Islamic Inspirational and Motivational Stories: Power of Positive Thinking

 In life, there are enough times when we are disappointed,

depressed and annoyed. We don't really have to go looking for them. We have a wonderful world that is full of beauty, light and promise. Why waste time in this world looking for the bad, disappointing or annoying when we can look around us, and see the wondrous things before us!

This can be read as "GOD IS NO WHERE" or as "GOD IS NOW HERE" everything depends on how you see it. So think positive always. Thinking positive is the key to your success. All successful people have one thing in common: Positive thinking and passion for what they are doing!

Norman Vincent Peale, the famous author of "The Power of Positive Thinking" once told this story.

A man once telephoned Norman Vincent Peale. He was despondent and told the reverend that he had nothing left to live for. Norman Vincent Peale invited the man over to his office. "Everything is gone, hopeless," the man told him. "I'm living in deepest darkness. In fact, I've lost heart for living altogether."

Norman Vincent Peale smiled sympathetically.

"Let's take a look at your situation," he said calmly. On a sheet of paper he drew a vertical line down the middle. He suggested that they list on the left side the things the man had lost, and on the right, the things he had left. "You won't need that column on the right side," said the man sadly. "I have nothing left, period."

Norman Vincent Peale asked, "When did your wife leave you?"

"What do you mean? She hasn't left me. My wife loves me!"

"That's great!" said Norman Vincent Peale enthusiastically. "Then that will be number one in the right-hand column - Wife hasn't left. Now, when were your children jailed?"

"That's silly. My children aren't in jail!"

"Good! That's number two in the right-hand column - Children not in jail," said Norman Vincent Peale, jotting it down.

After a few more questions in the same vein, the man finally got the point and smiled in spite of himself. "Funny, how things change when you think of them that way," he said.

Motivational Quote: "Be sure that you appreciate everything you've got; and be thankful for the little things in life that mean a lot."

Inspirational Quote: "It is not what you have but it is how you think has a profound effect on your life."

Power of Positive Thinking: Which One Are You?

Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn't know how she was going to make it.

She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire.

Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot and ground coffee beans in the third pot.

He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing.

After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup.

Turning to her, he asked. "Daughter, what do you see?" "Potatoes, eggs and coffee," she hastily replied.

"Look closer", he said, "and touch the potatoes." She did and noted that they were soft.

He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face.

"Father, what does this mean?" she asked.

He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity-the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently. The potato went in strong, hard and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak.

The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard.

However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.

"Which one are you?" he asked his daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is what happens within us.

Which one are you? When problems come (and they will) how will we react? Will they make us weak, hard hearted or will they cause us to change into something worthwhile?

Motivational Quote: "Happiness is not something you find, it's something you create."

Inspirational Quote: "Smile in pleasure, smile in pain; Smile when trouble pours like rain; Smile when someone hurts you, Smile coz someone cares for you."

Islamic Motivational Story: Donkey Struggling in the Well

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well that the farmer had accidentally left uncovered. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do? Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, so it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

Farmer invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on us, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up. Never loose hope and place your complete confidence and 100% trust in Almighty Allah (SWT). A true Muslim never gives up hope in the mercy of Allah (SWT), because it is a sin as per the Teachings of Islam. Also remember: "Even the word 'IMPOSSIBLE' says 'I M POSSIBLE'."

Motivational Quote: "In this world people will always throw stones in the path of your Success, it depends on you? What you make from them - a wall or a bridge."

Islamic Inspirational Story: Trying Pancake

Six year old boy decided one morning to make pancake for his parents. He found a big bowl and spoon; He pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor.

He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten. He was covered with flour and getting frustrated.

He wanted this to be something very good for his parents, but it was getting very bad. He didn't know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove, (and he didn't know how the stove works!).

Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up all mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky.

And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big tears came in the boys eyes. All he did wanted to do was something good, but he did made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him. Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him.

Moral of Story: That's how Allah (SWT) deals with us.

We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend or we can't stand our job or our health goes sour.

Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when Allah (SWT) picks us up and loves us and forgives us.

But just because we might mess up, we can't stop trying to "make pancakes" Sooner or later we will get it right, and then they will be glad to see that we atlas tried...

Motivational Quote: "Success is not permanent and failure is not final. So, never stop working after success and never stop trying after failure."

Islamic Inspirational and Motivational Story: Learn from Mistakes

Thomas Edison tried two thousand different materials in search of a filament for the light bulb. When none worked satisfactorily, his assistant complained, "All our work is in vain. We have learned nothing."

Thomas Edison replied very confidently, "Oh, we have come a long way and we have learned a lot. We now that there are two thousand elements which we cannot use to make a good light bulb."

Motivational Quote: "If you learn from your mistakes then you are intelligent. But if you learn from someone's mistakes, then you are a Genius."

Inspirational Quote: Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines practiced daily and failure is nothing more than a small few errors repeated daily.

How true, the above lines are! Success or failure takes root in our minds. When we don't practice discipline in life, we don't build enough confidence to attempt new and challenging tasks which are important and matters in life. Our confidence depends on what we think of ourselves and whether we believe in ourselves. We are all born with exceptional qualities but only a few really realize their true potentials and forge ahead in life and the others just lead an average life. Do you want to do exceptional?

Success is a fruit which every one wants to eat but it is not found everywhere and no one can achieve it without serious efforts.

Those who want to succeed will find a way, those who don't will find an excuse!

Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.

When you are successful your well wishers know who you are? When you are unsuccessful you know who your well wishers are?

Taking a risk is often your first step towards success:

If you don't take some risks, you won't get the chance to succeed. While you are trying, you are winning.

The law of averages is on your side. The more you try, the greater your chance of succeeding. Never get discouraged.

Every wrong attempt is another step forward. People that make no mistakes usually don't make anything.

Make up your mind not merely to overcome a thousand obstacles, but to win in spite of a thousand defeats.

Your mistakes are stepping stones to success and your installment payments to victory.

You can't be a winner and be afraid to lose.

Also remember: "Ship is always safe at shore, but it is not built for it."

Urdu Couplets:

Girte Hain Shehsawar Hi Maidan-E-Jang Mai

Wo Tifl Kya Gire Jo Ghutnoon Ke Bal Chale

Manzil Unhi Ku Milti Hai, Jinke Sapnoon Mein Jaan Hoti Hai

Pankh Se Kuch Nahi Hota, Hosle Se Hi Udaan Hoti Hai

Motivational Quote: I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody. Bill Cosby

The Truth about Failure:

Failure doesn't mean you are a failure, it does mean you haven't succeeded yet.

Failure doesn't mean you have accomplished nothing, it does mean you have learned something.

Failure doesn't mean you have been a fool, it does mean you had a lot of faith.

Failure doesn't mean you have been disgraced, it does mean you were willing to try.

Failure doesn't mean you don't have it, it does mean you have to do something in a different way.

Failure doesn't mean you are inferior, it does mean you are not perfect.

Failure doesn't mean you've wasted your life, it does mean you've got a reason to start afresh.

Failure doesn't mean you should give up, it does mean you should try harder.

Failure doesn't mean you'll never make it, it does mean it will take a little longer.

Failure doesn't mean God has abandoned you, it does mean God has a better idea!