The basis for every successful endeavour is to start off with good intentions; this is something that stands out and is affirmed in Islam too.

So..just imagine that when you realise & are convinced that something is very important to you, you would probably form some sort of intention to expand your current situation and secure the outcomes you hope for in the long term.

However, it isn’t our intentions alone that are going to suddenly teleport us to a better place of delight and never ending sunny, warm days, free of any troubles. Just because we have found our ‘why’, doesn’t necessarily mean that the ‘how’ will suddenly materialise out of thin air. Sometimes, while we are focusing on achieving a long term or short term goal and expanding our horizons, we will come across challenges and interferences.

As you are going through these hardships, you can ask yourself  ‘Is this going to help prepare me to get to a better place?’ ,‘Is this a stepping stone to see if I need to pay better attention to some of my choices in the future?’ or ‘Do I need to take charge of or center my thoughts on the progress I’m achieving inside me and churn out the ones about the negative happenings and outcomes going around me’?.

This is not to say that we should completely let go of the endpoint we are trying to attain, as that would be absurd. And it would really be more productive to keep these intentions in the backdrop during the transitory period and continue hacking away at achieving our goals in any way possible. Along side this though, one should always hold on to the things around them that help them stay happy, healthy and safe along their personal journey. Because the values, circumstances and outcomes are all different for each of us and are subject to varying parameters; these coping tools are something we need sit down and figure out ourselves.

Secondly, to keep oneself motivated we could regularly remind ourselves that even if we do not seem to be seeing the desired results thus far, somewhere downstream there may be someone who will receive the benefit In’ sha’ Allah. Our families or companions will be able to tread on a path that we have been establishing and working on, based upon strong intentions. The Mercy of Allah towards us, is that He rewards us for simply having a good intention to try and gain closeness to Him through things that are pleasing to Him. If we have missed this, then we have missed the whole crux of Islam according to what the Prophet (peace be upon him) has taught us.

Remember, that even if you are going through a sea of hardship, you are going through a sea of mercy if only you saw the bigger picture. Maybe you won’t see the immediate fruits of your intentions; all the sweat, blood and tears that you have been shedding to reach them- but do rest assured that Allah does.