Yaser El-Waly and a Life Guided by Intention

But motivation can also be used as a tool that encourages one to initiate an activity; however, motivation is not always constant. There are periods where one feels energized and enthusiastic, while there are also moments where even simple tasks become difficult. It is then that self-discipline becomes important. The interpretation by Yaser El-Waly of the Islamic values is based on the fact that progress usually comes from persistence in doing the worthwhile tasks without getting any reward. Discipline is not about making things perfect but having the capacity to stick to the important things. Yaser El-Waly on Doing What Needs to Be Done According to Yaser El-Waly, self-discipline refers to reaching a realization that not all things that one needs to do would be enjoyable. It is not always the case that people would be interested in studying, working on tasks that they don't want, following a timetable, or solving problems that they have avoided for quite some time. Self-discipline...

  Understanding the Importance of Balance Life gets hectic with work, duties, relationships, and other things that are happening each day. At times, one becomes so absorbed in one area of life that one forgets to pay attention to the others. In the opinion of Yaser El-Waly, balancing one's life can help one deal with his/her duties and even spend time alone. The idea of balancing does not mean dividing the focus of one's attention equally among all the spheres of life. Balancing means recognizing priorities and making decisions concerning time and effort allocation. Making Time for Important Things Usually, people may have various priorities depending on their personal circumstances. Some may value their professional development most, while for others family, friends, and other activities may be really important. As stated by the author Yaser El-Waly , it is important to take into account the priorities and spend time on those activities that matter in one’s life. Spending some...

Strong relations depend on a sense of connection, but connections do not imply losing all aspects of one's personal space. People require periods of solitude, privacy, and a chance to make some choices on their own. Recognizing the dynamics will be helpful to create more respectful and lasting relations. The appreciation for the values of Islam by Yaser El-Waly allows seeing how the consideration of other people and respect for personal dignity can coexist. The proximity of a person does not equal lack of boundaries. Yaser El-Waly on Understanding Personal Space For Yaser El-Waly, the need for personal space does not always indicate that there is some distance or rejection. There are times in everyone’s life when they need to be alone and think things through themselves. This will not only aid in developing good relations but also helps individuals maintain their individuality since they get a chance to be themselves. It does not imply there is anything wrong with a member of the f...

It is easy to miss many things in modern-day life that add meaning to our daily lives. A simple discussion, dinner together, or even the moments at the end of the day when you just relax are common occurrences but these may turn out to be the best things about your life. The gratitude that Yaser El-Waly has for Islamic values shows how gratitude can be about more than celebrating successes; it can also be about appreciating what you have. Yaser El-Waly on Appreciating What Is Already There Attention forms the basis for Yaser El-Waly 's gratitude. Human beings often contemplate their future wishes such as a successful career, a nice place to live in, financial success, among others. This is a good thing but this also causes one to ignore his/her own strengths. One can benefit from thinking about the blessings that they have at the present moment. A comfortable home, strong connections, engaging dialogues, and many others should not be ignored only because they are common. Yaser El-W...

  Meaningful Growth Takes Time In the world, where people usually hope for fast success, patience is a quality which can be underestimated. But personal development is never a fast process. Yaser El-Waly is convinced that for any success time, effort and perseverance are essential elements.  No matter whether the goals are either personal or professional or gaining new knowledge, there is always an opportunity for gradual success in the selected sphere. Patience will allow one to focus on the process, and not on the speed of it. Small Steps Can Make a Difference Big successes are often accomplished through little efforts. While there might be nothing noticeable between one day and the other, efforts put together can make all the difference eventually. Yaser El-Waly inspires people to appreciate this. Achieving something, learning something, changing something, or even making an effort everyday is going to surely make a difference in your future success. It doesn’t have to mean...

  While large decisions tend to garner more attention, it is usually the small decisions that determine one’s character. How one talks, interacts with other people, fulfills duties, and keeps promises will tell more about one’s personality than one significant accomplishment. The view of Islamic values held by Yaser El-Waly shows his recognition of the significance of doing the right thing not just sometimes but always, even when no one is looking. Character Is Built in Ordinary Moments People sometimes associate strong character with dramatic situations. In reality, it is often developed through routine. Returning an item not belonging to you, apologizing for making a mistake, keeping your promise, or being courteous even though you have had a bad day may be viewed as minor things. However, such actions set one’s personal standards. Consistency gives those standards strength. A person does not become dependable because of one promise kept. Dependability develops when keeping prom...

  Difficult Seasons Do Not Last Forever Every person faces instances in which they are overwhelmed with life. Sometimes, things don’t go the way that one plans for them to go and may take a little longer. As per Yaser El-Waly, this could pose a problem to the degree of patience the individual possesses; however, it does not imply that they lose their view of life. The individual’s understanding of the value of Islam has helped him develop the notion that challenges are best solved with patience and determination. Even if the person’s situation is being tested with difficulties, this does not imply that they have lost their optimism. Hope Is Not the Same as Ignoring Reality Yaser El-Waly thinks that being hopeful does not mean closing one’s eyes to the existence of problems. Problems should still be faced. Someone who is faced with failure at work may have to rethink his/her plan.  A family dealing with change may need to have difficult conversations. A person facing uncertaint...

What Motivates an Action Matters Two individuals may engage in the same activity for totally different reasons. While one may wish to gain recognition, the other just wishes to do the right thing. Yaser El-Waly seems to think that this fundamental difference in intent may greatly affect the way individuals view their duty. The principles of Islam have led Yaser to see through actions to the reason behind them. To Yaser, sincerity adds an extra dimension to ordinary decisions since it focuses more on the sense of duty rather than recognition. Doing Good Without Needing Attention Yaser El-Waly believes people sometimes measure the value of their actions by how others respond. Praise, appreciation, or public recognition can become an unexpected motivation. He promotes another way of thinking. Assisting your relatives, helping your coworker, participating in a community program, or giving useful advice can all become significant without anyone recognizing your contribution. In Australia, r...

  Success Can Change a Person's Routine Success often brings opportunities, responsibilities, and recognition. But Yaser El-Waly thinks that success does not mean that a person changes the value of other people or the sense of his responsibilities. Yaser’s interpretation of the values of Islam has led him to see success as something he should be grateful for and not superior to. While success might imply effort, dedication, and hard work, it also implies opportunities and assistance that were not provided by a person himself. Remembering the People Behind the Journey Yaser believes that no real accomplishments are solitary. Family members, teachers, colleagues, friends, and mentors can help an individual accomplish things in a way that will not be obvious in the accomplishment itself. Recognizing individuals who have assisted in achieving something will not diminish the achievements of the particular person. On the contrary, it will aid in making a clearer picture of how achievemen...