The Humbling Hustle #6

Lessons from Ashara Mubaraka - Through My Lens

• Actions Speak Louder Than Words (Leadership) Day 2 and 3

On the topic of the force that moves the orbits, he spoke about leadership, reminding everyone that just telling someone to do something isn’t enough. You have to act first, and then teach, so your words carry real meaning.

He also explained how everyone is a leader in his/her own way whether be the CEO of a company, leader of the home, or even just the leader of your soul. He also described how distant and baland (high) the stars are, and urged everyone to reach that same height in every aspect of life, whether it be education, character, business, servitude, health, or anything else.

Being a leader starts with leading your own soul and body. It wasn’t just about leading others… it was about looking inward. You can tell yourself a hundred times that you are going to do something, but at the end of the day, actions speak louder than words. If I don’t live what I say, it’s just empty talk. Real growth (reaching the stars [burooj]) in character, ambition, service, or anything else only comes through action.

• Love makes discipline easy. Day 4

This made a lot of sense to me because when you genuinely care about the purpose behind what you’re doing… whether it’s a dream, a passion to help people, or a commitment to personal growth… discipline stops feeling like a chore. It becomes something you’re drawn to, not pushed into.

He compared love to the tension in a string when you’re spinning a ball, or to gravity pulling everything toward the center… forces that keep things from flying off course. In the same way, love anchors us to what matters and keeps us from drifting off on a tangent. It gives meaning to the effort, and that meaning makes the hard parts feel worth it keeping you disciplined on the things that move you forward on your purpose.

• How to achieve Eudaimonia (Sa’aadat). Day 5

Eudaimonia, a word from ancient Greek, means living well or reaching a state of human flourishing. Aristotle believed that true happiness doesn’t come from short-term pleasures, but from living a life of virtue and purpose. This idea of sa’aadat reflects the same timeless wisdom shared on Day 5.

Sa’aadat can be seen in two forms: internal and external. Internal sa’aadat comes from the health of your soul and body… the things you can control. External sa’aadat depends on your environment and the people around you, which are often outside your control.

In the end, this view of happiness is about becoming the best version of yourself through good deeds, deep reflection, honest effort, building respectful relationships (social), striving for purpose (spiritual), living in alignment with your values (emotional) and exercising sound judgement (psychological).

• There is only pleasure in servitude. Day 6

When you serve with love… when you find meaning in showing up for others or for something greater than yourself… it stops feeling like obligation and starts feeling like fulfillment. The act itself becomes the reward. It’s not about recognition or status… it’s about the quiet satisfaction of giving your time, energy, or effort to something you believe in. That’s where the real joy is found.

Moving forward, I want to live with that mindset. I want to be more selfless… to give without always asking what’s in it for me. Whether it’s helping someone out, being fully present for a task, or simply showing up with sincerity… I want to make service a habit, not just an occasional gesture. When I focus less on myself and more on contributing to something meaningful, I know the fulfillment will follow.

• Protect your mind, without your awareness everything falls apart. Day 7

Our mind is one of the most important parts of who we are. What we learned about khamr (alcohol) was less about the substance and more about how anything that clouds judgment or weakens self-control can pull you away from your values. It doesn’t just harm your body… it numbs your awareness and makes it easier to lose direction.

He described drinking as turning into a سفينة من غير قبطان, a boat without a captain. That image stuck with me. I don’t need convincing to avoid alcohol, but his words reminded me how important the mind really is. It’s not just about avoiding one substance… it’s about guarding your mental clarity in every way. When your mind isn’t anchored, it’s easy to drift, lose control, and make choices that don’t align with who you want to be.

• Travel places to find your livelihood… don’t just sit in one place. Day 8

The gist of this lesson was that you should not always think that rizq will show up at your doorstep. You have to go out and find it. Staying stuck in the same place physically or mentally… makes it easy to fall into routine and miss what’s out there. The idea of traveling, exploring new paths, and doing things no one’s done before to earn a living makes sense… it’s how growth happens. It’s like he said… be a trail-blazer.

For me, that means being more open to trying new things… going to new places… and not just relying on what’s comfortable. Whether it’s starting something new, meeting people face to face, or just switching up my environment… I’m trying to be more intentional about not staying still.

• Plan to stay grounded in purpose. Day 9

That day, he taught us that whenever you do something, plan it well. He then subsequently warned us to stay away from doing things just to show off to others. Be the kind of person who does good deeds or big things, but lives as if you’ve done nothing. In that way, stay humble while striving to fulfill your purpose.

What I learned from that is to plan everything and when you plan to do something make sure to keep your intention pure because when you do something for the sake of others perception of you, you aren’t doing it for yourself or the greater purpose you want to fulfill. When you set out to do something, don’t just jump into it… take the time to think it through, be intentional, and understand why you’re doing it in the first place.

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