On lizards and likes (or the value of focusing on process rather than outcome)

A significant distinction that enables conscious action is focusing on process rather than outcome. Keeping our sights on what we can do is empowering.

On the other hand, when our eye is on the outcome, we can become discouraged and lose our will to take action. Many causes and projects are so huge that it is extremely difficult to see the benefit of doing anything about it. Protesting terrorism, oppression injustice, global warming all come to mind as examples.

 This principle is highlighted in the Quran in several places when Allah swt reminds the prophets that their mission and job is to deliver the message. They are not held responsible for the impact of the message or how many people pay heed. In fact, there are many instances when Allah swt highlights the fact how few people paid heed to the message in the lives of His messengers.

 On a smaller scale, becoming overly attached to people’s approval of our words and actions can greatly hinder us in taking action, even when we feel pulled to do so. Our need to be liked and admired by peers can stop us in a couple of ways: firstly, it may stop us from entering the arena at all. If we speak out on anything, or take action, we will likely be criticized.

 Secondly, by speaking out or writing on any issue, we are making ourselves vulnerable by publicly displaying our imperfections in style and diction.

In the world of social media, the anxiety about speaking up has acquired new dimensions. This is an arena is where the success of messages and ideas is judged by likes and clicks. Once an idea or opinion is shared, the nature of instant feedback (or lack of it) through likes and clicks confuses the worth of the message with how many people many be called to ‘like’ a message at any given time.

The desire to take a stand on an issue by posting on social networks begins with great intentions: we are called to spread the message, do a little bit of tabligh work, share an idea, speak out about an issue. What better way than social media, we convince ourselves, to reach many people with very little investment of time and effort. After all, our self–talk continues, it must be easy - look at the sites of the “rock stars of the social media world” – those with hundreds of thousands of clicks on their Facebook pages, with several thousand twitter followers.

And so we start posting content, inspirational and educational. As soon as we hit the post button, though, something strange happens: we anxiously await the next like, the next click to our link. It is no longer about the message but about how many people are ‘liking’ it. If no one responds, we feel as if we have failed. That the effort it took to write was wasted.

At times like this, it may be helpful to remember the legend of the little lizard:

It is said that when Nabi Ibrahim (as) was thrown in the fire by Namrood, there was a little lizard who was watching. The other animals saw that the lizard was filling its mouth with water and spitting at the great fire. The other animals started making fun of the lizard. “What are you hoping to accomplish?” they asked scornfully. “Look at the fire and look at your size! You are never going to put it out. You might as well give up right now.” The lizard replied wisely, “It is not about putting out the fire. It is about doing what I can do in the face of injustice and oppression. When I stand before God I can say that I took a stand and did my best”.