“Be More & Achieve More!”

Hi

We all know how hard it gets from time-to-time, but what you are about to watch by Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) will help you to appreciate that’s its all about, taking these hits in life, fighting on and moving forwards…

Here’s some of the dialogue:

1:30 - You used to fit right here, I’d hold you up & say to your mother “this kids gonna be the best kid in the world”

1:40 - And you grew up great & wonderful, it was great watching; everyday was just like a privelage

1:45 - Then the time came for you to be your own man, take on the world, and you did

1:51 - But somewhere along the line you changed - YOU stopped being YOU

1:58 - And when things got hard, you started looking for something to blame - like a big shadow

2:05 - Let me tell you something you already know: the world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows

2:12 - And I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your KNEES and keep you there permanently if you let it.

2:18 - You, me, or nobody isn’t gonna hit as hard as LIFE - but it ain’t about how hard you can hit - “its about how hard you can get hit & keep moving forwards, about how much you can take and keep moving forwards!”

2:31 - That’s how winning is done!

2:33 - Now if you know what your worth - go out & get what your worth - but you gotta be willing to take the hits & not pointing fingers saying “you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her or anybody!”

2:44 - Cowards do that! And that ain’t YOU!!

2:46 - Your better than that!

2:54 - I’m always gonna love you no matter what

2:57 - No matter what happens, your my son & your my blood

3:02 - Your the best thing in my life

3:06 - But until you start believing in yourself, you ain’t gonna have a life -

3:14 - Don’t forget to visit your mother….

Well now you have it my friend from Rocky himself. Tell me, what more do you need?

For Success & Contentment,

Asad R Khan

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Hi There,

So you have probably wondered how God had answered the mystery of nature and how He is controller of all physical  phenomena: water, wind and the waves: whoever judges is correctly, sails with a favourably, but those who fall into constant folly, will have no recourse of blame.

21. What! Do those who seek after evil ways think that We shall hold them equal with those who believe and do righteous deeds,- that equal will be their life and their death? Ill is the judgment that they make.

22. Allah created the heavens and the earth for just ends, and in order that each soul may find the recompense of what it has earned, and none of them be wronged.

23. Then seest thou such a one as takes as his god his own vain desire? Allah has, knowing (him as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart (and understanding), and put a cover on his sight. Who, then, will guide him after Allah (has withdrawn Guidance)? Will ye not then receive admonition?

24. And they say: “What is there but our life in this world? We shall die and we live, and nothing but time can destroy us.” But of that they have no knowledge: they merely conjecture:

25. And when Our Clear Signs are rehearsed to them their argument is nothing but this: They say, “Bring (back) our forefathers, if what ye say is true!”

26. Say: “It is Allah Who gives you life, then gives you death; then He will gather you together for the Day of Judgment about which there is no doubt”: But most men do not understand.

27. To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and the Day that the Hour of Judgment is established,- that Day will the dealers in Falsehood perish!

28. And thou wilt see every sect bowing the knee: Every sect will be called to its Record: “This Day shall ye be recompensed for all that ye did!

29. “This Our Record speaks about you with truth: For We were wont to put on Record all that ye did.”

30. Then, as to those who believed and did righteous deeds, their Lord will admit them to His Mercy that will be the achievement for all to see.

31. But as to those who rejected Allah, (to them will be said): “Were not Our Signs rehearsed to you? But ye were arrogant, and were a people given to sin!

32. “And when it was said that the promise of Allah was true, and that the Hour- there was no doubt about its (coming), ye used to say, ‘We know not what is the hour: we only think it is an idea, and we have no firm assurance.’”

33. Then will appear to them the evil (fruits) of what they did, and they will be completely encircled by that which they used to mock at!

34. It will also be said: “This Day We will forget you as ye forgot the meeting of this Day of yours! and your abode is the Fire, and no helpers have ye!

35. “This, because ye used to take the Signs of Allah in jest, and the life of the world deceived you:” (From) that Day, therefore, they shall not be taken out thence, nor shall they be received into Grace.

36. Then Praise be to Allah, Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth,- Lord and Cherisher of all the Worlds!

37. To Him be glory throughout the heavens and the earth: and He is Exalted in Power, Full of Wisdom!

Some Lessons:

• The evil-doers and the righteous are not equal; neither in life nor death: in life, the righteous are guided by God and after death His Mercy, while the others reject His Grace and after death receive condemnation.
• Nor are they the same in this life or hereafter: if the wicked flourish here, they will be condemned in the Hereafter; if the good are in suffering or sorrow here, they will receive comfort in the Hereafter.
• The real life of the righteous - for they have received spiritual life - is not like the nominal life of the wicked, which is really death; nor is the physical death of the righteous, which will bring them into eternal life, like the terrible death of the wicked, which will bring them to eternal misery.

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Hi,

So here he is, the King of Pop in a rare mid-80’s interview, sometime after his mega smash hit album, “Thriller”

Listen carefully to these words..

0:22 My God, this dusk….is very beautiful….everything’s becoming magic!

1:05 Some psychologists say that dusk for a lot of creative people, you reach your alpha states subconsciously and you become more creative certain parts of the day, but for me, it can be any time, you know…

1:22 …I just like creating

2:20 With any type of creation: create what’s inside of you, subconsciously what influences you.

2:25 I’m a fantasy fanatic and, anything that takes you off into another world, escapism, that’s what I like.

2:37 I’m also crazy about the reality of everything; I like a lot of fantasy & that’s why I try to create:

2:45 To give away: to become “Moved”.

For Success & Contentment,

Asad Khan

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Hi,

One thing that is really important to remember when the chips are down, you are feeling over-whelmed,

Success in Goals = Short Term Action x Long Term Planning

5 steps to your Success:-

1. Think then act; sometimes spontaneity can be a good thing
2. Take Inspired action only
3. When in doubt, wait
4. Take strong action based on faith & purpose
5. Make it easier by having the right attitude

A while back, after leaving my office and arriving home, I watched a (true) movie: an innocent victim (a bit like the “Baby Killer”) where a falsely accused man of rape & triple homicide/murder was being prosecuted by the State of North Carolina. At the first trial he was sentenced based on ‘weak’ eye-witness account. In the re-trial - after being sentenced to death row - he won and was freed.

What particularly impressed me was the courage, loyalty, tenacity & determination of (a) the defendant’s father (he was his adopted son!) & (b) the defendant’s attorneys.

They worked very hard together to pull things towards a positive outcome - gaining strength, clarity, and self-belief as they progressed forwards.

There was a point when the defendant was coached by his attorneys in controlling his anger/frustration & responding well when sitting in the witness box.

Morals of the story: Human qualities such as kindness can be vast & unmeasurable & this can be awesome in winning people and circumstances. Also:-

• Never give-up, as truth prevails;
• Surround yourself with the best quality of people and strategies;
• Focus on long-term success.

Your success ultimately comes down to how you operate your mind and body. Once you get used to operating your mind in this way by altering your rules and the way in which you view the world, you will gain extra inner power to over-ride danger and ride your way to new heights. Once your mind has been expanded it cannot come back to its original size: unless you force it or allow it to.

Decide now how you which to shape your future by working with the God-given faculties and capacities inherent in you.

For Success & Contentment,

Asad Khan

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Hi,

Here is something that I wanted to share with you; so sit back, watch, read, listen and enjoy.

Remember, if you are in a state of denial, look around at the physical wonders around you - WHO created them and for what? Look into yourself and see what you are really made of. Don’t deny arrogantly nor confuse matters of Faith with those of dogma. Open your eyes and be frank with the Truth, perchance you may really see the beauty around and within you. Thereafter turn to Him, who created all, and thank Him for it all….For if you get this part right, all else will follow and things will fall into place. I know this, let me tell you why further below:

1:00 But rather they belied the Truth when it came to them & so they are in a state of confusion

1:07 Have they not looked up to the sky above them, how We have built it and adorned it and that there is no rift therein?

Earth, Flawless Sky, Rain, Water, Gardens, Grain, Produce of all kinds, Land, Life…
Then why deny: look at the end of those who came before you: destroyed for their iniquities: remnants of a time gone by…confused of their Creation.

3:18 And We indeed created man and We know what his soul whispers within him, and We are nearer to him than even his jugular vein.

Long before when i was much younger, I used to think of things related to existence, world, universe and so on whilst others were thinking/talking of matters more closer to them: what people said, think, wore, went, watched etcetera. So they used to think I must be of my rocker - well not exactly, just perhaps that I was a little aloof. Well, recently I went through a period of thinking how others think on a regular basis. I didn’t intend it to do so, it just happened that way. Probably because it was meant to be so that i may learn what it means to see the world through such lenses. Anyway, I can tell you that I didn’t like it. I can understand, and relate to it as necessary, but it often ends up with me getting into some kind of argument. So, I realise that its not ‘my cup of tea’ and that I’m suited to sticking to matters of higher concern and priority.

See people will live according to their levels of thinking. This truly is the defining factor, not what you wear/live/drive/work/associate with, although these aspects can help from time-to-time. No, what really matters is attitude and level of thinking. If that is in order, then all else gets sorted along the way.

So, as Einstein said, “Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them.” So, when humanity is in crisis, as it is, do you think the type of leadership that currently exists can resolve it? What’s happening in Palestine/Israel? Is it a matter of “Leadership” in the ordinary sense, or do you think it requires Leadership of a pristine level: as like with the types of Saladin (Salahuddin)?

So my friend, one can talk of ‘leadership’ ’till the cows come home’ but the foundation of pure leadership is in bringing into perspective. and integrating, proper beliefs and values.

We’ll talk further but as ever,

For Success & Contentment,

Asad Khan

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Hi,

& welcome back after the summer break. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did - for me it was thrilling and a roller coaster ride all the way: spiritually, emotionally, socially and mentally.

My last post in August 2009 spoke about a crucial element on the road to self-mastery, success and contentment: the element of adapting. So I thought who better to talk about the Art of Adapting than the masterful, powerful, entertaining and wise Bruce Lee. Check out this video and enjoy -

2:41 “Its different depending on what you see in it”

Interviewer: Philosophy, Art & Sport: facets of the same thing =

3:10 “Honestly expressing yourself - not lying to oneself: very difficult to do. You have to train, you have to keep your reflexes, so when you want it - IT IS THERE - when you want to move, your moving & when you move you, you are determined to move…..nothing less than that.”

Interviewer: Very un-Western Attitude =

4:00 “Become one with yourself”

5:10 “Can learn the language, what’s difficult is understanding the feelings + meanings behind the words”

5:30 “Different ways of reacting”

7:00 “Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless, like water. You put water in a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water in bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend.”

Interviewer: “I feel the power behind it.”

So dear reader, LIFE IS NON-LINEAR so adapt, be flexible, be like water & learn to HONESTLY EXPRESS YOURSELF, and you may find yourself reaching your goals in any case!

As ever, For Success & Contentment,

Asad Khan

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Hi,

Most times we think that everything in life simply has to follow a particular order of progression, development and as a natural consequence, an upward and onward ascent. Well what happens when this is not the case? Are you put off by the lack of results or do you stick to your plan? Do you even have a plan in the first instance? Let me tell you that sometimes, for some people in some places, things can go so tremendously well that you think that astronomic results have materialised out of thin air. I mean exponential growth occurs almost in the figurative ‘blink of an eye’: look at Trump, Branson, Gates, Slim, Mittel et al. They may not have necessarily had it all to begin with, yet within in the span of a few decades they have amassed a net-worth eclipsing many lives over.

So many self-help books will cite their triumphs in attempt to make you feel inadequately small and raise your inquisitiveness until you ask yourself “why don’t I do what they do in order to reap the same type of rewards as they?” I know that the natural tendency of humans is to see what others are doing and if it resonates with oneself then a pursuit to mimick, or ‘model’, them is taken on. Now 1 of 3 things can happen:-

1. You achieve it (not likely)
2. You give up (likely)
3. You adapt

We can talk all day about qualities such as Perseverance, Faith, Sense of Certainty, Resilience, Resourcefulness, and the like, which are key to the success of most endeavours, but one crucial oversight not referred to so much is the aspect of Divine Intervention.

Too many people agonise over the triumphs of others and forget the many small favours in their own lives. The seemingly more successful ones will tease you to have what they have and belittle you for not being like them. The levels, or leagues, of competition and achievement may differ as time progresses but the sentiments often remain the same. So then what happens? One builds feelings of resentment, jealousy, stiffness and rigidity towards greed that only fuels the drive towards mimicking those role-models even more.

Now I’m not saying that modeling is a bad idea per se, I’m saying its a disease when one loses their bearings of reality. When it gets to a point where a person cannot see anything else but the what others have achieved then alarm bells should ring because that is not a healthy state of being to function in.

Try to remember the following:

Its not in the arriving, its in the journeying

You will deepen your sense of self-satisfaction if you let-go of delusional ideas and focus on the little things that are more readily accessible, do-able and manageable. When you do this, things will gradually unfold before you in  a way that is right for you, at that particular time in your life. So, some of the other key ingredients towards leading a prosperous and fulfilling life is to ensure that you are flexible in both thought and action. Do what is necessary to make the ascent natural, for rewards are around you already, if you were keen to notice them…The Hand of the Divine is operating at all times to keep you safe, grant you the faculties of mind, intelligence sight and hearing, given you loving relationships, and most importantly given you time and health to continue. The blessings really are in the doing and you don’t want to mess-up your chances by chasing a negative dream.

Relax, focus and work in a step-wise fashion on your pet-project/s and let the flexibility open the door to creativity and ingenuity. Many successful people have probably done the same anyway: amonst other things they may have also mastered the art of patience as this entails flexibility. Be patient and realise that the ultimate success factor is Divine Intervention, for He determines when, how, where and how much:

Man proposes and God disposes.

And by the way, those others who you look-up to may also have done things which may be less than desirable: cheat, lie, steal, fraud, etc. so why not look at your own beauty and see the magic that is within. To have a patience is great treasure and it needs to be exercised in every department of life: career, business, relationships, finances, health, overall living conditions, and even against those who have wronged you. Letting it go and letting the matter rest with the ALMIGHTY above is the surest way of bringing relief to your heart and mind. Acting with patience is to act in the reflection of the Merciful One, to act in haste, or anger, is to act in the reflection of the accursed one. We want to win on all fronts, so why not be savvy and work the inner world in a way that is authentic, balanced and to higher purpose? This is self-leadership as stated in the last testament:

“And for those who fear God, He will make their path easy” (65:4)

So dear reader you don’t have to give-up, you don’t have to agonise over those you are attempting to model, you don’t have to feel inadequate at any stage as long as you keep to you true self, work hard, hold onto the rope of the Divine and thank Him for your blessings as you go along, because now you understand that Life really is non-linear.

For continued Success and Contentment,

Asad Khan

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Hi,

Most often people cannot see beyond the limited scopes of their own intelligence. The filters on their perceptions and the processing mechanisms of their minds are dulled due to montonous repetitions of life in which attempts are made to live life without understanding and to ‘progress’ without meaning. Repititious small acts of work, play, social interaction and the pursuits of creature comforts lead to a type of thinking where everything is hunky-dory and there is little to worry about. Until, of a sudden, something happens to make a person stop, think and reflect on the every-day wonders surrounding us that serve as pointers to the higher truths.

Recently, I was up on Moses Mountain, St. Catherine, Sinai, Egypt recently and the views were breathtaking, especially after ascending all night to reach the summit (2639m) and offering my pre-dawn prayers in the place of worship built at the peak (there is a church and a mosque). It is the place where the Prophet Moses received the Ten Commandments from God and nearby is also the ‘burning bush’ from where God spoke to Moses.

The fact remains that such a place was specified for a very important moment in the history of mankind: the revelation of the Ten Commandments.

According to the Biblical records, God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai, inscribed on stone tablets, and intended for the guidance of the people of Israel after their exodus from Egypt. They form a small but vital part of the total 623 laws in the Torah (five books of Moses, the first books of the Hebrew Bible, known to Christians as the Old Testament).

There are three versions of the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament they are Exodus 20:2-17, Exodus 34:12-26 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. Exodus 20 is the most commonly used set.

In the King James’ version of the Bible, Exodus 20 reads as follows:

20:1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 20.2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

20.3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

20.4 Thou shalt have not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 20.5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and the fourth generation of them that hate me; 20.6 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

20.7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

20.8 Remember the Sabbath day, keep it holy.

20.9 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: 20.10 But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 20.10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 20.11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested  the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

20.12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

20.13 Thou shalt not kill

20.14 Thou shalt not commit adultery

20.15 Thou shalt not steal

20.16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

20.17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, that shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

Different religious groups have divided the commandments in different ways. Most Protestants and Orthodox Christians divide and enumerate them as follows:

1. The prologue and prohibition of the worship of any deity but God
2. Prohibition of idolatry
3. Prohibition of the use of the name of God for vain purposes
4. Observance of the Sabbath
5. Honoring of one’s father and mother
6. Prohibition of murder
7. Prohibition of adultery
8. Prohibition of stealing
9. Prohibition of giving false testimony
10. Prohibition of coveting the property or wife of one’s neighbor.

Roman Catholics and Lutherans combine the prologue and the first two prohibitions and divide the last one into two that prohibit separately the coveting of a neighbour’s wife and of his property.  In Jewish tradition, the prologue is considered the first commandment, the first two prohibitions are combined as the second commandment, and the rest follow the same as the Protestant and Orthodox traditions.

Although many verses in the Quran confirmed the Biblical Ten Commandments, many Quranic commentators have referred to the following three verses from Surah Al-Ana’m (The Cattle, 6:151-153) as “The Ten Commandments”. Aspects of Quranic moral values depicted therein:

The 1st commandment:

“Do not take partner with Allah or any thing equal to Him”

The 2nd commandment:

“Be benevolent to your parents”

The 3rd  commandment:

“Do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We who shall provide substance for you as well as for them”

The 4th commandment:

“Do not even come near any shameful deeds, whether committed openly or secretly”

The 5th commandment:

“Do not kill any human soul whom Allah has forbidden except for a just cause

The 6th commandment:

“Do not even come near (touch) the orphan’s property, except to improve it, until he or she attains the age of full strength”

The 7th commandment:

“Give full measure & weigh with equity. We do not burden any human’s soul beyond its capability”

The 8th commandment:

“Whenever you speak, speak justly even (if the matter) it concerns (against) a near relative (one near of kin)”

The 9th commandment:

“Always fulfill your covenant with Allah”

The 10th commandment:

“This is my way (the straight path), then follow it and do not follow other paths. They will scatter you from this (straight) path”

The Quran refers to the Biblical laws revealed to Prophet Moses (PBUH) on Mount Sinai as follows:

“And we wrote for him (Moses) in the tablets (of the law) all manner of admonition, clearly spelling out everything. And (We said:) hold fast unto them with (all your) firmness and command your people to hold fast to their most goodly rules…” (Surah Al-A’raf 7: 145).

The above verses have been referred to as “The Ten Commandments” because every one of the three verses ended up with Allah (SWT) saying:

“Thus does God command you that you may attain wisdom” (151);

“Thus does God command you that you may remember” (152); and

“Thus does God command you, that you may remain conscious of Him” (153).

As Ever, For Success & Contentment,

Asad Khan

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Hi,

What is time? The question has baffled many a thinker throughout the ages and continues to serve as one of the greatest mysteries. You realise that time ‘flies’ when you’re having fun, or when immersed in a series of long thoughts that has taken you into dream mode. Conversely, when you are waiting for something to happen and keen to see an outcome it seems like its taking forever!

Yet time, and its measurement, remains the same. The only difference is the state of mind that you have whilst experiencing its relativity. Now lets say that there is something that you have to do, its important and much depends on it. But you don’t feel like doing it, before long all the symptoms of procrastination set-in and the whole idea of that important task feels more like a chore, a burden. And if you actually get round to making a start, you tend to be sluggish, out of sync and phased by the whole process.

Consider the alternative: you are feeling fresh, responsive and ready to tackle any challenge coming your way, which may not only be critical, but difficult. And now you are not put off by the size of the job but welcome the opportunity to pour out your creativity and perform at greater levels. In doing so, you do not necessarily realise the amount of time consumed when working on it, which may be much more than what your originally envisaged!

So, enjoying what you do is more important than the act of the doing alone. This enjoyment comes from the inside, from your natural state, which is why you should choose, whenever you can, to work on those things in work and life that suit your inherent interests and abilities.

The test of time is to pick-out the most interesting and rewarding from the trivial, mundane and the un-captivating. Once this is done, you can ‘fly’ through time more often rather than twist and fret on the spot.

The Space-Time Factor

Now, If the Sun is able to warp the space-time factor, and it being only one of the many suns in this lower universe, then you shall deduce that other bigger suns and entities will ‘affect’ time in similarly extraordinary ways. And in the proximity of God, the Ultimate Power, Absolute Force and The Infinite Source of Energy, who sits on His vast throne above the seven heavens, time definitely is not as we perceive it here on earth. Recapping on an earlier Chapter (The Ways of Ascent, 70):

70:4 The angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years:

70:5 Therefore, do hold patience, a patience of beautiful (contentment).

70:6 They see the (Day) indeed as a far-off (event):

70:7 But we see it (quite) near.

So ultimately, in the grandest scheme of things, life and the universe, the only aspects that really matter are the deeds that we send forwards which we all will be accounted for on the Great Day of Reckoning. If we utilise our God-given talents and strengths for the benefit of others, within the guidelines provided for us by our Creator, then we will not only find success but contentment also. This is the test of time, particularly when our ‘goals’ are not reached and the outcome we desire is not in sight, then the magnificence of patience must be exercised and witnessed.

And remember, no-one really manages time, you can only manage the activities that you do through choice and self-discipline.

There is much more that can be stated on this topic including the eastern view of kairos versus the more western chronos interpretation of time. However, if one day can equal 50,000 of our human years, be sure that there is a massive unfathomable world out there waiting to receive us in our onwards journey.

For success and contentment,

Asad.

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