Personal Development Plan

Transcription

1 Personal Development Plan 1 This document is a guide for personal improvement. Inshallah, we can grow stronger in our faith, and our knowledge and more committed Muslims/Muslimahs by aiming to improve ourselves. This guide is designed for us to set some attainable goals for ourselves, then reminding ourselves of our commitment to improvement, and tracking our own progress. The categories listed are suggestions and can be adapted to your own personal plan. This plan belongs to:, who began this plan for self-improvement on, Hereby is committed to review, update and strive to attain the goals included in this plan by reviewing it every (frequency), inshallah. What I feel I should do to improve myself as a Muslim in this world: Goals to improve my accounts for the Last Day:

2 Setting Targets 2 As Muslims who are members of an Ummah, which has been given the directive to be balanced, we have to ensure that our development is also balanced and comprehensive. Since Islam is a way of life, we simply cannot afford to overlook any aspects. Otherwise we risk lopsided development in isolation. Whether we like it or not, the plan for our development is already in place all the way from Preschool (even Daycare) till the day we die. Now whether this pre-programmed plan meets the needs of a Muslim or not is a different question altogether. Needless to say, unless we take charge of our own development, someone else will. Listed below are development areas that should (inshallah) be helpful in planning our own route through life. Development Areas (Scope: Individual) Salat (Prayer) Zakat (Charity) Fasting (Sawm) Hajj (Pilgrimage) Increasing Islamic Knowledge Building Personal Skills Time & Money Sacrifices Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle Reading Books (Focus: Individual) Development Areas (Scope: Family) Family Reading Books (Focus: Family) Development Areas (Scope: Society) One-to-One Relationships, Muslim and Non-Muslim Social Responsibility / Dawa Activities Reaching out to other Muslims Participating in the Muslim Community Reading Books (Focus: Society)

3 3 Identify the areas where most improvement is needed and prioritize the areas based on their importance. Once the priorities are in place, set some specific targets with attainable goals and track the progress. Keep the goals attainable. Take one step at a time, but do take that first step, inshallah. SALAT (Prayer) Current Status 6 month goal Level Achieved 1 yr goal Level Achieved Fard (obligatory) Salah Jumu ah (Friday) Salah Salah in Jama ah (congregation) Quality of Salah Other aspects of my Salah I want to improve Meanings of Duas (prayers) read in Salah Sunnah (recommended) Prayers Comments:

4 ZAKAT, 4 SAWM (Fasting), HAJJ Current status 6 month goal Level achieved 1 year goal Level achieved Have I calculated my Zakah? When will I give Zakah this year? How will I distribute my Zakah? How many fasts do I keep during Ramadan? Have I performed the Hajj? When will I perform the Hajj? Additional opportunities I want to strive to include

5 Current Status 6 month goal Level Achieved 1 yr goal Level Achieved 5 Fasts on the 9/10 or 10/11 of Muharram Fast on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah Six Days in the month of Shawwal Performing Umrah Ramadan Scorecard Check off the days of Ramadan successfully fasted. Use this as a reminder to make up any fasts missed before next Ramadan Comments:

6 INCREASING ISLAMIC KNOWLEDGE 6 Current status 6 month goal Level achieved 1 year goal Level achieved Quran Reading on a weekly basis Arabic recitation of the Quran Pronounciation of the Surah Biography of the Prophet Islamic History Islamic Magazines Other ways I plan to increase my knowledge of Islam: Study of Hadeeth Study of Islamic Literature Studying the commentaries of the Quran Memorizing recommended Duas (prayers) read during the course of the day Working together with others to increase our knowledge Whether with a friend or a teacher, much can be gained when working together, encouraging each other, and reminding each other to continue to work towards our goals. Keep track of the people and what progress they have helped with.

7 Who I ve Studied With Topic(s) Began Ended Achieved? 7 Comments:

8 BUILDING PERSONAL SKILLS 8 In order to make progress with anyone, whether it is with our family, friends, neighbors, elected officials, the most important aspect is how well we communicate. Keeping this key goal in perspective, we need to continue to develop our skills which will help in this area. Current status 1 year goal Level achieved Can I give a speech or lead a study circle session? Can I plan/research material for a speech or discussion? Do I feel comfortable asking for information? How are my writing skills? How are my reading skills? Do I communicate or write to the elected leaders? How are my Internet skills? Am I comfortable initiating/maintaining informal discussions with Muslims & Non-Muslims? Other skills I plan to develop Comments:

9 TIME & MONEY SACRIFICES: 9 Sacrificing time and wealth for the sake of Allah (SWT) is something that a Muslim does to please the Almighty. Look for areas of sacrifice not attempted in the past. TIME SACRIFICES: I need to By doing Began Succeeded by Continuing by Money Sacrifices: I need to By doing Began Succeeded by Continuing by Other types of sacrifices : Comments:

10 MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE 10 The health that Allah (swt) has bestowed us is one of the greatest blessings that we have. As Muslims, we are commanded to take good care of our health. When we look around us especially in the society we live in, the widespread health problems are numerous. These problems are not limited to any segment of the society, but all segments of the society are equally afflicted. We must make a conscious effort to plan for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Current status 1 year goal Level achieved Do I have an exercise program in place? How much walking do I do? Is my diet balanced? How should I change my diet to better balance it? Which sports do I regularly participate in? What outdoor activities do I do? Do I smoke or use any tobacco products? Do I have regular medical checkups/consultations? Do I wear a seatbelt? Do I promote healthy lifestyles? Other activities I plan to develop Comments:

11 READINGS (Focus: Individual) 11 Identify books that will help your personal growth. Record the title, author, general topic and date each book was read. Additionally, include a short summary of each book, what was gained by reading it, and if you gained additional information from the book (or not). Title Author Topic Date Helpful? Yes No Summary: What I learned from this book: Make as many copies as necessary of this page. Refer back to this list often to recommend books to others. Make as many copies as necessary of this page. Refer back to this list often to recommend books to others.

12 FAMILY 12 Children, siblings, parents and spouses often need encouragement too. Setting a good example is important. We should do whatever we can to encourage improvements in our families. Current status 6 month goal Level achieved 1 year goal Level achieved Family Discussion on Islam Praying Together Reducing Watching TV Discussing problems/issues of members Reducing distance between members Knowing every member s activities Distribution of responsibilities Encouraging Family Members to Improvements: Comments: Who Working on Began 6 month level 1 year level

13 READINGS (Focus: Family) 13 Identify books related to improving your family. Keep track of the books read. Record the title, author, general topic and date each book was read. Additionally, include a short summary of each book, what was gained by reading it, and if you gained additional information from the book (or not). Title Author Topic Date Helpful? Yes No Summary: What I learned from this book: Make as many copies as necessary of this page. Refer back to this list often to recommend books to others.

14 ONE-TO-ONE RELATIONSHIPS 14 Inviting others to Islam, explaining Islam to non-muslim neighbors, co-workers, class fellows, and encouraging other Muslims to improve themselves is required of all of us. Develop and build relationships that create dialogs with non-muslims and help fellow Muslims improve themselves. Keep track of the progress of discussions, the successes and the difficulties; in each relationship. Name: Type of Relationship: Non-Muslim/Friend/Coworker/Neighbor/Family Subjects Discussed Progress Made

15 Problem Areas 15 Comments: Make copy of this page for each relevant dialog. Refer back to it to track progress as well as to learn what efforts have brought success and what were less successful.

16 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY / DA WAH ACTIVITIES 16 As Muslims in America we are expected to do what we can to promote and encourage the betterment of the society in which we live. Giving time to the community at large is an obligation on us. There are many causes we can volunteer time to, donate some money towards, or merely participate in. Anything from volunteering at a school, donating to benefit medical research, marching against injustice and so on will strengthen our personal resolve as well as let the society at large know that Muslims care too. Keep track of involvement/participation below. Cause/Task Benefiting whom? Date Make as many copies as necessary of this page. Refer back to this list often to recommend tasks/causes to others looking for ways to make a difference. Make as many copies as necessary of this page. Refer back to this list often to recommend tasks/causes to others looking for ways to make a difference.

17 REACHING OUT TO OTHER MUSLIMS: 17 Efforts must be made to reach out to brothers and sisters in Islam. Visit the sick, console the grieving, counsel those in need, befriend and invite others in all ways, being there for fellow Muslims. Reaching across ethnic and language barriers, surprising someone with a gift or a much needed helping hand, inviting others to share everything from a dinner or an lecture - it is easy to neglect or postpone such things. Some people may be strong in one area, but weak in another that could easily be improved by keeping track and setting some goals. Who What was done? Date Make as many copies as necessary of this page. Try to do various types of helping rather than being limited to one or two types.

18 PARTICIPATING IN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY: 18 Being part of a Muslim community is essential. Whether it is going often to the masjid, volunteering time at an Islamic center or Islamic school, or participating in programs held by Islamic Organizations, we can benefit from increasing our activities and support. How often do I go to the masjid weekly? How often do I go to an Islamic lecture (monthly)? How often do I invite Muslims to my home per month? How often do I visit other Muslims homes per month? How often do I participate in activities at the masjid per month? How many Islamic organizations do I belong to? Ways to Increase My Involvement: Comments: Current status 6 month goal Level achieved 1 year goal Level achieved I need to By doing Began Succeeded by Continuing by

19 READINGS (Focus: Society) 19 Identify books related to improving your role in this society. Record the title, author, general topic and date each book was read. Additionally, include a short summary of each book, what was gained by reading it, and if you gained additional information from the book (or not). Title Author Topic Date Helpful? Yes No Summary: What I learned from this book: Make as many copies as necessary of this page. Refer back to this list often to recommend books to others.