Finally, here comes the promised update, my apologies for the delay as it took longer than anticipated, but I hope you will consider it worth the wait. Last time, we had a look at gratitude, which ties to most things we do in life. Quoting the Roman philosopher and scholar Cicero, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others”… gratitude reflects on our behaviour and how we face situations. For example, patience or kindness. Gratitude is reflected through those virtues. In addition, there is another thing that ties to everything we do in this life… perhaps the most important thing that we should keep in mind and strive for… personal growth.
سورة طه ١١٤
وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدۡنِي عِلۡمٗا
Surah Taa-Haa 20:114
and say: O my Lord! increase me in knowledge.
* Focus on Growth. Humility includes a commitment to personal growth and improvement. Humble individuals are always looking for ways to better themselves, recognizing that there is always room for growth and development. Anything we do in this life may teach us to become better people. In that sense, personal growth is something that can benefit us greatly, as long as our hearts are open to learning. We knowingly strive to learn when reading a book for example, or we learn subconsciously from experiences.
I wholeheartedly believe that the more we find out about ourselves and the world we live in, the more clear His part in all this becomes…
سورة فصلت ٥٣
سَنُرِيهِمۡ ءَايَٰتِنَا فِي ٱلۡأٓفَاقِ وَفِيٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمۡ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡحَقُّۗ أَوَلَمۡ يَكۡفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ شَهِيدٌ
Surah Fussilat 41:53
Soon will We show them our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that thy Lord doth witness all things?
Learning from our own personal weaknesses is a thing that is of great benefit. Many people just don’t want to see it and there is a danger in that, because as long as our flaws are not recognized, such flaws are bound to cause repetition. For example, if a person (who chooses to forget their weaknesses) receives praise… they will get their own fixed idea about themselves strengthened… (and we can guess what that will do to such a person’s ego)… but a person who recognizes their different sides may more easily fend off ‘arrogance’ because they know they aren’t “perfect”… the praise they receive works as encouragment… not as fuel for pride.
Something good to keep in mind are these words I wrote in a previous input I published some months ago, “We must always remember that no one is perfect in the least. No one is at their best all the time. But our lives are filled with choices, and what we make of those choices is what counts in this life. Even if we say something bad, the point is that we learn from it. At the heart of it all… we can use our lives to try to improve, or we can simply remain passive, but such an attitude will make us static. Static people would simply take up space, not progress in any way and would live each day not having learned anything.”
Personal growth, whether it is from life experiences or conscious striving for knowledge, is indeed beneficial, and something we should strive for. Because the more knowledgeable and aware we become… both about the world and about ourselves… the better we stand to face life’s challenges…
سورة البقرة ٢٦٩
وَمَن يُؤۡتَ ٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ فَقَدۡ أُوتِيَ خَيۡرٗا كَثِيرٗاۗ
Surah Al-Baqara 2:269
and whoever is given wisdom has been given much good
I hope you found this an inspiring input. We will continue to look at more things, inshallah. Eid is just around the corner, I will drop a greeting on the site after the annual Eid celebration tomorrow inshallah, which is hosted by the local masjid, so be sure to check back for that. For now, I truly hope that all of you are spending a beautiful time, full of peace and comfort.
The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.
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