|
52 Ways To Make A Difference
by Amina Cisse Muhammad
Islam Online, Washington, DC
14/03/2001
In this weekly column, we feature a discussion of a "small way" that each of us, as Muslims and as human beings, can seek to contribute to our families, our communities, our societies; indeed, Insha'Allah, to the world.
We urge you to take a moment to reflect on these words, and to contemplate how you might put them into action in your own life to benefit humanity. May Allah bless each and every one of us!
Week 9: Take a look at any self-defeating thoughts or habits you may have, and adopt a positive attitude in that area.
What do you do that is self-defeating? Is it a smoking habit? A nail-biting or gum-chewing oral fixation? Perhaps it's just that you mumble instead of speaking up, and then say "nothing" when asked to repeat what you said. Maybe you blow up at your friends over little things. Whatever it is, you know what it is.
What can you realistically change? Do you really want to change? Is there anything you can do that would allow you to feel happier and more empowered? Find support among your friends or from community resources to help you maintain your commitment to stop a self-defeating habit (Gordon).
If you visit the self-improvement/self-help section of a public library or bookstore, you will find countless books dealing with the importance of having a positive attitude about life.
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company… a church [masjid, community]… a home. The remarkable thing is
you have a choice everyday regarding the attitude you will embrace for that
day. You cannot change your past… you cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. You cannot change the inevitable. The only thing you can do is play on the one string you have, and that is
your attitude… I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it (Author unknown).
If we take a look at why people in our society are so interested in "improving themselves" (hence, the hundreds of titles of self-improvement books and audio and video recordings), chances are we'll find that many people feel a general sense of dissatisfaction and emptiness because they do not have, or are not adhering to, Divine guidance in their lives. As Muslims, our belief in a Supreme Being and our recognition that our purpose for living is to worship, obey, and seek to please this Supreme Being grants us a sense of meaning and certainty about life that many do not have. Our faith in Allah's Wisdom and Omnipotence allows us to overcome the feelings of hopelessness and anxiety that can lead to self-defeating habits. It affords us a contentment with His Decree that allows us to fight off disempowering feelings and attitudes that might tempt us toward undesirable behavior.
Realizing that Allah knows whatever befalls us, that He is indeed closer to us than our own jugular veins, confers upon us a sense of relief that is not available to non-Believers:
Nay, who listens to the (soul) distressed when it calls on Him and who relieves its suffering and makes you (mankind) inheritors of the earth… ? (Qur'an, Sura'tul Al Naml, 27, ayat 62).
Whenever we find ourselves plagued with negative feelings, we might want to consider that our faith is lacking, and that
we should increase our worship and our good deeds:
Those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, and establish regular prayers and regular charity, will have their reward with their Lord.
On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve (Qur'an, Sura'tul Al Baqarah, 2, ayat 277).
It has been noted by many authors of self-help books that increasing positive activity is "… the single most effective antidote to depression, anxiety, stress, fear, worry, guilt, and of course, immobility. It is virtually impossible to be depressed [the source of much negative behavior] and active at the same time" (Dyer 212).
So if you find yourself being self-defeating, get busy being mindful of Allah and, Insha'Allah, you will automatically be more positive and proactive!
Note: This list is being developed partially from the card set, 52 Ways to Make A
Difference, authored by Lynn Gordon and published by Chronicle Books of San Francisco, and available at Borders Book Store in the mini-book section.
Other Sources:
Holy Qur'an
Dyer, Wayne. Pulling Your Own Strings. New York: Thomas Crowell Company, 1978 (This edition is considered a classic. There are more recent versions now available).
|
