Ramadan AfterMath: Recovery Time [Part 2 of 2]

Guest-post by Nahyan Chowdhury

Part one can be found here.

You probably remember how a few weeks before Ramadan EVERYBODY is talking about it. You got juma khutbahs, lecture events, emails, FaceBook talk, and I think it was one of the top words on Twitter too. Everybody was pumped up.

It’s kinda different afterward…almost dead silent.

Like I mentioned in Part one, there’s momentum with the on-ramp and off-ramp. But the key behind utilizing those is…

PREPARATION ON PURPOSE

Professional athletes practice in preparation for a upcoming game; then they review the game to prepare for the next. Likewise we have to review, and then train ourselves after Ramadan to build habits for long-term results.

Here’s a simple discussion between a man and his mentor:

Mentor: “How are you doing? With your life, finances, and health”

Man: “Hmm…not too well”

Mentor: “Well, I suggest you not do that any more…”

The point is: are you where you want to be right now?

Life, imaan level, health etc.

Here are three things you can do right now to get from where you are to where you want to be:

1 – Student of Life

——–

Note: I’m not sure how these articles came across so far, like if they’re guilty-feeling type or they get you excited. My goal is to keep it on the happy side.

——–

Take a new interest in life, even for the not-so-good stuff. Like when somebody is rude or mocks you because of your hijab or something, wouldn’t it be great to be amazed at them rather than respond with an equal blow.

(Thought bubble) “Wow. Isn’t it amazing, that they think _____ about me when they don’t even know me? Hmm…I wanna make sure to never do something like that.”

Be that person who wants to get from the day instead of the person who wants to just get through the day. Tomorrow doesn’t look so great when you’re hating today.

Just find new ways to love life.

2 – How it ticks

If you want to take it one step further, think of this distinction:

— Interested people like to know that a clock ticks.

— Fascinated people want to know how it ticks.

Taking it back to Ramadan, the fascinated people will make the best of the month that passed by analyzing how and why they were able to make such a dramatic improvement from regular life (or why they weren’t). Then gather the fruits of it before the season is gone (ie. continue the momentum and build habits).

Regardless of how the Ramadan AfterMath has been for you, this should make a brighter and more exciting picture.

3 – Take it ez

Be patient with yourself. It’ll take time for your current/external reality to match your inner reality and aspirations.

Accept that you’re not expected to carry the same level of enthusiasm and religious activity like in Ramadan. Just take the most valuable changes and do your best to solidify them.

You probably know that most changes don’t happen overnight. But if you’re serious about becoming the “real” you that you envision, then hold that picture in front of you and enjoy as you see life unfold. Find those new insights you make (even now as you read this) and flow with them.

======

To summarize, whether you’re looking to make a drastic change somewhere in your life or just looking for a tweak, take even 1 of the points and try it out for the weekend or next week.

The 3 points were:

–         Be a student of life: take a new interest in your life.

–         Be fascinated by Ramadan and how you made the improvements that you made.

–         Be patient with yourself, then you’ll reap the rewards as you watch the “real” you unfold.

======

Share what you benefited from this insha-Allah.

I’m looking forward to all your successes,

Br. Nahyan