THE POWER OF PERSEVERANCE Keep Digging Every Day

A single drop of water can reveal the nature of the vessel from which it comes. If the vessel contains salty water, even one drop will taste salty. The drop is small, but it carries the quality of the whole. Something similar happens with human beings. Our character is revealed not only through major decisions but also through small moments. A careless remark, an impatient response, an unfair judgement, a refusal to help, or a dishonest act may appear insignificant. Yet such moments can reveal what is taking place within us. A person may speak beautifully about kindness, honesty and humility. But real character is seen in behaviour. It becomes especially visible when there is no advantage in doing good, no audience to appreciate us and no fear of being judged. The Quran says: Indeed, God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. (13: 11) This points to an important truth: human character is not fixed. A weakness need not become a permanent feature of our personality. We have the ability to recognize our faults, examine them and gradually reform ourselves. This requires self-examination. We should occasionally ask: How do I behave when I am angry? How do I respond when someone disagrees with me? Can I admit my mistakes? Do I treat people with respect when I have nothing to gain from them? Discovering a fault in ourselves is not a cause for despair. It is an opportunity for improvement. A person who can acknowledge, “I was wrong,” has already taken the first step towards becoming better. Confucius is credited with saying, “To make a mistake and not correct it—that is a mistake.” The real measure of character is not perfection. It is our willingness to recognize our shortcomings and correct them. Every small act is like a drop from the vessel of our personality. If we want those drops to be pure, we must work on what lies within.  A DROP REVEALS CHARACTER What Lies Within