In the abyss of every heart nestles the desire to break the shackles of constraint and to allow one's self, one's spirit, to soar. Throughout our lives we all have desires, visions, and dreams and with such, a reticent "maybe, just maybe, I can be who I want to be."

It is easier to dream when we are little; there are no perceived obstacles, only possibilities. In childhood, there is even the absence of the reality that to attain one's desires, one has to endure an inevitable journey — which is often difficult yet sometimes pleasant. It is not often realized early on that to be who you want to be will take you through unanticipated journeys, and often you have to swim against the current or drown into what is possibly life's ultimate woe — conformity!!

Perch yourself upon a cloud and watch your life play out in front of you. How do you see yourself? Are you who you want to be? If you are, ma sha’ Allah, you have succeeded where most people lack the courage to be who they want to be!

If you are not, then you could be living behind a veil of discontent. In the ultimate journey which we call "life," we are confronted every day with multi-dimensional elements of living — family, school, work, friends, community, society, and so on. Each element prescribes a particular ideal, transmitting messages to you on who you should be, how you should behave, what makes you acceptable and unacceptable. Sometimes adhering to these prescribed "ideals" is a symptom of fear: fear of standing alone and not being part of the status quo, which moves alongside the fear of not living out one's authentic self.

To be who you want to be does not mean to reject society or to distance oneself from loved ones. Rather it is to have the courage to cast away the fears and obstacles that tell you not to pursue your desires and not to attain your dreams. It is to have the courage to know that even failure is a stepping stone to success. Someone once said, "Knowing which way to turn gives you self-confidence. Taking a chance and going the opposite way gives you a chance to see what you are made of."

When you have defined your goals, your interests, and your values, it is up to you to pursue them without letting obstacles stand in your way. Perhaps you are sighing and saying to yourself, "It's too late now"? But it is never too late. Diversions will always come our way, but they are a part of the journey of discovering who we are and who we want to be.

When we place obstacles to being who we want to be, we become used to the cyclical pattern of routine. We turn off the light of our dreams and desires and shut the door upon them. To be who you want to be requires breaking the mold of satisfying the desires of others before your own. This may sound selfish, but when you give to yourself, then you can give of yourself.

To be who you want to be is to gather your strength, march forward with confidence, and attain what is desirable to you. Each new day you should take the opportunity to confront one fear at a time. It is sometimes difficult in the beginning, but when you confront your fears and overcome them, you will find extraordinary peace in your heart.

When you look at your life, do dreams, desires, courage, and resilience seem like a distant memory? Each day that dawns upon us is a gift, and each day brings its own surprises and treasures. We often let each day go unnoticed because we are bemoaning the past and agonizing over the future. But life will always have its challenges and if it didn't, how would you become who you want to be? It is in facing and overcoming life's challenges that we get to know ourselves and how strong and wise we really are.