Getting Fit for Success
By Audrey Muhammad
Have you ever seen people who have had experienced a “horrible” childhood, but were removed from an environment, gained an education and became very successful? What helped to lead them to “get fit” to be successful? In one case, a young man may have been taken out of a bad home environment where he was abused and now was given an opportunity to get an education and better himself. He or she studies and becomes successful in spite of the pain of their past. How did he do it? Did he get help? In a sense, he went through “therapy,” but not in the traditional sense. Three things are needed for a thing to grow: the right conditions, the right environment and the right food. In order to accept the truth, our heart and mind must be in an “accepting” condition, we must be placed in a better/safe environment and we must me fed the proper food, mentally and spiritually. The teachings is providing all three.
One day I had a discussion with a believer about how the teachings of The Most Honorable Elijah is almost like a "therapy" or “treatment” for the condition of Black people in America that prepares us for success. A “treatment” is “a process or manner of behaving toward or dealing with a person or thing(Oxford Dictionary.) According to the book, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, valid forms of therapy or treatment, along with “dianetics” include: Environmental change, education, and physical treatment(183).
What is considered “environmental change?” For example, think of how we were taken out of a "worldly environment" and placed in a "mosque" or more secure environment. Another example would be to take a teen out of a violent neighborhood can help improve his mental well-being and “tone scale” or mood. Being in a peaceful and prayer environment can help improve your health also. We should strive to turn our homes a beautiful and peaceful “environment.” Remove harmful cleansers with chemicals and keep your home clean and beautify it with plants, pictures and fresh air. These actions will help you get your home life “fit for success.”
Education or gaining of knowledge is also considered a type of “treatment.” When we gained knowledge about God and ourselves, we are EMPOWERED to change our lives and INFLUENCE or motivate others. One of the greatest feelings a person can have is a feeling of accomplishment. Seek knowledge…it empowers you. Minister Farrakhan mentioned in Closing the Gap that the “highest form of communication is to speak on, ask questions about, argue over what God has revealed to His servant (321). A couple of months ago I was motivated to pick up "Our Saviour has Arrived" when a believer quoted something interesting from the book. I couldn't go to sleep until I found the passage because I love getting insightful and spiritual knowledge. The “truth” energizes you. The Modern Science of Mental Health Book even states that you can be so "educated into a strong faith that it helps you to "rise above your engrams" (p. 184). Hmm, hasn't Islam helped to improve the condition of many brothers and sisters? No matter the religion, the knowledge of the “truth” and FAITH in God helps enhance a person. An excellent book to read to gain “knowledge of yourself,” how to pray and how to develop a business blueprint is Message to the Blackman.
The last type of “treatment” mentioned is “physical treatment” or improvement. For example, we are taught how to “eat to live” and fast (abstaining from food or drink). Eating the proper foods can not only improve your health, it also can improve your mood. Exercising is also a part of physical treatment. It rejuvenates and strengthens our mind and body. We have been given a wealth of knowledge in the teachings. Master Fard Muhammad knew what he was doing when he came for us and gave The Honorable Elijah Muhammad the teachings; we just have to work on implementing it MORE into our lives and influence others. As we expressed our tormented past with the Slave-master and his children, it was almost like having a mass “auditing” session as we shared our experiences and open us to receive the truth and further develop ourselves. (Note: to “audit” means to listen and also “to compute” according to Dianetic terms). Please Check out the book, How to Eat to Live by The Honorable Elijah Muhammad.
My point? We have been given a wonderful foundation in terms of “treatment” and how to create a righteous environment, improve our bodies with physical treatment or exercise and improve our mind with proper mental and spiritual food. Remember, the Restrictive Law of Islam is our Success at any time. Obedience to it will help prevent the need for “therapy” in the future. As my Sister Nisa Islam Muhammad would say, “Islam(Peace) is not the problem, Islam is the solution.” It is helping us “get fit for success!”
May Allah (God) bless us all with peace, love, health, wealth and happiness.
(Audrey Muhammad is a certified fitness instructor and the author of the terrific book, Get Fit to Live: Be your best you! available at www.getfit2live.org and the Respect for Life Bookstore. Her audio book, Get Fit to Live is also available. To order the Book and get a FREE copy of the audiobook CD, send a $12 money order(plus $3 shipping) to Get Fit To Live, P.O. Box 61402, Raleigh, NC , 27661. Please consult a physician before beginning any new workout or dietary program). Also, visit www.virtuemag.com to order your copy of Virtue Today Magazine.
