by Yousra Elhawary
PART II
Bridging Motivation, Passion, and Peak Performance
Reaching peak performance isn’t just about pushing limits—it’s about finding harmony within our physical and psycho-spiritual selves. From the smallest actions to consistent behaviors and ultimate achievements, motivation and passion play a key role in shaping who we are and what we strive for as Muslims. They serve as guiding forces, helping us navigate our daily lives and align our goals with both worldly success and eternal rewards.
When understood deeply, these concepts reveal how they act as pillars in building our physical and spiritual resilience. Motivation and passion fuel sustained effort and persistence, but without balance and self-awareness, they can also lead to overexertion or burnout, derailing us from our higher objectives.
In the sections ahead, we’ll take a closer look at how these dynamics unfold in real-life situations, especially when it comes to maintaining spiritual well-being. Together, we’ll explore how they intersect with the challenges of striving in a demanding and effortful life.
Intrinsic-Mastery Motivation
Modern Psychology introduces the idea of mastery motivation: the drive to solve challenges or master skills with focus and persistence. Sounds great, right? But here’s the catch: if not guided properly, this energy can spiral into unhealthy perfectionism, obsessive behaviors, or overworking ourselves.
From an Islamic perspective, to master or perfect something (Itqan) is valuable when it is enveloped by excellence (Ihsan): Allah’s Watchfulness – as the Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah loves that when one of you does something, that they perfect it”.
Thus, when not directed toward pleasing Allah ﷻ and fulfilling our roles in life, it becomes harmful especially when we lose sight of the bigger picture or deviate and allow worldly pursuits to consume us. Allah reminds us in the Quran:
“Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children…” (Quran 57:20)
Striving for excellence is encouraged but it must be done with moderation (Qist) and the right intentions.
Vitality and Burnout
We’ve all had moments when we feel alive and full of energy, ready to tackle any challenge. This is known as subjective vitality—a state where you feel truly vibrant. But here’s the tricky part: if we don’t balance this energy with rest and self-care, it can lead to burnout, particularly in mastery-motivated individuals. As they feel vital psychologically, they might be stressing and overworking their physical and cognitive capacities.
For example, when we’re passionate about a project or deeply committed to helping others, we might ignore signs of exhaustion. Combine this with physical exertion (e.g. training), lack of sleep, or too much caffeine! Together, with less self-awareness and response to body messages, it’s easy to reach a point of depletion, such as ego depletion – a decline in self-control performance. This inevitably impacts a person’s social behavior, moral decision-making ability, and responses to daily, normal anxiety-provoking situations due to emotional stress (e.g. anger, frustration). Also, it leads to energy depletion, resulting in frequent fatigue, poor eating habits, or lack of sleep.
Caring for our physical and mental health is part of our duty as Muslims. However, balance (Mizan) is one of the central Islamic principles evident in the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ who said:
“The religion (of Islam) is easy, and whoever makes the religion a rigor, it will overpower him. So, follow a middle course (in worship); if you can’t do this, do something near to it and give glad tidings and seek help (of Allah) at morn and at dusk and some part of the night“
Following these teachings not only refrains us from physical exhaustion but also prevents reaching a state of spiritual depletion.
What Is Spiritual Depletion?
Burnout is something we all recognize—physical and mental exhaustion that leaves us drained. But spiritual depletion? That’s something deeper. We can relate it to the concept of ‘righteous headlessness.’ Early Muslim scholars used this term to describe what happens when even the most righteous people lose their balance—overexerting themselves on some good deeds while unintentionally neglecting other significant aspects of their being. It’s a sense of disconnection: from your inner compass, your higher purpose, and even your authentic self. In this state, the heart—the guide of our spiritual journey—struggles to receive light and guidance.
Feeling spiritually depleted doesn’t mean you’re weak in faith or failing as a Muslim. Think of it as your soul sending a signal—it’s running low on fuel. And just like a car needs fuel to power its engine, we need spiritual energy to activate our higher faculties of intellect, reasoning, and perception, and to restore our determination (Azimah). Without it, we can’t find our flow or enter the ‘zone of peak performance,’ leaving one struggling to pursue higher goals.
Unlike burnout, spiritual depletion may not present clear severe physical symptoms. It’s more subtle. Often, it comes from being overwhelmed by multiple external stimuli—such as exercise, social life, work, or unnecessary distractions of modern life that keep us too busy to recognize our need for stillness, seclusion, and self-reflection. Over time, this wears down our spiritual resilience, leaving us less vigilant and more disconnected.
So, how do we address this? The answer lies in holistic care. Taking care of the soul and body is essential to restore inner and outer self balances and elevate levels of consciousness. With Allah’s mercy, we can bring our hearts back to life. The Quran beautifully describes the balance we strive for:
وَمَآ أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِىٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلنَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌۢ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّىٓ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
“Indeed, the soul is prone to evil, except for those upon whom my Lord has mercy.” (Quran 12:53)
Through regular reflection, heartfelt prayer, and a deep reliance on Allah, we can pull ourselves out of spiritual depletion and restore our inner harmony.
Finding Balance: Tips to Recharge
If you’ve been feeling drained or overwhelmed, here are some tips to help you regain balance and vitality—physically, mentally, and spiritually:
- Eliminate Distractions: Disconnect from unnecessary sources of stimulation, such as excessive mobile notifications, background noise, or unhealthy relationships. Creating a calm environment allows you to focus and reconnect with your inner self.
- Prioritize: While we might wish for superpowers, it’s essential to stay realistic. Prioritize your short- and long-term goals and projects, planning in a way that honors the rights of both your body and soul.
“Your body has a right over you” – Allah’s Messenger ﷺ
- Pause for Dua and Dhikr: Use moments of quiet to connect with Allah ﷻ and ask for His help. Even simple phrases like SubhanAllah or Alhamdulillah can have a profound effect. Reflecting on Allah’s names, such as Al-Muhi (The Giver of Life) or Al-Qawi (The Strong), can bring comfort and strength.
- Gentle Physical Activity: Low-intensity exercises, like stretching or walking, can help relieve tension and boost energy.
- Socialize and Share: Spending time with loved ones or seeking advice from trusted friends can lighten the burden and renew your perspective.
- Improve Nutrition: Nourish your body with wholesome foods (e.g. dates) and relaxing herbal teas to replenish your energy naturally.
- Relax and Breathe: Practicing relaxation techniques or deep breathing can calm your mind and reduce stress.
Final Thoughts
Motivation and passion are incredible gifts from Allah ﷻ, driving us to achieve our goals and fulfil the purpose of our creation. But they require balance!
By staying mindful of our limits, nurturing our spiritual connection, and caring for our physical and mental health, we can ensure these forces remain sources of strength rather than strain.
Remember, Allah loves consistent effort, even if it’s small. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if they are few.”
Finally, imagine yourself at the age of forty, as mentioned in the Qur’an. What kind of purpose would you want to live for, and how do your current motivations contribute to it?
It is your turn to reflect!
