The Power of Starting: Why Growth Matters More Than Perfection

For eight years, I set about 10 to 15 goals every single year. I was eager to become the best version of myself as soon as possible.

So, I crammed everything onto my list.

Naturally, I wasn’t able to achieve them all. And it was frustrating.

Then, I had a realization: we are all human, filled with flaws and mistakes. Growth isn’t about achieving perfection overnight—it’s about constantly working on bettering ourselves.

The Reality of Being Human

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"كل بني آدم خطاء، وخير الخطائين التوابون"
"Every son of Adam is a person who makes mistakes, and the best of those who make mistakes are those who repent."
— [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2499]

The word khaṭṭāʾ in Arabic doesn’t just mean someone who makes a mistake—it means someone who makes mistakes constantly, repeatedly. In other words, making mistakes is part of being human.

But the best of us are not those who never make mistakes, because that’s impossible. The best are those who recognize their flaws and actively work to fix them.

There will never be a time when we are completely free of faults. If that were the case, we’d be angels. But as long as we are on the journey of self-improvement, Allah will reward us—not because we are perfect, but because we started.

The Man Who Started His Journey

The Prophet ﷺ told us a powerful story of a man from Bani Isra’il. This man had committed terrible sins, including murder, but one day, he decided to change. He set out to a new city where he could start fresh, leaving his past behind.

But before he could reach his destination, he passed away.

Yet, Allah ﷻ forgave him—not because he had already become a righteous man, but because he had started the journey.

"A man killed ninety-nine people, then asked about the greatest scholar on earth, and he was told about a man of knowledge. He went to him and asked if he could be forgiven. The scholar told him, ‘Yes, who can stand between you and repentance?’ He then advised him to leave his town, as it was a place of evil, and move to a town of righteous people. On his way, he died, and Allah forgave him because his heart was already on the path of change."
— [Sahih al-Bukhari 3470, Sahih Muslim 2766]

He was forgiven because he intended to change. He didn’t even get the chance to become a better person—but the fact that he took that first step was enough.

The Lesson? Just Start.

No matter how flawed you feel, no matter how much work you think you need to do, just start the journey. It doesn’t matter if it’s messy. It doesn’t matter if you slip along the way.

Allah doesn’t expect perfection. He rewards effort.

And sometimes, all it takes is a single step in the right direction.

🔹 Prompt of the Day:
What is one small step you can take today toward becoming the person you want to be?