50: Change for the Better
[Qur'an 13: 11]
The Roman slave-philosopher, Epictetus said: "God has entrusted me with myself." What am I doing with that trust / amaanah ? How will I make my life count ?
"My mother told me that if I became a soldier, I could become a general. If I became a priest, I could become the pope. I decided to be the best that I could be and ended up as Pablo Picasso." [most recognized artist of the 20th century, Picasso] Without a clear sense of your personal principles and priorities, it is most difficult, if not improbable, for you to make your life really count.
Aiming to be the Best You Can Be
Sayyedna 'Ali said: "Whosoever corrects his inner self, Allah will rectify his outer dimension."
The internal dimension of the self is the most essential element in determining who you really are, what you would
essentially like to do, what you are capable of doing and what you are actually prepared to do. When the best of your
internal dimension finds practical expression outwardly, then will you be capable of reaching your full potential.
The crucial thing is to make 'the best of what you could be' your everyday personality. What is the use of knowing
what is best and not doing it and what is the use of existing if you do not manifest your best ? Remember: good,
better, best; never let it rest, till your good is better and your better is best.
I need to Change
The sage Ibrahim bin Adham said:
"I always wanted to do something meaningful. When I was young I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult
to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change my nation, I began to focus on
changing my town. I couldn't change the entire town, so I began to concentrate on my family. Eventually I found that
the only thing that I could really change effectively was myself. Now, as an old man, I realize that if long ago I
improved myself, I could have impacted my family, who could have enhanced the neighborhood, which could have transformed
the society , which could have influenced the nation and potentially changed the world."
"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself", wrote Leo Tolstoy.
Change requires ...
- Introspection ~ It is very important to evaluate yourself. Isn't it strange how many of us suffer
moral myopia, where we see every little fault in others yet are blind to our own shortcomings?
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, "Glad tidings to those more concerned about their own shortcomings than bothering about the faults of others."
As James Allen said: "Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound."
There is an ancient Tibetan saying "If you want to know your future, look at what you are doing at this moment."
Ask your self where you are and where are you heading. If you are driving on the wrong freeway or climbing the wrong ladder; then driving faster or climbing with more vigor will not get you where you want to be. Rowing harder does not help if the boat is headed in the wrong direction. "There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them." [Denis Waitley]
"Be the change you want to see." [Mahatma Gandhi]
- Commitment to do Right ~ The right thing to do is always the best thing to do, provided you do it with
propriety => doing the right thing - at the right time - in the right manner.
"If doing right pleases and doing wrong displeases you, then you are truly a believer."
[Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)]
- Actualizing the Change ~ "You cannot expect to achieve new goals or move beyond your present circumstances
unless you change." [Les Brown]
"We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are." [Max De Pree]
Note well that what you are going to be tomorrow you are becoming today.
- Determination and Motivation ~ Determination is the power you generate within your self to tenaciously pursue
your chosen course of action leading to the cherished goals you aim to achieve. Motivation is the driving force that
inspires one to keep moving towards a desired goal. In the journey of life, circumstance is the vehicle, motivation is
the fuel, thinking habits are the directions, determination the driver and goals the destination.
- Competing with Yourself ~ "Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to
be better than yourself." [Willam Faulkner]
Remember, "He who stops being better stops being good." [Oliver Cromwell]
We would do well to heed the wisdom of an old African saying: the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
So, to improve life in this world, let's begin by changing one important person; it may be a friend, it may be a neighbor,
it may be a spouse, but most likely it will be your self.
Recall the Qur'anic promise, that Allah will not change the condition of people until they change themselves. [Qur'an 13:11]