“It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires a great deal of strength to decide what to do.”
― Elbert Hubbard
I am not sure who Elbert Hubbard is, but I can relate to his quote. It does take a great deal of strength to make a decision. Especially when the decision affects not just yourself but your loved ones. Decisions sometimes include a certain amount of sacrifice, which are rarely painless, I dare say never painless. The reasons for your decision may also not go well with some, but you have to stick by it anyway. Put trust and effort in your decision, and ask Allah for his guidance all the way.
I have had to make one of the toughest decisions in my life recently, one which came with a great deal of emotional cost. But I am praying that this is a short term cost for a long term gain. The most effective of remedies sometimes are the most bitter. And unfortunately for “this remedy” there is no ‘sugar’ that can sweeten the bite. Except for time, letting time do its job.
Time allows for reflection and stock taking. Stock taking of things we have done, said, or the opposite, things we did not do or say but should have. But having said that, reflection is not about regret either. Regret often takes us nowhere, and reflection is only fruitful when the outcome is used to make things better, certainly not a self-pity exercise.
I hope and pray that Allah will bless us all with the best of outcomes. Of course there must be effort, and though this effort of mine is painful, I hope Allah eases the pain, accepts my niat and grants us happiness at the end.