"How Can I Keep Myself Motivated to Pray?" - Q&A With Nouman Ali Khan

Nouman Ali Khan - Official - Bayyinah

28 Feb 202407:01

Summary

TLDRThe speaker argues that practicing religion should not require outside motivation. Just as people make themselves go to work or school even when unmotivated, religious devotion should be an ingrained mindset. The problem is that social media has bred dependence on quick bursts of external inspiration rather than internal drive. The speaker challenges listeners to commit deeply instead of seeking stimulation, comparing religious education to persistently attending difficult classes for their ultimate value.

Takeaways

😀 Motivation alone is not enough - you need a mindset and commitment to accomplish goals
😇 Don't rely on outside motivation to practice religion - it should be integral to your life
🤔 Social media has made people addicted to quick motivation rather than dedication
😠 Snap out of seeking constant motivation - have conviction in what you're doing
🧐 Accomplishing goals requires doing the work consistently, with or without motivation
😌 Going to work or school doesn't require motivational videos - you just do it
🤨 Translating complex ideas can help you stay engaged and learn better
😀 The teacher pauses a lot but keeps going - perseverance furthers
👍 Organized, step-by-step Quran learning resources can help study better
😉 Sign up for courses on Quranlearning.com for an organized Quran study approach

Q & A

What does the speaker say is the real issue behind lack of motivation, rather than motivation itself?
-The speaker says the real issue is mindset, not motivation. If you have decided something is important, you will do it whether you feel motivated that day or not.
What example does the speaker give of something people do consistently without needing external motivation?
-The speaker gives the example of going to a job everyday. People go to work consistently even when they don't feel motivated because they have made up their mind that their job is important.
According to the speaker, what is the only type of motivation you need?
-The speaker says the only motivation you need is motivation to do something even better, but not motivation to actually do it. If you have made up your mind to do something, you will do it with or without motivation.
What does the speaker say is the problem with young people today regarding motivation?
-The speaker says young people today have essentially been made addicted to short motivational content on social media without realizing it. This has made them dependent on external motivation boosts.
What example does the speaker give of doing something boring but important without needing motivation?
-The speaker gives the example of taking long commutes after work to attend difficult Arabic grammar classes simply because he valued the knowledge, not because he felt motivated.
What does the speaker say about his Arabic teacher's English skills?
-The speaker says his Arabic teacher's English skills were very poor. He would pause a lot mid-sentence as he was translating the ideas from Punjabi to English in his head.
How does the speaker say students typically react when a teacher pauses awkwardly mid-sentence?
-The speaker says when teachers pause awkwardly, students tend to lose focus or fall asleep from the lack of flow.
What does the speaker say kept him engaged during his teacher's difficult classes?
-The speaker says he kept himself awake by translating what his teacher was saying into Punjabi in his head during the awkward pauses.
What does the speaker urge the younger listeners to snap out of?
-The speaker urges the younger listeners to snap out of pretending they need external motivation and making excuses. He says they should take responsibility and expect more from themselves.
What resources does the speaker advertise at the end and what does he say is unique about them?
-The speaker advertises the resources available on bv.com for learning the Quran. He says they provide a structured, step-by-step approach from beginning to end that is not available haphazardly across YouTube.

Outlines

00:00

🧭 Navigating Motivation and Mindset

The script begins with a rhetorical question about needing motivation for work, highlighting that motivation is not always necessary for obligatory tasks, such as going to work or practicing religion. It critiques the reliance on external motivation for religious practices, suggesting that religion should not be based on emotional states but on a firm mindset. The speaker argues that the real issue is not a lack of motivation but a lack of decision and commitment to one's duties, whether religious or secular. The narrative stresses that accomplishments are driven by mindset and commitment rather than transient motivation. Furthermore, it criticizes the dependency on social media and motivational content for religious engagement, suggesting that this reliance weakens personal commitment and understanding.

05:01

📚 The Value of Commitment in Learning

This paragraph shares a personal story from the speaker's experience with a teacher who had a significant language barrier, making the learning process challenging. Despite the slow and difficult communication, the speaker emphasizes the importance of commitment to learning, regardless of external motivations. This story serves as a metaphor for the larger message of the script: the necessity of inner drive and determination in the pursuit of knowledge and personal growth, especially in religious education. The speaker concludes by encouraging the audience, particularly the younger generation, to move beyond seeking external motivation and to embrace the discipline required for genuine learning and self-improvement. The closing remarks include a call to action for a more organized and committed approach to studying the Quran through a specific platform, highlighting the efforts to make Quranic learning accessible and systematic.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Motivation

Motivation refers to the reasons or drives behind individuals' actions or behaviors. In the context of the video, motivation is discussed as both insufficient and unnecessary for sustained action towards goals, such as religious practices, work, or education. The speaker emphasizes that relying solely on motivation, especially external motivation, is a weak approach. Instead, the speaker suggests that commitment and mindset are more crucial for consistency in actions, regardless of one's emotional state.

💡Mindset

Mindset is the established set of attitudes held by someone. In the video, mindset is portrayed as a foundational element that determines an individual's approach to their duties and goals. The speaker contrasts mindset with motivation, arguing that having the right mindset (a decision to commit to something, like religion or work) is more important than being motivated. A strong mindset leads to action without the need for constant external motivation.

💡Religion

Religion, within the video, is highlighted as an integral part of life that should not be contingent upon one's emotional state or external motivation. The speaker stresses that religious practices, such as prayer, should be consistent and not reliant on emotional highs or motivational content. The idea is that true religious commitment comes from a firm belief and decision to practice, regardless of one's feelings at the moment.

💡Work

Work is mentioned as a critical aspect of life, where motivation can fluctuate daily. The speaker uses the example of going to work even when not feeling motivated, to illustrate the point that actions shouldn't depend on motivation. Instead, a strong sense of duty and responsibility, stemming from one's mindset, should drive one to work consistently.

💡Education

Education in the video symbolizes a commitment to learning and personal development, which, like work and religious practice, should not be dependent on fluctuating motivation. The speaker mentions attending university classes as an example of pushing through lack of motivation, emphasizing the importance of commitment and mindset over the need for constant inspiration.

💡Emotional State

Emotional state refers to one's current emotional condition. The video discusses how relying on one's emotional state to guide actions, especially in religious practice, is problematic. It suggests that actions based on fluctuating emotions are unreliable and that commitment should be independent of how one feels emotionally at any given time.

💡Social Media

Social media is critiqued in the video as a source of addiction to constant stimulation and motivation. The speaker suggests that an overreliance on social media for motivational content can lead to a weakened ability to take action without external inputs. This dependency is presented as a modern challenge to maintaining a consistent practice in religion, work, or other areas of life.

💡Addiction

Addiction is described in the video as a compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance or behavior. The speaker likens the dependency on motivational content and social media to an addiction, suggesting that it undermines individuals' ability to act independently of external stimuli. This concept is used to critique the contemporary reliance on motivation for action.

💡Learning

Learning is highlighted as a process that should not be solely driven by external motivation. The speaker shares personal experiences of learning Arabic and attending religious classes as examples of self-driven commitment, despite challenges and lack of motivation. This illustrates the video's message that true learning and development come from a personal decision and commitment rather than external motivational factors.

💡Commitment

Commitment is presented as a steadfast dedication to a cause or activity, regardless of one's motivational state. The video emphasizes commitment over motivation as the key to consistent practice in religion, work, and education. The speaker argues that once a person decides to commit to something, like practicing their faith or pursuing education, they should follow through on that commitment, irrespective of their emotional or motivational state at any moment.

Highlights

Motivation is not the issue, it's a problem of mindset and deciding this is the ultimate truth that cannot be compromised

If you need motivation to accomplish something, you're never going to do it

The things you accomplish are the things you'll do whether there's motivation or not

Motivation only makes you do better, but commitment and mindset make you actually do it

If mothers are addicts, some of those drugs make it into the baby's system who then have to detox; you were made addicted to social media without realizing it

Your Islam just became 2-3 minute motivation clips; that's your dependence on motivation fuel

How do I motivate myself to take transports and walk to learn boring Arabic grammar - you don't need motivation for things that are worth it

Stop pretending there's not enough reason to do your work and you need outside motivation - it's a weakness

Created many resources for Muslims to understand the Quran, an organized beginning-to-end approach for you and your family to study

We are students of the Quran ourselves who want you alongside us; sign up to make learning Quran part of your lifestyle

Lots of YouTube content but disorganized; this is step-by-step so you can fully understand

When your teacher pauses oddly in English, translate it yourself in your head to stay focused on the value of what they're teaching

The things you want to accomplish don't require outside motivation fuel, just the internal drive of commitment and mindset

If you need a motivational video to go to work, you'll never actually go - decided mindsets don't depend on motivation

Tell yourself studying religion doesn't require mood; mindset, not motivation, determines accomplishment