Transform Yourself
“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be…I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.” — Eric Roth, Screenwriter
Most people live their lives, waiting for something to happen. They lack the drive to be a go-getter and change their situation for the better, so they sit and wait for their “big break”.
They float through the years like zombies until one day (if lucky) they retire and do everything they’ve ever wanted. Except by that point, forty-plus years of their lives have gone by — wasted — and it seems easier to keep doing nothing than try anything else at all.
Going after the things you want, learning new skills, and chasing your desires is hard, which is why most people don’t bother. But with the right attitude and a little bit of guidance, you can put yourself on a path to becoming who you truly want to be.
I have been suffering from depression since childhood. I didn’t know anything about it, so I blamed the people for not treating me correctly. Depression isn’t a choice but how you react to it is somewhat in your control. The most considerable difficulty that I faced in my life was to live away from my parents, to a place where everyone was so discouraging and negative. I started thinking, I can’t get anything in my life, and I am just a miserable person and less fortunate who always seeks sympathy from others. There was no one out there for my help, and I was becoming a victim of self-pity. Out of all the things I could have done, I chose to give up on everything. And that’s how I spent all those precious years of my life.
I started to pretend that I am the happiest person. While inside, I was dying. I just wanted to go back to my home and wanted to know the reason for that.
“why me??” But I was helpless!
Then I started finding ways to escape from reality. All I wanted was “Peace of Mind” I had no goals, no purpose of living, and was killing my time. Then I realized that only — Education could become my strength because I’ll get some excellent job, become independent, and have my peaceful space. I choose to become a Doctor because it was the most incredible and rewarding job for me, but I faced so much difficulty choosing my career. Because ALLAH has some other plans for me, and that time I practised Patience. Indeed, that was the darkest period of my life, but I learned how to drag myself out of depression.
“Difficult Roads often Leads to Beautiful Destination.”
I sought treatment in the form of reading books and novels and watching others’ success stories to get some inspiration. I talked to some strangers about my depression and anxiety that how I feel like dying inside, and today, that stranger is my only person in the life I truly trust, and she is also my strength. I got better, and that’s when I felt sad about all the lost years. I wish someone could have told me that it’s treatable. All I got to hear from my family was that I’m not a good believer, and depression and failure are a consequence of that. I realized that there would be no one out there for me at the end of the way, so I have to become my strength; I am alone and have to fight my own battle.
“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, She became a butterfly.”
The growth process is complex, but the Loneliness and isolation season is when the caterpillar gets its wings. Butterflies can’t see their wings, they can’t see how wonderful they are, but everyone else can see it. In the same way, you don’t need to wake up and become the butterfly; instead, Give Yourself Time because
“Life doesn’t get Easier, but Your Wings get Stronger.”
Today, I’m in a much better place. I still have bad days, but I’m better to deal with them. Today I want to reach out to all the people who have chosen to suffer in silence because of the stigma attached to depression and fear of being judged and laughed at by your people and labelled as a ‘bad Muslim. There is a treatment that can make you feel better. I read a line somewhere, and it stayed with me:
“Depression is a flaw in our chemistry, not in our character.”
And here are the secrets of my Transformation:
- Self Trust Believe in yourself. Have faith in your abilities. You are enough, and you do enough. Be your kind of Heroine.
- Self Motivation Only “I” can defeat me. Compare yourself to only who you were yesterday and be your competition.
3. Communicate Even when you think you don’t, it’s almost always easier going through things with other people.
4. Start Small; we want to go big or go home, but starting small is the secret to lasting change.
5. Know your worth never settle for less than you deserve.
6. Be Grateful for what you have and enjoy little things in your life.
My friend once advised me that.
A complaining tongue reveals an ungrateful heart. ALLAH blesses us in His different ways, some are blessed with good health and others with money and luxurious life, and some are blessed just with the peaceful Heart. So, always try to find the reasons to pay Gratitude for whatever you have. Learn to say ALHAMDULILLAH even when you face difficulty because ALLAH chooses you for that difficulty, and He will reward you in His way.
