M.O.T.I.V.E

TURN OVER A NEW LEAF.

Alhamdulillah, just get back from a program held by our batch, I-Mumtazian. The last one for the last day of this year. It brought me back to last year memories, in which we had "Hatiku Milik Siapa". This time, some kind of different. Still, we had pieces of HMS Part 2, by getting ourselves more clear about 'Fiqh of Engagement". It's a good reminder about how we should guard ourselves regarding relationship before marriage, based on al-Quran and as-Sunnah.

But here, I want to share about the second part of the program. It's about how we are going to achieve our goals, being more successful and more effective as what I can conclude from the talk. Dr Hesyam, Neuropsychiatric in Alexandria University share with us some good points. From the word, MOTIVE, we can try to apply in our daily life.

M: Mission. Without this mission, it's very difficult to motivate ourselves. And the most important thing, to start mission with good intentions.There are some criteria that we have to fulfill in order to achieve our goals. It must be a smart one, specific, time-bound, relevant, measured and accepted.

O: Order. Means that we have to be in system. And actually it starts from our GOOD SLEEP. I am very attracted when the doctor relate this fact to what actually Allah says in Quran. If we realize, every 'day' word comes after 'night'. It always be '...night and day'. Here, we can see that it is very important to have good sleep, where you will have good rest and fresh for the next hectic day. Besides, you need to be balanced, the right to Allah, to family, to people surround you and yourself. And you can reward yourself after you achieve the goal, not the reverse..:)

T: Team. Why? Dr Hesyam doesn't say much about this, but he repeat several times, 'CHOOSE YOUR FRIEND'. Somehow, friends can influence us, right? They remind us if we forget, correct us if we're wrong and be with us in easy and hard times. And we need to choose friend that can help us to achieve our goal, and more important is to walk in the right path towards Jannah, in sha Allah. Doesn't mean that we have to neglect the other group, we still have to pray, advice and help them.

And keep thy soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face and let not thine eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life no obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds. ( Al-Kahfi: 28)

I: Immediate and Insidious. Whatever you want to do, start it now!! Don't wait for tomorrow or next day. Simply make it immediately but do it slowly, gradually so that you can be persistent. Allah loves those who are doing things that are small amount but istiqamah.

V: Vision. Here, it's very interesting, because you need to train youself. It's about how you see the world, or when something happen to you. The same things can happen to different person but will be perceive differently. Remember that Allah is Merciful. He doesn't want bad things happen to you. But, we need to open our eyes and see the gift behind those bad things. Whatever things come up, He want to teach us something. It's happen to me. I can make myself positive when facing difficult situation, but I just could't stand if somebody is late. It stole my time. For me, time is precious. You can't pay it back. It's either we manage it wisely, or it just lost. But actually, when I have to wait, for minutes or hours, actually He want me to be PATIENT, to keep CALM. It's simple, but it's not easy. Yet, it built good character.

E: Evaluate. It's silent (we don't pronounce E in MOTIVE), but it is the most important. This is what actually great companians of Rasulullah do everyday before they sleep. They muhasabah what they have done all through the day. Whatever things that you try to do, and you did all the list above, you will come to this part. You need to evaluate what you have done. Why? It's not the matter you are not failing, but indeed you learn what is wrong. Next time, you will know what are the mistakes and try to avoid them.

Actually, if we look back, these are all things that Islam teach us. Whatever we want to do, we must first have good intention. Systematic, one of Muwassafat Tarbiyah. Also, Islam encourage us to be with those ulama' and good people. Next, try do things in small quantity but continously to keep you in the track. Then, always thinking good about what happen to you and last, but or least muhasabah.

Above all things above, don't forget to pray to ALLAH.

And, not to forget, the last part of the night. Before it ends, we listen to some tips about marriage life from the married couples. Barakallahu lakum wa jama'a bainakum fil khair...

Hoping that we can try to be better, this coming 2013, for the sake of Allah. Let us start now..:)