The power of action, our heart!

 ‘Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace, and power in it.’  —   Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

This quote can be considered like my Leitmotiv, in others words, my source of inspiration and motivation.

My adventure of homeschooling with my five kids is,  indeed, a concrete illustration.

Eight years rich in experience during which we discovered the magic of action in our daily life, minimal as long as it remains constant.

And if I tell you that the secrets of this power of action are mentioned in the Qur’an and the Sunnah, “signs for those of understanding” and who wish to reach real success.

1. Our Intentions and goals.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), said:

“Actions are according to intentions, and everyone will get what was intended. Whoever migrates with an intention for Allah and His messenger, the migration will be for the sake of Allah and his Messenger. And whoever migrates for worldly gain or to marry a woman, then his migration will be for the sake of whatever he migrated for.”

(Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Because the action finds its meaning in its reason of being, it’s essential before acting to ask the question: WHY?

It helps us to clarify and formulate our intentions and objectives.

Be true in the vision you have of your project.

2.  Believe in Allah (SWT) and  Act in a fair and useful manner in the service of the community.

“Seek through the wealth that Allah has given you to make your abode in the Hereafter, and also do not forget your share from this world, and do good to others as Allah has done well to you; and do not live to make mischief on the earth, for Allah does not like the mischief-makers. “  (Sura Al-Qasas 77)

Faith and good deeds go hand in hand and are inseparable. These are the keys to success, mentioned several times in the Qur’an.

Faith leads us to perform good deeds in pursuit of Allah’s satisfaction by promoting truth and patience.

The good deeds nourish our heart and so our Faith. And so on…

Be helpful for your community gives meaning to your project, by seeking only the satisfaction of Allah (SWT).

3. Plan our actions according to their priority, step by step, and keep focusing on our direction.

Trust in Allah (SWT) doesn’t mean not organizing our actions to reach our goal.

On the contrary, our vision and direction must be defined properly, then “Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it.”

We need to be surrounded by the right people who share the same vision and seek advice.

Let’s not forget that we’re not judged based on the results, we’re judged based on the effort that we put in and our intend.

“My success is only by Allah” S.11 V.88

“And whoever puts his trust in Allah, he will be enough for him.” S.65 V.3

Be a good planner, while knowing that the Best Planner is Allah (SWT).

4. Constancy and effort

Constant effort, pursuing clear goals, with sincere efforts is the only way to succeed.   

The Messenger (PBUH) said:

“The most beloved actions to Allah are those performed consistently, even if they are small.”

Constancy and humility in action always bear fruit.

This is how our family was elected the best readers by the National Library of Malaysia in 2019.

Novices in English, we started our beginnings with one registration card and six books for the whole family, borrowed for a month.

To reach after two years, the number of 6 cards and 6 books each one, borrowed for 15 days. And now, my kids are fluent in English!

It was the most beautiful of our homeschooling experiences that allowed me to prove to my children the power of action.

“Verily with hardship comes ease” S. 94 V.5

“Human can have only that for which they make effort” S. 54 V. 39

Be perseverant! go ahead, give your best and pray to your lord! And surely, you will see the power of action…

5. Value our small victories

“Everyone is rewarded for the efforts one makes” S. 20 V.15

Completing a task or achieving a milestone brings satisfaction, motivation, and confidence.

Complimenting and valuing our team is essential and will make it easier to deploy an additional effort to achieve our final goal.

Be an achiever and don’t neglect any effort.

6. A positive mindset

“He is the One˺ Who created death and life in order to test which of you is best in deeds. And He is the Almighty, All-Forgiving.” S.67. V.2

Life is not a long quiet river, is it?

And we have been warned!

However, these trials are there to help us grow. We have to accept them and face them positively by surrendering to Allah.

We will probably have to change or adjust our plans while keeping the vision of our project.

A positive mindset will help us deal with obstacles and difficulties.

For this, it’s necessary to adopt a positive speech.

Thus, the crisis becomes an opportunity, the problem turns into a solution, and the error, which is human, a source of knowledge.

Be optimistic and proactive, and when you feel like quitting, remember why you started and never give up!

7. Respect our balance

The last secret but not the least.

One day a person asked me what I was doing. Listening to myself speak, I realized that my speech was focused only on my children. I love who I am as a mom and homeschooler, but I think I forgot myself.

It was on that day that I understood the importance of respecting our balance.

Finding our balance is important and protects us from burning out.

Our balance is based on 4 pillars: our body, our intellect, our relationships, and our spirituality.

Ask ourselves the question for each element if we have neglected or respected it!

“Allah does not burden a soul beyond that he can bear” S.2 V. 286

“And thus we have made you a just community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you.” S.2 V.143

BE RIGHT to yourself, others, and your Lord!

Now, you know how your action can become powerful, so, keep being aware of your heart and keep acting!