dreams

Try, Try Again
Try, Try Again 1536 808 Nadir Keval

With being halfway through Ramadan 2014, I’ve been giving a lot of thought towards bettering myself this month. One of the things I’ve learned more than almost anything else is how we are very fragile people, and we need to easier on ourselves. It’s important that we do our best to be better ourselves, but when we fail or fall, we shouldn’t give up.

Before Ramadan began, I wrote out a list of goals I had set out for myself. I was determined to let go of some bad habits, develop some new ones, and establish a stronger relationship with Allah. I have to say, it has been a lot tougher than I had anticipated. I figured that if I gave myself a strict schedule, or if I wrote a list of tasks every day and worked on every task one at a time, I’d reach my goals very easily. Then, reality punched me in the face. And for that, I am thankful. You see, I realized that those approaches to reaching my goals were great, but I had to be prepared for the journey of accomplishing them. That meant that I would fall, that I would mess up, that I would make mistakes, and that the key was that I didn’t let that stop me from trying again.

Often, especially considering we live in a time of the need for instant gratification, we become upset with ourselves and get discouraged when something doesn’t work after our first attempt at it. That can be self-destructive, as I’ve learned through my last two weeks’ experiences. See, I would be pumped, ecstatic to reach my goals, but upon having a single hiccup in the process, I would get discouraged or pulled back from wanting to try again. This was a huge reminder to me, especially since I often tell clients, “Allah doesn’t expect us to be perfect. He expects us to simply try to be our best.” Looking back, I can’t believe how true that statement rang for me. I needed that reminder that we are capable of anything in our lives, and we are here for the journey.

I remember hearing a lecture, in which the speaker mentioned a story about Umar ibn Al-Khattab, one of the Prophet (SAW)’s closest friends and the second Caliph of Islam. The speaker mentioned that Umar never concerned himself with the end result of his supplication, whether or not it would be answered, or would be in favour of his desires. Instead, he focused on constructing his dua (supplication) in the best way that he could. This concept made me think, not only in regards to my need to be better with my dua, but also in regards to how I lead my life and strive to become a better man and a better Muslim. I learned that in our lives, it’s important that we keep moving forward, no matter how many times we fall, because it is those same fallings that strengthen our character, as well as our drive and connection to our goals.

Life is something that we cannot always plan for. We plan and Allah plans, and He is the best of planners. What we should focus on is how we react to our experiences. Do we take a optimistic and positive approach to it, or do we wallow in our grief and give up? Remember that Allah has promised us in the Quran that He will not burden us with more than we can bear, so take His Promise as your security blanket, and then go out there and take risks to accomplish your goals. Push yourself beyond your comfort zone. And when the fear of failure presents itself, push it aside and go after your goals.

This Ramadan has been great so far, Alhamdulillah, but with only half of it left, I hope to go above and beyond what I’ve been doing so far to make the most of every moment. I pray that Allah grants all of us ease and success in our goals, and that He allows us all the opportunity to see the next Ramadan with stronger hearts, more faith-enriched souls, and with success in new goals that we never even thought we could consider pursuing. Ameen!

More Than Mediocre
More Than Mediocre 1440 964 Nadir Keval

As children, most of us are privileged and fortunate enough to hear and believe that we are capable of accomplishing anything we put our minds to. Our minds are free, full of imagination and limitless possibilities. We don’t concern ourselves with the opinions of others, or the risks of failure. We simply follow our hearts and intuition, and move freely towards what we want, driven to get what we want, no matter the costs.

Then, we begin to interact with people. We begin to see that our dreams and goals are something others have attempted and have failed at. We begin to question if it’s really worth it to take so many risks. We learn about the way things are “supposed” to be, and how we’re “supposed” to live our lives, and are brainwashed into believing that there isn’t much out there for us to achieve, beyond what has already been accomplished by others. Honestly, to call this bullshit would be an insult to bullshit.

Growing up, I was the type of person that had a great deal of potential, and would be reminded of it often by teachers and relatives. The problem, however, was that I would be placed in the most conventional and typical scenarios to fulfill that potential, that I wasn’t able to find a space where I was able to be my true self. In the eyes of teachers and relatives, I was an academic flop, but simply for the reason that they believed I wasn’t trying hard enough. Parent-Teacher interviews usually went like this:

Teacher: Nadir is one of the best young men I’ve met. He’s smart, he’s intelligent, he gets along well with others, and he is always there to help when needed.

Parents: (grinning) Thank you.

Teacher: But…he seems to be very distracted in class, is often late with his assignments, and seems to struggle with tests, even if he understands the material.

Parents: Oh…

The conversation would then lead to my parents asking the teacher how they could help me, the teacher suggesting tutoring, a schedule, my parents checking and signing my homework book every night, etc. I tried every single one of those things, but nothing seemed to work. It worked for some others, but for me, it just didn’t work. This continued all the way into university, until I came to a point of making the conscious decision to find a new way.

That was when things seemed brighter in my eyes, despite the fact that I was now being called, “A jack of all trades, and a master of none.” That didn’t sit well with me, because I knew that it was possible for me to become more than just one thing. I didn’t want to be mediocre. I looked at the lives of those around me and those I heard about on TV or in the dreadful gossip circles you see at most events. Most people seemed to be miserable with their lives. They hated their jobs, they had lost all romance in their relationships (if they were in one at all – some find singlehood to be the ideal lifestyle, by the way…for me, having someone to share a life with and to be completely comfortable with is one of the most beautiful things life has to offer), they always wanted what they didn’t have and were upset and unsatisfied with what they did have. I looked at that and saw horrifying examples of what following the societal path to “success” looked like.

I decided that enough was enough. I decided that I would go after my goals, and create more dreams and goals as I went along. I decided that if someone told me that I would never be able to accomplish one of my goals, it would then be a personal challenge to make sure that I accomplish it, simply so I can know in my heart that I’m capable of more than what’s expected of me.

I quickly learned that being mediocre was something that just didn’t work for me. I believe I am destined for greatness, destined to be more than mediocre. Why let others dictate what I am and am not capable of?

“Never let anyone’s thoughts, words, or actions towards you dictate the value of your life. Do right by God and do right by you. Focus on those two things and, by the will of God, the rest will come together in the best way possible.” – Nadir Keval

The world is filled with people with lives that are so incredibly similar, while having the potential of being so incredibly unique. What takes us away from being the best we can be is the fact that we become accustomed to living according to what others tell us is okay, acceptable, and realistic. Personally, I call bullshit on that again! I often tell this to my mentoring clients, and I’ll share it with all of you: The key to success lies in a balance of two things…knowledge of your beliefs and values with the action to back it up, balanced with a ridiculously driven and unfaltering work ethic towards making your dreams and goals a reality.

I hope you can take this information and go after your dreams, knowing that every single one of us is capable of being far more than mediocre. You have your own unique purpose in this world, and the best way you can achieve it is by never giving up on becoming better at being you. I’d love to hear your stories on how you’ve come up against the challenges of being your best you, and how you dealt with it. Leave a comment below to get the conversation started!

Freedom from Within
Freedom from Within 1920 1200 Nadir Keval

What does it mean to be free? We all have our own definition, based on the conditions our lives are in. For some, it’s being able to sit in your home without the fear of having a military attack destroy your home, for some it’s a battle in your mind, and for others, it’s being able to have a say in your own life’s decisions and path. These matters enslave some of us without us even realizing it. If or when it’s realized, minds go into a state of panic, causing a frantic effort to break free. Every struggle of freedom holds at its core the same goal: to have one’s right to make personal decision made available.

The right to have the final say in everything that you do and pursue in your life is something that is unfortunately a rare thing to see in most parts of the world. How many of us have to tail or our lives and the pursuit of our goals, all to accommodate the people in our lives and their dreams? How many of us pursue the same path drafted out by society for practically everyone of going to school, having a gender-specified hobbies and interests, getting a degree/diploma, working a 9-5 job most likely not in your field of study just to pay off the tens of thousands of dollars in student loans, get married while in severe debt, buy a home on mortgage (increasing your debt), have children (a blessing, but tougher when in debt), grow old hating your job (unless you’re one of the lucky ones), and one day look back and wonder how life passed by so quickly without you even getting the chance to pursue your goals, passions, or challenges? So…that was a dark picture. Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure I just described most of our lives, and sadly left many of us depressed. If I did, I apologize. The reason I did that is because unless we hate hell and everything that leads to it, we won’t know how badly we want heaven. Obviously, I’m speaking metaphorically, but you get what I mean.

It’s important for us to find and form our own identities by taking risks and challenging ourselves outside of our comfort zones. It’s far too easy to fall into the norms and patterns created by society. We must ask ourselves what we want out of life, what we hope to accomplish, and then work towards those things. The path that fits you best might even end up being similar to the norm, but what’s important is that you choose and pursue that path out of your own will and desire, and not out of conformity to any expectations.

There are some people in the world whose freedom isn’t an option for them. Even if they work their hardest, put in all the effort they possibly can, they just can’t seem to acquire their freedom. But, for most of us, freedom is possible. It’s about overcoming our personal barriers, created by our minds to hold us back from doing anything unsafe. That, however, isn’t what’s best for our growth, and instead, prevents us from being the best we can be. Recognize how blessed we are to have the ability to embrace our freedom. It will take hard work and fighting our inner souls at times, but it’s a dream many don’t have the opportunity to fulfill.

Evaluate your life and ask yourself what it is you want to accomplish, and what it is that’s holding you back from getting what you want. If you are unhappy, figure out what the cause is and keep your distance from that, or fix the situation to turn it into a source of happiness. I assure you it will be difficult. I assure you it will be painful. I assure you it will have you questioning yourself and your motives time and time again. But if you push through it all, I assure you that it’ll be completely worth it.

Poem: Coming To Be
Poem: Coming To Be 1024 768 Nadir Keval

How many times have I called you,
When you were away?
Trying to find new ways
Everyday
To make you see
How much you mean to me?

Once a year, the world celebrates valentines day,
But I want to celebrate you everyday.
I’ll make sure your every day will be
Like an unforgettable dream.
One that you wouldn’t want to believe
In fear of being too good to be true,
For how can anyone love anyone as much as I love you?

We’ve met a few times before,
In dreams and prayers,
But never in person.
It remains a disappointment to me
That our chemistry hasn’t yet seen that breeze,
That’s meant to spark our evident lover’s decree.

I believe that you and me
Are meant to defy gravity
Soaring through the skies we come to see,
That there’s a special cloud 9 made just for you and me.

Now I know all this sounds metaphorical,
But what if I told it’s how I felt?
That moment that I lay eyes on you,
I pinched myself, doubting that my dream may have come true.

See, long ago, I had a vision,
A fantasy of what you’d be like.
With no need for any type of addition,
To your image, to your heart, to your person.

I can still recall,
The beginning of my heart’s fall.
You walked by,
No notice or sign,
That you’d be that one for me.
You were so elegant,
No makeup, simple clothing.
But you seemed the most precious,
When I saw your smile.
I knew then that I was smitten,
This was the girl.
The one I’d spend my life with.
The one I’d cherish every moment with.
All that remained, was finding out how we’d come to be each other’s blessings…

Copyright © Nadir Keval

Poem: Where do you wanna be?
Poem: Where do you wanna be? 984 1200 Nadir Keval

Reflect. Think. Do.
Done. Thought. Reflected.
Life is a journey meant to be lived.
Life is a drive-thru to eternity,
Of cool bliss or hot misery.
Stay true to your soul,
Turn your dreams into goals.
That’s what’ll get you what you need:
Happiness and a heart soaring free.
The question is: Where do you wanna be?

Copyright © Nadir Keval

Money Vs. Passion
Money Vs. Passion 2074 3172 Nadir Keval

You know, in the last little while, I have been faced with some questions that could be life-changing. See, I have some projects that have suggested to me, and show signs of great potential financially. But, the question arises as to whether I am passionate about the things I would be getting into by doing these projects.

See, I’ve never wanted to get so involved in the financial benefits of something that I lose focus on its purpose. I mean, sure, with more money, you can accomplish more things. Let’s face it, sounds superficial, but money makes getting around easier. But, I mean, with money, there’s also to temptation and overwhelming drive towards wanting more, and increasing your list of wants, neglecting your list of needs. What about your future? What about your dreams and aspirations?

If you were afraid of losing your passion, would you pursue something like this? What if this holds potential to help you so much in your goals?

See, I think I will do my prayers, think to myself, and come to a decision. Then, and only then will I feel comfortable. Let’s see…

I know, I’m working on so many projects, and everyone and their mother is telling me to focus on just one thing at a time. But, see, I know myself. If I focus on only one thing, I’ll get bored. If that thing has a lot of constant change, that’s a different thing.

Maybe I’m wrong. Or right. I don’t know. I guess it’s about testing the waters. I think I’ll try this whole focusing on one thing at a time for a moment. See how that pans out.

Wait…I don’t think I can, considering my projects are already moving along. How’s about one big project, and one small one? Yeah, that makes sense. I’ll do that.

THEN, I can find the time to SLEEP and get back to my creative self, writing poetry and keeping up with this blog. Sounds like a plan. Let’s see how long this one lasts…

OH WAIT! I forgot to ask you… Would you choose money or passion, in your career? Which would you sacrifice? Do you think one leads to other, thus meaning that there’s no sacrifice?

Poem: Desired
Poem: Desired 1920 1200 Nadir Keval

Mesmerized by dreams of past,
Illusions overtaking the realities of life.
It has become overly clear that life holds its purpose,
But that the achievement is found through individual choices.
We strive so hard throughout our lives,
To please those around us.
But in truth, seeking happiness is found in the search for one’s own desires.

That said, we are left with the equation,
Of how to find the solution to fighting off persuasion.
If we lived purely for our desires,
We would be left with no sympathetic morals.
The world would become misunderstood,
To a greater degree than it already is.
With billions of opinions based on desires,
Ruling any place would cause it to diminish.

Variables in our equation should include such things,
As a foundation built on belief of a Supreme.
This would singular,
Other nightmares is what would become of our dreams.
More than one Divinity,
Would result in no difference,
From what we would be percieving from our desire-focused leaders.

This One would bring about laws,
Ones that hold no obligations,
Only because we trust them so strong.
We believe what is to come,
For we knew it to be good, no matter our thought outcome.
We then continue to pursue our happiness, desires.
But have corrected them,
By using our minds, inspired.

Copyright © Nadir Keval
 

Poem: Faith
Poem: Faith 1027 768 Nadir Keval

I can’t help it, I need to say this:

You are the definition of my dreams.
I know years have passed
since we last saw each other,
But you’ve stayed in my heart,
Left as a thought keeping me together.

Two years ago, we signed the contract,
And as God is my witness, we are husband and wife.
Life got in the way and stopped us from living together,
And we couldn’t announce our happiness to the ones we love.
My every day is spent facing a mirror,
Hoping you’d come stand behind me and smile,
And tell me, “Let’s start painting a portrait of our future together.”

I know we speak on the regular,
But it doesn’t amount to holding my lover.
I continue to work hard,
To bring in what we need,
To be able to stay together,
Making each other happy with every word we breathe.

Today, I’m returning to my love,
To show her what I’ve achieved for her.
I struggled, and asked the One above,
And He’s blessed us with what we desire.
Pleasing God, and loving you for His sake are my reasons for living,
And now with you both my side,
I wouldn’t mind living forever.

Copyright © Nadir Keval

Poem: Lyrics to My Life
Poem: Lyrics to My Life 1280 1024 Nadir Keval

Sweet, strong and beautiful,

Are just a few things you are.

My dreams have come true,

‘cause you’re my shining star.

Everything ‘bout you is so real,

And you know exactly how to make me feel.

Everything ‘bout you makes me smile,

To the point I’m asking why.

What did I do to make God bless me,

By bringing your heart into my life?

What did I do to get these feelings?

Can’t be wrong, ‘cause they feel so right.

No matter what I do to try to let you go,

You’re always on my mind.

So, I’m gonna dance with the rhythm of my heartbeat,

And call you the love of my life.

Copyright © Nadir Keval
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