10. Be powerful

When we think of someone who has power, we imagine them to be dominant and controlling, but this is not true power. Our power lies deep within our souls; it is reflected in each action, movement and decision. It radiates love, compassion and understanding; it illuminates our surroundings and our world. Being powerful means overcoming our fears and self-doubts, exploring new challenges and fulfilling our duties and responsibilities. Each of us is blessed with innumerable talents, faculties and potentials, the true challenge is to dig deep into our souls to explore these faculties and make the most out of them. You cannot be happy unless you improve your sense of self-worth; by doing that, you unlock your potential and free your creative powers. Studies show that a strong belief in our own abilities significantly increases our satisfaction both at home and at work. 76 Do not get discouraged by other people or try to copy them; do not fear being different. Prophet Muhammad (~ ) said: «Do not be worthless: you say if people behave well, you behave too and if they misbehave, you do the same. Instead, if people behave well, you behave well too, and if they misbehave, do not act unjustly.» 77 To repeat another of the Messenger's(~ ) wise sayings: «The strong believer is more loved by Allah than the weak one, and there is benefaction in both.» 78 To boost your self-esteem, try following these steps: 1. Believe in your self-worth and your potential. Think about what your strong points are, write them down and keep the list where you can see it to remind yourself. Work on improving and adding to them. At the same time, keep your faith in your Creator. Always remind yourself that Allah is with you, that you certainly are on the right path, and nothing can defeat you. Abu 'Abbas 'Abdullah the son of 'Abbas narrated: «One day I was (riding) behind the Prophet (~ ) and he said to me, "Young man, I shall teach you some words (of advice). Be mindful of Allah, and 76 Myers & Diener, 1995. 77 Tirmidhi (who said it was 'good, but at one point in its chain there is a single narrator' ). 78 Muslim. Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, ask of Allah; if you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that if the people came together to do you a favour, they would be unable to unless Allah had prescribed it for you; and if they united to harm you, they would not do you any harm unless Allah had prescribed it for you. The pens (that write destiny) have been lifted and the pages have dried." 79 » 80 Believe deep in your soul that your connection with Allah is the true source of your powers; Allah (~) says: ~ ... And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Indeed Allah has set a measure for all things) (Quran 65: 3) ~® ... :f}J:) ~ 6)\ ~;{; !~ y~ j i ~'~ <n :_,,:..) ')..,....) ~Is not Allah Sufficient for His slave? Yet they try to frighten you with those [whom they worship] besides Him!..) (Quran 39: 36) 2. Assess your limitations and work with them. 81 Figure out how you perceive yourself, recognize your own personal limits and acknowledge your human limitations. We are all human and we all have our flaws - do not be ashamed of yours. Instead, recognize them so that you can figure out how to deal with them. Practice daily 79 That is, what has been written and decreed cannot be altered. (Ibrahim and Johnson-Davies 1976, p. 68). 80 Tirmidhi, graded as sound by Albani. 81 Seymour & Shervington, 2001. your dhikr and du'fi' (think of them as 'fortification') and your selfempowering affirmations, like this one to be said three times: «In the Name ofAllah in whose Name nothing can cause harm in the earth or the heavens. He is the All-Hearer and the All-Knower. (Bismillfihi alladhee la yaq,urruhu ma 'a ismihi shay 'un fil arq,i wa la fis-samii 'i, wa huwa as-Samee' ul 'Aleem.)» 82 Dhikr-Allfih rectifies your mental image; you visualize in your heart a mental picture of yourself as strong through Allah's Strength and succeeding with Allah's help and blessings. It reformulates any negative thoughts or self-doubts into confidence and strength; it increases your faith in Allah and supports your belief in your abilities. 3. Visualize your personal success. Imagine performing your tasks well. The better you imagine yourself, the bigger the boost you are giving to your confidence. 83 You are a believer, thus be sure that Allah will always be there for you. Allah says in His Holy Book: ~Allah will establish in strength those who believe, with the word that stands firm, in this world and in the Hereafter..) (Quran 14: 27) 4. Work to achieve your visualized goal, and remember that your aptitude and performance are directly related to your levels of confidence. 84 When things go wrong, do not get discouraged; perceive it as a challenge and keep trying. Focus on success and always maintain your positive self-image. 82 Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi, with a good chain. 83 Seymour & Shervington, 2001. 84 Ibid.