SnMwjx

لماذا سمح الله بالشر على وجه الأرض؟

حتى يكون الأنسان مسير وذلك بإختياره بين الخير والشر ثم يحاسبه الله على اختيارته، ربما يبرر الإنسان أفعاله في الدنيا ليظهر أنه على صواب لكن أمام الله حقيقة عمله سوف تظهر لا محال.

How To Disable Werfault.exe in Windows?

Optional way to turn off the Werfault.exe (or WerSvc) Service – Windows 7

1. Go to Start button.
2. Go to Control Panel and then System and Security > Administrative Tools.
3. Right-click on Services and then click Run as Administrator option.
4. After Services window opens, select Windows Error Reporting Service.
5. Double-click it with you mouse and click the Stop button to disable it.

Islamic Nasheed without Music

I am sharing my Nasheed List for those who love to hear islam nasheed without Music :) .. Enjoy

6 Tips For A Great Work/Life Balance

I have discovered that it’s actually not that hard to have a great work/life balance, if only you apply a few simple tips with consistency:

1) Choose a mission that motivates you
It doesn’t matter if you are self-employed or working for others, the important thing is that you put your efforts into something that is meaningful to you. Why? Because it releases a lot of energy. You will never get a good work/life balance if you are demotivated, frustrated with your job, or feeling what you do is a waste of time. When you finally arrive at home, you will be drained of energy. When you do a job you truly care about, it will give you energy, and you will be happier with your life in general.

2) Stand up for yourself
We often fall in the trap of trying to please everyone around us. It’s counterproductive, because it’s only going to make us unhappy, thereby compromising our ability to be of value to others. Figure out what you need to be your best self. In my case, I need to work out 4-5 times a week, regularly practice meditation, and sometimes a nap in the middle of the day. As you can probably imagine often people try to pull me away from those self-nurturing activities (example: my daughter wants to play with me, rather than go with me to the gym) but I have taught myself to stand up for my needs, and not be ashamed of them.

3) Optimise your time in flow

I used to optimise the amount of hours I was working, believing that the more hours I spent on the job, the more successful I would become. Then I was fortunate enough to have some good role models that taught otherwise; when we are in a state of flow, we can be up to 10 times as efficient as when we are semi-distractedly slaving away. What is flow? Flow is the state where you are fully immersed in the task at hand, not thinking about anything else. Time and place cease to exist. It’s a wonderful state, and when it’s over you are surprised how much you actually managed to get done!
Today, I design my day so that there is the best possible chance to get a lot of flow-time. Quite often that involves a walk in the park in the middle of the day, or some other kind of refreshing break. In my view, it’s irresponsible not to take that break when you need it. Likewise, I often isolate myself for a few hours to protect my flow state – for instance by working some mornings from home.

4) Make a today list

N.R. Murthy, the founder of Infosys, shared his secret for work/life balance with me; he makes a today list. Simple as it sounds, I too have realised the powerful potential of this small tool. Most of us are used to making long to-do lists—lists including everything that needs to be done, both in the near and distant future. Such a list is fine for the purpose of liberating your mind from having to remember it all, but it’s a really bad idea to spend too much time together with that list. It will only create stress and make you feel overwhelmed. Plus you can easily lose sight of the few things that are massively important.

Like Murthy, make it a habit to jot down a list of 2-3 things every morning that you want to get done TODAY. Only include the activities that are critically important, that will bring you towards your most important goals. Get them done before lunch, and remember to feel good about it.

5) Never write or respond to emotional emails

This is really a big time-waster in most modern workplaces; long and emotional email correspondences. If someone sends you an emotional email, never press “reply” and fire away.
Instead, call up the person or meet over a cup of coffee. Talk about the matter in person. Emails are a terrible communication tool when there are emotions involved. What could be sorted out with just 10 minutes face-to-face conversation suddenly explodes because of misunderstandings and misinterpretations, and you witness yourself spending half your day sorting out energy-draining conflicts that are completely unnecessary.  If you are spending hours of your life dealing with tasks like this, you might need to ask yourself: am I winning without losing?

6) Just go home

I had a boss once that gave me a piece of advice that helped me out a lot. He said something along the lines of: “You will be coming back tomorrow, so you don’t end your day by reviewing all your unanswered emails, cleaning up your desk and going through your to-do list. Instead, just get up and walk out the door.” My boss was very good at not obsessing about anything, not believing that everything would fall apart if he missed an email, or left the office an hour earlier than normal. He danced to his own beat, and he was incredibly happy and cheerful, which went a long way to creating a healthy and productive atmosphere in the company. Don’t make a big fuss out of leaving the office. Just do like you would if you were merely going to the restroom. Stand up and walk out the door. You’ll be back in no time anyway.

Source:
http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/6-tips-great-work-life-balance/ 

الخير و الشر - مصطفى محمود

شاهدت حلقة "الخير و الشر" في برنامج العلم و الايمان لمصطفى محمود .. و ده تلخيص لما طرح في الحلقة بالأضافة لخواطري حول هذا الطرح.

عرض فيلم مدته 20 دقيقة عن تأمل لكائنات تحت البحار و براكين في ايسلندا و تناقد الطبيعة بين ما تحمله من خيرات و شرور للبشر.

ثم علق بتسع ملاحظات حول خوض الملحدين في كيفية وجود اله رحيم و يخلق الشر للبشر.

1- هناك خير وشر في الوجود، لكن الخير هو القاعدة والشر هة الاستثناء. 

(مثال: الصحة والمرض في حياة الانسان، و ثبات الأرض و الزلازل في عمر الأرض)

2- الشر ليس شراً من كل الوجوه، انما هو شر من وجه وخير من وجه.

(مثال: البركان يصنع التربة الخصبة وهو رافع الجبال، البراكين والزلازل هو تنفيس للضغط داخل الأرض ولولاه لأنفجرت الأرض)

3- الخير والشر يكمل أحدهم الاخر في الصورة العامة للوجود، فنحن لا نعرف قيمة الأشياء الا بمعرفة نقيضها.

(مثال: لولا المرض لن نعرف الصحة، بدون القبح لن نعرف الجمال، ولولا الليل ما عرفنا النهار)

4- المشقة تربي الجلد، وتفرز معادن الرجال، و تفرز الناس في الدنيا والاخرة.

(مثال: لولا الحروب ما عرفنا من الشجاع من الجبان)

5- خير من الله وشر من أنفسنا.

6- الله لم يأمر بالشر ولكن سمح به لحكمة، الا وهي حرية الانسان في ان يخطئ ونصيب وبالتالي له هامش خطأ و صواب. و للخطأ ضريبة عندما يتراكم فيتحول لشر. أراد الله ان يكرم الانسان، بأن يكون له الحرية مع صبره على عمل الخير ومنع نفسه عن الشر بدل ان يساق للفضائل كرها.

7- في الواقع لا نرى سوى فصل واحد من رواية لها بدء قبل الميلاد و لها فصل اخر بعد الموت، فكيف نحكم على كتاب لم نقرأ فيه الا صفحتين. كيف لملحد ان يحكم على الكون ولم يطلع على بداية خلقه ولذلك في القران يوجد تقرار لكلمة ذكرى، فذكر لأن الانسان سوف يرجع الى الله مرة اخرى بعد خلقه ثم موته.

8- الكمال لا يجوز الا لله، لو لم يمرض الانسان و لم يحتاج للاكل و الشرب فلن يحتاج الله سبحانه، و لذلك فالبعض يرجو الكمال وهو لا يجوز في الدنيا.

9- من يريد الدنيا جنة ماذا فعل ليستحقوها جنة، فهم لم يفعلوا سوى المجادلة والرفض والعناد.

و هذه هي ملاحظات للرد على تناقض رحمة الله مع وجود الشر.

خواطر:

عجبني طرحه للفيلم و منه يقول ملاحظات استشعرها من خلال مشاهدته جعلته يرد على سؤال مهم .. اعتقد دي طريقة رائعة ممكن تستخدم في التدريس.

افكاره شملت معنى رائع ان الشر هو الاستثناء و انه له فائدة و ليس شر من كل الوجوه (زي اننا مش حنعرف قيمة الخير الا بوجود الشر، ان الشر بيربي فينا قدرة التحمل، يميز بين الناس) و ان الشر بيكون من نفس الانسان الامارة بالسوء و الانسان مخير في اختياره لطريق الخير او الشر و ان الملحد بيجادل على حاجة هو مش عارفها و بيطلب كمال و هو مش من حقه يطلب من الله ما لا يستحقه مقابل جدال عقيم.

The Rabbit-and-Log Syndrome

In my first year of teaching English, I had to teach prepositions to sixth graders. I fumbled around for an entry point and reached out to a more seasoned colleague, who suggested that I employ the analogy of the rabbit and the log.

He said the approach was simple: draw a picture of a log and a rabbit on the board, and place the rabbit at different positions in relation to the log. This would draw out the use of prepositions. For example, "The rabbit is on the log." It sounded like a sensible approach.

I went into the class and did as exactly as he had explained. The engagement of the students was off the charts. Kids were jumping out of their seats to place the rabbit in relation to the log. They seemed to be really getting it and understanding prepositions. I couldn't believe how easy this was.
I finished the class feeling rather good about myself and reported back to my colleague, who was equally pleased.

The next day, I had to leave early to coach a soccer game, so I asked my department chair if she could cover my class. She was happy to do so. She started by reviewing what we had done around prepositions the day before, and began by reminding the class of the topic of prepositions. She saw several confused and puzzled faces among the students. She too grew confused. "What's wrong?" she asked. One of the students replied, "We didn't learn anything about prepositions yesterday. We learned about rabbits and logs."
She chuckled and then moved into the lesson to drill down on prepositions to make sure the students understood what a preposition meant.

She approached me in a kind and gentle manner the following day and said, "I think you might need to review prepositions again," as she recounted what had happened in the class she taught.
That experience served as a major "aha" moment to me as a young teacher. I realized that I needed to have some way of assessing what students were learning both as the class was unfolding and at the completion of class.

This is the moment when I started using exit cards, a 3x5 notecard for students to write down something they had learned.

I used a variety of prompts, such as one word, a question, a phrase, a haiku, a quote, a picture, etc. I gained so much invaluable daily data through the exit card and recognized how critical frequent assessment is to ensuring understanding.

I pooled the data from the exit cards to figure out next steps and to revisit a topic that didn't quite hit the mark.

Copied From:
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/digital-media-exit-cards-matt-levinson

كتاب الخيميائي

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

هذا الكتاب ملخصه انها قصة عن راعي يعيش باسبانيا يبحث عن كنز في مصر و بين حياة الراعي ببلده و وصوله للكنز في بلد اخرى رحلة مليئة بالأحداث يحاول الكاتب ان يوصل بها رسائل للقراء بشكل غير مباشر.

تتمثل 8 رسائل في الاتي:

1. عندما حلم بوجود الكنز في الاهرامات وسعى لمعرفة تأويل الحلم من عرافة => السعي وراء افكارك و لا تتوقف على ان تكون مجرد حلم.

2. عندما كان بوسعه مقابلة فتاة احلامه و الزواج منها و لكنه قابل الرجل العجوز (الملك) الذي قال له ان عليه ان يذهب الي مصر و يبيع كل ما يملك من ماشية => المخاطرة من اجل تحقيق الهدف والقدرة على ترك الحياة المستقرة من اجل الوصول الى ذاتك (الاسطورة الشخصية).

3. عندما عمل عند متجر البلورات بعد ان سرقت كل امواله => كيف تقودك المصاعب إلى تطوير شخصيتك كي تكون قادرا على تكملة الطريق للوصول للهدف و ان كل شئ بتقبله في الطريق ربنا كاتب انك تشوفه (كلمة صاحب المتجر: "كل شئ مكتوب")

4. تردد الراعي في تكملة الطريق بعد حصوله على اموال كثيرة بعد اجتهاده في العمل لمدة طويلة => ما ان يوصل الانسان في طريقه للاستقرار مرة اخرى يكون بين أمرين اما ان يختار الاستقرار و يتكتفي بالمجازفة عن هذا الحد او ان يؤمن بحلمه و هدفه للنهاية (كي لا يكون مثل تاجر البلورات الذي كان حلمه ان يذهب الى مكة و لكن بعد جمعه الاموال لم يحقق حلمه لخوفه ان بعد تحققه ان يعيش بلا احلام).

5. عندما سافر الى الفيوم من اجل عبور الصحراء للوصول للاهرامات و قابل الرجل الانجليزي الذي يريد ان يبحث عن رجل (الخيميائي) يستطيع ان يحول اي شئ لذهب => عندما تحقق هدفك فانت على موعد مع مقابلة الكثير من الاشخاص و التعلم منهم.

6. مقابلة فتاة احلامه فاطمة و رغبته في ان يستقر بالواحة ليتزوجها ويترك حلمه في مقابل الاستقرار => احيانا عندما يتعرض المرء لاستقرار مادي او عاطفي يجعله يتردد في انه بحاجة لشئ اخر لكن عندما يستسلم لفكرة الاستقرار و ترك احلامه يندم بقية عمره كما هو حال تاجر البلورات (حوار الخيميائي مع الراعي عن تنبئه بما سيحدث اذا بقى ولم يكمل رحلته للاهرامات).

7. رحلته مع الخيميائي حتى وصله بالقرب من الاهرامات و تعلم من الخيميائي اشياء جديدة => كل شئ تتعلمه في الوقت المناسب عندما تريد حقا ان تتعلمه و مستعد لتلقي هذا العلم.

8. وصول الراعي للكنز ليكتشف انه كان بجوار محل سكنه في اسبانيا انما اراد الملك ان يجعله يعبر الصحراء لتعلم دروس فيكون الكنز جزاءا لما تحمل من صعوبات و مخاطر من اجل تحقيق الهدف => بعد الوصول للهدف تكتشف انه كان اقرب اليك مما تتصور ولكنك كان يجب ان تدفع ثمن الوصول اليه لكي تستحق تحقيقه و ان الاهم من الهدف هو بذل الجهد للوصول اليه.

رغم ان القصة شيقة (و لكنها ليست مبهرة كما توقعت) الا ان بها الكثير من الخرافات واستخدام تعبيرات كروح العالم و لغة العالم .. الواحد الأوحد، حسيت الغموض و التخيل كان يضيع من وصول الرسائل بشكل ابسط و مباشر لكن ارى ان هذا هو هدف الكاتب و ارى ان القصة وإن كانت اجزاء منها تشعرك بالبلاهة (مش فاهم يقصد ايه، او ان الكاتب بيسرح بيك) الا ان الشعور بالرغبة في التكملة تلح عليك. اعتقد ان الكاتب ركز على جعل القصة شيقة اكتر من طريقة توصيل الرسائل للقارئ لان بعد القراءة بتفتكر القصة اكتر من هدفها.

من الكتب اللي تتقري مرة واحدة بس :)

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كتاب للكبار فقط

للكبار فقط by مصطفى زايد
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

عجبني حاجات قالها يمكن الواحد عرفها بس لما جمعها بطريقة معينة حسيتها اكتر .. فكرني بكتيبات عمرو خالد، يمكن فيه اجزاء صغيرة الطريقة معجبتنيش لكن في المجمل الكتيب حلو اوي و ترتيب الافكار رائع كنت اتمنى النهاية تكون قوية زي البداية لكن لا يمنع من انه تذكرة نافعة :) .. الواحد كان محتاجها.

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حوار بين طفل ساذج وقط مثقف

حوار بين طفل ساذج وقط مثقف by أحمد بهجت
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

كتاب غريب جدا .. مش عارفة اصنغه، كان بيتكلم على الطفل و علاقته بأهله (امه، والده، جدته) و مذاكرته و بنت الجيران و المدرسين، و ساعات بيتكلم عن تجارب الطفل لما كبر، و ساعات يتكلم عن ذكر القط لله، انه بيقول حكم، جعان و بيقنع الولد ازاي يجيب اكل من غير ما والدته تاخد بالها، بيسرح بالولد انه امير و اتحول قطة، مخنوق من الولد و بيستخف بانه مش فاهم حاجة.

ده ملخص الكتاب الغريب .. في النهاية هو عبارة عن كوكتيل عجيب اول مرة اشوف حاجة كده. و احساسي اتجاه كان كوكتيل برده .. شوية بحس انه ممل و شوية احسه بيوصف مشاعر رائعة زي علاقة الولد بجدته و لما القط كان بينصح الولد يزاكر ازاي قبل الامتحان. و برده بيطرح مشاكل التعليم ازاي ان فيه مواد ممكن تدرس بشكل افضل. بس مجمل الكتاب انا مش عارفة الكاتب كان عايز يوصل لايه و لا بيخاطب اي فئة عمرية و اول مرة اقرأ ليه حاسة اني عايزة اقرأ ليه حاجة تانية علشان اعرف هو ده الستايل و لا الكتاب ده حالة استثنائية.

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نساء النبي

نساء النبي by عائشة عبد الرحمن
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

عجبني الكتاب .. اسلوب الكاتبة جميل و المحتوى رائع و ممتع. لكن ساعات بحس انها بتحكي بتفاصيل زيادة بتحسسني "هو انتي كنتي معاهم و لا ايه؟!!" و يمكن ده بيميز الاسلوب القصصي الادبي و ده اشوف انه مناسب مع اشخاص عادية لكن لم اتقبله مع زوجات الرسول صلى الله عليه و سلم، حاسة اجتهاد الكاتبة محله في توصيل المعلومة بطريقة بسيطة و ممتعة بس متزودش في سرد مشاعر احاسيس الشخص في حدث معين لأنه سرد مبني على التخيل، ممكن تقوم بتحليل ايه ممكن يكون شعور الشخص بشكل غير مباشر.

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جنة الإخوان

جنة الإخوان by سامح فايز
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

اعجبني الكتاب، رغم اعتقادي ان هناك اجزاء لم استفيد منها و لا ارى داعي للكاتب ان يتطرق لها و ذلك لأعتقادي بأن اذا الله ستر الإنسان فلا ارى داع أن يخلع هذا الستر لمجرد ان يسرده. ما اعجبني اني اراه حيادي في ذكره ما احب و ما كره في رحلته و افادني كثيرا معرفة ما يدور داخل القرى او على الاقل قريته كنموذج من حراك سياسي اجتماعي. لم اتفق معه حول نظرته ان يخلع كل ما اخذه من الاخوان من منهج اسلامي تربوي ليثبت انه ليس منهم .. و تهوين من المعاصي و الكبائر لأن عادي ان المسلم يخطأ طلما مش بيأذي حد بذنوبه.

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The Story of My Life

The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

الكتاب ده بالنسبة لي هو اكتشاف عالم مكنتش اعرف عنه حاجة .. اكتشفت ان الشخص الاعمى ممكن يكون عنده بصيرة و إدراك اقوى بكتير من الاشخاص اللي عندها نعمة البصر. شخصية هيلين رائعة و فعلا حسيت بمعانتها و اجتهادها، و اللي ابهرني اكتر شخصية معلمتها و قدرتها على التأثير و احياء روح كادت أن تدفن في الظلمات.

يا ريت كل معلم يعرف قد ايه ممكن يحول حياة طالب فقط من خلال ايمانه بيه و تشجيعه على بذل الجهد و عدم و اليأس .. و يا ريت كل واحد اعمى يثق في نفسه انه ممكن يحقق ذاته لو بذل الجهد و احسن الظن بالله. اكتر حاجة حبتها في الكتاب اني رزقت بشخص كفيف اساعده فكان مؤثر اني وجدت فعلا شخصية كفيفة مجتهدة و قد ايه اتكسفت من نفسي كل لما قبلتها حسيت ان الشخصية ديه هي اللي ساعدتني مش انا اللي كنت بساعدها :)

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ألبوم صور

ألبوم صور by سارة المغازى
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

كتاب رائع .. احلى حاجة فيه ان الواحد بيعيش القصة بكل تفصيلها، كل قصة بتنقل الواحد من عالم لعالم آخر.

1. مشاعر بين الأم و ابنتها - البوم صور، عروسة السكر
2. مشاعر الكاتب بقلمه - ليس سوى قلم، زائر منتصف الليل
3. مشاعر الأم و ابنها - و كان ولدي الثمن
4. مشاعر الأب و ابنته - احببتها اولا
5. صراع الانسان بين قلبه و عقله - تحب ام تحيا
6. صراع الانسان لتحقيق ذاته - سلم الى السماء، اراد حريته، الاحلام مش عايزة فوارس
7. صراع الانسان مع هويته - حكاية امة، الرحلة

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الهدية : سر الاستمتاع بعملك وحياتك .. الآن

الهدية : سر الاستمتاع بعملك وحياتك .. الآن by Spencer Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ثاني كتاب قرأته لسبنسر جونسون .. عرفت عنه من محاضﻻة عن ادارة الوقت و اتقال فيها قصة الكتاب. ارى ان الكاتب مبدع في بلورة المغزى من خلال قصة ممتعة.. The present is the present .

فعلا احلى وقت هو اللي تحس فيه:
- انك عايش اللحظة بكل حاجة حلوة فيها حتى لو كنت وسط مصاعب الحياة.
- انك تتعلم من الماضي و تتصرف بطريقة مختلفة عند موجهة نفس مشاكل الماضي.
- انك تحس انك بتصنع للمستقبل و بتحقق اهدافك.

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Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life

Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life by Spencer Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

عجبني جدا اسلوب سبنسر جونسون في طرحه لمعنى مهم من خلال قصة رائعة .. فكرة الاساسية ان الانسان لازم يتقبل التغيير بل انه يسعى له. بس الحاجة اللي اتعلمتها و اثرت فية اكتر رغم انه مش ضمن الهدف الأساسي للكتاب .. فكرة ان محدش حيغير حد، ممكن تساعد اللي قدامك انه يكتشف اهمية التغيير و فيدته لكن يبقى العمل و الاجتهاد معتمد على الطرف الآخر و لو لقيته بيقاوم اكتفي بأنك تترك له اثار ممكن يهتدي بها لو قرر انه يتغير بالفعل زي الفار لما كان بيعلق في كل مكان بيعدي من جانبه لوحة مكتوب عليها شعور ايجابي حس بيه و هو في رحلة اجتهاده علشان يشجع الفار التاني (نسيت اساميهم :) ) .

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How to Win Friends & Influence People

How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ده من نوع الكتب اللي تبقى عايز تقراها اكتر من مرة بعد ما تخلصها .. مفيد جدا و اسلوب الكاتب مختصر و مقنع، اعتقد ان طريقة كتابته من افضل ما قرأت في مجال التنمية البشرية. كما اجد تجارب الكاتب في الحياة بتربط بين الكلام النظري اللي بيقوله و بين فايدة تطبيقه عمليا.

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Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus

Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus by John Gray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

الكتاب رائع لفهم الاختلافات بين الرجال والنساء من عدة جوانب .. اسلوب الكاتب اكاديمي بحت فهو يبدأ بشرح الفكرة ثم يستفيض في تفاصيل جانب معين ثم ينتقل لجانب اخر ثم يربط كل ما سبق بالفكرة الرئيسية وأحياناً يكثر من طرح الأمثلة .. مما يؤدي لملل في بعض الاحيان. و لكن في المجمل الكتاب مفيد جدا و عندما يطيل في الشرح فهو يعمق المعنى اكثر من انه بيملى صفحات الكتاب .. يعني رغي من النوع المفيد.

اكتر فصول عجبتني (9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13):

الفصل 9 بيتكلم عن ازاي تتفادى المجادلات و اللي بيكون سببها الاساسي هو الاسلوب في التواصل اكتر من الحاجة اللي بنتجادل عليها.

الفصل 10 بيتكلم عن احراز نقاط عند الطرف الآخر، بمعنى ايه الحاجات اللي ممكن تسعده و لو عملتها ماذا تعني له علشان ميكونش عندي توقع زائد عن اللازم.

الفصل 11 كيفية نقل المشاعر السلبية، بيتكلم عن استخدام الكتابة كوسيلة لمعالجة الطاقة السلبية و تكسر حدة الغضب اللي جوانا علشان نركز مع المشكلة الحقيقية و نحلها و ممكن نلقيها مكنتش مشكلة اصلا :) .. و الحلو ان الطريقة في الكتابة اللي بيقترحها تنفع لأي مشكلة حتى لو مش من شريكك .. من اي انسان عايش ميت .. حتى من نفسك.

الفصل 12 طلب الدعم، ده للنساء فقط و هو فعلا مهم لكل واحدة مش بتحب تطلب من زوجها و تستنى هو يجمع لوحده و يحس، الفصل ده حيقنعك انه مش حيجمع و لا حيحس :) .. مع اعتراضي علي المستوى الثالث في طلب الدعم التأكدي لأني شايفة ان دي حاجة نجحت مع الكاتب و زوجته لكن مش شرط تنجح مع باقي الناس لأنها تعتمد على شخصية الطرفين.

الفصل 13 بيتكلم عن ابقاء سحر الحب و ختم بيه الكتاب و هو عن ازاي ان حتى لو كل حاجة كويسة في العلاقة و نسبة التفاهم عالية ممكن تبقى مضايق و السبب ان لما بتشعر بحب و راحة و امان مع حد بتتحرر مشاعر سلبية من الماضي كانت جواك و ضرب مثل رائع ان في بلاد كانت بتقوم باتهاض فئات من المجتمع و بعد فترة لما اعطوهم حققهم ثاروا و هاجوا و يسمى ب "رد الفعل المؤجل" بمعنى ان مشاعر مكبوتة تظهر بشكل مفاجئ بسبب اهتمام اشخاص بحالنا و وضعنا.

اخيرا، قرأت انتقاد ناس كتير بتقول ان الكتاب عنصري.. انا شايقة ان الكاتب كان بيجي على الراجل شوية و الستات شوية و يطبطب هنا شوية و يطبطب هناك شوية.. لكن يمكن حد ياخد الكلام بشكل شخصي لكن انا شايفة ان الكاتب عمل اللي عليه.

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10 Tips To Make Your Life Easier And More Enjoyable

There are numerous benefits in simplifying your life. You will have more time to spend with friends and family, there will be less stress in your life, you will be able to spend additional time on your favorite hobby… and overall, there will be more joy and happiness in your life.

Contrary to what most people think, simplifying your life isn’t really that complicated, it is actually quite easy, you only have to take a few simple steps.
Here are 10 simple things you can do immediately to simplify your life and to render it more enjoyable:

#1: Turn off your cell phone
Once work is finished and you want to spend some quality time with your family, simply turn off your cell phone.

#2: Stop multi-tasking
Although, it may seem like you move on quicker if you work on several tasks in parallel, research has shown that it is actually more beneficial to focus only on one single task at a time. On top of that, it will allow you to greatly simplify your life.

#3: Throw away old stuff you no longer needClean out your garage, wardrobe, toolbox… and throw away or give away stuff you no longer need. If you didn’t use an object for at least 5 years, there is a good chance that you will never use it again.

#4: Ask for helpYou can’t do everything in life on your own, so don’t be shy and don’t feel embarrassed to ask for help. Why would you want to complicate your life unnecessarily trying to figure out everything on your own if there are other people who already solved those problems and are willing to help you?

#5: Slow down and relaxLife isn’t a race and you will be happier and more successful if you slow down and relax every now and then. Life isn’t only simpler and more enjoyable if you take some time to relax, but  typically you will also have your best ideas when you find yourself in a relaxed state.

#6: Enjoy the simple things in your lifeYou don’t need a sports car and a big villa to be happy and to enjoy your life. True happiness is found in simple things, like holding someone’s hand you love, taking a walk in the park, enjoying the beautiful sunset…

#7: Stop doing what you are not passionate aboutLife is too short and precious to waste it with activities you don’t like and you are not passionate about. If you are not passionate about your job, I recommend you start looking for something you are more interested in. I’m not saying you should resign tomorrow, but at least get a clear idea what you really want to do and start looking for something else.

#8: Stop trying to be perfectTrying to be perfect in everything you do adds a lot of stress to your life. Simplify your life by doing most of your tasks just good enough. If you have to do the same things over and over again, try to improve each time and ultimately you will reach perfection in a more natural and playful way.

#9: Laugh about your mistakes
Learn from your mistakes and avoid repeating them in the future, but don’t take them too serious. We all make mistakes and that’s absolutely normal, actually that’s the way we learn and grow.

#10: Spend less time on social media websitesInitially it may be fun, but the more time you spend on those social media sites, the more complicated your life will become. You still need to take care of your children, you still need to work, you still need to cook and probably lots of other things. However, if you spend 3 hours a day on Facebook, it is going to be quite complicated to fulfill all your other responsibilities.

Copied From:
http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/10-tips-make-life-easier-enjoyable/

Today's Quote

Dealing with Negative Thoughts

 

At any given moment, we are held hostage by something we seldom acknowledge—our thoughts. The things we think about the breakup of a romantic relationship, a fight with a friend, or even about something as miniscule as getting a parking ticket dominates our lives without us ever really recognizing it.

As humans, we have the unique ability to reflect on events and circumstances, and while that is a good thing, it carries with it, a risk– the way we think about things has a profound affect on how we feel. Negative thinking can adversely impact not only our mood, but our physical health, too. Therefore, it is imperative to examine what we are thinking and treat our thoughts as mere constructs that we have the power to harness with a little effort.

Analyzing our thoughts is particularly crucial for those of us who have the tendency to be depressed. This is because those of us who suffer from depression regularly form inaccurate thoughts that we convince ourselves are true. These irrational thoughts, which are repeated over and over again, are known to therapists who practice cognitive behavioral therapy as cognitive distortions. Mental health professionals disagree on whether cognitive distortions cause depression or whether depression causes cognitive distortions, but it is universally recognized that such patterns of thought make us feel terrible about ourselves.

Common Cognitive Distortions

There several different cognitive distortions or mind traps that we can fall into. Here are some of them:

Over-generalization: one negative thing occurs and you convince yourself that it is going to happen in all other similar situations.

Emotional reasoning: you feel a certain way, so you think it must be the truth.

All-or-nothing thinking: you see things in black and white. Either things are totally great or a disaster.

Mental filter: you only remember the negative things that have happened to you during the course of life and shut out all the positive things.

Should statements: you try to motivate yourself by dwelling on the things you think you should be able to do.

Mind-reading: you conclude that someone is thinking something negative about you.

Mental health professionals believe that there are about ten cognitive distortions to which depressed people repetitively subject themselves. But it’s important to note that you are not stuck and that these patterns of thought can be changed.

Changing Your Thoughts

One of the most helpful things you can do is to give all of your negative thoughts a reality check. For instance, if your partner has just ended a romantic relationship and you think that you will never be loved again, you can ask yourself, “What evidence do I have that I will never be loved again?” Since you’ve been in romantic relationships before this one, there should be no reason why you won’t find another partner who will love you when you are ready. In addition, you can think of all the friends and family members who still love you. In this way you can realize that you are committing the cognitive distortion of over-generalization because you are taking one event and magnifying it to apply to all situations.

Another way to battle cognitive distortions is to engage in reframing an event. Perhaps something negative happened to you, but you must ask yourself if anything positive came out of it. In the case of the end of a romantic relationship, you can tell yourself that you learned many new things from your ex-partner that have made you a much more interesting and well-rounded person and that you can bring this to your next relationship. If you can think along these lines, you might not feel as though you are at a dead end, but at the precipice of a new beginning.

Training your mind to challenge irrational thoughts and replace them with more accurate thinking is extremely difficult, particularly for people who suffer from depression. But the reward justifies the effort you will have to put into it. Instead of walking around feeling unhappy and that the world is out to get you, you’ll have a different outlook on life—one that will fill you with enthusiasm for the day at hand and not affect your mood when things don’t go exactly your way.

Source: Pick The Brain