The fear of being the loser, the fear of not being the winner
Everything in life tends to be a competition, if we don’t pay attention. The fear of missing out (FOMO) as it has come to be known in our generation. We may not understand “it”, we may not know how to possess “it”, but we want “it”, because we are afraid of being left behind. The fear of being the loser, the fear of not being the winner. It takes self-discipline to minimize or eliminate this behavior. This isn’t to say competition is a toxic behavior. However, without proper balance even medicine can be poisonous. There are benefits to competition when applied in our lives appropriately at right moments. Competition can motivate the unmotivated, give us a purpose in life, get us out of bed in the morning, make us feel accomplished, successful. But when desire takes hold of the competitive spirit, it can give rise to many negative emotions like anger, anxiety, envy, which can lead us down dark roads. The root of all these emotions is our heart.
يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌۭ وَلَا بَنُونَ ٨٨ إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى ٱللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍۢ سَلِيمٍۢ
Al-Qur`an 26:88-89
the Day when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit. and when he alone will be saved who comes to God with a sound heart.
The mind tells us what we should say, what we should do, who we should be. The heart dictates what we say, what we do and who we are
Heart is the center of our emotional wellness contrary to the popular belief that puts our mind on the pedestal. Mind can put a thought into our hearts, but heart commands our mind to bring a task to completion. The mind tells us what we should say, what we should do, who we should be. The heart dictates what we say, what we do and who we are. In most cases, mind is convinced by logic and reason. Logic and reason however can whisper into the heart, but they do not possess enough strength to win it over. The cycle of whispers between heart and mind, each dependent on the other for its success. Know that heart is the master and mind is its advisor. Heart is one of the most valuable gifts from our creator Allahﷻ. A constant effort in purification and achievement of a sound heart is necessary to overcome life’s tough challenges.
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّىٰهَا
Al-Qur’an 91:9
Successful indeed is the one who purifies their soul
