The best thing to wear is a smile.

Bismillah.

Everyone has a story. Everyone has their ups and downs, obstacles in their way, days where it seems like everything is falling apart, when it feels like the whole world is conspiring against you. At times like these, you may feel like there’s absolutely nothing you can do to change the situation you are in—so you sulk. No one wants to be around negative Nancy, so, smile. You failed a test? Study more next time, and, smile. You didn’t get that job? You can’t do anything about it, so, smile. You lost your cell phone? Maybe you should be more careful….and smile.

“Nobody really cares if you’re miserable, so you might as well be happy.” -Cynthia Nelms

I mean think about it, no one wants to be around someone who is always complaining, or simply mad at the world, because that brings your mood down, and likewise no one wants to be around you if you’re like that either. So, smile, and do it often. Be extra nice. Go out of your way to help someone else. Always say thank you. Brighten up someone’s day, it really doesn’t take much.

You woke up today, safe, in a warm bed, be thankful. And smile.

Sincerely,

A Muslimah

You are your own worst critic

....or so they say.

Bismillah.

I've always heard people say that you are your own worst critic. In fact, I've used that line myself on several occasions because it does hold true...to an extent. Lately I've realized that I can be at once toughest on myself and the least harsh. Sounds like a contradiction? Maybe.

The way I see it is that I am always hardest on myself when it comes to things like appearance and school, and by extension I am less harsh on others when it comes to those things. I think it's common sense, I'm not going to get all bent out of shape if my friend got a B instead of an A because it obviously doesn't affect me as much (that sounded harsher than I intended, I'm just trying to verbalize my thoughts). But then, when it comes to other things like faith or weakness of character, my lower self is so quick to 'judge' others, while being extremely lenient with myself. This is where I get uncomfortable writing about this stuff, because it's definitely a part of me I'm not proud of--but I am working REALLY hard to get rid of......

..... Here it comes, hypocrisy at its finest: I am sometimes unforgiving in my judgment of others while I am overly accepting of my own faults, often convincing myself of being 'good enough' so that I can fool myself into not having to do better, not having to be better. This is a weakness in my own character, and I don't think it's an easy one to fight.

Doesn't only sound like a contradiction anymore, it looks like one too.

Sincerely,
A Muslimah

"Have hope only in Allah. Be afraid of nothing but sins. If u do not know a thing never feel ashamed to admit ignorance. If u do not know a thing never hesitate or feel ashamed to learn it. Acquire patience & endurance bc their relation w true faith is that of a head to a body, a body is of no use w/o a head, similarly true faith can be of no use w/o attributes of resignation, endurance & patience." -Ali (RA)

A question I think we need to ask ourselves on a daily basis.