Reverse Negotiation does not work!

Success is not something thats always straight ahead. sometimes you got to take an exit and diviate from your routine path. i have been on the same route all these days and couldn't see anything exciting ahead on my way. so thought of taking an exit..being optimistic that it will lead me to success going forward. i find it very apt to compare my career as being driving on a highway. if you are on a single lane road(small company),then changing lanes(projects) is not an option. so you plan to slow down and take an exit from that road..planning behind your mind that you'll be catching another highway(company) soon that will be bigger and broader where you can cruise through. and, fully aware that there might be a stop signal right after you get off the road. well, the opinion of the general public to whom i have spoken thinks this to be a brave/stupid plan. the plan they suggest is to catch a flyover that connects your road to a different highway you want to be on. well thats the ideal case and next to impossible for me :P. so here i am, all set with my stupid cum brave plan.
But suprisingly i am bribed by something to stick onto the same highway! now i am in a position where i might not reach my destination any faster but will gain something being on the same way(ofcourse it has to be the greenbacks!). and as the title of the topic suggests, i tried to be stupid-er by doing a reverse negotiation..yeah! negotiating not for the benefit..i think i was being JUST and honest :P. and yeah i failed the negotiation part miserably..which proves to be fantastic for me!
Allz well that ends well..hopefully.

Making ones prayers...

If not every non Arabic speaking person, at least I find it difficult to concentrate fully during the prayers. there are several hadiths that describe as to how one can increase the khushu wa khudhu(humility, Submissiveness, tenderness in the heart) during prayers. but still people get diverted. i remember reading one of the scholar who said upon asking how he concentrates in prayers, he said, 'while praying i feel shaitaan(devil) is behind me, heaven on my right side, hell on my left and Allah SWT in front of me. this makes me to be steadfast.' Alhamdulillah(All praise to Allah). but as new generation muslims we still get diverted. if its the fajar prayer, after praying and coming back to bed we wonder whether we prayed in real or was it in a dream!(sorry to say but it happens with me sometime). if its zohar, in prayer you will be solving the incomplete algorithm that you left at your desk. if its maghrib, you are empty stomach and tired and feel pity for yourself. and for isha, you think you should have slept by this time, or you think that you wasted the day and will not do so tomorrow! All in all the prayers have become a break from the routine to think of what you did and what you will be doing.

I think I recently found a way to work on ones concentration during the prayers (I should have done this long before. will have to be regular atleast from now on to really make it effective). Personally i find it appealing. (yeah! to boost my confidence!). the secret is, sleep a little early in the night..get up an hour or 45mins before fajar time..this should not be tough at all if you sleep early(can be done practically on weekends). make wadhu(ablution) and pray 8 rakaats in denominations of 2. well not much exciting till now ? the other MOST important thing is to read those surahs (chapters) that you have memorized recently...the surahs that do not come automatically from your subconscious mind. this is very important. as soon as you tend to deviate your concentration, you realize that you are derailing in your recitation. you just HAVE to be in prayers to recite, otherwise it stops or goes wrong. also recite a little bit loud..as loud as it is audible to yourself. this technique also encourages one to memorize new surahs. surah yaseen is the best to start with. then surah rehman and others can follow.

well I share this to encourage myself first. and as everyone know, night prayers have atmost significance. so it a gain gain situation for us! and yeah dont forget to make dua(suplication) after your prayers.

May Allah accept from all of us. Ameen.