How To Be Happy In 3 Simple Steps

I hope the clickbait caught your attention! There’s obviously no straightforward route to happiness. In fact, I doubt we even have a common understanding of what happiness even means. It’s incredibly subjective and we often mix it with joy, pleasure, or excitement.

In today’s post, I’d like to look at my personal way of attaining happiness. The 3 simple steps that I would suggest are:

• Develop meaningful relationships
• Focus on what you have
• Make an effort to help others

But before I dive into that, let me at least tell you what my definition of happiness is. Happiness to me is closely linked to fulfillment. It’s the feeling of being at ease with what I have, where I am, or who I’m with. It’s when I’m present, grateful, and energized. It’s when I know I’m contributing, making a difference, or living out my purpose.

Develop meaningful relationships

The concept of meaningful relationships goes above and beyond just the people in our life. For me personally, it also includes having a deep relationship with God. This is a subjective topic, so each person may have a different opinion on the matter. But what I’ve noticed in general is that my happiness is inextricably linked to the relationship I have with my Creator.

The concept of praying multiple times a day, asking for help and guidance with all my issues, being grateful, being kind, and being appreciative of all that I’ve been blessed with, makes me happy. Something that I always keep in mind is the following:

Moving on to physical relationships, in the Ted talk below, Robert Waldinger discusses what constitutes a good life, based on research on happiness. The lessons are as follows:

• Social connections are imperative, loneliness is dangerous
• The quality of your close relationships matter
• Good relationships have a positive impact on our health

We should, therefore, strive to continuously improve on the relationships that we have, and try to further develop weaker ones with other people.

There is also another beautiful hadith that emphasizes the concept of strengthening family ties and being close to your loved ones:

Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whosever desires to have expansion in his sustenance and a prolonged life, should treat his relatives with kindness.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

For more details on kinship in Islam, you can follow the link below:

Family Ties: “Silat-ur-Rahim”

Focus on what you have

The next concept is potentially a little obvious. Focusing on what you have and being grateful will make you happy. This is especially true when it comes to celebrating your achievements and finding fulfillment in the work that you’ve done.

I often find myself feeling incredibly joyful and happy when I reach certain milestones. Whether it’s something simple like managing to exercise 5 times or week, or something as important as completing a project at work or for the postgrad. It’s not just about the outcome. It’s about the effort that I have put in, the opportunities that I have, and the dedication to finishing it off.

Focusing on what you have is an incredibly easy way to cheer up your mood. This can also extend to realizing how blessed you are to have a healthy body, a sharp intellect, and a roof above your head. As I always say, it’s not about undermining your problems. It’s about re-framing those issues and keeping your feet on the ground, but your head in the clouds.

Make an effort to help others

Service, service, service. Ultimately, the most fulfilling part of life (for me personally), is to make a difference in other people’s lives. This can mean different things to different people, but you should strive to do something that is enjoyable and beneficial.

When you see how you have helped another person grow, it leaves you with a feeling of joy and contentment. This is irrespective of whether they appreciate it or not, whether you get the credit for it or not, whether you’re acknowledged for it or not. It’s about the effort you put in to help others.

At the end of the day, we’re social creatures and we are in need of other people for our psychological well-being (to a certain extent). The more we’re able to support other people, the more we’ll be supported ourselves. So make a conscious effort to help other people, for both them and for your own happiness.

So to summarize the 3 simple steps that lead to happiness. Start with developing meaningful relationships in your life, be it with God, with your friends or with family members. Celebrate your hard work and accomplishments by focusing on what you have. And lastly, make an effort to make a difference in other people’s lives. You got this.

#LiftAsYouRise

Ramadan Coming To An End

It’s a rather dismal part of the year, where the beautiful and blessed month of Ramadan is coming to an end. On the bright side though, Eid is approaching, which is always a wonderful celebration after all sacrifices made.

I’d like to link this post to the one I wrote a few weeks ago on Making the Most of Ramadan. Many of us have established some incredible habits and managed to forego several of our terrible habits. Let’s look at ways for us to reflect over the past month, to keep our habits in check comfortably after Ramadan, the blessings associated with Eid, and giving!

https://za.pinterest.com/pin/814870126302469810/

Reflecting

When it comes to any experience in life, we often flesh out the most value after we’ve given it some thought. The same apply after experiencing the spiritual month such of Ramadan. In subtle and perhaps significant ways, we’ve applied ourselves differently. Our behaviours, our attitudes, our temperament, our habits, everything changed to accommodate the season of fasting.

One of the key takeaways for me is realizing how capable I am of actually praying more consistently, giving more, being kinder, being less vulgar, and appreciating the shortness of life. The greatest element is always realizing how short-lived we are.

I’m sure you have your own unique reflections to learn and gain wisdom from, here are some questions to provoke those thoughts:

• What have I learnt about my own capacity to be spiritual?
• What is something that was easier for me to do during this month?
• What is something that was harder for me to during this month?
• How did I spend my time differently?
• How much more do I still need to learn?
• What habits do I still need to work on letting go?
• What habits do I need to maintain after this month?

It’ just food for thought. Ponder over them next time you go for a walk or when you’re laying in bed.

https://image.freepik.com/free-photo/beautiful-selective-focus-shot-crystal-ball-reflecting-breathtaking-sunset_181624-8579.jpg

Keeping habits in check

After you’ve done a bit of reflecting, it’s time to see how we can keep those epic habits in check. Things like fasting, waking up before sunrise to pray Fajr, praying in the Masjid, reading Quran regularly, giving out lots of charity, inviting people to your house to eat with you, and so much more.

I’m speaking to myself here as it is something I struggle with every year – keeping consistent once Ramadan is over. The point is to have an awareness of the fact that consistency is the key to mastery. If we slip up once it becomes easy, we stand the chance of losing that habit for another year.

Better awareness –> Better choices –> Better results

To make this actionable, let’s try and write down a list of all the incredibly habits that we managed to pick up. Circle 2 or 3 of the highest priority items (in your opinion), and find ways to keep them in check. Maybe you can speak to a friend or family member to join you, or have someone hold you accountable for getting them done consistently.

Once you manage to keep those initial habits in place, look back at your list and start with another one. You keep going down the list until you fortify your toolkit of great habits, that will hopefully last you a lifetime, Insha’Allah!

It’s not about perfection, it’s about progress.

Blessed day of Eid

Eid-ul-Fitr, which is day after Ramadan is completed, can be considered like the ‘Christmas’ for Mulsims. It’s a day where we celebrate the month of sacrifice and commemorate the end of Ramadan with family members and friends.

It’s typically a day where we dress up in our best outfits, prepare the most delicious meals, and share as much as possible. A key theme in Eid is giving. There’s a lot of gifts that are shared, money given to children and charity given to those in need. I’ve written about it last year as well, on my post on Eid.

https://static.vecteezy.com/system/resources/previews/000/463/721/original/eid-mubarak-vector-illustration.jpg

Considering we have a couple of days to go, I urge you to try and make the most of it. It’s the last push. We won’t get this kind of spiritual energy for another month. It’s okay if you’ve made mistakes up until now. It’s okay if you weren’t doing as best as you possible could. Try now. There’s always enough time to make amends and score some goods deeds.

You got this, Insha’Allah.

How Can We Make The Most of Ramadan?

Ramadan Kareem! it’s the fasting season again. This is easily one of my favourite parts of the year. The vibe, the spirit, the excitement, the discipline. Always gives me some kind of spiritual rejuvenation. Last year I spoke about Why Ramadan Is Important. This time, I’d like to talk about how we can make the most of it, given it’s only 1 month in the year.

In today’s post, I’ll talk about how we can develop lasting habits in Ramadan, how to schedule our time effectively to finish reciting the Quran, certain practices to incorporate and why we should embrace the disruption.

Developing habits in Ramadan

One of the greatest things about Ramadan is the consistency that it requires. We have to wake up before sunrise every single day to eat something before we commence the fasting. As many of you may already know, waking up that early in the morning has incredible benefits.

The other thing it helps with is discipline. We cannot eat or drink anything (yes, even water) for the entire day until sunrise. This helps us control our urges and snacking habits, which occur quite often when we’re just bored.

Another aspect is that it helps build consistency with praying. In Islam, we pray 5 times a day. Because of the spirit of Ramadan, we tend to be more diligent with those prayers and try to pray them in congregation on time.

Fasting is also another incredibly healthy habit that this month allows us to work on. It’s not always easy during the year to fast, especially given how we structure our entire lives around eating. Ramadan allows us to practice the habit of fasting and makes it easier to keep steady on it afterwards.

These little habits are all fairly simple yet quite remarkable. The impact it has on our day to day lives can be very rewarding, if we approach it with the right mindset and correct intention.

Scheduling your time to recite the Quran

As with my usual reading tricks, there are certain ways to effectively find time to read more Quran during this month. The concept of habit stacking comes in play here. This is essentially implementing a new habit before or after an existing habit, since there would be less effort that way. So, what you can do after each salaah is sit down and recite as much as you feel comfortable to. This will make it more manageable, if praying 5 times a day is an existing habit.

Let’s say your objective is to try and finish reciting the Quran over the 30 days of Ramadan. Considering there are 30 chapters (juzz or paras) in total, that equates to roughly 1 chapter a day. Reading a chapter in a single setting is not necessarily easy for everyone, so you can break it down into more digestible pieces.

In the Quran that I use, a chapter is roughly 20 pages. Using the habit stacking method, you can divide those 20 pages by 5, which equates to reading 4 pages after each salaah. If you use this method consistently over the entire month, it will allow you to recite all 30 chapters.

Once the habit if formed after Ramadan, you can just keep the momentum going by sticking to it afterwards.

https://www.studioarabiyainegypt.com

Spiritual boosters

In addition to the previous habits that I’ve mentioned, there are a few key boosters that are easier to implement during the month of Ramadan. These are typically done throughout one’s life, but can be incorporated specifically if you haven’t already formed them.

• Giving charity regularly and being grateful
• Listening to Islamic lectures / podcasts
• Waking up to pray Tahajjud (in the last 3rd of the night)
• Praying in the masjid 5 times a day for each salaah
• Making zikr throughout the day (remembering Allah often)

Here are specific things to try and avoid doing, to ensure that you make the most of your time and to help you cut down on bad habits in general:

• Don’t sleep the whole day (for those of you on holiday)
• Try not to stay up till too late playing games or watching TV (in fact try and cut that out completely this month)
• Cut down the time you spend on social media (delete unnecessary apps if possible)
• Don’t overeat when it’s time to break your fast

Embracing the disruption

The last topic I’d like to talk about is the disruption that often occurs in this month. We leave our comfort zones to a certain extent. We can’t stick to our usual habits. We need to adapt to certain changes, like waking up early to eat or staying away from snacking all day.

If we can embrace the disruption and use it to our advantage, it will make the adaptation process a lot more efficient. This will not only allow us to make the most of Ramadan, but it will also aid us in staying consistent with the habits afterwards.

Ramadan is an incredibly blessed time of the year. We should be very grateful to be experiencing it yet again. Time is your most valuable asset. This is the prime time to invest it in your spirituality and Islamic habits. The return on the investment is immeasurable. Don’t miss out on your chance. You only die once.

The Skills You Gain From Experiencing Hardship

I haven’t been able to post in the past 2 weeks because Uni got the better of me. Let’s face it, we’ve all experienced tremendous discomfort or stress at some point in the past few months. In today’s post, I’d like to talk about the skills that I’ve developed because of that.

This will relate to my previous post on breathing, where I tried to encourage a mindfulness technique for maintaining calm. This time, it’s more about approaching difficulties with a growth mindset. Here are 5 key points that I’ve taken away from experiencing discomfort.

1. Faith
2. Resilience
3. Patience
4. Compromise
5. Gratitude

Faith

Let’s start with Faith. Your fundamental beliefs and your values define the way you view the world. You need to have a sense of purpose, a why, otherwise you won’t understand the reason behind the suffering.

I’m grateful to be a Muslim, as Islam has shaped the way I engage with difficulties and finding a sense of purpose. The mindset and outlook I have towards my life experiences are largely shaped by my faith.

You’ve got to trust in the process. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be, even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time. Keep this beautiful quote in mind:

“What’s meant for you will never miss you, what misses you was never meant for you.”

When you start accepting how much is out of your control, it brings a sense of calmness. Focus on what you can do. Focus on your perception. This brings me to the next point, resilience.

Resilience

I absolutely love the concept of resilience because it resonates with everything that I do. It’s about constantly trying your best, regardless of the setbacks and hardship you face.

It’s also important to understand that our failures are ultimately our greatest teachers. When we decide to face those fears and tackle the problems head on, we start to develop resilience.

It’s easy to give up. It’s easy to complain. It’s easy to blame others. It’s easy to feel sorry for yourself. It’s easy to throw a pity party. But that’s not what leads to growth. That’s not what helps you succeed. That’s not what will benefit you in the long run.

Next time you experience something profoundly difficult or painful, remember how much it’s going to help you grow. Every day is just a set of new problems. It’s doesn’t get any easier, you just get better at solving it.

Patience

Being patient is another crucial skill you’ll need throughout your life. It’s something you will encounter in every single task you experience. Being patient is about training your mind to accept the inevitable. To slow down. To stay calm. To remain level-headed.

You need to be patient with the process. You can’t rush through and expect everything to work out. Life is more of a marathon than a sprint. You need to pace yourself and focus on your breath work.

Don’t get worked up on things that are out of your control. Focus on what you can do. Take it easy dude, you got this. Let’s see how adaptation plays a role in all this.

Compromise

Things almost always never go according to plan. You’ll realize that sooner or later. Compromising isn’t about lowering your standards. It’s about accepting that you have to change your plan when things hits the fan.

This is generally a combination of the previous points. With faith, resilience and patience, you can learn to rapidly adapt to unexpected challenges. Think about how many times things took longer than they should’ve? If you account for contingencies and plan for the worst-case scenario, you’re less likely to get overwhelmed.

Gratitude

Easily the most important skill (or value) to gain. If you view things from a lens of gratitude, everything is there to help you grow. You start appreciating the little things in life a lot more too. You realize how much you take for granted on a daily basis; be it your time, energy, wealth or health.

When you experience difficulty of any sort, focus on what’s going well in your life. I know this can be particularly challenging, especially when sprawling into negativity is so much easier. But really think about how blessed you truly are. Think about all that you’ve managed to gain or retain during the challenging time.

You’re gaining life skills. You’re more resilient. You’re more patient. You’re learning to work hard. You’re still breathing. You still have food to eat. You have access to the internet (and therefore, to education). You have access to electricity. To shelter. To warmth. To clean water.

Don’t ever forget about everything that you do have when things start getting tough.

It’s critical to establish honest communication with yourself (and those who are important to you). If you’re clear about what’s going well and what isn’t, you’ll have a better idea of how to prepare. You’ll also be able to articulate how you’re feeling to those around you; allowing them to assist you where possible.

This post just covers a few simple points to think about next time you experience something difficult. As I already said, life is just a process of solving problems; every day there’s going to be a new challenge.

Trust the process and have faith. Understand how this all builds up your resilience. You’ve got to remain patient and stay level-headed. You need to learn to adapt and overcome. You need to focus on what you have and be thankful. Failure is just a stepping stone to success. You got this!

Find Reasons To Say Thank You

Today’s post is going to be a gentle reminder to be grateful. To focus on all your blessings. To give more. To find reasons to say thank you.

I’ll speak about some mindfulness, focusing on what you have, giving more and why we should stop complaining.

Mindfulness

How do we always end up back here? It’s quite incredible really, mindfulness plays an integral role in every aspect of your life. When you’re focusing on the smell of your coffee in the morning, you’re appreciating it more. When you stare out at the sky and enjoy the way the clouds slither, you appreciate it more.

When you live consciously, you’re in the present moment. When you’re in the present, you appreciate life more. When you’re able to appreciate life, you can find reasons to say thank you.

Focus on what you have

Energy follows focus. Think deeply about that. The quality of your thoughts and what you pay attention to, ultimately guide your objectives. When you focus on what you have and all that you’re blessed with, you live in a state of contentment.

Being content is a mindset more than anything. It’s accepting the present moment for what it truly is, instead of wishing to be somewhere else.

The more you give, the more you get

I’ve mentioned this philosophy before. It’s quite an evident aspect of life. When you’re a giver, you receive more in return. I learned this from my parents at a very young age, which I’m very grateful for.

Giving is the ultimate form of being thankful. Whether it’s your time, energy or money. It’s ultimately about service, sacrificing a piece of who you are to uplift those around you.

It’s an integral part of Islam too. It reminds me of this famous quote from the Quran:

Alhamdulillah

The opposite of complaining

When you complain, you’re essentially devaluing what you’ve been blessed with. There’s a big difference between criticism and complaining. One is a form of feedback to make improvements, the other just attracts negative energy.

It’s definitely difficult and requires a lot of conscious effort. It’s something I struggle with quite a lot. Complaining at every inconvenience is a form of ingratitude and it’s important for us to try and avoid it as much as possible.

The point I’m trying to make here is that there’s always a reason to say thank you. When you look at your body and the marvelous ways it functions, when you notice the roof above your head, the food on your table, the loving people in your life.

It’s noticing these little things each and every single day that makes life truly worth it. It’s not easy, it was never meant to be. It’s part of the journey. But let’s make this journey one hell of a joy ride.

My request to you now, is to get a piece of paper (or open the notepad on your phone) and write down 3 things you’re grateful for. Do this on a regular basis and notice how your life will change.

What is Eid all about?

What a time to be alive! We’re celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr at home amidst the global lockdown. I’m sure some of you are a little curious as to what Eid is actually about. As a follow-up to my previous post on the importance of Ramadan, I’d like briefly talk about why we celebrate Eid.

When is Eid?

There are two Eids that Muslims celebrate every lunar year, namely: Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. The former is a celebration of the end of Ramadan, whilst the latter is a sacrificial celebration during the period of Hajj (pilgrimage).

Considering the month of Ramadan has just passed, we’re now experiencing Eid-ul-Fitr. This begins with the sighting of the crescent moon, indicating the start of a new month (in the Hijri calendar).

That is why we’re often unsure of when Eid is exactly, having to wait till the evening to determine whether the moon can be sighted. If the moon isn’t spotted, then there’s usually 1 more day of fasting during Ramadan.

Why do we celebrate is Eid?

The Eid we’re celebrating today is known as the ‘The festival of breaking the fast’. After fasting for the entire month of Ramadan, the day of Eid is commemorated to celebrate the hard work, dedication and consistency of our spiritual practices.

It’s marking the end of a blessed month. It’s common for Eid to be celebrated for up to 3 days in Arab cultures and certain traditions.

How do we celebrate Eid?

Eid starts with a congregational prayer immediately after the sunrise. This is often accompanied by an Eid khutbah (sermon). We are encouraged to wear the best clothes we have and dress up for the occasion.

It is also a day of giving. We give gifts and money to each other. Congratulate one another and spread love and kindness. We also spend on charity and ensure that those who are less fortunate than us are also taken care off.

With the current lock down and restrictions in place, it’s difficult for us to experience the usual spirit of Eid. However, it shows that we ultimately have to live through our values and strive to adapt to our circumstances.

We have found new ways to be affectionate and caring. We have found new ways to contact and celebrate with our families and friends. We have so much to appreciate and to be thankful for. Alhamdulillah.

I know it must be difficult and heart-sore for many of you who are unable to experience this beautiful occasion with others. It’s all part of our journey and we need to stay and strong and patient.

“لا تحزن , ان الله معنا ”

I hope you all have a blessed day, even if it’s just at home. Eid Mubarak, may Allah accept from us and from you all of our good deeds.

“عيد مبارك , تقبل الله منا و منكم صالح الاْعمال “

Mindful Monday #3

Another beautiful day to be mindful. Before we get going, smile, look at the world around you and take in 3 deep breaths. Now let’s talk about food, auto-pilot, gratitude and habits.

Food

We definitely have work to do when it comes to eating mindfully. How exactly?

By focusing on your food more. Paying more attention to the texture, the smell and the taste of it. Did you know that 80% of the flavour we taste is acquired through smelling? (Google it haha)

Technology has become quite an ingrained aspect of our lives. Separating it from food however, will definitely help us enhance our life experience.

I can’t be the only one who has conditioned myself to eat while watching series, sports or YouTube videos. Let’s try to be aware of that and change our habits accordingly.

When you eat mindfully and are truly grateful for what you have, there’s so much blessing in it.

Auto-Pilot

We’re quite algorithmic. There’s so much that we do without a conscious thought. Brushing your teeth, getting into the car, scrolling on your phone, making food, changing into your outfit.

Are robots becoming more like us, or are we becoming more like them?

We could try paying a little more attention to the way the water feels when we’re washing the dishes, the way the milk tastes in our tea or the feeling of the wind stroking our hair.

This trains the mind to be present, which allows us to focus on what truly matters. Mindfulness is a practice which aligns our thoughts with our feelings, allowing us to actually experience the world.

Habits

Don’t get me wrong here, operating on auto-pilot makes us highly efficient. It saves our brain a lot of time and energy, by following routine without needing to think.

The only problem with that is that we don’t fully appreciate all that we have. We subconsciously take certain aspects of our life for granted, because we don’t spend enough time thinking about it.

By incorporating mindfulness into our habits, we can start feeling truly grateful for our blessings. Considering we can only be grateful in the present, why not focus on what we have a little more?

Spend more time focusing on your food. Consciously take in the scents and aromas of what you’re indulging. Focus a little more during your routine, to train your brain to be present. Think about how blessed you are as often as you can, it’ll truly change your life.

Tips to read more this year

Would you like to be able to read 1 book a week? Do you feel like you could be reading more? Is reading a habit you’ve been trying to implement? Why do we sometimes struggle to finish books that we’re so keen to read?

My objective in this post is to motivate you to read more books and read faster. I’ll discuss a few simple strategies to help get the ball rolling. I’ll also talk about the benefits of reading and how to read faster.

Start with why

Your intentions are the driving force behind your behaviours. Starting with why allows you to put those intentions in perspective. Why do you want to read?

To gain knowledge and to share that knowledge with the world. To get smarter, more efficient & more productive. That’s what I see as the reason for reading. A critical question that I also ask myself is:

Who will this knowledge serve?
Ultimately, we don’t just gain knowledge for our own benefit. We use it to serve the world around us.

What are the benefits of reading?

How can I read more?

I’ll talk about this from my own point of view, as to what has been working for me. My objective for reading is to finish at least 4 books a month; 1 book a week.

It doesn’t just come naturally come to me. I sometimes find it difficult to sit down and read every day. I barely spent any time reading in school either, in fact I dreaded English.

I started a few years ago, reading roughly 1 book every 3 months. But action causes motivation as much as motivation causes action. (Don’t wait until you’re in the mood!) So I started reading more and more until I went from 1 book a month to 1 book a week. Here’s the strategy I now use (thanks to Jim Kwik):

1. Write it down on your to-do list (stay consistent).
2. Divide the total number of pages by the amount of days you aim to finish it by.
3. Further divide the average number of pages by 3: giving you 3 sessions to read per day.

For example if I’m reading a 315 page book that I’d like to finish in 7 days, divide 315/7= 45 pages per day. To make that even simpler and read it over 3 sessions, divide 45/3= 15 pages per session.

Each reading session takes around 20 minutes, which makes it far more manageable than sitting down for an entire hour. I have a session in the morning, afternoon and evening to meet my daily reading requirements. Find what works best for you and stay consistent with it.

How can I read faster?

Avoid a concept called subvocalization. You can read faster than you can speak, therefore reducing this habit will allow you to improve your reading speed.

Subvocalization: “This occurs when you mouth or silently say words to yourself as you read them.”

To reduce subvocalization, count silently to yourself or hum as you read. This will prevent you from from saying the words as you read them.

Another trick I use to retain the information is to take notes. I usually write down the most important concepts or insightful quotes in a small journal, to keep the wisdom with me. The teacher always learns the most, so remember to also explain what you learn with friends and family.

Another very motivating reason for me to read is because it was the first verse brought down in the Quran. This emphasizes the importance of reading and attaining knowledge.

I’ve hopefully managed to convince you to start reading or to at least read a little more. Remember to always start with why and keep your intentions clear.

There are several benefits to reading: it sharpens your mind, lowers your stress, enhances your imagination and fosters empathy. Use a strategy to get more reading done and avoid subvocalization.

Happy reading! May the year ahead be filled with books, libraries, nature, adventures and joy. Stay present my friends. Now is all you have.

Some of the books that I’ve read which I highly recommend.

Don’t take your health for granted

When was the last time you were sick? Isn’t it usually a rather stressful or depressing feeling? Why do we only start appreciating our health when it’s under threat?

This will be a post as part of the Thinking Out Loud series. I fell ill over my trip to Turkey and I just want to share some of the insights I’ve gained from it.

By now, you may be familiar with one of my core values: Gratitude. This will definitely be a gentle reminder to help us appreciate one of the greatest assets we have; our health.

What can you control?

Think about the last time you were sick. How quickly did you fall into prayer, kindness and hope of recovery? Something to always keep in mind is that we can control our perception, not our circumstances.

Physical illness is largely a mental battle. You have to fight off the constant stress, the constant negative thoughts and the constant regret. We’re often extremely unproductive when we’re ill, which definitely has its advantages.

Our body uses up most of its energy to fight off the bad guys (usually viruses & harmful bacteria) and for healing. This is what generally tends to make us feel despondent (apart from the actual feeling of being sick). We feel bad for being stuck in bed & not carrying on with our lives as usual.

But this is where I started appreciating something. We don’t often realize it, but when our body forces us to slow down, its for our own good. We have a lot more time to contemplate & be grateful. It’s vital to stay optimistic and still see the world through adventurous eyes.

Why should you be grateful?

For the perspective that being sick has to offer. For the skills that it teaches you. For the values you acquire; patience, perseverance, humility. No amount of wealth will ever compensate for losing your health. That’s something to be extremely aware of.

If you start imagining what life is like for those who have chronic illnesses, you’d have a lot to be thankful for. The fact that you can see, the fact that you can hear, the fact that you can walk, taste, smell, feel. I could go on and on and on. These are invaluable blessings that we oversee.

The point I’m trying to make is that we need to spend a little more time each day contemplating how fortunate we really are. For if any of these blessings were to disappear, our life would be completely different.

Prophet Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him)

What could be the benefits of falling ill?

It brings you closer to God. It brings you closer to your family and friends. It helps you stay humble and understand how temporary life truly is. It also helps your body reset and strengthens part of your immune system.

Memento Mori: Remember that you will die. Falling sick is probably the greatest reminder of death. So it makes sense for us to be terribly afraid of it.

This was just a short post that I wanted to use as a reminder. We need to be more loving, more kind, more gentle, more patient & more grateful. For what truly matters when we pass on isn’t our status, wealth or success. But rather the impact we make on the world and those around us.

Let’s strive to live each day with utmost contentment & full of life. Don’t make decisions that don’t align with your values. Focus on your blessings and remember: You Only Die Once.

Time management

I’ve been requested to talk a little about time management, so let’s give it a go. I’d like to first try and define time, or at least come to an understanding of what it is. Then we can dive into how to maneuver through the time we have. I aim to make you feel more comfortable with all the time we have.

The advice that I share here is not something that I expect you to follow or do. My intention is for you to absorb the wisdom behind it, and apply it in your own way. We each have our own idea of what is considered valuable and our own set of responsibilities.

We find value in different activities and behaviours, therefore there can’t be a guide on what to spend your time doing. We can try and find healthy habits, which enable us to find more time in our rigorously busy schedules. Again, we each have our own idea of healthy, so let me elaborate on what I mean by that.

Healthy to me is something that enables you to find fulfillment, contentment and contributes to longevity and endurance. Let’s try and form some healthy habits, which can enable us to spend more time on what we consider to be valuable.

What is time?

Such an arbitrary concept. Something we’ve made up to allow us to fully utilize the changing of the seasons and to form some structure. Like an opinion, time is perceived differently by everyone.

The young (who often have less to do) feel it passing by slowly, anticipating boredom. The old (who often have much more to do) feel it slipping between their fingers, hardly able to hold onto a few minutes.

Tomorrow is a fiction of our imagination. Yesterday will never return. Today is all there is. Keeping that in mind, let’s utilize the present moment with structure, consistency and some balance.

Structure -Necessary as a base.

This is forming a skeleton of your ideal day. Think of it as the foundation of your empire. How do we form structure? By setting out goals and objectives, each and every day. To do lists work exceptionally well here. Before you start the day, set out specific tasks that you’d like to accomplish.

This cannot be random. You need to look at your schedule, and fill in the gaps with whatever you need to get done. I cannot emphasize how important it is for you to have a solid morning routine. If you haven’t already, check out my post on The 5 AM Club.

Writing down objectives of the day is relatively simple. Following through and respecting it is a completely different ball game. To actually notice a difference, you need to be committed to your craft.

You need to love yourself enough to keep your promises. So don’t treat the list like it’s insignificant.

Follow through. Work hard. Don’t end the day without ticking everything off. Find the satisfaction in pursuing the targets. [Reasonably of course]

Here are a few examples of what I put on my list everyday:

• Morning Routine (Pray, meditate, journal, 10-20 min exercise)
• Read (30 min a day)
• Blog (I’m ticking this off rn!)
• Attend lectures and complete tutorials for the day
• Gym (or some other form of exercise)
• Cook (or just prepare lunch)

You don’t want your day to be overloaded, but you don’t want it to be bare either. Find slots in your day to fit in important activities and don’t allow procrastination to push you off track. Watching series aimlessly or scrolling on your phone for hours will definitely suck up valuable time.

Leave your comfort zone. Be ambitious. Dream wildly.

Structure curates a space for spontaneity and creativity. It only becomes mundane or boring when you allow it to be. Continue to explore in your free time and find something to learn.

Consistency– Necessary in order to keep the structure in tact.

This is something else I love speaking about. Consistency! Little by little, a little becomes a lot. To be successful in any aspect of your life, there are certain actions which you just have to repeat.

Want to be fit? Exercise consistently. Want to be smarter? Read and learn consistently. Want to form healthier relationships? Show your love and care consistently.

So in order to manage your time better, the key most definitely lies in consistency. When you’re consistent with the structure you’ve formed, it opens up time for you to do more. You gain confidence from consistency because you know what to expect from yourself (to a certain degree). That confidence enables you to move forward and make progress towards your goals.

So with structure and consistency, we need to find balance. To ensure we’re living a wholesome life, where we’re constantly contributing, and being leaders to those around us.

Balance – Resting is necessary.

Having such a rigorous schedule definitely sounds exhausting, that’s why we should always account for some rest time.

Your structure should include time for you to rest, recover and reload. Make sure that you’re getting the right amount of sleep every night. Make sure that you’re putting in exercise at least 2-3 times a week. Make sure that you’re spending some time in nature too.

I can’t emphasize how important it is to spend time around nature and to just let your mind wander. Being bored can be very healthy. You need to give yourself time to allow thoughts and ideas to manifest and come to fruition.

Find a balance academically, spiritually, mentally and physically. My post on equilibrium explains it in much more detail.

Islamic perspective

Salah (Prayer). One of the most fascinating aspects of Islam to me, is that we have 5 obligatory prayers each day. This kind of puts what I’m speaking about into the spotlight; structure, consistency and balance. The structure and consistency of these prayers, enables us to revive our spiritual relationship with God each and everyday.

Knowing very well when it’s time to pray, allows us to work around it. Making it easier to slot things into an organized schedule.

I know everyone follows a different belief system, but it’s still critical to form some type of spiritual practice.

I want to change the self-fulfilling prophecy that people say: “I don’t have enough time”. It’s just not a good enough excuse for your strive towards mediocrity.

We all have the same amount of time, some people learn to use it more effectively than others. It mostly depends on what you choose to prioritize.

Utilize your time more effectively by building some structure. Form a schedule that works best for you and respect it. Being consistent is the best way to show yourself some love, and to build confidence in your ability to follow things through. Lastly, find balance within the structure. Your mind, body and soul all need to be taken care off.