Food For Thought IV

Learn to let go of the world around you and you’ll see yourself in a totally different light. Find yourself invisible standing in front of world and you’ll conquer fears that have held you back. Let go of what the world thinks of you and you’ll learn to be yourself. Let pain be strength and let your sujood (prostration) be peace. Mend your heart by loving yourself and letting go of everything that was never meant to be. Look towards the future by learning from your past, for everything in it was a lesson, a creation of who you are today. Nothing was meant to harm you, except to prepare you and protect you from things that were no good for you. At times let your tears flow to escape this difficult life at times but turn to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala for it is through Him where the hearts find rest. Take care of your body as it’ll age with you. For what you put in it, is an investment and the return will insha’Allah, will help you live a better life. Stay away from negative people for they will destroy you, just as they are destroying themselves. Stay away from those who constantly complain, for they have not learned nor understood the blessings of life. Find positive people for they will encourage you, brighten your day and will help you see your blessings in life. This life is temporary, so find a good spouse who will help you strengthen your eman (faith) and will encourage you to get closer to your Lord. Look to remember your happy times when in misery and when in happy times, remember your where you once were, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has blessed you with good.

Be a voice when there is injustice and learn to speak your mind. A trapped voice is a prisoner in your body that you’ve held captive. Go towards what makes you happy and let go of other people’s dreams. Let them achieve theirs and you achieve your own. Money doesn’t mean success and money is not happiness, do what you love and the money will come. You will become successful for not following the crowd and following your heart. There is not a single soul like you in the world but there is a soul created for you, so be patient when seeking, knowing they are destined to be in your life. Learn to make better choices and learn not to regret on the choices you’ve made, if you didn’t make bad choices, you would not know how to make better choices. This life is simple but you make it difficult by wasting your energy on things that have not existed yet, you need to allow things to happen by taking steps in those directions. Let go of the words I can’t and I’ll fail because failures are apart of life’s growth process and I can’t is only an obstacle of the mind and your failures will lead to you to success.

This life is temporary so don’t waste it away. Live good, be kind, advise others as if you are in their position, help others and seek rewards only from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.  Be patient with what you are striving for, It’ll come when it is time. Just keep working and eventually it’ll come. Whatever is meant to come your way is already written and what is not is already written. Live everyday as it is your last, stop worrying what others think of you and be yourself, it is the key to success.

Read More Food For Thoughts Here:

Part 1

https://mshabazz33.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/food-for-thought/

Food For Thought Part II

Food For Thought II

Food For Thought Part III

https://mshabazz33.wordpress.com/2014/09/17/food-for-thought-iii/

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Food For Thought III

Think good of yourself and receive your trials in life as a blessing and take things you are turned away from as blessings. Be confident in yourself because no one else can be confident for you. For there are many things about yourself that others love, that you hate but they wish and pray they could have. You are an unlimited potential that limits yourself from the confine of your mind, being trapped and afraid of how the world will react to your intelligence, to the skills and abilities Allah SWT has blessed you with. The ugliness inside of you needs work more than the ugliness on your face because it will disappear in a few years but the ugliness inside of you, on your heart will remain for decades or however long you live, which will ruin the person you are.

No heart turns cold or bitter unless you want it to. Your experiences are nothing but lessons to enable you to grasp the reality of this world and what you are really here for. You strive for this world but Allah says: “This world is nothing but play an amusement.” And there after in the same verse, Allah SWT says: “But far better is the house in the hereafter.” [6:32] Your success will begin with your salah and the hardest things to achieve always give the most joy, so begin with Fajr salah and bring ease to your day.

Your capabilities are boundless but you must remain attached to the success bringer and only is He who can give you success. Never be arrogant with what you have nor feel superior to anybody, as what you may be given as a blessing, may turn into a trial due to how you handle it and show others. Your skin is just a colour, a pigment to the eye, just as your face but that is never telling of the person you are, so be good to others no matter the treatment they put you through.

Never chase anybody in this life because those who are meant to stay, will stay regardless of your downfalls and struggles but those who are meant to leave, will leave because they were never meant to be the piece to complete your life’s puzzle. Be as you say you are and do as you say, do your best to keep your word, so you remain a trustworthy individual. Say the truth even if it is against yourself and against those closest to you, as this is what Muslim is supposed to do.

Don’t wish ill for nobody because wishing ill for others will bring ill to your heart and blacken it. Pray for others, wish them good, just as you have been given good. Don’t take advantage of the vulnerable but give them guidance to show them the way. Don’t say nothing about others they don’t like because your good deeds will be needed on the day it matters the most.

Your time is your most valuable asset, so spend it well and only give to those who will receive and treat it well. Love those who show you endless love and do your best to give it equally, as they show you how valuable you are to them. Life is full of worries and stress but one sujood makes it all better, so keep your salah close and tears for the one who can give you an end to your hardships.

Smile as often as possible because each day you wake up is a blessing others have not received. Eat well, treat your body right and see it give you your rights. In the end, you only have one life and 24/hours, do not waste it worrying and complaining cause you have so much to give and live for. Spend it well, goto towards success (salah) and see your life become easier as you are leaving everything to the one who has given you everything.

Food For Thought

You and I are just another heartbeat. Another breath that is given another chance. Another blink of an eye to see. Why do we sit around waiting for the world to change, when we can be the influence and motivation? Why do we enjoy being a passenger in life, when we can be in the driver seat? All of us are able to create legacies of our own but we seem to be satisfied being followers instead of great leaders. We are all equipped with intelligence and brilliance but we insist or we have become reliant on others to tell us what exactly to do with our intelligence and brilliance. Have we become satisfied with mediocre? Have we allowed ourselves to become comfortable wanting to never build for ourselves? Why are we comfortable building an empire for those who have it all but never an empire for ourselves? We would rather people pave our way, instead pave our own. We would rather have a manual on life, instead of experience it itself. Humans have become so comfortable within their minds, they are afraid to expand and be unlimited potential. When faced with fear, they sit down and don’t overcome it. While all this is happening, you are dying away, Your heart has taken another beat, you’ve taken another breath and you’ve seen again. Eventually, all this will pass you by and you’ve gained nothing but empty memories and empty dreams you’ve never followed. Why settle for less when the potential in you is as vast an ocean? There is nothing better than a creator, than a leader rather than a follower. We are great, intelligent leaders, who will eventually be parents, who will have something to leave behind. Sometimes not even for our kids but for everyone else. Why would you be satisfied with your deeds, thinking they may be enough to enter you in jannah (heaven) when they may not be? Why not chase every sadaqah jariyah (good deeds that follow you after death)? We will be in need one day. This is just some food for thought. Don’t just read it but eat it, ingest it and live it to the best of your abilities because even now, you haven’t seen the best of your abilities because you are comfortable where you are, even though knowing it is not who you can become.

Paint Your Story (Poem)

Things happen and life goes on

So i take it one day at a time

And not into the distant future

I think presently for what it is

And i can only hope for what it may become

I live to breathe for tomorrow, that tomorrow will become better

knowing that the decree of Allah SWT is greater than what I want

My wants and needs are being fulfilled before my eyes

But at times I become blind with my eyes full of tears

Wanting what is so dear

To me is it everything

Little do I know is everything

Everything is only of my hopes and dreams

With everyday that goes by, my vision becomes clearer

To what is being wanted, to what is becoming destined

Nothing can pass my way without it being for me

Each story, each lesson paints a picture

Colorful of my past and bright of my future

The more I hold onto these colours

The less I learn

The better I paint with those colours, more bright is my future

Holding onto what has gone in a vivid light and hoping for what is better to come

While I narrate and paint my story for the readers that come

This is for you to understand life goes on

Even after the curtain closes, applauds mixed with boos

There is still your story to tell

So become an artist, paint loudly and proudly

Smile through the tears, smile through the pain

Let your words hit the soul like rain drops beating the window

Be a voice of reason, not a voice and thoughts of regret

Alhumdulilah (Praise Be To Allah) for what has crossed my way

Because if it didn’t today

My thoughts probably wouldn’t exist this way

This is my painting, my Starry Night

My beautiful Mona Lisa

While I stand here smiling, proud of who I’ve become

Staying determined, positive, patient to see the next canvas I paint

I wipe off my glasses, let my brush sit

Knowing tomorrow will be better and the paintings can only get better, insha’Allah

Everything is the Will Of Allah

Say Alhumdulilah & Breathe… Let Them Talk

You have people talking about you? It burns you inside to find out that people are saying things that are untrue? Perhaps the things they are saying are true but they are now in the past? How do you deal with these types of situations?

The first piece of advice I’d like to give is let them. So what if they are talking about you? You seem to be of importance that they’ve taken time out of their day and spoken about you. You must be really popular or you must be doing something they wish they would have done or would be doing now. Sometimes they talk about you simply because they WANT to be like you. You are such an inspiring person that they hate that others look up to you or speak kindly of you or thank you for what you are doing. Obviously, if you are doing something good but they are being “haters”

Secondly, whatever they say about you behind your back falls under backbiting. You like free money don’t you? You like free rewards don’t you? You would like the best of everything wouldn’t you? So how about getting their rewards on the day of judgement when Allah SWT calls them to account. Their good deeds will be transferred over to you.

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessings Be Upon Him) said: “let who has unjust his brother to purify himself from this sin by asking the forgiveness of that person before he dies. If he did not do so then on Judgment day whereas no Dinar nor Dirham exist, If he has good deeds (Hasanat) then whom he unjust will take from and if he has no good deeds (Hasanat) then whom he unjust will give him from his bad deeds (Say’aat). [Shahih Al-Bukhari]

Meaning, if you have been unjust to someone, you have backbitten about someone, some of your good deeds will goto that person and their bad deeds will be given to you.

If you love giving up rewards or things you’ve worked so hard for to enter paradise, then don’t give them up for free by speaking about someone behind their back.

Thirdly, so what if they are saying things that are true about you. Whatever you have done is between you and Allah SWT and NOBODY else. If you’ve asked for forgiveness and stayed away from whatever you’ve done, Insha’Allah, Allah SWT will forgive you. Why lose sleep or get angry because they’ve brought up things from your past? Do you live in your past? Do you wear the same clothes as you did yesterday? Probably not. Do you wear the same shoe size as you did when you were 6? Obviously not because you’ve grown. You’ve also grown to be a better person that is why, your past is not like your present.

Also Do not expose the sins of other people and do not expose the sins you’ve committed either.

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessings Be Upon Him) said: A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim. So he should not oppress him nor should he hand him over to (his satan or to his self which is inclined to evil). Whoever fulfils the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfil his needs; whoever removes the troubles of his brother, Allah will remove one of his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and whoever covers up the fault of a Muslim, Allah will cover up his fault on the Day of Resurrection.” [Shahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessings Be Upon Him) also said: All of my ummah (nation of followers) will be excused, except for the mujaahireen (those who make their sins known).  And verily it is a kind of mujaaharah (exposing one’s sins) that a man does something (sinful) at night, and then in the morning, when Allaah has screened his sin for him, he says, ‘Hey So-and-So!  I did such-and-such last night…’  And the night passed with His Lord screening him, and he wakes up casting aside the screen of Allaah from himself.” [Shahih Al-Bukhari]

Fourthly, my last piece of advice, whatever it is you do today, whatever you’ve done yesterday and whatever is you plan to do in the future, know that people will speak about you regardless. Whether you are doing something that is beneficial for society or not, they’ll have something to say. You could be out saving the world and someone will say, “look at so and so, they think they are better than us!” So what? At least you are doing something that benefits people and society, while they are doing nothing of that sort. As long as your intentions are clean and you are doing it for the sake of Allah SWT and not to be praised or as a show off, you will be rewarded for it. Let people talk about you as much as they want. You get FREE rewards. Their good deeds come to you and your sins may goto them. You also don’t live in your past, so let it go. As long as you don’t continue to do it anymore, Insha’Allah, you will be forgiven. Time moves. The weather changes. Night comes into day and day comes into night, things change and you are not the same as you were yesterday or months or years ago. No matter what, stay focused on what you need to be focused on and keep striving. Keep being who you are and keep changing for the better. If you are doing things to help people, continue to do that. Don’t let these people who have nothing better to do than deter you away from what you are doing. You have experience in these things. You have an idea. You have a plan. You have a goal for a better tomorrow, so stick to it. Who cares. Your rewards are with Allah SWT and forgiveness is with Allah SWT and nobody else. Say Alhumdulilah and breathe…

Dealing With Issues With Beautiful Patience

Whenever you are dealing with issues in your life, you never want to just push aside problems in life as if they don’t exist. That is being careless about your situation and those who are involved as well. There should always be as I’ve stated many times in my previous articles a proactive approach in bettering the current situation(s) you are in. Of course, some people have situations in their lives that they unsure of or they ask themselves, what could I have possibly done to be in a situation like this? Did I deserve it? That is one the underlining problems within ourselves that is doubting the decree, qadr of Allah SWT. When we constantly doubt the decree, when we perceive things as negative, whether it has to do with loss of health, loss of a job, death of a family member or friend, we surround ourselves not physically but mentally with these thoughts of negativity. Assuming the end of things but rather, it should be a reminder of the continuous blessings we have in our lives, in this current moment, the blessings we’ve had for all those years and the blessings still yet to come. It’s beautiful when you think of how Allah SWT revealed the story of Prophet Ayyub (Job) Peace Be Upon Him and his life was full of blessings. Had wealth, had kids, he had everything. This was on going for 80 years of his life and then eventually, his health started to decline. He had lost all of his wealth. He had lost his kids but he would say to himself how could I possibly be in a state of sadness, depression when it has only been 7 years of my life but I’ve received blessings of wealth, good health and children for 80 years. Sometimes we don’t concentrate on the blessings we had or have and still to come but instead, we look at the things we are currently losing or lost and just dwell on them when everything else we have or had has been beautiful. It’s beautiful patience, acceptance of life as it comes, while being proactive and being thankful for everything given and still to come.

Life will not always go in a direction you want but life is being in those critical moments being directed to a life that is better for you. We must constantly remind ourselves instead of putting ourselves in the state of mind where everything just seems so out of place. You ever tried working on a puzzle and each piece you’ve picked up in the beginning would simply not go in the right place? But as you kept trying, as you kept progressing, as you were correcting your errors, the pieces started to fall in the right place. Things are never easy in the beginning but it requires patience. It requires belief in Allah SWT and in yourself to overcome these obstacles in your way. We would ALL like life to pan out the way we’ve imagined or planned but it simply does not workout that way. Progress, consistency, accepting the decree and being patient through the issues in your life will make them easier to accept and will insha’Allah allow you to be happy with what is going on. Will help you comprehend that what is happening is better for me, rather than what I thought was better for me. Allah SWT will continue to guide you to better things as long as you remind yourself that Allah SWT has revealed in Surah Al-Baqara: “O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”

Be patient and smile. It doesn’t hurt to crack a smile. Work at what you want but know what it is you need is being planned and has been planned before you were born. Allah SWT IS the BEST of planners, so nothing that will come your way is because He wants your destruction. Rather He wants you to come closer to Him and succeed.

How To Display Love The Way The Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessings Be Upon Him) Did

We read about many stories or hear stories of people and their romantic love life. At times, we even see them in them movies and many of us go “Awwwwwwww! I wish I could have that!” Knowing it is not real but the way it is displayed we become infatuated with this unrealistic display of love. Many of us don’t know that, there has been a time more than 1400 years ago, way before you and I were born there was a man by the name Muhammad (Peace & Blessings Be Upon Him). Many anti-Islamic, Islamophobes display him as several things he wasn’t. They love to depict him in a disrespectful, untruthful manner. What many of us don’t know is how did the Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessings Be Upon Him) display his love for his wives? Many of us are married and have been married for a very long time. Many of us are looking to get married and are clueless about the hadiths, stories of how the Messenger Of Allah was romantic. It is as if, it is taboo for a man to act or display romance or love the way the Messenger Of Allah did. This exterior as if being hard and not too soft is laughed at or looked down upon but little do they know, they are missing out on a Sunnah, an act which the Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessings Be Upon Him) did, which we will be rewarded for. I’d like to relate a few hadiths, stories I’ve gathered on how the Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessings Be Upon Him) displayed his love to one of his wives Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her).

Once the Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessings Be Upon Him) was sitting in a room with Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) and fixing his shoes. It was very warm, and Aisha looked to his blessed forehead and noticed that there were beads of sweat on it. She became overwhelmed by the majesty of that sight and was staring at him long enough for him to notice.

He said, “What’s the matter?” She replied, “If Abu Bukair Al-Huthali, the poet, saw you, he would know that his poem was written for you.”The Prophet, peace be upon him, asked, “What did he say?” She replied, “Abu Bukair said that if you looked to the majesty of the moon, it twinkles and lights up the world for everyone to see.”So the Prophet, peace be upon him, got up, walked to Aisha, kissed her between the eyes, and said, “By God, O Aisha, you are like that to me and more.”

[This was narrated in Imam Abu Nu’aim’s “Dala’el Al-Nubuwa” with a chain of transmission (isnad) including Imam Bukhari and Imam Ibn Khuzaina.]

Another

Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) relates the following about her husband, the Prophet (Peace & Blessings Be Upon Him Upon):

I swear by Allah that I saw Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) standing at the door of my room while the Abyssinians were engaged in spear play in the mosque of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him). He screened me with his cloak so I could watch them perform. He stood there for my sake until I decided that I had had enough. Now just imagine how much time a young girl eager for entertainment would stand there watching. [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]

Another

When the Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessings Be Upon Him) would have a meal with Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her), they would both eat from the same plate and drink from the same cup as each other. What the Prophet (Peace & Blessings Be Upon Him) would do is, turn the cup where Aishas lip marks were left and would drink from that side of the cup. He would also make eye contact with her and then drink.[Sahîh al-Bukhârî ]

Another

Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) said: That she accompanied the Prophet on a certain journey. At that time she was a mere girl and was neither fat nor bulky. The Prophet asked the people to move on, and they marched ahead. Then the Prophet said to me, “Come on, let us have a race.” ‘Aisha says that she ran and remained much ahead of him. The Prophet kept quiet for some time. Later on when Aisha grew fat and loose bodied, and she forgot the previous incident. Again she accompanied the Prophet on some journey. The Prophet again asked the people to march ahead, and they moved ahead. Then the Prophet again asked her to have a race with him. This time the prophet defeated her and she lagged behind. Now the Prophet laughed and said, “This is in reply to our previous defeat.” [Ahmad, Safwat as-Safwah]

Another

Aisha (May Allah Be Pleased With Her) would often seek reassurance from The Prophet (Peace & Blessings Be Upon Him) that he loved her.

“How is your love for me?” she once asked.

“Like the rope’s knot,” he replied, meaning that it was strong and secure.

Many times after that she would ask, “How is the knot?” and he would reply: “Ala haaliha” meaning “The same as ever!” [Hilya al Awliya]

So why are we ashamed or why do we prevent ourselves from expressing in a manner that has been displayed by who we are supposed to follow? This should encourage us, make us open minded and display our love to our spouses this way. Eat with them, race with them and speak to them gently. Words of sweetness and love. Being rough, speaking to your spouses in a disrespectful manner, being harsh, neglecting them is not the treatment the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) has showed us. This is who we are supposed to follow. Islam is beautiful as it shows all aspects on how to be. There are things you do which you will be rewarded for. Display your love to your spouse. Be creative. Be romantic. Be sweet. Be loving and most important of all, do it because it is what it taught in Islam. This is both for the husband and the wife. This isn’t directed to the man but women, you can do it too, don’t expect your husband to do it all the time. Now you know how the Messenger of Allah displayed his love and was romantic with Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), you can too. Insha’Allah.

How To Fight Your Battles: Press Play

 

We constantly battle ourselves everyday of our simple or busy lives. Our battles lie within several tunnels within our mind, within our heart and our subconscious. At times it eats us away with every little bite taken, sucking out every bit of life out of you. The ones we deal with, we seem to think, it is irregular or because I am not normal because I think this way or feel this way. We constantly think of ourselves to be not of the norm. The problems we are facing in our lives seems to be only our problems and nobody can understand them. At times we say to ourselves, “nobody knows how I feel!” We let out a big sigh and we just want to escape this world through a matrix or live in a dream.

Our battles stem beyond a predisposition which in fact, we’ve injected into our own mind, allowing us to believe our problems will never go away. The battles we face are just terrifying or things we will never overcome never matter the advice given. No matter who is listening and no matter who is giving the advice. The sad fact is, we seem to be comfortable staying there as we’ve constantly embedded this thought of these battles never ending. Whether it has to do with our appearance, the jobs we have, the relationship issues we face with our family or our spouse. The battles seem terrifying to let go, so as the days, months, years go on, we are still in the same predicament. When I mean let go, I do not mean, end these relationships or get plastic surgery.

Rather I mean, be proactive in your battles. Face them head on and don’t look back. Our mind flutters with nervousness, with things that we have not even faced. We are so consumed with the future, that our present is road blocks after road blocks after road blocks preventing the future from happening. I like to say, life does not pause for you so press play on life.

You see, when we have these battles, nothing in our lives remains the same. You know this and I know this. Our smile turns into this big ugly frown. The bags under our eyes have formed because of the tears and the lack of sleep. The relationship between you and your spouse has become distant, even with your parents.

If we were to really think about all this. All the problems we are going through. We would obviously like to put the blame on others. It makes us feel less guilty about the situations we are in. He did this, they did that, I explained, they won’t listen and it goes until the list never ends. When one blame gets countered, we come up with another just so we feel less guilty. This in fact is true. Regardless of the situations you are in or have been in, lets face it, the blame game is the most easiest one to play because it makes us feel as if we are the victims. You may be in fact the victim but you have played a role in becoming the victim in the first place. Knowingly or unknowingly we’ve put ourselves there because of either a lack of communication between family members, between your spouse. When it comes to appearance we constantly compare ourselves to others and this brings down our self-esteem. We are not content with the way we look. We are not content with how our lips, nose, eyes, hands or something we have been blessed with, while it has been taken away from another, we are unhappy with.

The first step in facing our battles is facing them every single day our lives. No matter what it takes. No matter what is in your way. No matter even if takes you to lift up a car as if you are the Incredible Hulk and toss it, you have to be proactive in overcoming your battles. Life is about being proactive. It just doesn’t simply happen. Allah SWT says in the Quran and this should be a reminder for all of us. In Surah Ar’Rad, Allah SWT says: “Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” How true is this verse in the Quran? We all have applied this verse every single day our of lives. You may ask, how? I don’t understand, how? When you and I are feeling hungry, what do we do? We change the condition of our hunger. When we are sleepy, what do we do? We change the condition our tired bodies and rest them. You may say, this is all too simple because it is applied through repetition, as it has become the norm for us.

You see, the solution to your battles is all so simple. You’ve probably answered; it is simple because I do it everyday. Did you read and hear yourself correctly? I do it everyday. It is because you’ve made the effort of attempting to change the condition of hunger, so you eat. It is because you’ve made the effort of attempting change the condition of your tired body, so you sleep. You now understand, it is all about application, for your brain to process what it needs to understand that YOU are in control. You cannot hesitate as you did not hesitate to eat or sleep, even though it is simple and it has become the norm.

In order to face your battles everyday, you must apply a solution and be proactive in finding if that solution will work. With your appearance, you must accept everything about you and also remember, there is someone else with less of the blessings you have but have accepted them and are happy. You can obviously change your weight but you must do it for the correct reasons and not be extreme in it either. You can become fit or whatever it is you want to be. Even the battles you have with your spouse or your family members, your parents, face them. Readily accept them, face them and address them. Most issues in life don’t get addressed because we are afraid to address them, which only sinks our ship of communication which we are supposed to use. We use it with our friends, our co-workers and even with strangers but we are afraid to voice ourselves to people we love. How odd is that?

Today, whatever the battles you face. You must apply a method, a solution, a plan in order to conquer them. The battles need to be addressed, they don’t need to pile up and then it is an odd battle but you have to outnumber them within your mind. Within your voice. Within your understanding that these battles are unnecessary and have only caused a great deal of stress in my life, which has put a short coming to me being successful in my marriage. With me being happy about my appearance. With me having a better relationship with my parents. With me just being happy with myself, no matter the circumstances in my life. You must begin this proactive life in order for you to live a life with happiness. With contentment, with an understanding that these battles are no longer a priority in your life. YOU are the priority in your life. Your happiness is the priority. Learn to accept yourself and everything around you, while being proactive in changing the conditions with a smile on your face. No, really, with a smile on your face. Acceptance is the first step, communicating is second, being proactive is the third and being happy completes it. Do your part, tie your camel and then leave the rest to Allah SWT.

Don’t doubt yourself because your ability is superior to what you’ve assumed about yourself all this time. There are only 3 words you need to know. I can, I will, I must. Apply these words and walk forward, through those doors and accomplish, break down what you’ve always feared, which are your battles in life. You’ve been capable all this time and you know you are capable. So go ahead, do it. Press play on life.

What If Money Were No Object?

I remember when I was coming out of middle school and my 8th grade teacher made me write essays everyday after school for not completing my homework. I was a terrible child. All I did was bully kids and get into fights for no reason. School was the last thing on my mind because when I went home, all those calls home to my mom only entitled me to getting my butt whooped for not completing my assignments and getting into fights. Anything that had to do with school, I didn’t want to be apart of it but one thing that did capture my attention though was writing. After middle school and writing literally hundreds of essays, I loved writing.

You know those questions you get asked constantly either in elementary, middle school or high school, “what do you want to be?” Well in elementary I wanted to be Hulk Hogan. After getting into high school, my passion for writing was huge! I wanted to be a journalist but my life didn’t take that path. I was often told being a journalist, a writer, you wouldn’t make enough money. Or I was told, that is not a field for you because you aren’t fit for it.

Fast forward years later, I created a blog. On Facebook, Im constantly writing notes  or statuses that people enjoy and next thing you know, It has like 20 Likes from people I have never met or seen in my life, asides from the pictures they share. Or Im just giving my opinion, some advice on a page and it gets 77 Likes. My intention is never to write to become popular or to be recognized or praised. My intention and I say this, think this, write this without a second thought in mind is to help others. When I get emails or messages from people telling me that I have inspired them or I have motivated them, it really overwhelms me because I don’t expect these things, I really don’t. I write with my own beliefs in my mind, how I perceive and live my life. What I was taught by reading, experience, learning from others, what Islam says and I write it.

People say, “I hate my job! I hate waking up to this crap everyday of my life, listening to a boss or people who don’t appreciate me.” I guess this is what happens when you chase the money. When money becomes the reason why you do these jobs. No matter how brutal it is, no matter how boring it is, it is accepted because it is cash over sanity. I’ve played Alan Watts “What If Money Were No Object” several times this year and I thought to myself, what if money was no object, what would I really be doing?

I would be doing this. Writing! Inspiring others. Motivating others. I have been told several times that my nickname is “LC” as in “Life Coach” because I do tend to speak to people in an eager, motivating, no sugar coating way. I can easily charge a price for what I put out there but why do that when the reward for helping others and hearing or reading “you’ve motivated me” or “you’ve inspired me” or “you’ve helped me become a better person, I smile more” is much more rewarding than a piece of paper which I’d probably spend on food or video games. A piece of paper means nothing when the best rewards are from Allah SWT.

I used to think writing sucked or what I’d put my talent to, which was rapping was a curse. I remember a rapper said:

We make this chips off this gift

That we curse with

And then my mind drift

Am I defeating the purpose?

Now I realize, this is a blessing and Alhumdulilah (Praise be to Allah) for guiding me away from music and being able to use my talent to inspire, motivate and help others. If money were no object, I’d be a writer, a voice to help others overcome obstacles and self esteem issues. To be and know they are individuals that possess intelligence, gifts that can change the world and change themselves to live a life that Allah SWT did not burden any soul that it cannot bear.

What if money were no object? What would you be? What would you do? Write it in the comment section. Share it.

“Is It Because Im Black?”

This year, I’ve been going through a lot in my life but Alhumdulilah, I do my best to stay in the best of spirits. As you can see from my writing, the title of my blog, “Think & Be Positive.” I like to write things about positivity, motivation because that is the type of person I am, Alhumdulilah. A positive individual. I write things that will help insha’Allah others to be better or go through the situations in their life with positivity in mind.

I’ve been asked a few times by women if I am interested in them and due to the situations in my life I like to stay out of them and just have my own space. Im the type of person who really enjoys talking to everyone I come across. No matter who it is. How old that person is. I am just a really friendly, funny and down to earth to person. Lately, women have approached and I’ve kindly declined that Im not interested. The odd thing is, if it is a coloured woman, a black woman, they would automatically assume or ask “is it because Im black?” I find this hilarious.

Skin colour has never mattered to me, EVER. I don’t care if the person is as blue as Violet Beauregard. Sometimes people need to put down their insecurities and stop thinking everything has to do with skin colour. Not every person is the same. Just because dudes in the past may have turned you down due to your skin colour, does not mean, every guy will. You need to stop being insecure about yourself. Be confident about the qualities you have. Be confident about the way you look. If a person turns you down, it may be for several reasons or several things that person may be going through. Don’t automatically assume it is because of your skin colour. If a person wants to be with you, they’ll want to be with you no matter what it is. No matter what occupation you have. No matter what kind of car you drive or you don’t have a car. Skin colour is just honestly a BS scapegoat in saying, you are not the person for me or Im too much of a wuss and I care too much what others think.

Islam doesn’t teach you about being with someone for their skin colour, their riches, reputation, kings or queens. Islam teaches to be with people with whose character is the best. Who is best in religion. Why does Islam say this? Because character is GOLD. Piety is riches. If you have someone that has good character, it’ll be good for you and it’ll be good for your kids. If you have someone who is best in religion, pious, it’ll be good for you and it’ll be good for your kids.

Don’t always look at things from the deep end and don’t be shallow, thinking about the colour of your skin or your beauty or whatever it may be when things don’t workout. Allah SWT knows best. Just be happy with what comes your way and be optimistic of what will come your way. Hope for the best and think positively.