If you haven’t checked out the video below, what are you waiting for? In it, Umm Hend (an incredible sister whom I’m sure you’ll be hearing a lot more about soon – hint: Queendom:) ) gives us a glimpse into her project. She’s a wife, mother, artist, and now an activist seeking to show the Muslim woman’s voice to causes that impact communities around the world. She hopes to inspire other Muslimahs to step up and show everyone how much they care. She hopes that Allah SWT will bless her efforts and allow her to be a shining example for her young daughter. And I pray that all her hopes come to pass.
I’ve been so blessed in that I get to meet sisters like UmmHend and like you everyday. Albeit, sometimes, it’s only a virtual meeting, but alhamdullilah, perhaps one day it will be smiling face to smiling face!
Like UmmHend, I get to have this now because I sought out my passion – and in it found my project.
And it is all about finding your passion, because once you have that, you’re able to create a vision, and once you have a vision for your life, even the most mundane tasks can give you energy. It’s a matter of linking everything you do to that higher purpose. When that vision is clear, the projects start to come together.
And maybe you’ll find that the projects you’re passionate about at this point in your life aren’t the earth-changing kind, maybe they’re more along the lines of ‘getting my toddler toilet-trained,’ or finding a college-major that doesn’t scream ‘no potential here.’ That’s okay. Whatever it is, just seek the joy in it. It’s your project. You are sheba.
Get your journals out because if you haven’t found yours yet, but are itching to get started, here are some amazing questions to answer:
- What deep-seeded dream are you most afraid of disclosing to others?
- What blessing of Allah SWT upon you do you cherish the most?
- When you stand before your Lord, what project would you like to gush about to HIM, azza wa jal?
- What’s stopping you from getting your own project?
“And say: Work; so Allah will see your work and (so will) His Messenger and the believers; and you shall be brought back to the Knower of the unseen and the seen, then He will inform you of what you used to do.”
(Quran 9:105)
Wanna tell me about your project? heba@iamsheba.com
May Allah SWT put much blessings in your time and efforts. And projects.
Ummm, where is the link to Umm Hend’s project video?
It’s to the right of you here. Or you can access it from the homepage. JazakAllahu Khayraan.
Maa sha Allah! I like her project video…simple yet compelling. I like that. And your questions? Very good. JazaakiLlah khair.
I’ve got my project and I’m happy to report that I got off my caboose to say something publicly about it. Come visit the blog and make some noise
~ H
This is fantastic, mashAllah
And for the lovely sisters who emailed me as well- I look forward to featuring your projects soon.
UmmHend, you’ve inspired us – may your reach inspire many more!
Sorry, but i still don’t see any projects’ video link. There’s nothing but the cancer awareness video here.Strange.
Ya Sis Serendipitouslife, the breast cancer video is the project video referred to. If you go to the site mentioned therein, http://www.muslimawareness.org, you’ll see what Umm Hend is doing inshaAllah – providing a forum for Muslims to get involved and inform others in important social awareness causes of importance to Muslims and nonMuslims alike.
I just took a look again and it looks like the MuslimAwareness.org site is still being set up, but it currently links to a neat page at http://awaremuslimas.blogspot.com/. Enjoy!
I always wondered,
Does ‘journal’ refer to only one notebook (the same one we use for LIE/)? or Should we have separate journals, and do you guys prefer actual writing or typing up your reflections? JAK!
Bismillah.
Sister01, thank you for your question
I don’t think that there is any one specific method that will work for everyone when it comes to journaling. I actually discuss it a great deal in the book, but for now, I want sisters to know that the most important thing about journaling is that it really gives structure to the thoughts that loop over and over in our brains.
They say that humans have 60,000 thoughts per day and 95% of them are the same ones you had yesterday.
If you think about it, this may be why we never get things done, we just keep thinking about getting them done. So, the power of the pen lies in articulating them, putting them down on paper (and yes I do favor this style because it’s more connected somehow – but if you find that typing works for you, then so be it). Journaling thoughts or goals touches on all our senses which allows us to see the plan or solution more clearly. And if seeing is believing, then… Allahu Alem.
I tell sisters that if they can commit to just 10 min. each night, it may be enough to give them clarity on where they currently stand and direction on where they want to go. And of course, that time doesn’t necessarily have to be writing about projects only, but it can be a gratitude journal, a lessons learned one, a random thoughts one or even a joke of the day entry
The point is that you recognize how the writing time benefits you and allows you to release your inner queen of Sheba
I pray that was helpful.
Heba
That was a beautiful response!
I have personally started a journal many times…and the minute things start getting done, I lose track of it and things start to be delayed again…
I love reading these posts, they’re really inspirational and motivational mashaAllah..
Jazakum Allahu khairan!
Wa’iyakkai Schaker
And you’ve hit on an important point – people can get used to a certain routine, and complacency sets in. BUT, once you recognize that renewal is (potentially) just a journal entry away, you’re in a much better position to keep doing what Allah SWT wants you to do!
And the faster you come to this realization, the faster your projects move towards fruition. And Allah SWT knows best.
Asalamualaykum,
This blog has been very motivational! Even as a coach I sometimes find myself delaying completing things or putting so many ideas on the table that I am bound to not be able to give them all due attention. I took this entry as a personal challenge and set a deadline to make moves on my personal project and Alhumdulillah I must say I too have been inspired to make moves! Please visit at http://teachertamara.wordpress.com/ and drop me a line or two!
JazakAllah hu Khairun for sharing your passion and inspiring others to do the same!
Teacher~Tamara
That’s wonderful to see Tamara!
May Allah SWT put much barakah in your project and the projects of all those inspired to release their inner queens of sheba
And (as a dear friend just mentioned to me) the empire is expanding…
Asalamualekom
I just wanted to say Jazakom Allahu khairun to Heba and all of the sisters for your support and kind words about Emagine (my project) i have just (a few minutes ago) put the new site up! I need advocates inshaAllah so i hope some of you will want to join me and become an Advocate inshaAllah!
The link is http://www.muslimawareness.org/ please feel free to email me and let me know what you think and how the site can be improved and bettered.
Heba inshaAllah email or call me and let me know how you’d like to network our sites better, i have a link to iamsheba in the links section (under blogs) but i’m sure there is more we can do inshaAllah.
Barak Allahu feekom
UmmHend (Emma)
Assalamu Alaikum dearest Heba,
Since you published this post on your blog, an idea has been brewing in my mind, and I haven’t been able to carry it out until recently! But Alhumdulillah, here it is: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=58514919044 (inshaAllah we’ll have a proper website up shortly!)
Allah has been very generous in letting this idea become a reality, with the help of one of my dear Muslim sisters.
JazakAllahu Khairun may Allah reward you and continue to bless you through all those you continue to inspire!
Wa alaikum salam
Evangeline <3
That is so great to hear Evangeline! I love how sisters are harnessing their strengths will use it for a greater good. I had a friend who was so crafty, mashAllah, her house was beautiful! She used to crochet her own doilies for her fridge. Seriously, you would open the door and couldn’t take out anything to eat – for fear it would ruin the perfect image (now there’s a way to stick to a diet)!
Even back then, I would tell her, you should open your own shop LOL.
And with your added bonus of giving back to a good cause – it’s all the more relevent, mashAllah.
So, hook me up with a ‘this is my project – i am sheba’ 1 min. movie and I’ll post it here inshAllah