Goal in Life
Cont’d from page 1
Most people find that the single most useful question
in defining their personal mission is “What would I want
people to say about me if I were to die tomorrow?”
From our perspective, we should replace the word “people”
with the word “God” so that the last statement would
read: What would I want God to say about me if I were to die
tomorrow?
We know that it will be to no avail for us on Judgment Day what
anybody thinks of us in this world, if God is not pleased with us.
This becomes clear once we understand who God really is—His
qualities or attributes—and why He sent us to this earth in
the first place. As a blessing from Him, God defines and clarifies
our mission and purpose of our existence in this worldly life in
many verses of the Quran.
I did not create the jinns and the humans except
to worship Me alone. (51:56)
God created the heavens and the earth for a specific
purpose, in order to pay each soul for whatever it earned, without
the least injustice. (45:22)
The One who created death and life for the purpose
of distinguishing those among you who would do better. He is the
Almighty, the Forgiving. (67:2)
We created the human from a liquid mixture, from
two parents, in order to test him. Thus we made him a hearer and
seer. We showed him the two paths, then he is either appreciative,
or unappreciative. (76:2-3)
Every soul will taste death, after we put you to
the test through adversity and prosperity, then to us you ultimately
return. (21:35)
We will certainly put you to test, in order to distinguish
those among you who strive, and steadfastly |
persevere. We must expose
your true qualities. (47:31)
Beware of the day when no soul can avail another
soul, no intercession will be accepted, no ransom can be paid, nor
can anyone be helped. (2:48)
Take It With You
It’s a fact that people who write down their
goals are far more likely to achieve them.
Your personal mission statement can be anything from
a single sentence to several paragraphs. But you can’t just
sit down and dash it off. These are issues that you want to think
about, live with, mull over for a few days.
Concentrate on content and forget about style. Your
personal mission statement needn’t be perfectly punctuated
or grammatically correct.... Once you’ve written your personal
mission statement, make it part of your daily life. Carry it with
you in your wallet. Put it next to your bed. Stick it on your bathroom
window. Whenever your life seems to be out of control... contemplate
it.
Renew your commitment to your personal mission regularly
by asking yourself—perhaps once a week—how well you’ve
been serving your ideals. “Was I generous? Was I a good
parent? A good friend?”
As submitters, we realize that our goal in this life is to be
a righteous person so that God will be pleased with us. In all our
actions and decisions, our priority should be the eternal life,
not the temporary one in this world. Therefore, our mission statement
should reflect that purpose. If we can maintain this throughout
our lives, then we can be a winner both in this life and in the
Hereafter. The Quran states that God loves those who strive to improve
themselves, maintain righteousness and are appreciative of His blessings.
If we have better resources in this life, this gives us the ability
to do more in the cause of God (16:75). In return, God showers us
with His mercy and grants us eternal happiness. |
Use the provisions bestowed
upon you by God to seek the abode of the Hereafter, without neglecting
your share in this world. Be charitable, as God has been charitable
towards you....(28:77)
Your Lord has decreed: “The more you thank
Me, the more I give you.” But if you turn unappreciative,
then My retribution is severe. (14:7)
Staying the Course
Use your mission statement in formulating both short-
and long-range goals. Many goals, of course, will have little to
do with your mission—cleaning your desk, saving money for
a trip to Europe or getting an important report written.
But returning to your mission statement will ensure
that, in the barrage of life’s demands, you don’t lose
sight of the big picture and veer off track. It will help you prioritize
and fine-tune your goals.
Competing demands on your time, energy and money
are endless, but these resources are limited. When it’s hard
to choose how to spend your money, your sense of mission will cut
through conflicts and clarify decisions.
Commitment to Your Mission
We live in a world that glorifies gratification.
But a truly rewarding life requires working toward goals and nurturing
relationships even when immediate pleasures seem more appealing.
Keeping your personal mission statement in mind will give you a
strong sense of commitment with the power to achieve more genuine
satisfaction....
With an eye on your personal mission, you will find
it easier to focus your energies on what’s truly important—and
kindly but firmly reject demands that fritter away your time.
Continued on page 3 |