Young Wajih is an Islamic School teacher’s worst nightmare. He’s also the one in her class that she loves the most. He’s just graduated from the 8th grade, and all his teachers say the same thing: “Wajih? May Allah guide him, he’s such a handful, but somehow I can’t get mad at him – W’Allahi he’s a pure joy!”
Indeed, Wajih’s marks are witness to the fact that he isn’t the most studious of students. His reserved VIP seat in the principal’s office has distracted the top man from many a task. But, truth by told, Principal Mohammed quite enjoys it when he sees Wajih sheepishly coming in. “He’s like a breath of fresh air,” he tells me, “and although I feel bad that his distractive behaviour has him missing out on classes, I really like our time together. But, certainly, how do solve a problem like Wajih?”
Indeed, how do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
Although academics may not be Wajih’s strongest suit, there is an obvious talent that he has, and it seems like he has no problem letting it shine.
And he’s not the only one with talent, everybody has one or two, or many. They are gifts from Allah SWT and if you haven’t found yours, get ready for your own personal “Star Search” episode.
People confuse ‘ability or skill’ with ‘talent’. The difference is that the former can be attained, but the latter is innate. By focusing only on skill, one can certainly survive and perhaps prosper. But, by harnessing natural talent, one can soar.
And, defining the ultimate vision that life coaching always stresses, will be easy.
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Take out your journal, and answer the following:
1. Are you doing things that allow you to follow your passions as opposed to things that just pay you?
2. Are you using your talents or have you buried them beneath your fears?
3. Are you still growing, or just getting older?
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If this exercise has saddened you, and you’re thinking, “but I have no talent!” My response would be, “Phooey!” As I said before, everyone has. It’s just a matter of unlocking them. So, keep those journals out and really reflect on the following:
1. Has there ever been a time when you tried to learn something entirely new and it just came naturally to you?
2. What are the things you gravitate towards – the tasks that are rooted in your natural talents?
3. What gives you a burning sense of fulfillment and makes you, well, happy?
4. Do people compliment you on some ability or behavior? What?
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These exercises may take time, but the results will, inshAllah, be the catapult you’ve been waiting for. Your talent(s), when allowed to thrive in a manner that is pleasing to Allah SWT, can be the backbone of achieving your ultimate potential.
And don’t minimize your level of talent. Think Mrs. Fields, who had a great talent for making chocolate chip cookies. Think Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, who had a multitude of talents, but the one we are most benefiting from was her amazing ability to memorize the things her husband, SAW, said.
And think Wajih, whose infectious smile, witty sense of humor, and ability to bring lightness to the heaviest of situations, could melt an iceberg. I wonder where his talents will lead him to?
Awesome post Sr Heba. This subject is so fascinating to me and I think much needed in the Muslim Ummah especially. How did we become so boringly pragmatic? We’re no longer tying the camel. We’ve locked her in a maximum security facility with biometric locks. We’re guaranteed provision yet our actions don’t reflect that. You’d think that we would seek to utilize and share our gifts more than any other demographic.
MashaAllah, i loved your writing.
What would you say to someone who gets really charged-up & is also good at particular activity, but soon after embarking on it, loses interest & abandons it.
I do this all the time. I have tons of unfinished projects that i had initiated with a lost of zest but either got bored or found another distracting interest & left them halfway.
Does that mean, they weren’t really my true ‘talents’ or ‘goals’ to begin with, or that i need more discipline?
Btw, Wajih seem like a very interesting kid to meet.
Assalamualaikum
I have a few Wajihs in my school and I must say that some of them have actually helped me to develop few skills….I have recently noticed that I quite enjoy mentoring the little Wajihs specially if they don’t find an ear to listen to them at home….I’ve found that in those 5 minutes of mentoring, little Wajih see the other side of the teacher and I see the other of him…I see the breath of fresh air, i see the anger turned into laughter….I see the awkwardness turned into confidence….even if it is just for 5 minutes :O)…I know i’ve made someone smile…..Even if we can’t do big things to change the world…we can still do small things with love….May Allah help us all to achieve our goals….Ameen
Bismillah.
Aboozaid, I think it’s about getting over our fears – and this is where ‘talents’ don’t necessarily serve you. Getting over our fears is a practiced art – and, I would venture to say, a mental one that means you will have to know exactly what your ‘non-talents’ are and go beyond your comfort zone in a frequent and deliberate manner. Allahu Alem, it’s fodder for another article inshAllah.
Serendipitouslife, you ask the best questions:) and in many ways this one is the one that I hear so much from sisters. For the answer, you’ll need the book
Basically, though, I think we live certain aspects of our lives in “impulses”, ones that aren’t evaluated by the process of first recognizing who we are and what motivates us long term. And then when we fall short of those “I’m going to take over the world with (insert whatever)” moments, we call ourselves lazy or ill-equipped. And what effect does such negative talk have on us? We need to recognize that everything is a process, and not necessarily a long one, but a process still. As above, it’s a frequent and deliberate practice to make things happen. Allahu Alem.
Khatija, can I send my children for you to teach?
And if more people had your same attitude, we would change the world.
Sister Heba,
After reading your posts, I’ve made a decision: when your book comes out inshaAllah, I want to buy it for my sisters (both biologically and Islamically) who I know can become great Shebas! Bi ithniAllahi ta’ala!
JazakAllahu Khayraan student, first for your words that put such a smile on my face, and second for all those who you get the book for!
May it surpass all your greatest expectations!
Assalamualykum wr wb
Mashaallah
i also love ur writing
please tell me which books you have written and from where can i get your books.
please answer me
jazakallhukhair
wassalam
Walaykum assalam saliha,
JazakAllah khayraan for the kind words
Watch this space – I’ll let you know exactly how to get your hands on the book inshAllah. Real soon…Keep me and the book in your duas please.
May Allah SWT put much barakah in all that you do!
Asalam Alaikum Heba
JazakAllah Khair for another mind provoking article. I could not agree more with the fact that Allah has bestowed us all with some innate talent/resource. Its about us finding it and tapping into it… alhamdulilah I have found my passion – Life coaching! and like Khatija said its just brings a great huge frin to my face knowing I have benefitted someone! Its powerful amazing stuff!
As for Heba’s book it will be a bestseller!!! inshAllah.
Salams Sister Heba,
I have been struggling to find my talent. I don’t know if I actually know it but do not realize I know it. Circumstances have forced me to stick to the safe side. As such, honestly, I feel very unhappy with myself. I know I want to be happy doing what I like but I still can’t figure it out. I feel lost. Will reading the book help me figure it out, Insya Allah?
Wassalam & Syukran,
Sis Nur
Walaikum assalam,
the exercises in the book are organized in a way that is meant to get you first to understand who you are and what matters most to you. So often, the goals people set don’t take this into account, and that is why they “fail” to achieve them.
After you know where you’re coming from, part 2 is about setting the goals – giving you specific strategies on how to ‘be inspired’ and ensure that you meet your deadlines. And the last part is how to make things stick – how to weather the storms, how to treat yourself right, and rid yourself of the doubts and “baggage” – how to paint your enduring happiness picture.
Nur, by the very wording you’ve used in your comment, I can tell you honestly, that you are the ideal woman who would benefit greatly from the book.
May Allah SWT give you all that is good in this life and the next.