{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Practice and Pursuit of Ihsan-Lecture6","description":"Practice of pausing (cont.)  Recognize the trigger. Press pause for at least 6 seconds. Take a deep breath. Consider your reaction in a situation from a place of Ihsan. Remember the tools Allah has provided you- self-awareness, power of choice, guidance and ability to consult with others. Develop a mantra or an affirmation. Press play again to continue in a better way.  Practices to develop self-control over time:  Practice doing one thing at one time. Reduce inputs- news, social media, lectures. Spending time in silence as it allows our spirit to grow.  Three keys to living a life of Ihsan:  Spend when you have plenty and spend in challenging times. Restrain your anger. Pardon and forgive.  Key 1: Spending in good and bad times:  Do good to others as Allah has done good to you. It keeps the flow of blessings going. Remind yourself that Allah has provided you with these blessings. If you bring good, Allah will provide multifold blessings. Charity begins at home.&amp;nbsp;  Research on the connection between money and happiness:  Having more does not make you more generous. Paradox of generosity- when you give more you are happier. Give because of good intentions. Making a practice of giving makes you more open-hearted.  Effects of materialism:  It is highly correlated with being dissatisfied with one\u2019s life. Results in low self- esteem and less integration in the community.&amp;nbsp; Find less meaning in life. Less concerned about the welfare of others. Less satisfied with family lives. Less fun and enjoyment in what they experience. More likely to be depressed and envious.  LINKS: Ghurar al-Hikam: comprehensive collection of short quotations and aphorisms by Ali ibn Abi Talib.&amp;nbsp; SURAH ALI IMRAN [3:134] SURAH AL-QASAS [28:76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84] To access lots of free resources on relationships and personal growth, please sign up for #DailyWisdom at www.marziahassan.org\/dailywisdom ","author_name":"Loving and Living the Quran","author_url":"http:\/\/marziahassan.libsyn.com\/webpage","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/15835868\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/82477439"}