Motivation

Creating Crutches
Creating Crutches 1600 1200 Nadir Keval

Throughout our lives, we get hit with tests and struggles. From physical issues like back pain, to psychological issues like depression. So many things influence our lives, but it’s important to recognize that they impact us only as much as we allow them to. This isn’t to say that these issues are any less important, or that they shouldn’t be addressed. Instead, I believe that it’s important to recognize them, address them, and to move forward (with or without them).

Sometimes, we let these things become a crutch for ourselves. I can speak from experience, in that when I had my car accidents a few years back, my back pain took its toll on me and flipped my life upside down and sideways. I began to blame everything on my back problems. “School didn’t go well because my back hurt. I gained weight because my back hurt. I became depressed because my back hurt. I couldn’t continue with my goals and career because my back hurt.” And the list goes on. Finally, I realized that most of this was just me making excuses. Yes, there was pain. Yes, my spine had apparently shifted to one side. Yes, I had neurological changes because of it. Still, I hesitated to accept there is ALWAYS a way around the things that hold us back. It was just easier to blame it on something else instead of dealing with it.

Sure, sometimes it takes more time and effort to overcome, but the option is always there. The question is, how determined are you to take control of your life? Now, you may be going through something incredibly difficult right now, but ask yourself, how much of the pain you’re feeling is enhanced because you’ve told yourself that you’re incapable of things because of that pain? Almost everyone in the world has some kind of a mental health issue at some point or another during their lives. Some more than others. It’s important to deal with those issues, but to remember that because there is nothing we face in life that we can’t handle and overcome, by the Mercy and Will of Allah, we can’t use these issues as crutches or let them become the cornerstone of our identity.

Just the other day, I was watching some videos about people who practice one of my favourite forms of athleticism, CrossFit. Amongst the incredible athlete profiles I watched, two of them stood out to me most. One was of a young man who had a severe form of bipolar disorder. He and his family struggled greatly with it, because there was so much that was uncertain and unpredictable about him. Still, he continued forward with his training, worked hard at taking control of the situation, and strived to make the most of his condition. His determination and dedication helped him live as normal of a life as he could, and he accepted that he was blessed with a struggle that he was determined to overcome. He pushes beyond expectations and goes after his goals and passions.

The other example was of a 73 year old man. He had been training in different ways for a good 50-60 years, and had always taken care of himself. So, when he was diagnosed with prostrate cancer, he was taken aback, wondering how he could have been hit with something related to his health after spending his entire life taking care of himself. He had his prostrate then removed, and was back to training not too long after. The lesson I learned from his story, outside of the immense motivation and inspiration that radiated from him, was that we don’t know what we will face in life. What is meant to be a part of our lives, good or bad, will be a part of our lives, and there’s nothing we can do to change that. What is destined will be. What makes the difference, HOWEVER, is how we react to these experiences. Many of us would lose hope, and would become angry after spending our lives protecting ourselves from health-related danger, only to one day get hit with something out of the blue. But this man, he decided to take control and to not let it hold him back.

We live a lot of our lives with expectations. We think that nothing bad could ever happen to us, especially if we take all the precautions. Yet, we forget that what is written for us is already decreed and will come to pass. What is up to us is how we deal with it. This is where having control of our minds comes into play. When you are facing something you are afraid of, tell yourself that you are capable of overcoming it, and face it head-on. When something happens that takes an emotional or mental toll on you, grab hold of it before you indulge in those emotions and thoughts, and reflect on what you’re facing and how you can resolve or deal with it in the most beneficial and productive way possible. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t experience your emotions. They are there to be experienced. Instead, what I’m suggesting is to find balance and moderation. It’s like everything else in life, and how too much of anything is bad for you.

We cannot let our emotions dictate our thoughts and actions because they are unstable. To lean on something that is unstable, will most likely or eventually lead to you falling and getting hurt. Moderation and balance are key. If you need to cry, cry. If you are inclined to smile or laugh, smile or laugh. If you are angry, be angry. But, use wisdom, discipline, and balance to deal with it. Avoid letting these emotions and struggles become what define you. Become the master of your life, not its slave.

Take The Leap – Taken Literally
Take The Leap – Taken Literally 1920 1080 Nadir Keval

Plenty of times before, I’ve spoken about taking a leap towards the things you face and struggle with in life. In fact, I would say that it’s the center of most of what I talk about in my advice and development articles. Sometimes, this remains as a simple concept in our minds, and we feel as though it’s one of those things that’s just easier said than done. But what if we saw some literally take a leap that seemed as though it would be the end of him, but instead, because he prepared himself, he was able to fly and land safely? When I saw this video (below), I was floored. To take this concept and finally see it become a reality was truly inspiring. I’ve always been more hands-on with the things I do in life, and so, seeing this really motivated me to do even more towards reaching my goals. And since outdoor rock climbing was something I was afraid of doing as a kid, I think that maybe one of these days, Insha Allah, I’ll take the leap and try it out again.

Check out the video and tell me what you think! Would you be willing to take the leap? What kinds of leaps (metaphorically-speaking) have you taken recently? Share your stories in the comments below and who knows, you may just inspire someone to do something that changes their life!

Basejumping with the Skyliners and the Casio G’zOne Commando from Hypebeast on Vimeo.

Progress At Your Own Pace
Progress At Your Own Pace 2560 1600 Nadir Keval

Life is a challenge. There’s no doubt about that. But, challenges aren’t a bad thing, especially when we look at them as opportunities for growth and success. Easier said than done, I know.

Throughout my life, I have faced my own set of struggles, difficulties, and challenges. First off, to them, I say Alhamdulillah. They have made me who I am today. And although, at the time of facing those particular struggles, I felt a phenomenal amount of pain and suffering, I now look back at every single one of those events and aspects of my life as blessings and lessons that I carry with me every day. I use these experiences as reminders and tools with which I can learn to become a better person.

Some of the challenges I’ve faced are things that others would consider small and unimportant, or would be able to overcome so easily that they wouldn’t even register these things as challenges. Does that mean that I am weaker or a lesser person than them? Does that mean they are more advanced or better than me? No. It just shows how we all face our own struggles to our own degrees and at our own pace.

I know of some people who are monumental figures in the world, who inspire people every day, and who are financially successful as well. These people were also once homeless, once failing students, once leading unhealthy lives to the extent of being close to death, once going through a tough divorce, or once dealing with the loss of their family members because of war. Most of us would find facing even one of these struggles to be overwhelming, but some have faced more than a few of those things at once. Yet, today they are happy and successful. With faith and patience, they were able to overcome, and for that, they were rewarded.

Is Patience Worth It?

“Indeed, the patient will be given their record without account” – Quran (39:10)

Just the other day, I attended a halaqa, where the teacher told us about the story of Prophet Ayub (may Allah have mercy on him) and how he faced so many different trials, and still, remained patient. Off the top of my head, what I recall learning about was how Prophet Ayub had almost everything a person could want in life: a loving family, wealth, good health, and a good reputation in the community. He was then tested, riddled with disease to the point that no one wanted to come near him, so he lost his friends, his wealth, and his health. Still, he remained patient. Because he couldn’t work, as his health had deteriorated to the point of making his figure seem like no more than flesh on bones, his wife began to work by cleaning homes and the like. People didn’t know that she was Prophet Ayub’s wife, but once they found out, they stopped hiring her, in fear that she may pass his disease on to them. So, in a state of desperation, she began to sell her hair (there was a high payment given for hair that could be used to make wigs). This brought a lot of wealth, so Prophet Ayub asked her where the wealth came from, and she ultimately told him and revealed her practically bald head. He then, for the first time, made dua regarding his and his family’s condition saying, “Oh Allah, we have been touched by difficulty.” Look how patient he was, that even after facing all that he had, he didn’t describe his condition as being horrific or unbearable, but rather, said that they have been simply “touched” by difficulty – incredible, Subhanallah!! After this, he was rewarded for his patience and got back his health and wealth, and was able to become a functioning member of his society again.

We often look at the things we face and at that moment, we feel them to be overwhelming and heavily burdensome. We feel like we are facing the toughest thing in the world, and for those without faith, the words that often come to mind are, “Why me?” But, the truth of the matter is, the things we face all have purpose, and regardless of how difficult they may seem, nothing is more difficult than you can handle. Our struggles and difficulties in life are in fact blessings in disguise, as they give us the opportunity to show our true strengths and to become better than we were before. Sure, you didn’t get that job you wanted, you missed out on completing your degree because of 0.6%, or things didn’t work out with that person you were sure you were meant to marry…but all of those things not going as you had planned was all part of Allah’s Plan to prepare you for the better things to come, or to protect you from what may have come had things gone your way. Personally, as I look back, through all the pain and struggles, I smile because I can see how things just got better over time, or I realized how horrible my life would have been if I had gotten what I wanted, and every single one of those major “struggles” I thought would be the end of me turned out to be remembered as no more than a moment in time that passed and is now lighter than a feather.

“But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah knows, while you know not.” – Quran (2:216)

Be patient with all that you face, and grateful for how far you’ve come. Think back to some of the things you’ve experienced in life and you’ll find that a lot of the bad times only made you stronger. It’s a tough thing to experience at the time, but if you keep in mind that Allah is merely making you stronger in faith and character through this and protecting your from harm, you’ll find more contentment with your condition. Remember, Allah rewards the patient without account, so just imagine how He, the One with no limitations, could reward you with so much more than you could imagine!

Why’s It Taking So Long?

“Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned.” – Quran (2:286)

We face a lot in our lives – that is without doubt. But all that we face is within the capacity of what we can bear. What gets to us isn’t the inability to accomplish our goals, but the time it takes for us to do so. We live in a time where everything is based on instant gratification. Patience is almost unheard of because people expect what they want to be manifested in front of them in one way or another without taking out the time and effort to make it a reality. We rush ourselves to accomplish our goals, and treat others badly if they get in our way. We look at others with judgment if they are struggling in a part of their journey that we found to be easy. We fail to understand that every person will be tested and awarded as is most befitting to us, because we are all unique and need to face our own journeys in our own way.

This concept is reflected in every aspect of life. We want financial stability, so we apply for a few jobs and then start complaining a few days later because we’re still unemployed. We want to get married, but hardly do anything to make ourselves worthy of marriage, and then complain that no one wants to marry us. We want to lose weight so we eat healthy and work out for a week or two and then complain that we still haven’t lost those 20 lbs. we set out to lose. We talk and talk about our intentions to take action towards leading better lives, but then spend months complaining about how nothing has changed, when truthfully, we’ve hardly put any effort towards taking action towards those changes. We need to embrace our responsibilities towards ourselves, and take steps towards our goals at our own pace. Ignore the pressures of others and just ask yourself if you’re working as hard as you can. Compare yourself only to the person you were the day before. Other than that, know that everyone else is irrelevant in comparison. Try to work at who you want to become by recognizing that you are different from everyone else and that you need to find your success at your own pace. Taking this approach will bring you ease, contentment, and a much faster and healthier path to success – I speak from experience, Alhamdulillah.

“And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.” – Quran (65:3-4)

Understanding Fear
Understanding Fear 1200 800 Nadir Keval

Fear – something that takes a toll on all of us, including the innately fearless. We often allow this fear to overtake our courage, holding us back from reaching the heights of our potential. Personally, I believe that without fear, we would not be able to fully grasp its opposite – courage. As is pain to pleasure, and sadness to happiness, fear can act as a catalyst towards growth in courage if used as a controlled tool, instead of as something that controls us. This is a difficult feat to achieve, but after reading this post, you’ll see why I believe that it’s difficulty is merely a blessing and inspiration to overcome it.

I know this quote is just a line from a movie, but it might just be one the greatest and truest things I’ve ever heard. In fact, quite frankly, it is something I try to remind myself of every day as I challenge myself towards becoming everything I aspire to be in this life and in the Hereafter…

“If we are going to survive this, you must realize that fear is not real. It is a product of thoughts you create. Now, do not misunderstand me – danger is very real. But fear, is a choice.” – After Earth

This concept is the first and only understanding of fear that has truly helped me to overcome my own fears and instead, find a desire for facing said fears. Fear is something that we cannot see, but it is something we create within our own minds as a defense mechanism against that which we are uncomfortable with or believe could harm us in some way. If we take this fear and recognize it as merely a thought we construct in our minds, we can then construct a different, more positive thought to counter that fear.

There is far more strength in a man who faces his fears than in a man who is fearless by nature.

I’ve grown up with fear and nervousness playing a large role in my life, because there were very few people that encouraged me or helped me feel that I was worthy of practically anything. I would get hollow compliments from people, and would later be insulted or discouraged by those same people. It felt insincere, making it difficult for me to trust, and instead of motivating me to believe in myself, it lead to a life of self-doubt and a need to satisfy and gain approval from others.

Only a few years ago did I realize this to be my reality, and began to take whatever steps I could to fight those fears. When trying to train our minds to put up a fight against that which we fear, our first step is to recognize that we are afraid of something. Then, tell yourself that you’re going to face that fear no matter, and the next time it challenges you, do the exact thing you are afraid to do. It will take time to accomplish, but in time you will grow and adapt to it, and it will become second-nature. Through this process of just facing your fears, you will find yourself doing things you have never dreamt of doing. For example, for years, I was afraid of failure and so, I wouldn’t work very hard on my businesses or projects, but rather, would make excuses to try to keep myself from trying something or from taking a risk towards what I wanted. Now, however, since I began facing my fears, I have developed a love and pull towards doing exactly what I fear. So, when it comes to work, I am more confident, more ambitious, more courageous, and a greater risk-taker. And honestly, I have never been happier with myself.

Fear is normal. It’s a part of what makes us who we are. But if we allow it to control us, we become slaves to it, whereas, if we learn to control it, it becomes our slave. Fear is a tool that we can use to become more courageous and to become more driven and ambitious in our careers, health, relationships, and overall lives. Ask yourself what you fear today, and take a leap of faith, and do exactly what you fear doing. You will become stronger, and will find yourself finding a drive for more than you’ve ever imagined. Open up the door to possibility for yourself and make fear fear you.

Fight or Flight
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About a month ago, I was hospitalized after passing out suddenly. It was a scary experience to say the least, and it put a lot of things further into perspective. See, this wasn’t the first time I had passed out over the last few years, but it was the first time I was told that if I were to pass out again, there’s a chance it could be fatal. Well, talk about a wake up call!

The doctors as well as those close to me said that it was probably stress-induced, considering the overwhelmingly excessive stress I’ve had on my mind for the last little bit. Usually, I can handle a pretty high degree of stress and workloads, but that’s because it’s self-imposed, so I moderate how much I take in. This time, however, the sources of the stress were external and so, I didn’t know how to control them or deal with them in a safe and effective way. Thus, I ended up overloading and passed out.

When I was at the clinic having a Holter monitor (heart-rate monitor) attached to my chest, the nurse mentioned the concept of “Fight or Flight” when describing what she speculated could have been reflected in my passing out. Although this wasn’t the case, it was something that caught my attention and had me thinking for a while. It made me ponder the idea of learning to control our minds to a strong enough degree that we would be able to stop ourselves from reacting by “taking flight” more often than expected.

From what I understand, the fight or flight concept is simply a way of relaying how we react to certain things. Every person has something that makes his or her body shut down completely at the moment they interact with it in any way. When something challenges a person but doesn’t make their body involuntarily react through things like vomiting or fainting, it’s a reflection of a person’s fight. Whereas, if someone reacts negatively and has their body shut down in one way or the other, it’s a reflection of flight.

Now, being the person I am, I began to think about how I could learn to adapt to my circumstances and stress points, so that I could avoid having another black-out episode. Since the “episode” was stress-induced, I figured that the first step would be to identify my stress points. Once I did that, I began working on learning to detach my emotions from those stress points. I thought it would be harder to do, but it came quite easily once I realized that consequences of not reducing my stress (i.e. doctors said it could be fatal, remember?). Since then, the stress points haven’t gone away, but I’ve definitely found more peace and ease in dealing with things. That doesn’t mean that I have complete control of it, though. I realized this when I was humbled by the fact that despite all of my efforts, I was still feeling pain and facing major struggles when trying to avoid stress.

Lessons Learned

There are so many things in our lives that we fight every day, trying to make a living, trying to find happiness, trying to maintain relationships, and more. But, we should never let those things bring us down, because as soon as they do, they control us and we no longer control them. At that point, the best thing to do is to walk away from what you’re fighting, regardless of how far into the fight you are or of who’s watching. Take care of yourself first, because in order for you to continue your fight, you have to make sure you’re in control and are completely aware of your circumstances. For most of my life, I thought life was about putting others first and only considering myself after everyone else is content, but eventually, it bit me in the butt. I found that I was unappreciated and would be used because people would take my kindness as naivety. Yes, we should help others and make a point to do as much good during our lifetimes as possible, but that should only be done after you’ve made sure that you’re okay. And an even better approach would be make it such that helping people is a part of what helps you happy. You are the only person who you have control of appreciating you, so don’t take yourself for granted and take care of yourself! This life is a gift from God, and He’s always watching over us. You wouldn’t ignore a gift your friend gives you while he or she is watching, so how could you ignore God’s gift to you? Take it with a smile and take care of your life. You’re worth every moment of it, even more so on those days you think you’re not.

And that brings me to flight. We have to keep in mind that we are human and that we won’t always have complete control of our lives. We are fragile creatures, regardless of how much we may try to strengthen and protect ourselves. Don’t let that anger or frustrate you, though. Instead, let it humble you – let it remind you that you always have space for improvement and that you will never be completely impenetrable in whatever shield you put up around yourself, because to be vulnerable is human and to be human is to be vulnerable.

Live Your Life
Live Your Life 1378 1378 Nadir Keval

Life – a labyrinth filled with obstacles, decisions, successes, and more, unique to each and every one of us. There is no life that is exactly like another, and that is what makes it so beautiful. But throughout all that we face, rarely do we take the time to appreciate the incredible blessing of life itself and all that it has to offer. I often tell clients – be they mentoring, EYSK Media, EYSK Childcare Centers, or EYSK Development clients:

We spend so much of our time and effort trying to make a living that we forget to live in the process.

This is a thought that came to mind as I was working towards my path of figuring out how I wanted to guide myself through my labyrinth. So many had told me that I should pursue things in ways similar to what they did, to follow societal norms, or to live up to expectations put upon me through my family. In an effort to find my path through being open to anything I felt comfortable with on a moral level, I was fortunate enough to realize that those paths weren’t what were meant for me.

I spent years working for different companies, making money and paying bills, but every day, I would wake up dreading the work day to come, and would come home exhausted and unsatisfied with what I had accomplished that day. Nothing was ever enough. The same was the case when it came to school. I would spend my days at school getting involved in multiple things and hardly making an effort to study because I had no interest in what I was learning. I was pursuing my degree because it was what was expected of me, and I was working solely to pay bills. My life was dry and boring.

Now, don’t get me wrong, some people love to work solely to pay bills, and love to go to school to learn their trades or skills, but it just wasn’t enough for me. To each their own, but personally, I needed a challenge and needed to be passionately invested in what I was pursuing. I realized that I wasn’t living life to the fullest (in my own prospective), and so, I needed to make a change.

Another thing that drove me to that change (which I’ll elaborate on in a minute) was the fact that I had lived my entire life according to what others thought I was capable of and based on the life they had envisioned for me. My every moment was focused around helping people through giving them what they wanted instead of helping them learn to acquire what they needed.

Ultimately, all of this came crashing down on me and I fell into a state of sadness and depression. I was never happy, was never satisfied or content, and always felt that I was only as skilled, talented, capable, etc. as what those around me said I was. It broke me, and landed me in the hospital a few times, before I finally decided it was time for me to take control of my life.

So, the drive to change kicked in. I struggled and battled myself to live for myself and what made me happy, but I knew it was something I needed to establish within myself in order to hold any possibility of happiness and freedom in my future. I began by looking at what I wanted my life to consist of. In my case, I want to be in incredible shape and health, I want to be able to help people through sharing my thoughts and experiences, I want to continue to mentor people, I want to run as many businesses as I could in as many fields as I could, I want to do Da’wah (spreading the message of Islam in a method based on wisdom, knowledge, action, and patience), and I want to live a particular standard of living that I always found fascinating (the details of which I’ll keep to myself).

Sounds like a lot, I’m sure, but this is just what I want for myself, and doesn’t even touch on the things I’d like to accomplish in relation to my interactions with others (like my parents, siblings, relatives, friends, my wife – when I find her, my future children, the needy, and pretty much just people in general). That is a whole different category to talk about in another article, but the focus right now is on myself, because as I often tell myself (as motivation):

You can’t help others be at their best if you’re not at your best.

I wanted to share this with all of you because it’s something that has completely changed my life. After determining what I wanted in life, I looked at the different components that made up my life and began to add and subtract things from it. So now, here’s how I’ve laid things out for myself:

Incredible shape & health

= Crossfit Training & Insanity (DVD Workout) along with other methods of training

Help people through sharing my thoughts and experiences & Continue to mentor people

= EYSK Development Services [NadirKeval.com (Blog, Public Speaking, Seminars & Workshops, Mentoring Sessions)]

Run as many businesses as I can in as many fields as I can (that interest me)

= EYSK Industries (EYSK Media, EYSK Childcare, EYSK Development Services)

Do Da’wah (lifelong journey which plays a part in my every day life, Alhamdulillah)

= Candor Muslims (an organization I am working on establishing), Studying Islam, Learning more languages, etc.

Live a particular standard of living

= Follow through on all of the above

Every single one of us will have our own path to pave in life, and this labyrinth we face is one that we must find our own way through. No person will be able to tell us our way because it’s unique to us and only our individual hearts and minds hold the map. Take this as a blessing and an opportunity to really figure out who you are, what you believe in, and what you hope to accomplish out of your life. Remember to live to leave a legacy. It doesn’t have to be big. Just strive impact the heart of at least one person in a positive way during your lifetime, but make sure that before you try to help others change their lives for the better that you have your life in order. Life will always be a state of chaos, but we can bring peace and order to it through learning how to face life with strength, patience, confidence, wisdom, and most importantly, faith. Live YOUR life.

Never Not Good Enough
Never Not Good Enough 1699 769 Nadir Keval

Over the last few weeks/months, I have gone through some major experiences that have completely altered how I look at my life. I’m still the same person, still hold the same ambitions, but what’s changed is the lens through which I view my life.

“Ban, delete, shred, obliterate the words: ‘I’m not good enough.'” – Karen Salmansohn

Looking at these experiences, I have learned that life is something that we must live for ourselves and one that we should strive towards making the most of. Every moment should be put towards making a difference in our own individual ways. When I say “live for ourselves”, I don’t mean to live a life of narcissism, but rather, to live a life that is focused around doing the most good through our own individual means and ambitions. Every one of us has a purpose, and it is on each and every one of us to fulfill that purpose.

You’re Not Alone

We’ve seen so many people throughout the ages overcome challenges, negativity from others, and circumstances that would otherwise dilute their extraordinary potential into something that is purely ordinary. These are people who were able to fulfill their ambitions and goals because of their drive to do more than what was expected of them and to do these things in their own way. They did not bother with what others had to say, and that was not for a lack of criticism but rather, because of a desire to do whatever it took to live a life they were pleased with. This way, they could look back at themselves and know that they never gave themselves a reason to believe that they were not good enough in any way. This is purely my presumption, but after having watched so many interviews and read the views and thoughts of some of the most successful people in the world, I’ve noticed a similar trend of this rejection of accepting anything less from themselves but their own personal best.

Step 1: Convince Yourself Of You

Now, before you go out there trying to change the world or even helping one person get through something they’re facing, you have to first and foremost come to terms with who you are. You have to believe in yourself, because one of the greatest impacts you can have on a person that you hope to help is that sense of comfort and security a person feels from seeing how much conviction and confidence you have in what you are saying to them. Look at it this way: if you have a doctor that’s obese tell you that you need to start eating healthier and need to lose weight, you wouldn’t feel all that encouraged, motivated, or convinced, because you wouldn’t feel the doctor who, himself, is overweight truly believed in or practiced what he was advising you to do. Similarly, a person would not fully feel inclined to make a change in their lives towards what you are advising them to do if they didn’t see you practicing what you preached.

Step 2: Perfect Your Craft

As important as it is for us to be knowledgeable, cognizant, and engrossed in our beliefs and values, it is all useless without application. Knowledge and application go hand in hand. Without knowledge, application is dangerous, and without application, knowledge is useless. You wouldn’t read a book on surgery and then go into a hospital operating room and perform surgery. That would be extremely dangerous. And what if there’s someone out there that has the cure to a disease we now consider incurable? Without application, that person’s knowledge of the cure is absolutely useless.

So, when you are striving towards accomplishing something in your life, or doing something positive in the world, ensure that you continuously study your trade and practice your skills, in order to solidify them. Through this, you will become the best you can be at your craft and would be able to hold the satisfaction in your mind and heart that you haven’t given anyone reason to believe that you’re not good enough in any way.

Step 3: Maintain Humility

One of the worst things that can happen to a person that has become an expert in something, or has built a reputation for being incredible at something is that often, arrogance kicks in. Once this happens, the person thinks they no longer have a need to practice or study their craft, thus leading them to become blinded by arrogance.

“If you think you know everything; you know nothing. If you think you know nothing; you know something.” – Jayce O’Neal

Recognize that no matter what happens, every person always has room for growth. Everything in life is going through a process of growth through the different stages of life. Every trade has life process as well. From my own experiences through my businesses and projects, I can definitely attest to the fact that there is always a need to learn more about the industry we’re in. For example, for EYSK Media, marketing strategies and theories are always changing, web design trends and methods are always advancing, and with every client having their own set of unique needs and goals, there’s always a need to learn more about their industries and corporate cultures.

Ultimately…

The most important thing is to never give ourselves any reason to believe that we’re not good enough to do something or be something. In fact, even if you’re in a tough place in your life, don’t feel that you are where you are because of not being good enough. Forget the past. Instead, focus on the future, and what you’re going to do to become a better you. If something doesn’t work out one day, then accept that as having happened for a reason. Then, if you still want that particular thing, better yourself and try again tomorrow or next week or next year – whenever you’re ready. Just remember to never give up on yourself and to never let yourself or anyone else have reason to believe that you’re not good enough.

Perceive and You Shall Receive
Perceive and You Shall Receive 4791 2995 Nadir Keval

We all go through a lot in our lives, and each and every one of us has struggles that test and challenge us. Our perception of life in general, our own lives, and the lives of others plays a large role in forming our moods and in our attitudes towards life. It can be the difference between depression and happiness…something I can say because I’ve gone through it myself.

Years ago, doctors diagnosed me with clinical depression. I couldn’t understand it, because I thought I was just going through a rough patch in my life. Sure, it lead to some physical health problems, landing me in the hospital for a few hours and whatnot, but ultimately, I didn’t think it was much more than just me needing to calm down and face life differently. Without a doubt, this was a wake up call for me, and since then, I’ve strived towards living my life with a new outlook – one that was more inclusive of being at peace with my life’s conditions and circumstances.

I decided that I wanted to initially give myself the opportunity to overcome this depression through meditation, prayer, and learning to strengthen my mind and will power. So, I began taking small steps towards making changes in my life, such as bettering my habits when it came to prayer and worship, spending more time in meditative thought (reflecting on the beauty and blessings of Allah’s creation), keeping myself away from negativity in the form of thoughts and people, and trying to calm myself and remembering to rely on Allah through everything.

Taking these steps weren’t easy, but they changed my life, and not only did I overcome the depression without any medication, but since then, my life has become much easier to handle. There have been many additional challenges and tests since then, each one often more difficult and trying than the last, but because of this approach towards my perception and how I dealt with things, life has run quite smoothly for the most part.

Perception Of You

Throughout all the things I’ve faced in life, Alhamdulillah, I’ve realized that my first priority should be to take care of my own peace of mind. Only when I have my mind calm and intact will I be able to address the other aspects of my life with wisdom and ease. There are so many things we face in our lives, including criticism from others, things demoralizing us because they don’t go our way, and more. These are all tests, and we should recognize them as being such. Then, with an optimistic view, we should work towards learning from these experiences and find peace in knowing that they happened for a reason. For example, the criticism of others is often a reflection of you doing something that stands out from the norm. Filter your actions through your beliefs and values (in the case of my fellow Muslims, filter it through the Quran and Sunnah), and if they are sound, move forward trusting in yourself and Allah, and don’t pay any attention to the opinions of others, especially if those opinions don’t sit well with you.

Be confident in who you are, and although that is easier said than done for a person who struggles with confidence, you should still make an effort and recognize that you are a person of value. I personally believe that many of us could reach much higher levels of success and happiness if we were optimistic and just a bit more confident in who we are and what we are capable of accomplishing. Keep that in mind and try to embrace this as your reality. Then, as time progresses, try to catch yourself when you feel in doubt of anything related to you. You will eventually see everything become more and more clear, making your life more calm and peaceful.

Perception of Life

Let’s be honest. Time and time again, we get hit with things in life that we feel we aren’t deserving of, or that we feel we can’t handle. It’s a fact and is nothing to be ashamed of. However, it is also important for us to recognize that we need to maintain an optimistic outlook on all of these things that make up our lives.

“How amazing is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.” – Prophet Muhammad

With an optimistic look at life, you’ll see your struggles as opportunities, your tests as challenges, and consequentially, your life as a whole, being in favor of your betterment. How do you know that when you’re in that rush and you have to stop at an intersection because of a red light, you are not in fact being protected by something worse that could have happened had you not been stopped? How do you know that your divorce wasn’t something you had to go through (along with that marriage) because it was what you needed at that time in your life, and because it would make you better prepared and more grateful for your future? How do you know that the car accident you got into that lead to you having injuries that resulted in you having to leave your career was not a protection from Allah in readjusting your career path towards something that would be better for you? There are so many examples of different scenarios we face, all ranging in depth and weight, but if we look at all of them with optimism and faith, we’ll only have gratitude and peace to take away from it.

Perception of Others

Think back to when someone told you that your struggle wasn’t that of a big deal, or when others would make you feel as though you are overreacting over something they would handle “so easily”. Didn’t feel all that good, did it?

When looking at the conditions of others, don’t be so quick to judge, because the impact of every persons’ struggle is relative to their own capacity and abilities.

“Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned.” – Quran (2:286)

Every soul is different, every being is different, every struggle is different, and every situation is different. When you see someone struggling, or stressed about something, speak to them with kindness, remind them of the beauty of optimism and faith, and comfort them, even if their struggle is something you look at as being minor.

With this optimistic and positive approach to speaking to people and yourself, and in dealing with the things you face in life, you will find yourself at peace more often, and will see ease in dealing with things that you would have never thought possible in the past.

This is a HUGE topic and takes time to perfect, so if enough people in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada are interested, I’ll hold seminars on this topic in the near future. Let me know through posting a comment below. This is not only limited to Vancouver residents – if there are people or organizations anywhere in North America that would be interested in a seminar/workshop related to this or any other topic I’ve spoken on, please contact me at mail@nadirkeval.com or by going through my contact page to arrange an event. And finally, anyone interested in having one-on-one workshops with me in getting out of a rut or in becoming a better you, can contact me through my contact page or the email address mentioned above. Thank you!

Be the best you can be. Then, become better.
Be the best you can be. Then, become better. 1280 800 Nadir Keval

As we take steps on our individual paths through this journey called life, we find ourselves challenged by expectations and rules set out by society to reflect success. But, success is in fact a relative thing, and is dependant on what each individual values. There are so many steps that can be taken to address this issue, but I thought I would focus on this one first, to give me a premise on which I can build my foundation towards reaching my own definition of success.

“Be the best you can be. Then, become better.”

Most people define success through academic degrees/diplomas, high-paying jobs, etc. But, is that truly what defines success? Things like degrees, money, and status are not reflective of success, as they are fleeting and can be deemed worthless, even by something as small as the statement of one person. But, knowledge, generosity, and honour are aspects of a person’s attributes that must be earned with sincerity to truly be of value. Attributes like these are reflective of success.

So, what does it mean to gain success?

Honestly, first and foremost, as you try to answer this question, throw away any expectations or rules that may been placed on you by society and evaluate what it is that truly makes you happy, and balance that with a knowledge and application of your beliefs and values.

Expectations are restrictive, and take focus away from helping you achieve your own happiness and success. When living to fulfill expectations, we’re living to please others instead of ourselves. Try to look at your responsibilities, and look for the root of what it is you provide to that situation. Then, seek out a way to continue to provide the same thing but in a way that makes you happy. Sure, there may be times when you’ll have to do things you don’t like, but it’s important to do your best to make that “necessary and unwanted work” minimal compared to the work that you enjoy.

Become the best.

Who do you want to be? What impact do you want to leave on the world? When it comes down to it, it’s on us to be willing to do whatever it takes to become the best. But, what the best is depends on each person, as there may be something that you’re phenomenally talented and skilled at and others are horrible at, and other things that you’re horrible at that others are phenomenally talented and skilled at. It’s about defining who you are to the best of your abilities.

Each person is unique in what they are going to be good at it and in what they enjoy. And for that reason, it’s important to find what it is you enjoy and to work excruciatingly hard at making your potential realized.

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” – Albert Einstein

This can only be achieved through going above and beyond to break free from the shackles of societal expectations, and doing whatever it takes to reach your goals. This is a task that’s much easier said than done, but it’s truly the only way to achieve true success. You want to stand out in the crowd as the person who did and achieved far more than most do given the same resources as you were given. So, when you’re taking a class, for example, be the best by reading more than just the textbooks, talk to people that may be familiar with what you’re studying, ask questions, and more. Doing this will put you above the rest of your class, the majority of which will be doing only what’s necessary to pass the class. Don’t settle for just getting by. Accept no less than the best of the best for yourself.

Then, become better.

Perfection is not a part of humanity’s resume. Progression, however, can be. It’s all dependant on how bad you want it.

Once you have achieved your goal of being the best at something, reevaluate yourself and try to find new goals to set in order to make yourself better. The truth is, we all have flaws. What matters is that we accept that fact and start working on becoming better, fixing one flaw at a time. And sometimes, as you work at this, you’ll find yourself understanding yourself and who you are as a person, which in effect makes you an even better person because you’re aware of who you are and what your strengths and weaknesses are.

Strive towards becoming the best you can be, while maintaining contentment with your current condition, but not being satisfied with any less than your best self. Take this approach with optimism and ambition, and I’m certain you’ll find your success and happiness.

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