A Shift In Perspective

“There is nothing I can’t do if I put my mind to it.”

A statement that I have been holding onto for just over 10 years. A statement that I fall back on when I feel moments of stress, struggles, and setbacks are beginning to slowly creep up on me. It’s an indicator to assess how my current situation is affecting me and how in control I feel.

I like to always stay one step ahead of myself. Where is this problem taking me? How much time is this going to require from me, and most importantly, energy? Am I alone in dealing with this problem? These types of questions really help me assess whether I will potentially fall into stressful times so that I can mentally and emotionally prepare myself for it.

If I am about to head into times of stress, I prepare my “after party” session. Alone time to recharge myself. That could be through a book, playing a story based game or even learning something new about this world. It’s a session to dive into a world, real or not, and get lost with the characters, the environment and it’s plot. Once I have set myself up for what I am going to do, I move onto prepping myself up – like a coach giving some last minute advice to his players.

1. Making du’a to Allah SWT to help me in this problem – to keep me patient and hopeful.

2. Remind myself that this hardship is something Allah is putting me under, so that I can become a better version of myself.

3. To take a step back and see the problem in its entirety – a big picture of what I am about to go into and how I envision myself at the end. Identify my first step.

4. Find someone who understands the stressful situation, to bounce off of.

5. Make time and make it important.

6. Plan quick escapes during the period of stress. I like watching comedy shorts on YouTube to make myself laugh and to relax.

7. Lastly, say bismillah and dive in. I trust Allah to have my back as long as I remember Him.

Finally, a reminder to myself – no matter how big of a problem I am facing, so long as I can shift my focus towards Allah SWT for His help, to aid me in my problem, and to ultimately wanting to please Him – there is nothing I can’t do if I put my mind to it. All it takes is a shift in perspective to tackle my stress, struggles and setbacks.