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Learn to respect those who don't fast: Psychologist
Muslims who learn to respect people who don't fast will see more improvement on self control during fasting, says a psychologist
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Muslims who learn to respect people who don't fast will see more improvement on self control during fasting, says a psychologist.
During the fasting month, Muslims are required to control their worldly desires to eat, drink and even to control their anger.
It is a common practice that restaurants and food stalls are asked to close or put curtains across their windows to respect those who fast.
"Usually we ask people who don't fast to respect us, while it should be the reverse. We should learn to respect people who don't fast. We won't learn anything about self control if we ask our environment to fit us. Isn't self-constraint the point of fasting?" said psychologist Vera Itabiliana Hadiwidjojo over the phone on Wednesday.
She said that people can learn to improve themselves during the fasting month.
"If someone really does their fasting right, they are supposed to be able to control themselves better. It can also improve their way of thinking because fasting restricts people from thinking badly about others," she said.
She added that someone could also improve their empathy by fasting because people were usually urged to share more with others during the fasting month. (fsu/hhr)(+++)
