Don't Lose the Spark for Self-Development

 When we are born, we are full of wonder and awe for the world we have entered. We are excited by a life full of potential and possibilities. A baby wakes up every day with energy and enthusiasm for a new day. The Prophet (SAW) taught that every child is born upon the natural disposition (fitrah) (Sahih al-Bukhari 1385; Sahih Muslim 2658). But as we grow old, this spark is often diminished, and if we are not careful, it might be fully extinguished and be very hard to reignite.

How do we keep, or regain, the spark that makes life feel alive?

The Spark Called Eemaan

That spark for life is what is called in Islamic terminology Eemaan (faith), and it is generally known to us as joie de vivre. With it, living life seems easy and pleasurable. Allah promises that whoever does righteous deeds while being a believer, He will give a good life, and reward them with their best (Qur'an 16:97). Those who know how to live in such a state experience bliss in this life and the next. Their faces are not gloomy, and their outlook is positive. They have a purpose to their life and a spring in every step.

Why the Spark Fades

As we grow older, this natural energy tends to decrease if we are not careful. Making "mistakes" or "sins" causes this energy to decrease, especially after puberty, as we become responsible for our actions and accountable for them (Sunan Abi Dawud 4403). The Prophet (SAW) described how a sin leaves a black spot on the heart, which is polished clean when the person stops, seeks forgiveness, and repents (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3334). This is a description of how it fades, and also of how it returns. Allah tells us never to despair of His mercy (Qur'an 39:53).

Reigniting the Spark

If we know how to live, and how to recover this energy naturally, it is possible to regain the spark and make it grow. This spark of life can be reignited by living naturally, with purpose and direction, and with good, comprehensive goals in the different aspects of our life: physical, spiritual, social, emotional, mental, financial, and so on.

We should wake up every day to be "pulled" by our goals, which give us butterflies in our stomach. Such goals should be "God-inspired," to fulfill the purpose of our creation. When we grow every day to achieve such short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals in an incremental, gradual manner, every day we control this energy and can make it grow. It gives us a good feeling of gratefulness and the natural pleasure that comes from achieving something every day.