Overcoming Self-defeating Behavior (Part 2)
"Allah will not change the condition of people until they change themselves"(Qur'an 13:11)
Either I take life merely as it comes or I could convert my ambitions into goals, my goals into plans and thus design my life into a meaningful life; living life with purpose rather than by chance. Planning life is bringing dreams for the future into the reality of the present in order that you can do something about it now.
Incentives to Self Motivation
- Be optimistic
- Remember that attitudes are habits of thought that affect our performance, we are not born with them, we acquire them; and if needs be, we should change them.
- Truly interesting, positive and successful people acquire the habit of talking about what they are for rather than what they are against. This optimism propels them forward and motivates them to lean fully into life rather than away from it.
- Do not indulge in self-limiting thinking
- People do not aim high (they fear they may miss), so they aim low and hit.
- Many are so busy doing what they think they have to do that they do not consider thinking about what they really want to do.
- Though the mind can focus on fear, worry, failure and despair; it could focus on confidence, optimism and success. You decide.
- Others could be temporary obstacles in your life, only you could be an obstacle permanently.
- If I am negative about myself why would others be positive.
- Train yourself to finish what you start
- If you do not finish what you start you will not complete what you intend and never reach your goal
- Live in the present
- We can learn from the past and appreciate the memories; we can look to the future and set our goals; but the more we remind ourselves of the present the better we get at living the moment...
- Many spend so much time dwelling in past or on the future that no real attention is paid to the present. The present is all we really have; it is the most valuable gift, perhaps that is why it is called "present".
- Make time for daily reflection
- Spend some time in spiritual rejuvenation; prayer and meditation.
Thought of the Day
"O Allah, make life for us a means for every dimension of increased goodness"
( Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) )