Ta-Ha Thoughts: Cultivating Noble Habits for a Lifetime

As the Gregorian calendar turns to January, we naturally find ourselves looking towards the blank canvas of the year ahead with renewed hope and optimism. There is a collective impulse to “start afresh”, and make intentions that will help us be better versions of ourselves. In a few days the month of Sha‘ban will also arrive, funnelling our thoughts to spiritual preparation for the holy month of Ramadan. What better time, then, to set ourselves up for the weeks and months ahead with the aim of elevating our worship and being the best versions of ourselves yet.

As with any accomplishment in life, this version of ourselves cannot sustainably be achieved overnight with sudden changes and dramatic decisions. Rather, it is the quiet accumulation of small, consistent actions – our daily habits – that, over time, will carry us to where we would like to be.

To support you on your journey of arriving, we have produced the Secrets to Successful Habits Journal. This beautiful hardback edition is the companion volume to our bestselling “Secrets to” series (Successful Marriage, Surviving In-Laws, Successful Families, and Self-Esteem).

Afshan Khan, a counsellor with over forty years of experience, started writing this series after observing a recurring pattern in the lives of her clients. She noted that the fractures in our relationships – whether with spouses, family, in-laws or wider society – largely stem from unresolved baggage and a fragile, often unhealthy, relationship with our own self. In her words:

If we want to heal our relationships, we need to heal ourselves.

We are, in essence, the quality of our thoughts and our daily actions. If we wish to improve our external world, we must first attend to our internal architecture.

The Secrets to Successful Habits Journal is designed not simply to be a record or a tracker, but as a gentle guide. It walks you through establishing your SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound). Then, over a period of thirty days – a timeframe that allows for cementing your habits within your daily routine – you can document elements of your day within a structured framework that is, at the same time, spacious enough for you to explore your thoughts. The main elements of this journal that inculcate this rhythm are:

• The Morning Check-in: A space to set your intentions (niyyah) and plan for the day ahead.
• The Evening Reflection: A few moments to track your habits, review your day with honesty, and offer gratitude.
• The Weekly Review: An opportunity to ensure your daily steps are actually leading you toward your values and long-term goals.

In this way, the journal helps bridge the gap between your wish for a particular state in the future, and the practical steps required to get there.

With Ramadan beginning next month, you can think of this journal as a tool to clear the weeds from the garden of your heart before the rains of Ramadan fall. These thirty days in which you nourish your wellbeing, will leave you feeling less chaotic, more prepared and more open to receive the blessings that Ramadan brings with it.

Whether your aim is to eat more mindfully, move better, memorise a new chapter of the Qur’an, or simply find more stillness in your salah, the discipline of journaling provides the focus needed to achieve it.

Ultimately, this journal is about more than increasing your productivity or tracking your habits, it is about aligning yourself with the person Allah created you to be. It is about moving away from being busy and moving toward being purposeful and Allah-centred.

We invite you to explore the Secrets to Successful Habits Journal. Let it be a quiet space for your thoughts, a mirror for your actions, and a stepping stone toward a year of balance, healing, and noble character, insha’Allah.