Arrival
Before starting out on your journey towards the Heart of Design, take a few moments to centre yourself, revisit your intentions, and enter into a state of presence.
Somewhat paradoxically, our journey towards the Heart of Design starts not with a departure, but an arrival.
Setting out on this path represents a significant leap of faith as we seek to align our spiritual and professional aspirations in ways we likely haven’t done before. It isn’t always an obvious or linear path, nor is it necessarily an easy one, so it’s important that we take some time to ‘arrive’ before we take our first few steps along the road.
What do I mean by ‘arrive’, and why is it so important?
Arriving simply means to pause for a few moments, take a few breaths, and remember why we chose to embark on this journey.
It’s a quick and easy tool that I use at the start of each day, and at the outset of each workshop, course or training that I lead, helping to bring myself and whoever I’m with into a state of presence.
Presence is the way in which we occupy space, as well as how we flow and move.
In his book Living Presence, Kabir Helminski describes presence as signifying “the quality of consciously being here … It is the activation of a higher level of awareness that allows all our other human functions – such as thought, feeling and action – to be known, developed and harmonised. Presence is the way in which we occupy space, as well as how we flow and move. Presence shapes our self-image and emotional tone. Presence determines our alertness, openness, and warmth. Presence decides whether we leak and scatter our energy or embody and direct it.”
It’s a beautiful description of a state that is honoured in all great spiritual traditions and can pull us closer to our hopes, intentions and purpose – and away from distraction, commotion and discord.
How could this book help you use your particular skills, attributes and capabilities for the good of others and the world?
With this in mind, I encourage you to take a few minutes to pause, be still, and connect with this presence. Simply close your eyes, take some deep and conscious breaths, and revisit your intention for reading this book.
What made you pick it up? Why were you drawn to it? What are you looking forward to, or hoping to get out of it?
As well as setting your intention, think about something you’re grateful for. Most of us are in a privileged position in one way or another, so take some time to recognise that, and consider how we might use that blessing or that gift. How could this book help you use your particular skills, attributes and capabilities for the good of others and the world?
My own intention is for this book to be a source of openings: Openings of blessings, openings of opportunities, and the opening of a new chapter in your life.
I truly hope what lies ahead will be beneficial to you, and to the people around you.
Exclusive Insights
The book will also feature exclusive insights from Peter’s journey, and excerpts from his conversations with scholars, entrepreneurs, academics and creative professionals who have implemented heart-centered design.
As artists it’s beautiful to make art, but the real goal of the artist on the spiritual path is that you make your life a work of art.
When a person is not grounded and doesn’t have the right compass, intention, focus and priority, you can really lose your way.
I’ve seen how people transform when they start to do something they love.
We’re trying to ensure that there is Ihsan (excellence) in everything we do. Whether it’s the product, how we interact with our customers, the website, our social media, our blog, everything.
That's what spirituality is. Spirituality is connecting into the essence of something.
There can be Barakah in anything – especially if that thing brings you back closer to the divine in some way. If it puts you into a spiritual mode, there’s Barakah there.
That's kind of what spirituality is. It's another level of information to connect you to your purpose of life, through the lens of design.
You have to combine a kind of sanguinity in business with a deep faith that your provision is not coming from the business - it’s coming from God.
If we don't recognize the speed of society and don't design for the place people are … we'll lose them.
Young people especially should ask themselves what kind of business do they want to do that can bless as many people as possible? What does that look like?
We, as human beings, are designed for Haq. We’re designed for truth, and we’re designed for coherence.
As artists it’s beautiful to make art, but the real goal of the artist on the spiritual path is that you make your life a work of art.
When a person is not grounded and doesn’t have the right compass, intention, focus and priority, you can really lose your way.
I’ve seen how people transform when they start to do something they love.
We’re trying to ensure that there is Ihsan (excellence) in everything we do. Whether it’s the product, how we interact with our customers, the website, our social media, our blog, everything.
That's what spirituality is. Spirituality is connecting into the essence of something.
There can be Barakah in anything – especially if that thing brings you back closer to the divine in some way. If it puts you into a spiritual mode, there’s Barakah there.
That's kind of what spirituality is. It's another level of information to connect you to your purpose of life, through the lens of design.
You have to combine a kind of sanguinity in business with a deep faith that your provision is not coming from the business - it’s coming from God.
If we don't recognize the speed of society and don't design for the place people are … we'll lose them.
Young people especially should ask themselves what kind of business do they want to do that can bless as many people as possible? What does that look like?
We, as human beings, are designed for Haq. We’re designed for truth, and we’re designed for coherence.
Book Preview
Peter’s Story
Discover the intention and inspiration behind The Heart of Design, and how Peter aims to empower a new wave of creatively confident and talented Muslims.
Arrival
Before starting out on your journey towards the Heart of Design, take a few moments to centre yourself, revisit your intentions, and enter into a state of presence.
Embracing Design
Get ready to embark on your journey from early ideas & concepts to spiritually-aligned creative products, brands and businesses. Read a sample chapter today.
Reclaiming the Heart of Creativity
In this series, Peter Gould interviews psychologist, author, academic, and globally-loved speaker, Yasmin Mogahed.
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