The Forty Rules of Love

by Elif Shafak

But treasures are hidden among ruins. A broken heart hides treasures.”

Most of the problems of the world stem from linguistic mistakes and simple misunderstandings. Don’t ever take words at face value. When you step into the zone of love, language as we know it becomes obsolete. That which cannot be put into words can only be grasped through silence.

Whatever happens in your life, no matter how troubling things might seem, do not enter the neighborhood of despair. Even when all doors remain closed, God will open up a new path only for you. Be thankful! It is easy to be thankful when all is well. A Sufi is thankful not only for what he has been given but also for all that he has been denied.

What does patience mean? It means to look at the thorn and see the rose, to look at the night and see the dawn. Impatience means to be so shortsighted as to not be able to see the outcome.

The moment you start looking for Love, you start to change within and without.”

If you want to change the way others treat you, you should first change the way you treat yourself. Unless you learn to love yourself, fully and sincerely, there is no way you can be loved. Once you achieve that stage,

however, be thankful for every thorn that others might throw at you. It is a sign that you will soon be showered in roses.”

“Fret not where the road will take you. Instead concentrate on the first step. That’s the hardest part and that’s what you are responsible for.

In everything we do, it is our hearts that make the difference, not our outer appearances.