As salamu Alaykum!

Welcome back. Today is Day 3 of The Love, Money and Purpose Blueprint.

Today we are talking about Mistake #3:  Tolerating misery in your professional career.
Specifically:

• Why success feels empty, no matter how much you achieve.
• How chasing status or approval steals joy and fulfillment from your daily life.
• The shift that reconnects your career, faith, and personal purpose so work feels meaningful.

Let’s dive in. 

THE MISTAKE: TOLERATING MISERY IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAREER

True success is a feeling of peace and tranquility. 

It's not a thing you can hold, display, or put on your resume. Success isn't the corner office, the luxury car, or the prestigious title. It's that deep inner certainty that you're exactly where Allah intended you to be, doing exactly what you were created to do. It's the sukoon (tranquility) that comes when your outer work aligns with your inner purpose.

Think about it - you've probably met people who have "everything" on paper but seem restless, anxious, always chasing the next milestone. And maybe you've encountered others with modest circumstances who radiate contentment and purpose. The difference isn't in what they have, but in how aligned they are with their true calling.

This is why the Quran speaks about those who believe and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. That rest, that sakina (divine tranquility), is what real success feels like from the inside.

But when it comes to conventional success, the feelings most people actually have are:

Resentment - They went to graduate school, saved diligently, contributed to their 401k, followed all the "right" steps... yet feel trapped and unfulfilled.

Lack of self-worth - Despite external achievements, there's an internal void that no promotion or salary increase seems to fill so they are continually chasing. 

Inability to pivot - They feel stuck in careers that drain their soul because they've invested so much time and energy into a path but are too scared to let it go.

THE REASON THIS HAPPENS

So why do so many of us find ourselves trapped in careers that feel spiritually bankrupt, despite following all the "right" steps? 

The answer lies in how we've been conditioned to define success from childhood - not according to Islamic principles, but according to a secular worldview that prioritizes accumulation over actualization, status over service, and external validation over internal alignment with our Creator's plan.

We were taught to: 

Equate success with material things: We've been conditioned to measure our worth by our job title, salary, possessions, and social status. But this external validation never satisfies the soul because it's not aligned with our deeper purpose. We’ve borrowed society's definition of success instead of listening to what's within us

Mistake humbleness with lack of ambition: There's a common misconception that being humble means playing small or not reaching to high and being content with what you have. Deny that you want more, better, different.  

But true humbleness requires something to be humble about. You can't demonstrate humility as a "nobody" - that's just obscurity. Real humility comes from having power, influence, or success and choosing to use it with grace and service to others.

HOW TO FIX IT

The solution isn’t to grind harder or chase a different title.

It’s to realign how you define success in the first place. Islam gives us a framework that lifts us out of society’s shallow metrics and points us back to what truly matters: living in harmony with our fitra, serving Allah with the gifts He’s given us, and trusting Him as the ultimate source of provision. 

When you shift your definition of success, your work stops being a source of misery and becomes a source of meaning, worship, and growth.

Here are some shifts to help you with this mindset change:

Understand that success is the freedom to return to your fitra.

Your natural state is one of peace, purpose, and connection with Allah. True success is the ability to live from that state, expressing your authentic self while serving Allah and His creation. Allah Himself wants this success for us; just reflect on the duʿa “Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah wa fil-ākhirati hasanah wa qinā ʿadhāban-nār” (Our Lord, grant us goodness in this world and goodness in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire).

Remove yourself from the equation as much as possible.

Each of us is bestowed with a unique gift by Allah, and our responsibility is to identify that gift and act upon it. When you follow what you’re naturally drawn to, Allah’s provision follows, even if the path doesn’t look perfectly linear or safe. The more you can detach yourself from your work and see yourself as a vessel for something greater, the more aligned and fulfilled you'll become. When you work with the belief that you're a conduit for divine blessing and service, work transforms from a burden to an act of worship.

Your rizq (sustenance) comes from Allah alone.

The means can be anything - a paycheck, an inheritance, a business opportunity, an investment return. But recognizing that Allah is the ultimate source frees you from the anxiety and desperation that comes from thinking your career is your provider.

Aligned with your faith, gifts, and purpose, work transforms from misery into meaning, becoming a platform for worship, service, and growth.

Tell me, where in your career do you feel misaligned? Feel free to hit reply and let me know! 

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK YOUR INBOX TOMORROW!

You have come so far, keep going! You are over halfway through and I hope you’re noting what you can implement from each days lessons.

Stay tuned for tomorrow, we will dig into Mistake #4: Believing Love and a Lasting Marriage Aren’t Possible 

Specifically:

• How beliefs like ‘no good men exist,’ past heartbreaks, or fear of marriage limit what’s possible.
• Why these beliefs take root
• How to shift your mindset and practice faith in a way that opens the door to love
  
  

Keep an eye on your inbox, you won’t want to miss this!

With love,

Zahra

P.S.  A resource to help you connect with the abundance Allah has for you:

Free Islamic Wealth affirmations