Spiritual Maintenance after Ramadaan

9. Think of yourself as a changed, different, new person. This simple psychological shift in your thinking about your own image can do wonders. Tell yourself, “I can’t continue this ill-behaviour. I am better than that. I am stronger. I am wiser.” The whole world can encourage you with words of motivation and inspiration, but if you don’t tell it to yourself and if you yourself don’t believe that you are able to overcome these hurdles and break these barriers, than it will be very difficult to change

10. Reward success: The most fundamental law in all of psychology is the “law of effect.” It simply states that actions followed by rewards are strengthened and likely to recur. Unfortunately, studies show that people rarely use this technique when trying to change personal habits.

Setting up formal or informal rewards for success greatly increases your chances of transforming bad habits into good ones, and is far more effective than punishing yourself for bad habits or setbacks.

This is the very reason why the Ulama say that if you want a person to start practising on a certain good action, or if you want to encourage yourself to start a good action, then read about the virtues of that action.

In numerous places in the Quraan, Allah mentions the rewards of Jannah in various different ways, to be given to the righteous Believers , as Allah also makes us aware that if we are from amongst the successful than a beautiful abode awaits us.
وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا وَمَسَـٰكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِى جَنَّـٰتِ عَدْنٍ ۚ وَرِضْوَٰنٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
Allah has promised to the believers, both men and women, gardens beneath which rivers flow, to live therein forever, and they will have beautiful mansions in these gardens of everlasting bliss. Best of all, they will have the good pleasure of Allah. Now that is the highest achievement. [At Tauba 9:72]

As Muslims we should also remember that the ultimate reward is Allah’s Pleasure and Paradise in the Hereafter.

11. Get help: Tell someone about your effort to change if it helps. He or she may keep you on track and may offer some good advice. Read books that will encourage you to do virtues actions. Join the various (amaal) programs in your local Masjid. Ladies should endeavour to join their local Taalimi gatherings. There are good and sincere people who are ready to assist. We are not an island- We are an Ummah!

12. Boost your spiritual immune system: By continuing with fasting, doing good actions, spending time in the Masjid with the pious friends of Allah or going out in the Path of Allah will boost your Imaan which will provide you with internal strength to overcome temptations to reverting to old bad habits.