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New Year, A New Page, New Resolutions, and Sufism

The new year is often seen as a time of new beginnings and opportunities for renewal for many people. This period is commonly considered a time to set personal goals and make changes in our lives. Sufism offers a unique perspective on this process of renewal. The teachings of this mystical tradition can add a meaningful dimension to our new year’s resolutions, focusing on inner transformation and mindful living.

1. Self-Discovery:
Sufism places the journey of personal discovery at its core. The new year is a perfect time to embark on or continue this journey. Sufi teachings guide us towards our inner world, helping us to discover our true selves. Self-awareness can make our new year’s resolutions more conscious and purpose-driven.

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing 
and rightdoing there is a field.
I’ll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass
the world is too full to talk about.”

RUMİ

2. Ego and Forgiveness:
In Sufism, the ego is seen as a barrier to our true self. The new year is an opportunity to recognize and free ourselves from our ego. It’s also a time to forgive and let go of our past mistakes and grievances. This is a fundamental step for both personal growth and making a healthier start in our relationships.

“Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion.”

RUMI

3. Love and Connectedness:
Sufism places great emphasis on the concepts of universal love and connectedness. In our new year’s resolutions, we can adopt a more loving, understanding, and connected approach towards others and the world. This can enhance our personal peace and contribute to positive changes in our community.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

RUMI

The new year offers more than just setting external goals; it is also an opportunity for inner transformation and renewal. The teachings of Sufism can guide this process of renewal and help us find deeper meaning and purpose in all areas of our lives. As we step into the early days of this new year, let’s fill our hearts and minds with the wisdom that Sufism offers and take steps towards discovering our true potential.

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Sevgi (Love): You should love without harming, spilling, or hurting. After all, everyone claims to love.

Loyalty: Trust is more important than love. You love whom you trust. Love ends where trust ends.

Patience: You shouldn’t leave at the first fight or argument. You should fight for your relationship. It takes courage to love, but perseverance to continue.

Respect: You should respect their decisions and the way they live their life. Don’t try to change them. Love them as they are, not as you want them to be.

Interest: Finally, interest is crucial because everything that doesn’t receive attention dies. This includes feelings, relationships, and even flowers.

Since 2010, I have occasionally shared insights in my writings about the subconscious processes that influence our decisions, often without our awareness. In this context, this article will examine the impact of physical attractiveness and persuasion on our decisions. My goal is for you to make more informed decisions after reading this article and not to be misled by physical attractiveness.

HOW DOES THE PERCEPTION OF PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS AFFECT BEHAVIOR?

Physical attractiveness is a significant factor that people consider when evaluating someone. Research indicates that individuals exhibit a more positive attitude towards physically attractive people and are more inclined to believe what they say.

Numerous studies in the field of business have shown that physically attractive individuals tend to be more successful. For instance, a physically attractive waiter in a restaurant may receive more tips. It has also been observed that attractive individuals receive more positive responses in job interviews and are perceived as more skilled and qualified by employers.

In social and personal relationships, physical attractiveness can also be influential. One study revealed that an attractive person joining a group received more attention and was more readily accepted. Additionally, physically attractive individuals have been observed to be more popular, have more friends, and attract more attention in social settings.

However, physical attractiveness alone is not sufficient, and the influence of other factors should also be considered. For instance, factors such as trustworthiness, authority, and the content of the speech can also be effective in persuasion and belief.

THE IMPACT OF PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS ON TRUST, INTERACTION, AND BELIEF
This situation is supported by various studies demonstrating the significant impact of physical attractiveness on people’s perceptions and social interactions. The influence of physical attractiveness on trust, interaction, and belief can be explained as follows:

Halo Effect: The tendency of people to trust and believe in physically attractive individuals can be associated with a psychological phenomenon known as the “halo effect.” According to this effect, people attribute more positive qualities to someone they find attractive and tend to believe that this person is more honest, intelligent, and trustworthy. Example: In job interviews, employers have been observed to evaluate attractive candidates as more skilled and successful.

First Impression: Physical attractiveness plays a crucial role in the quick and automatic evaluations people make about each other. Attractive individuals are generally perceived as more trustworthy and positively evaluated. Example: In politics, it has been found that voters trust physically attractive candidates more and believe more in their policies.

Social Success: Physical attractiveness is associated with social success and popularity. People trust and believe more in the words of individuals who are accepted and liked by others due to their attractiveness.

However, these tendencies are generalizations and may not apply in every situation.

PEOPLE TRUST PHYSICALLY ATTRACTIVE INDIVIDUALS MORE AND BELIEVE IN THEIR WORDS MORE

Research shows that people tend to trust physically attractive individuals more and believe in their words more. This demonstrates how the perception of attractiveness can influence people’s perceptions, judgments, and behaviors.

For example, physically attractive individuals may be perceived as more qualified and skilled in the eyes of employers. Therefore, employers may trust these individuals more and believe in what they say. This situation can help attractive individuals achieve more success in the professional world.

It has also been observed that physically attractive individuals attract more attention during presentations and receive more interest from the audience. This may be due to the audience’s more positive attitude towards attractive individuals.

Moreover, attractive individuals have been observed to be more successful in their social interactions with others. For instance, it has been found that an attractive person receives more help and sympathy in an encounter.

FINAL WORDS Although physical attractiveness has a significant impact on persuasion, making decisions based solely on physical attractiveness is undoubtedly misleading. You should pay attention to whether the ideas advocated by a person are logical and realistic, rather than their appearance. You should not allow physical attractiveness to influence you.

Your decisions should be made objectively and logically. It is crucial to make decisions after a detailed analysis, without succumbing to emotional reactions. Remember that your decisions can shape your life in the long run, so it is important to make them consciously.

For those who want to learn more about the topic, here are some recommended resources and books:

The books listed below can help you gain more insight into the impact of physical attractiveness on people’s perceptions. Each book explores the relationship between attractiveness, beauty, and human behavior from different perspectives.

“Beauty Pays: Why Attractive People Are More Successful” – Daniel S. Hamermesh This book is based on research that examines how attractive people are more successful in the business world and social life, addressing the impact of physical attractiveness on people’s successes and perceptions.

“Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty” – Nancy Etcoff
Nancy Etcoff explores the evolutionary and biological foundations of beauty and attractiveness in this book, examining how these concepts reflect in social interactions among people.

“The Halo Effect: … and the Eight Other Business Delusions That Deceive Managers” – Phil Rosenzweig This book discusses common misconceptions that managers often fall into in the business world, including the Halo Effect, examining physical attractiveness, success, and perception in the context of business.

“Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” – Robert B. Cialdini This book explains the psychological principles underlying persuasion and influence processes, touching upon the role of physical attractiveness in persuading people.

“The Social Animal” – Elliot Aronson While explaining fundamental concepts and theories in social psychology, this book also addresses the impact of physical attractiveness on people’s social interactions and perceptions.

1. Success Rates:

• In every sector, only 5% achieve success. But why?

2. Key to Success:

• Only 20% of success is related to external factors (company, school, conditions).
• However, 80% depends on personal factors: mindset, talent, consistent work, change, and adaptability.

3. The Importance of Mindset:

• Talent and hard work are not enough; you need a strong mindset.
• Would names like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos succeed if they did your job? Probably yes. Because of mindset!

4. What is Mindset?

• Having the right and positive perspective.
• Your stance against problems: Like with the Everest example, challenges shape who we are.

Challenges are like handfuls of salt. Some put it in a glass and drink bitter water, others throw it into the ocean and drink sweet water.

anonymous

• Stop complaining.
• Successful people have different habits.
• Mindset is essentially a way of thinking. This gradually transforms into feelings, behaviors, habits, and eventually character. And character determines our destiny.

5. Final Thoughts:

• To succeed, you first need to fall.
• Always focus on the positive.
• The people around you and their quality directly affect your success.

Conclusion: Right actions yield results only with the right mindset.

New Year’s resolutions mean defining steps to be taken in the future to reach goals for many people. However, implementing these decisions is as important as making them. Here are some key points to consider on this topic:

🤔 Difference Between Knowing and Understanding: Knowing something is just having surface-level information. Truly understanding something means taking action on it, experiencing it, and internalizing it. For example, knowing grammar rules is not enough to learn a language; you need to speak it and practice it to truly understand.

😮 Surprises of Seminars: When giving a seminar, you experience something different each time. The reactions, questions, and feedback from the audience can surprise you. This shows that every seminar is a unique and instructive experience.

💡 Seek Help from Experts: When setting your New Year’s resolutions, it’s important to seek guidance and advice from experts in specific areas you want to improve. For instance, you can seek advice from exercise experts for fitness goals or watch related videos. The knowledge and experience of experts give you a significant advantage in reaching your goals.

🤷‍ Sometimes You Need to Let Go of Some People: There might be people in your life who constantly drain you, lower your energy, or negatively affect you. Moving away from such people is essential for your personal growth and peace. Remember, when you let go, you realize you’ve made a genuine choice.

💡 Every Choice is a Renunciation: Every choice in life means giving up on something. For example, choosing a career path means rejecting other potential paths. However, this doesn’t mean the choice is wrong. Our task is to make a choice, take action, and own the consequences.

🤝 Talented and Determined Individuals in Your Life: Talented and determined individuals entering your life can inspire and motivate you to take action towards personal growth and success. Spending time with such individuals can guide you towards higher goals.

💡 Change Your Thoughts for Success: Sometimes, to achieve success, you might need to change your long-held beliefs, perspective, and even your identity. Be flexible to overcome your own limitations and reshape your thoughts if necessary.

🚴 Take Quick Action: Starting to implement your decisions quickly boosts your self-esteem and confidence. The fear of making mistakes prevents many people from taking action. However, mistakes are opportunities for learning and growth.

Trust is the cornerstone of any relationship. The strength of the bond we form with our loved ones is based on this trust. However, once broken, it is quite challenging to fully mend this trust. A tale of a snake and a woodcutter helps us delve deep into this matter

In the story, there is a tight friendship between the snake and the woodcutter. However, due to the woodcutter’s greed and avarice, this friendship shatters. The snake falls victim to the woodcutter’s betrayal, leading to the complete dissolution of trust between them. The snake’s refusal to be friends with the woodcutter again highlights the lasting consequences of broken trust and the difficulty of repairing it.

This tale not only reflects the relationship between the snake and the woodcutter but also mirrors all other relationships in our lives. Greed and avarice can deceive us, not just for material gains but also in our social and emotional relationships. Such emotions can harm our relationships and sometimes cause irreparable damage.

In conclusion, mending relationships after trust is broken is quite challenging. This is not limited to the story of a snake and a woodcutter; it applies to every aspect of our lives. Therefore, to protect and strengthen our relationships, it is essential to preserve and value trust.

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Success begins with a single, small step. This is the essence of the Snowball Effect, a concept that explains how success grows and strengthens as we persist and progress.

The Snowball Effect illustrates that initial efforts, however small, amass and transform into something more substantial over time. Persistence and patience are key. Early struggles are part of the journey, but as the metaphorical snowball gains momentum, hurdles become less daunting, and achievements more frequent.

Consider the journey of a content creator. Imagine producing content diligently for six months. The initial phase might bring modest views and subscribers. However, with regular content creation, views gradually increase. By the six-month mark, you celebrate 1000 subscribers and regular views. Then, an unexpected video might go viral, propelling your platform to new heights.

The Snowball Effect applies to various aspects of life. It is a beacon of hope in the face of challenges and wavering motivation. The initial push might be tough, but the growing momentum eventually paves the way, overcoming obstacles.

In essence, the Snowball Effect is a magical path to success. Maintaining focus, determination, and motivation are crucial. This process guarantees an escalating growth rate, amplifying your potential as you advance.

So, let’s set the snowball in motion and embrace the journey towards success. The Snowball Effect is ready to propel us beyond our limits!