Stop Making Excuses

Stop sign on the way to Haleakala, Hawaii (By:Thomas Kokta)

“Niney-nine percent of failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.”

 –Goerge W. Carver

Struggling in life is not easy, but finding an excuse not to struggle is very easy. We can find an excuse not to complete our work, not to improve ourselves, not to choose something we love, not to leave something we hate, not to avoid bad habit ... not to live our life because either we are afraid or not ready or waiting for a chance, or, or ... endless excuses.

If you have the habit of making excuse so you will waste your time, energy and LIFE. In my opinion, there is a relation between excuses and procrastination. As excuses are just means to procrastinate a goal in your life. You comfort your subconscious mind with an excuse in order not to let it leaves its comfort-zone and not to achieve something worthy in your life. You believe your excuses; you believe that you can’t do anything in your life.

But it ends with the famous sentence:

“A year from now you may wish you had started today.”

 -Karen Lamb

So why do not we begin from today?

Focusing on our strengths and weaknesses, try to improve ourselves. Choose goals that suits us and don’t be afraid to achieve them, it could be hard, difficult but it is not impossible.

Reaching the stars isn’t easy, but it is possible.

Every minute we live will go forever, so we must make something that keep us in memory. We must make something great either to remember it or to let others remember it.

Let every moment you live, a moment of happiness in others life. It could be the only moment that they will live.

Let every moment you live, a moment of success in your life. It could be the only moment that will change the world.

Stop Making Excuses... Stop Procrastinating your Life...

Plant your Garden of Success... Live Better Life...

I Am AFRAID!

boy climbing on rocks (By: Alex Mares-Manton)

 “I’ve always believed no matter how many shots I miss, I’m going to make the next one.”

- Jonathan Swift

I was away from my blog for a time, but the reason was that I was afraid. I was afraid to take an action. I thought a lot, worried a lot then I put all that worry aside, think that Allah will bless me with the best ever and took the action.

I am afraid! A phrase that you are telling it to yourself when you are about to take an action in your future. Your sub-conscious is programmed that every new action will take you out from your comfort-zone.

In everyday life, we are about to take an action, but if you think about your fears, worries and doubts you will never take any action.

You will lose a chance, may be the only good chance. You will be prisoned in your fears.

“I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I wouldn't fail.
The same four walls and busywork were really more like jail.
I longed so much to do the things I'd never done before,
But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.

I said it didn't matter that I wasn't doing much.
I said I didn't care for things like commission checks and such.
I claimed to be so busy with the things inside the zone,
But deep inside I longed for something special of my own.

I couldn't let my life go by just watching others win.
I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength I'd never felt before,
I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and closed and locked the door.

If you're in a comfort zone, afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true.
Reach for your future with a smile; success is there for you!”

-My Comfort Zone - A Poem
Author Unknown

So, what is the solution?

It is time to free out yourself. It is time to release your creativity, unleash your potential and live your life.

It is time to think, when you were still a kid.

Go further than you may think you can…

Trust Allah… Take a Step…

Make your Dreams come True… Live a Better Life…

Newly Born…

Sleeping baby boy, 1 day old (By: Tim Hawley)

“A new era of responsibility is here.”

-Valerie Jarrett

A lot of emotions, a lot of words, a lot of actions but no one could describe what his feeling about Egypt is. As you see a newborn baby, just smiling with joy and hope for a better future.

The youth have made the day for the whole society. They have changed the opinion of the world about Egypt.

Before anything, I would like to commemorate the martyrs of this revolution. May Allah bless their souls with his mercy. And for their families:

“[Prophet], do not think of those who have been killed in God’s way as dead. They are alive with their Lord, well provided for, happy with what God has given them His favour; rejoicing that for those they have left behind who have yet to join them there is no fear, nor will they grieve; [rejoicing] in God’s blessing and favour, and that God will not let the reward of the believers be lost.”

- Surah Al ‘Imran “The Family of ‘Imran” 3:169-171 (translated by: M. A. S. Abdel Haleem)

"وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ (١٦٩) فَرِحِينَ بِمَا آَتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَيَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَلْحَقُوا بِهِمْ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلَّا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ (١٧٠) يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِنِعْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (١٧١)"

-سوره أل عمران 169-171

For their mothers, I know that no words describe a mother's tears, no words can heal a broken heart but Allah's promise for them is enough to calm them down.

We have begun a new era in Egypt; a new era of change, power and responsibility. A new era, in which, every Egyptian can live with the principles of freedom, democracy, equality and justice.

After 18 days of revolution, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak steps down and hands power to the military, all the respect and appreciation to them. Things changed quickly on Friday, and now Egypt enters a new stage which needs a lot of work.

So the question now is what's next?

We need to begin changing our country to be better, we need to put a plan which covers every discipline in the Egyptian affairs, we need free and fair elections, we need development, science ... and we need to look forward to a different future.

In my opinion, every person must begin the change within himself so he must change his attitude first.

“We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.”

-Charles R. Swindol

Every one of us has dreams, plans for the future, power to change everything; so we don’t want to lose this spirit.

What have happened taught us not to give up a purpose or a dream, to protect our ideas & goals. Allah gives us a great power to change everything around in the world, to use wisdom & awareness to create a better future.

The Egyptians have proven that they can be the change they want to see in the world as Gandhi said.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

-Mahatma Gandhi

If you want something, go get it.

Keep the courage to change everything you can. Don’t give up a dream.
Be the change you want to see ...Live Better Life...

THE CRISIS

CAIRO, EGYPT - FEBRUARY 01(By: Peter Macdiarmid/Staff)

“Sooner or later comes a crisis in our affairs, and how we meet it determines our future happiness and success. Since the beginning of time, every form of life has been called upon to meet such crisis.”

-Robert Collier

Two opinions, two teams, between pro and against, but finally we are one family with one nationality and one fate. Hence what’s your role?

Today’s article will not be about motivation, will not be about inspiration. It will be about nowadays crisis in, my homeland, Egypt.

Usually, in the crisis days, you don’t need inspiration or motivation; instead you need to be calm, you need to know the fate of your future in such circumstances.

I am not here to discuss what this crisis is? Or what led to this crisis? The discussion is about how to be calm under fire? How to manage a crisis in your life, in your homeland? What is your role as a citizen to put off the fire of this crisis? And as a Muslim what to do in a tribulation or a sedition?

I don’t know how to begin, but any way let me begin with the meaning of a crisis. A crisis is a turning point or an unstable condition, as in political, social, or economic affairs, involving an impending abrupt or decisive change.

Anxiety and fear fill the soul of every person these days but I want to just remind you with the prophet’s, peace be upon him, attitude in such issues. One of the most important lessons that he taught them to us is that he never allowed tribulation to disquiet him. He never allowed any difficulty that he faced to put him in a state of turbulence.

So you must be calm under this fire. Being calm allows you to think wisely and to see the global picture of the event. I know it is hard to do that. But you can give your mind an order to be calm. Don’t think with emotions but think wisely to see the big picture. Then begin to put suitable solutions for the problem. Be flexible and be positive.

We are in a great sedition (fitna). We have two opinion and the whole people are divided into two teams. They may fight each other to impose one of those opinions. They can kill each other. And you must be aware of the punishment of killing a Muslim by a Muslim:

"عن الحسن قال خرجت بسلاحي ليالي الفتنة ، فاستقبلني أبو بكرة فقال : أين تريد ؟ قلت : أريد نصرة ابن عم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم . قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : ( إذا تواجه المسلمان بسيفيهما فكلاهما من أهل النار (. قيل : فهذا القاتل ، فما بال المقتول ؟ قال : ( إنه أراد قتل صاحبه )."

الراوي: أبو بكرة نفيع بن الحارث

 المحدث: البخاري

المصدر: صحيح البخاري

 الصفحة أو الرقم7083

خلاصة حكم المحدث: أورده في صحيحه

You as a Muslim have a big role and a big responsibility in such situation. Your role is not to be pro or against. Your role is to avoid this sedition. Your role is to warn people from this fitna . And as our prophet said that in fitna times, what a man can do is to close the door on him and not interacting with the fitna at all.

" عن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص قال
بينما نحن حول رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذ ذكر الفتنة فقال إذا رأيتم الناس قد مرجت عهودهم وخفت أماناتهم وكانوا هكذا وشبك بين أصابعه قال فقمت إليه فقلت كيف أفعل عند ذلك جعلني الله فداك قال الزم بيتك واملك عليك لسانك وخذ بما تعرف ودع ما تنكر وعليك بأمر خاصة نفسك ودع عنك أمر العامة"

الراوي: عبدالله بن عمرو بن العاص
المحدث: الألباني
المصدر: صحيح أبى داود
الصفحة أو الرقم:4343
خلاصة حكم المحدث:حسن صحيح

And other hadith to avoid fitna and not interacting with it at all:

"عن ابى هريرة قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : ستكون فتن ، القاعد فيها خير من القائم ، والقائم فيها خير من الماشي ، والماشي فيها خير من الساعي ، من تشرف لها تستشرفه ، فمن وجد فيها ملجأ ، أو معاذا ، فليعذ به "

الراوي: أبو هريرة

 المحدثالبخاري

المصدر صحيح البخاري

الصفحة أو الرقم: 7081
خلاصة حكم المحدث: صحيح

And Allah said in Surah Al ‘Anfal:

“Be aware of discord that harms not only the wrongdoers among you: know that God is severe in his punishment. (25) Remember when you were few, victimized in the land, afraid that people might catch you, but God sheltered you and strengthened you with his help, and provided you with good things so that you might be grateful. (26)”

- Surah Al ‘Anfal “Battle Gains” 8:25-26 (translated by: M. A. S. Abdel Haleem)

" وَاتَّقُوا فِتْنَةً لَا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْكُمْ خَاصَّةً وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ (٢٥)وَاذْكُرُوا إِذْ أَنْتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ تَخَافُونَ أَنْ يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ النَّاسُ فَآَوَاكُمْ وَأَيَّدَكُمْ بِنَصْرِهِ وَرَزَقَكُمْ مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ (٢٦)"

- سورة الأنفال:25-26

Our role now is helping each other to restore peace and stability to our homeland. Our role now is to guard our families, streets from robbery and looting. Our role now is to give hope for children in the future. Our role now is to put off the fire of this sedition.

All of us have a role, either man, woman, child or even an old person. We have a role towards our society and Allah will ask us about it; so be mindful of Allah.

Till this day we live a crisis, but a crisis could be turned easily to a catastrophe.

Amen,Amen...

May Allah protect us and keep Egypt safe...Mange yourself under a Crisis...

Try to put off the fire of FITNA...Try to Live Better Life...

Between Hope & Desperation

Baby crying (By: Cecile Lavabre)

"While they were saying among themselves it cannot be done, it was done."

-Helen Keller

“Impossible…”, “I can’t do it…”, “How come; famous…”, “Are you kidding, I am not good enough to be…”, “There is no hope…”

Negative thoughts are the main reason for desperation then failure or at least not achieving a great thing in your life.

In my opinion, if anyone of the famous characters that we know let himself a prey for those feelings, we wouldn’t hear about him.

Walt Disney (1901 - 1966) (By: Getty Images)

 Walt Disney was fired from his work because lack of creativity & imagination. Now he is the founder of Walt Disney Productions, with current annual revenues of approximately $35 billion.

“All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me… You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”

-Walt Diseny

Portrait of Helen Keller (1880-1968) (By: Library of Congress / digital version by Science Faction)

 Helen Keller was blind and deaf but with a great courage she created success, and she became a famous deaf-blind author.

"Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything wise in this world."

-Helen Keller

Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Michael Jordan and others have a chance to let themselves to frustration and desperation. They were rejected, failed, lost but they have never defeated. What they have in common is HOPE & PERSISTENCE. They extracted success from failure, hope from desperation and strength from distress.

Your failure can be a starting point to a great journey in life. Focus on your goals and dreams. Avoid negative thinking.
 

Turn your failure to success…

Never give up… Live Better Life…

Enthusiasm & Persistence, Keep them UP

Up (From: imdb.com)

“Knowledge is power and enthusiasm pulls the switch.”

-Steve Droke

Carl & Ellie... Enthusiasm & Persistence... Dreams & True Love...

A young Carl Fredrickson meets a young adventure spirited girl named Ellie. They both dream of going to a Lost Land in South America. And for that they set their own adventure book in order to fill it with their adventure when they achieve their dream together. Days pass and they have never lost their persistence to achieve their dream. 70 years later, Ellie has died. Carl remembers the promise he made to her. By tying thousands of balloons to his home, Carl sets out to fulfill his (and Ellie’s) lifelong dream.

I really love this film as it is not just a film it is a life lesson in perseverance & enthusiasm even if after 70 years.

Feeling unenthusiastic, bored and apathetic isn’t pleasurable or fun. It makes life dreary, slow and painful. Enthusiasm on the other hand is like an inner sun that makes life easier, shinier and more enjoyable. Enthusiasm is probably one of the most attractive qualities a person can have. With enthusiasm things get done and they often get done better and more easily than if you were to muster up the will to do them in an unenthusiastic way.

“Every Unstoppable personality you’ve read about offers an important key to success. But the ultimate key—the one that most dramatically separates the achiever from the nonachiever—is perseverance.”

-Cynthia Kersey

I think that, among the stories of success in the world, the story of Tom Monaghan is the ideal model in perseverance.

Tom Monaghan, Domino's Pizza Founder (By: Joe Raedle)

He has had at least a hundred “excuses” for failing in business—from growing up in orphanages and detention homes, to starting a business with no business sense, expanding too soon, going broke, losing everything, building it back up, and almost losing it again.

But what’s incredible about Tom Monaghan is that he’s never used any excuse. The way he sees it is that you haven’t failed until you’ve flat out given up.

Without the perseverance of Tom Monaghan, Domino’s Pizza wouldn’t grow.

And without the enthusiasm of Carl, Ellie's dream wouldn't achieved.

Keep your Enthusiasm & Persistence up...
Achieve your Dreams... Live Better Life...

Beyond EXAMS, Knowing How to Learn

Childhood Learning (By: Andrew Bret Wallis)

“No matter how one may think himself accomplished, when he sets out to learn a new language, science, or the bicycle, he has entered a new realm as truly as if he were a child newly born into the world.” 

-Frances Willard

Exams period, it can be a hard time for some students or it can be a time of entertainment for others.

Do you want to know how to keep yourself on track in this period? How to keep your enthusiasm up? How to study hard?

In a nutshell you want to know how to learn with the spirit of a kid full of joy & excitement? The answer is simple, use the Metacognition.

According to Julie Halter Metacognition is:

“Knowing how to learn, and knowing which strategies work best, are valuable skills that differentiate expert learners from novice learners. Metacognition, or awareness of the process of learning, is a critical ingredient to successful learning.”

I know this feeling when you have an exam, worrying with some fear of failure. Even the word can put you in unpleasant mode.

But it is time to change all that.

It does not matter how many days remain for the exam. We can use a genius plan & schedule for every state even if one day remains.

And the condition is: do not be afraid just trust Allah then believe that you will save the day with a reconcile from Allah.

Let us take an example: you have an exam so your way of thinking must be as follows:

Using metacognitive strategies to study for an essay exam.

  Here are metacognitive strategies for successful learning:

• Awareness:

-          Consciously identify what you already know

-          Define the learning goal

-          Consider your personal resources (e.g. textbooks, access to the library, access to a computer work station or a quiet study area)

-          Consider the task requirements (essay test, multiple choice, etc.)

-          Determine how your performance will be evaluated

-          Consider your motivation level

-          Determine your level of anxiety

• Planning:

-           Estimate the time required to complete the task (5,3,2 or even 1 day)

-           Plan study time into your schedule and set priorities

-           Make a checklist of what needs to happen & when (including seeing previous final exams, revisions)

-           Organize materials

-           Take the necessary steps to learn by using strategies like outlining, mnemonics, diagramming, etc.

•  Monitoring and Reflection:

-           Reflect on the learning process, keeping track of what works and what doesn't work for you

-           Monitor your own learning by questioning and self-testing

-           Provide your own feedback

-           Keep concentration and motivation high 

 Trust me your worrying and anxiety won’t let you make benefit of what you learn. Don’t be afraid as time pass; if you don’t have time, make time.

“You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it.”

-Charles Buxton

It is time to enjoy while learning. It is time to learn the true science. If you know the concept of what you are learning you will never forget in the exam & you will pass with excellent. In addition you will increase your knowledge. Finally do your best and let the leaves fall where they may.

Taste the joy of learning…

Enjoy your EXAMS period… Live Better Life…