My question to you today is why do doubt the possibility of achieving your dream? Do you know that it’s that doubt itself that is keeping that very thing away from you?
Your beliefs decide your actions. And if they are contradictory in nature. You will be stuck in the cycle of starting and then giving up again and again and again.
What do I mean? Imagine this with me:
Example 1:
conscious: you want to start making more money, but
unconcious : you think money is dangerous and it will make me evil
Example 2:
conscious: You want to achieve your dream physique, but
unconcious : deep down you think you’re an undisciplined loser who always gives up
What happens when you have contradictory beliefs is you start taking actions towards your goal, but your other sneaky little subconscious belief will pull you back and create resistance.
Your efforts will be a threat to that subconscious part of your psyche, and it’s highly likely you’ll give up. So you need to find out what the limiting belief is and reprogram it. That’s what alignment is.
Let’s tackle a few limiting beliefs you might have:
1- Wanting anything in this dunya is morally wrong
In the Quran Allah mentions that ‘فَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَـٰقٍ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةًۭ وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ حَسَنَةًۭ وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِۢ ‘ ‘ There are some who say, “Our Lord! Grant us ˹Your bounties˺ in this world,” but they will have no share in the Hereafter. Yet there are others who say, “Our Lord! Grant us the good of this world and the Hereafter ‘ al-baqara 2-200 201
You see, the righteous ask for both. They understand that Allah is the rich ‘ٱلْغَنيُّ’ and the enricher ‘ٱلْمُغْنِيُ ‘. Yes, the afterlife should be the priority, but it shouldn’t negate all ambition from existing.
2- Allah isn’t going to answer my dua
Didn’t he say ‘He has granted you from all that you asked Him for’ ‘وَءَاتَىٰكُم مِّن كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُ ۚ’ ibrahim 34. Realize that you’re currently living within answered duas that you made in the past.
The most generous ‘ٱلْكَرِيمُ’ , has given you things that you didn’t even ask from him. And now when you do ask, you’re so sure he is going to refuse you and return you empty handed?
Am I saying you are garenteed what you want? No, that is entitlement. I’m merely saying you really don’t know. So have better faith.
3- It’s too difficult
You know what you’re doing when you say something is impossible? that it’s too difficult? You’re putting your desire on a pedestal.
Is having ‘a successful business’ greater or is Allah soubhanah greater? Is “space travel” greater or is Allah greater?
Reduce your goal’s difficulty in your brain. Start viewing these things as within reach. Instead of being so desperate, remember. To ‘the Omnipotent’ ‘ ٱلْقَادِرُ’ everything is the same, everything is easy.
4- I’m asking for too much
I really want you to see the big picture, to start seeing that God who owns ‘treasuries of the heavens and the earth’ ‘ۗ وَلِلَّهِ خَزَآئِنُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ’ al munafiqun 7, has a track record in your life already. He’s blessed you beyond your imagination.
Indeed, ‘If you tried to count Allah’s blessings, you would never be able to number them’ ‘وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ ۗ’ an-nahl.18
That’s how he’s shown up for you until now. And he only promises you more if you are truly grateful.
5- It’s not Allah it’s me
But wait, Aya. It’s not about God. It’s about me. I can’t achieve my goal because I’m not smart enough, I’m not pretty enough, I’m not desciplined enough.
Okay, fine.
Then change.
Who says you have to stay like this?
- You feel like you’re not the best parent? And your kids don’t like you much? Change
- You have been relapsing with an addiction for years? Change
- You can’t establish your salat? CHANGE
You and I both know, that you have this ideal version of yourself that you’ve wanted to be your whole life. Brave, strong, beautiful, kind, generous, pious.
Every moment you spend not progressing towards that ideal, is just torture. It’s a slow and painful death sentence.
Yes, maybe you tried and gave up a hundred times before. But you must try again. Frankly do you have anything better to do? This time what is inside, your beliefs, will be different.
‘Indeed, Allāh will not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves’ ‘إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ’ ar-rad 11
6- But I don’t know ‘how’ to achieve this
It’s none of your business. Abandon the how. That’s God’s job. Your job is to remember him, stay conscious of his majesty. ‘And whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make a way out for them, and provide for them from sources they could never imagine.’ ‘وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًۭا وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ’ Surah At-Talaq – 2-3. Knowing the next step is all you need.
Just go do whatever you know you’re supposed to be doing, and the way will appear as you walk on it.
