Affirmations are positive statements that, when repeated regularly, can influence our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. They have the potential to shape our belief systems, mindset and attitude towards life.
For Muslim parents, affirmations can be a powerful tool to guide our children in the right direction and instil the values and beliefs that are dear to our hearts.
God-Centric Affirmations vs. Generic Affirmations
Generic affirmations, such as "I am strong" or "I am confident," can be effective, but they often lack the spiritual depth and purpose living that our faith provides. God-Centric affirmations, on the other hand, are rooted in Islamic teachings and are specifically designed to nurture both the psychological and spiritual aspects of our children's well-being.
Therefore, instead of just teaching our children to only say a generic affirmation of ‘I am kind’, we can teach them that Allah (SWT) is The Most Kind and He wants us to be kind to ourselves and other. They begin to see kindness around them and this connects them to Allah (SWT) at every stage of their life.
The Importance of God-Centric Affirmations
As parents, we play a pivotal role in shaping our children's beliefs, values, and character. God-Centric affirmations are a way for us to integrate spirituality and positive psychology into their daily lives. These affirmations align our children's thoughts and actions with the principles of Islam, teaching them to rely on Allah (SWT) and seek His guidance in all aspects of life.
God-Centric affirmations allow us to teach our children that everything we have around us and everything good within us is from Allah (SWT).
Therefore, although we cannot see Allah (SWT) with our eyes, everything around us guides us towards Him and our belief in Him guides us to be the best we can be. We can know Allah (SWT) through His qualities and remember that all His creations lead us to Him. Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Quran:
وَ لِلَّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَ الْمَغْرِبُ فَأَيْنَما تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ واسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And to Allah belong the East and the West, wherever you turn, there is the Presence of Allah. Surely Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing (2:115)
Therefore, when all our teachings on self-development, social interactions and environmental awareness are God-centric, our children will not only thrive in this life, they will insha'Allah have deep faith in Allah (SWT) to be earn the happiness of the hereafter.
How do we put it into practice?
At Mind My Soul, we have created unique God-Centric affirmation cards, ‘Asma + Me’, in which, each affirmation is linked to at least one of the names of Allah (SWT). They are designed to nurture your child’s personal and spiritual growth through connection with The Divine, effective activities and discussions to instil the teachings in an effective and fun way.
