By: Khadeeja Butt

The law is a key tool in governing how we live our lives. In many ways it safeguards us and allows us to see right from wrong. Similarly, we use our conscience and morale to differentiate what is right and what is not and how we feel, and what to do about it. However, we do not have legislation over our minds. We are free thinkers and believers with minds of great capacity. The law industry is indeed a world full of complexity and arduous work, in which those involved will feel the pressures that derive from the study of law. Being merely creations of Allah, we endure this life with struggle, intensity and hardships. But how can we transform this into a life of joy, satisfaction and tranquility within the legal field?

Whether you’re in college, university or already a professional, we can all admit the anxieties that can follow us before, after and during an event can be extremely overwhelming. Personally, I struggled during my lectures and seminars just being there. The sheer number of people in the lecture theatre made me uncomfortable and uneasy to a stage where I would avoid even turning up. This did have a massive impact on my attendance and would eventually lead to me taking a gap year. However, within my gap year, I made it a priority to reduce my anxiety and so here I am sharing what I have learnt.

Before trying anything, I would recommend talking to someone you trust and feel comfortable with about why exactly you feel this way. Talking will ensure your voice is heard and venting will even help you understand yourself more. Breathwork has huge importance in getting yourself out of an overwhelming situation. Deep and slow controlled breathing lowers your heart rate, allowing you to become more relaxed and reduces tension. Though a lot of us enjoy being independent, I should reiterate how being surrounded with good energy and pure friends significantly improves mental health. Reassurance you can receive from friends undoubtedly reduces anxieties and makes us feel undefeatable.

Often, we head into our jobs or university with mindsets that already set us back for the day. In our subconscious mind, by having an unmotivated and negative mindset we almost set ourselves up for failure. Becoming aware of your mindset and feelings is crucial as the more aware we are, the more we are able to see our issues and change them. Organising our minds provides us with a clearer vision in the short and long term. Waking up with a positive mind, creating a scene in your head that you will have a successful day prepares us for good. Along with this, Fajr prayer is the best start to the day, relaxing our minds and hearts with the knowledge that God is always with us. Do not ever doubt yourself or think you aren’t capable of doing something for this creates a mindset where we believe we cannot do anything; these mindsets end up staying with us long term. Instead, approach your day feeling like you are special, like you are royalty and know that you are flawless and more than able as you have been created without imperfection by none other than Allah.

Creating routines and being organised is something that brings me peace. I find that once I have my workday organised, I’m able to carry out any work I have that day much more comfortably. Incorporating prayers into my day is something beneficial for me to work with a relaxed heart. Prayer and Du’aa are key for any Muslim as we receive the comfort of our Lord which motivates us and allows us to strive for the best. Salah provides us with that necessary break from reality where we reach a sense of calmness and return to work with fresh motivation and a new wave of tranquility. Routine work such as completing work as soon as possible rids our minds of the horrid feeling we get after procrastinating for so long. Its best to ease our minds and try keeping our stress levels as low as possible when they’re in our hands, procrastination is the devil within the working world.

Dhikr and Du’aa is something I without fail incorporate in my day to help with anxieties and with days you are feeling low. Here are some I repeat frequently:

• “Hasbunallah wa Ni’mal-Wakil” translates to “Allah is enough for us and he is the best disposer of our affairs”
• The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم (used to invoke Allah at the time of distress, saying, “La ilaha illallahu Al-`Azim, al- Halim, La ilaha illal-lahu Rabbu-s-samawati wal-ard wa Rabbul-arsh il-azim.” Sahih al-Bukhari 6345
• The Messenger of Allah [SAW] had supplications that he never neglected. He used to say: ‘Allaahumma ‘innee ‘a’ oodhu bika minal-hammi Walhazani, Wal’ajzi walkasali, walbukhli waljubni, wa dhala’id-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijaal’. ‘O Allah, I seek refuge with You from worry, grief, incapacity, laziness, miserliness, cowardice, debt, and being overpowered by (other) men.

Always remember we are not immune to facing problems as they are what make us human. We are challenged throughout life with various problems. We are also not immune to solving these problems, it is ok to seek help and admit you are struggling. Throughout all our issues we should always put out trust in Allah as Allah loves those who put their trust in him.