MUSLIMAH
New Year, New Possibilities
What a year we have had!
Isn’t it refreshing to finally turn over a new leaf after the trials of the past year?
Looking back, it is astonishing how the multitude of changes from 2020/2021 are now fully engraved in society. The normalisation of face coverings, the decline in social gatherings and the acceptance of living more distanced lives are all results of the coronavirus pandemic.
Truthfully, the past few years have been difficult. Many people lost family members and friends, some lost their jobs, and the rising levels of anxiety and depression in society are apparent. There have been positives too, individuals realising their potential despite the lockdowns, new businesses starting up, and the flexibility that ‘working from home’ brought for many.
At the end of this rollercoaster of a year, we resolve to do better next year. The basis of New Year’s resolutions is creating goals to achieve self-growth. This process, however, sometimes overlooks the growth that has already occurred. It is imperative that we first start on a positive note and recall our triumphs from the past year, before delving into the areas that we feel require improvement.
Pause. Take a deep breath, and try to reflect on the moments that got you here.
Qadr
Habitually, when we reach our lows, we find ourselves lost in the scam of “what if...”, when in truth, everything lies within the Qadr of Allah (SWT).
Allah (SWT) tells us in the Qur’an: ‘All it takes, when He wills something ‘to be’, is simply to say to it: “Be!” And it is!’ Surah Ya-seen 36:82
Our lives have been predestined, and specific events will occur purely by the will of Allah (SWT), and so our only sanctuary from this world is our Maker.
Despite the struggles and anguish we have experienced over the past few years, there is a strange sense of comfort knowing that the whole world has trudged through the same pandemic as ourselves, and is continuing to march through this adversity. A new year, however, brings with it new challenges and opportunities to fulfil long awaited dreams.
During these first few weeks, we sit amongst our family and friends discussing our New Year's resolutions. How often do we see these fizzle out, even before February has begun? How does one make feasible resolutions that they can sustain throughout the year?
Sustainable Goals
The International Journal of Process Education provided an insightful guide outlining steps to a productive self-growth plan :
Purpose
To initiate the process, begin by visualising the purpose of your life - consider your principles and demands, and confidently dive into creating “higher expectations” for yourself. What do you want to achieve in this world and what legacy do you want to leave behind? We are ultimately all working towards attaining Jannah- so, what are you doing to ensure this? We need to take stock and think about our purpose in relation to both the Dunya and the Akhirah.
Plan
The next step is to create a vision and plan for your future. Before doing so, look through your past and decipher what has made you who you are today. Deciding what you want the future to look like can seem overwhelming; so break it down into milestones and achievable goals. Set deadlines for each goal, that way you are more likely to achieve them.
It is great to be creative with our aspirations! When doing so, consider any risks associated with your vision and if those risks are worth it in the end. For example, in spending time towards reaching one goal, what will you be sacrificing?
Analyse
From there, have a “weekly action plan; perform, reflect and self-analyse” before an annual reflection (Jain et al., 2020). This way, at the end of 2022, you will look back and find all of the smaller goals that you have achieved throughout the year, and will be able to track your progress. Most habits take time and repetition, so being able to track this is hugely beneficial. This will allow you to evaluate why you find certain goals harder to achieve and prioritise them accordingly.
Dealing with setbacks
Even with the most robust plan in place, there will be slip ups on the path to achieving your goals. It is important to recognise when this is happening, and ask yourself why. Maybe something needs adjusting? Maybe you need to be a little more lenient with the deadlines? Before you fall into the downwards spiral of thinking you have failed, and giving up on the goal altogether, address these reasons.
At this point, go back to the beginning, and think about your purpose. Is this still a goal that is in line with your principles? If so, renew your intentions and continue. If not, go back and set new goals that are in line with your principles. Remember, we are all a work in progress.
Of course, the most important action in all of this is to constantly make du’a to Allah to guide us to what is righteous.
Jabir ibn Abdullah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, my prayer, my rites, my life, and my death are for Allah the Lord of the worlds. He has no partner and with this I have been commanded and I am among the Muslims. O Allah, guide me to the best deeds and the best character, for no one guides to the best of them but You. Protect me from evil deeds and evil character, for no one protects from the evil of them but you.” (Sunan al-Nasā’ī: 896)
Don’t forget, 2022 has in it a whole 365 days! That leaves enough room for the setbacks that we will undoubtedly experience, but also plenty of time to succeed in sha Allah.
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