Self-perceptions as a Foundation of Self-development
by : Rizki Farani — (Lecture of PBI UII)—
Learning is an essential part of human life, either it is learning in formal educational institutions or learning in community. In Islamic perspective, learning is a religious practice. Islam serves as a guide on how we should acquire knowledge, abilities, attitudes, and skills. As stated in Al-Hashr verse 18, “O believers! Be mindful of Allah and let every soul look to what ˹deeds˺ it has sent forth for tomorrow. And fear Allah, ˹for˺ certainly Allah is All-Aware of what you do” (https://quran.com/en/al-hashr/18).
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌۭ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍۢ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ
ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ١٨
Muslims are encouraged to commit on conducting good deeds as religious awareness. According to the notion, learning has two main focuses: process and results. The process involves self-reflection and evaluation. The outcomes can include discovering our self-identity, developing our personal personalities, and solidifying our guiding values.
However, people come from different life histories. They have unique physical and psychological characteristics and experience different self-development stages. This variability has an impact on how people learn and meet learning objectives. In some cases, it is impossible to conclude a personal story based on a single point of view. Unfortunately, social interaction today tends to lead us to easily jump into conclusion. Information is omitted, manipulated, and shared without considering validity, reliability, values, and norms. As the impact, people are busy arguing different perspective without offering any solution. Social media is one of the significant causes of on-going pro and cons about life. Some topics on social media are viewed by looking at two sides only, right, and wrong, without reviewing internal conditions within each person’s heart. Several social conflicts happen because people are not able to provide sufficient empathy for each other.
Therefore, it is necessary to reflect our journey of self-development. Basically, human perspective on themselves determines self-development. This point view involves the process of building internal motivation, picturing personal hope, maintaining positive values, enhancing self-regulation, or empowering self-confidence. Thus, it is necessary to nurture positive expectations for ourselves (Mustafa, 2013). A positive outlook helps us accept changes in all aspects of life. Opening opportunities of changes in life will lead us to another growth process (Noddings, 1998).
Reflecting on my personal experiences, self-development can begin with exploring hidden talents and healing broken hearts. I discovered past trauma or neglected childhood wounds may lock the door to self-development. It was hard to forgive past and move on, but once I achieved my goals, a new hope began to miraculously appear. I may never find my perfect self, but I feel more confident in controlling my emotions. Now, I accept happiness, sadness, anger, and disappointment as the cycle of life. These feelings don’t last forever as they constantly provide me with new insights to improve my positive perceptions. I am not promising smooth results and life does not always offer sweet stories, but giving a chance for ourselves to write our version of success is a privilege to be a human being.
In sum, positive self-perception is about obtaining hidden messages beyond every effort, challenge, and destiny. Islam supports self-development, Allah SWT trusts us to find our faith and destiny. Three powerful steps: effort, prayer and patient are complete habit to trigger self-development based on Islamic values.
لَهُۥ مُعَقِّبَـٰتٌۭ مِّنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ يَحْفَظُونَهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ
مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍۢ سُوٓءًۭا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ ۚ وَمَا
لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَالٍ ١١
As promised in Surah al-Ra’du verse 11: For each one there are successive angels before and behind, protecting them by Allah’s command. Indeed, Allah would never change a people’s state ˹of favour˺ until they change their own state ˹of faith˺. And if it is Allah’s Will to torment a people, it can never be averted, nor can they find a protector other than Him) (https://quran.com/en/ar-rad/11).
May Allah SWT would always constantly direct us to reveal our best stories in life.
