...So you start to learn something new - enrolling on to a new course maybe, grab a new book perhaps or finally decided; 'Enough is enough - I'm going to live my best life and help others live their best life too'. And so you excitedly go and tell your loved ones (parents, friends, spouse - cat maybe) and they turn around and say; 'Why are you studying so many courses? Why you gona do that for?'
*Ouch!*

You know...I've been there too and oh boy did that hurt! (In my heart) :(

You think that the ones who love you the most will be your biggest support.

Nah ah, Not always.

There's a lot of reasons behind their unsupportive gesture.

It could be because they had goals, dreams and wishes for life but were unable to fulfil them because, well, life got in the way.

Or maybe because now they think they won't see or hear so much of you again.

Or that they are just not interested in the same thing as you.

Or maybe they are just jealous!

Too many maybes, I know!

But it usually is one of these and I've had my fair share of ALL of these!

Sad - I know!

But the thing it really boils down to is 'fear!'

Fear is such a nincompoop that it stops us from reaching new heights (in all areas of our life).

I should know - because all I did was listen to others negativity and just let it eat me through.

I mean, I'm highly ambitious - since childhood - I wrote my first book; 'The Lovely Cake' at age 10 (dedicated to my love of chocolate cakes) and was scheming and planning (yes actually writing these plans down and physically preparing) for running a library business at age 9 for kids on my road (I had a big book collection)! 

But I got caught up in everyone else's negativity.

And it wasn't until late 2010 at age 30 as I was recovering from an illness and some other personal and family issues that I officially decided and said; 'Nadia - Enough is Enough!'

That was it!

From this point on I was going to turn things around.

And masha'Allah I was already succeeding (two undergrad degrees, two post-grads, masters degree, a successful blog and first business) but I let others negativity eat me up.

I realised that THEIR reality was NOT my reality!

And THAT was a powerful breakthrough moment for me!

Allah says: "But say: "O my Lord! Increase me in knowledge". 

I got into super focused 150% ExCel Mode and wrote down all that I wanted to achieve - no holds barred!

They all wanted to stay stuck in the negativity loop then so be it - but not me - no more.

If they were afraid to move on or experience new things - then I couldn't do anything for them.

Don't get me wrong - I've tried where I could - but some just don't want to know.

I guess they just don't believe in me.

But there's many who do - and alhamdulilah for being blessed with them - and it usually takes just one person to believe in us for miracles to happen.

So my question to you is; 'Do you want to achieve greatness in your life?' And; 'What's stopping you?'

It could be your own negative beliefs and thought patters or it could be others or a combination of both. However, both are very detrimental.

But as Jim Rohn responded to people who said why achieve so much he said; 'What else you going to do with your life? You got to stay here til you go!

And he's right. So what do you want to do with YOUR life?

There's many ways of learning new things - formal education and life education and experience.

We all have access to a public library and borrowing books is free. Take a stroll through the library this week insha'Allah.

We can all buy the translation of the Qur'an and hadith books - as well as many Islamic literature and masha'Allah many dawah organisations give them to you for free.

It was related by Anas b. Malik that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim." [Sunan Ibn Mâjah (224) and others] 

Let's not take this lightly. We need to delve into all sciences from law to medicine to poetry to cosmology to Islam to you name it - you choose - you decide! :)

We need to become 'Jack of Multiple Trades and Master of All' - just like our Pious Predecessors who achieved greatness in ALL fields. 

Read about their lives - they have been inspiring and motivating me since age 14!

It was the Muslim world who took the Europeans out of the Dark Ages with their inventions and medical/scientific breakthroughs.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever seeks a way to acquire knowledge Allah will make easy his way to Paradise." [Sahîh Muslim (2699)]

And we ALL want paradise! :)

Isn't it time you started living your best life and become fearless of what others think?

Don't let anybody stop you or tell you that you can't, ok? 

Right now is the time to take that first step towards positive change and learn from cradle to grave.

I invite you to check out today's quick tips and action points and let the learning journey begin - bismillah :)

"If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability."
Henry Ford 

Tips and Action Points:

1. Grab pen and paper or your journal.

- Write down all your dreams and wishes and all that you want to achieve before you die.

- Don't hold back - this is YOUR time to dream!

- Choose three things you can start on immediately.

2. Start to read...NOW!

- Reading is powerful. Allah says in the Qur'an; 'Read, and your Lord is the most Generous'

- Find books that you need to read in the three chosen fields in point 1 above and choose books in other fields that interest you.

- Schedule a book-shop and library visit this week in your diaries now.

3. Get online on YouTube and check for 'Personal Development'.

- Sign up to those who interest you and listen to their work. I do, every day.

- Start developing your own daily personal development.

- Make and meet friends who are into making positive changes in their lives. As for those who don't support you - spend less time with them.

And finally, remember daily five prayer, daily Qur'an reciting, dua, dhikr - and at each dua ask Allah to purify your ikhlaas (sincerity) and niyyah (intention) and bless you in your time! (That's a gem from my dua session!) :)

So your turn now. Comment below and let me know what you're going to do and what's steps you're going to take.

Let's inspire and motivate each other on this journey from Cradle to Grave to Jannah and beyond! 

"Life is like the dice that, falling, still show a different face. So life, though it remains the same, is always presenting different aspects." Alexis

When you role the dice and aim for a 6 - how do you know you'll get a 6? You don't! Its chance right - you take a chance.

And you were aiming for a 6, were you not?

Of course you were. Because the one who gets a 6 gets to move forward quicker and is on the road to winning and success.

However sometimes we get a 5 or a 4 or maybe one.

And when we get a one we get discouraged and want to quit.

Our whole mood changes - our body postures drops and we just go into this 'Whatever, who cares' zone.

Ever happened to you?

And yes I loved my bored games as a child - they kept me from getting bored! (No pun intended!) :D

When you're focused 150% on getting that 6 - what do you do? You keep throwing the dice (well, if you can throw more than once otherwise you wait your turn to try again) and keep aiming for the 6.

Its an opportunity.

You're hyped!

We seize the moment and take the opportunity to advance forward.

I mean after all that's how we win, right?

Hmm. Yeah.

But sometimes we gotta fail our way to success.

When we become accustomed to winning we may become arrogant. 

After all we are human and we do like to win and be at the top.

However losing a few times doesn't actually harm us much.

I mean it may temporarily knock us - but this has a positive knock on effect on us - we come back for more!

Life will give you many opportunities - and you'll be taking many chances. If you want an 'A' in your studies you'll focus and work hard to get that 'A' and usually there's a time limit (exams are looming - you have to move on to the next stage of school). 

Would you give up?

Of course not!

Everyone is doing exams and you have plans to move on to the next stage of your academic year which will help your dreams become a reality one day - ie law exams, med exams, college exams - all prepare us for next stage of progression.

What when life knocks you back? What should you do? Should you give up and pack it in? Should you give up with life? 

No! Of course not - that would be crazy - as we don't know when our time will be up and we never know - our 'chance' may just be another dice throw away...

So what should we do if life knocks us around?

See it as the dice and that number 6!

We need to learn to trust ourselves more.

We need to start trusting our Lord even more!

Allah the Almighty said: "Put your trust in Allah if you are believers indeed." {Qur'an; 5:23}
 
And we should always believe that sooner or later it'll be ok and work out for us - Allah will do the best for us. After all He (swt) is the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth!

He (swt) said: "And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him." {Qur'an; 65:3}

And surely Allah (swt) will suffice us indeed! :)

So keep aiming for that 6 and stay focused, stay focused, stay focused (a clear and loud message to oneself *ahem*) - throw that dice and aim - trust me, you'll get your chance - real soon insha'Allah! :)

Check out today's tips and action points on how you can become a strategic opportunitist, curious and take a chance to win!

Narrated Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) "Allah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)," was said by Ibrahim (May Allah be pleased with him) when he was thrown into the fire; and it was said by Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) when they (i.e. hypocrites) said, "Verily the people (pagans) have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them, but it only increased them in Faith". Bukhari and An-Nasa'i

Tips and Action Points:

1. Focus, focus and focus! Switch into laser focus - 150% focus and trust me whenever I've switched into laser focus I have achieved, by Allah's will and whenever my focus drops - I drop. So focus is the key.

2. Take chances. Be curious. And learn. I did a video on 'How to discover your field of opportunities' where I talk about being curious but also cautious and how this cautiousness has stopped me from achieving. Do check it out for inspiration and motivation.

3. Believe in yourself. Allah (swt) created you for greatness. The reason we don't do great things in our life is because we don't believe in ourselves. Yes we all have issues - but if you believe in Allah then put your trust in Him and make dua to Him and see how He (swt) answers you in the best way...just for you!

I hope and pray this post has been helpful and beneficial.

Do let me know your thoughts.

Say bismillah, roll that dice and take a chance. It might just be the opportunity you were waiting for! :)