“The universe is not outside of you. Look inside yourself; everything that you want, you already are.” – Rumi
When I first read these words, something in me paused. Rumi, with his timeless ability to cut through the noise of human doubt, leaves us with this powerful reminder: we are not empty vessels searching for fulfillment in the external world. We are, instead, universes in motion, holding within us the very essence of what we are chasing.
How often do we look outward for validation, success, or love, believing these treasures live beyond us? Yet Rumi insists the opposite. The answers are not hidden in the stars but in the chambers of our own being.
This teaching is not just philosophy—it is a shift in perspective. Imagine for a moment that everything you long for—peace, abundance, joy, love—already exists inside you. Instead of striving to “find” it, the work becomes remembering, uncovering, and embodying it.
A Deeper Reflection
When Rumi says, “everything you want, you already are,” he invites us to dissolve the illusion of separation.
- You are not separate from love—you are love.
- You are not separate from abundance—you are abundance.
- You are not separate from peace, you are peace.
This is not about dismissing external goals or desires but realizing that their seed lives within you. External achievements then become mirrors reflecting what you already carry inside.
When you recognize yourself as the source, you stop chasing and start radiating. And life tends to respond differently to radiance—it bends towards it.
Guided Journaling & Meditation: Meeting the Universe Within
Before you begin, find a quiet space where you feel safe. Light a candle or incense if you like. Take your journal and a pen and place them beside you.
Step 1: Arrive in the Moment
- Close your eyes.
- Take three slow, deep breaths.
- With every inhale, imagine drawing in light. With every exhale, release the weight of what you’ve been carrying today.
Whisper softly to yourself: “I am the universe within.”
Step 2: Visualize the Universe Inside You
- Imagine a night sky unfolding inside your chest, filled with infinite stars.
- Each star represents a quality you already hold—love, wisdom, abundance, creativity, joy.
- See them twinkle, feel their warmth.
Notice: what qualities shine brightest right now?
Step 3: Dialogue with Your Inner Universe
Open your journal and, without overthinking, begin a conversation. You can start with prompts like:
- “Dear inner universe, what do you want me to remember about who I already am?”
- “Which of my inner stars longs to shine more fully in my life right now?”
Let your pen move freely, as if the answers are flowing through you rather than from you.
Step 4: Anchor the Experience
When you finish writing, close your eyes again. Place your hand on your heart and whisper:
“Everything I want, I already am. I carry the universe within me.”
Take three grounding breaths. Open your eyes slowly, feeling both lighter and fuller.
Journaling Prompts to Explore Rumi’s Teaching
✨ Take your journal, light a candle if you wish, and let these prompts guide you inward:
- What is something I’ve been seeking outside of myself? How might it already exist within me?
- If I were to embody abundance, joy, or love right now, what would it look like in my daily life?
- When was the last time I realized that something I thought I lacked was actually already part of me?
- What qualities within me are waiting to be remembered and expressed more fully?
- If I trusted that I already am what I desire, how would that change the way I move through the world?
Closing Thought
Rumi’s words are both an invitation and a challenge: to turn inward with trust, to uncover the wealth already flowing in your being. When we live from this knowing, life becomes less about striving and more about becoming—a gentle unveiling of the magnificence that has always been within us.
The universe is not outside of you. You are the universe, experiencing itself through your breath, your choices, your love.
Salima
Just me thinking out loud over here