Assessing Oneself
By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
28 March 2026
"Energetic currency decides our destination."
An Italian adage
“We are conscious beings always experimenting with the mystery of becoming our ultimate manifestation.”
― Kilroy J. Oldster, Dead Toad Scrolls
An energetic little boy went into a drug store, reached for a soda carton and pulled it over to the telephone. He climbed onto the carton so that he could reach the buttons on the phone and proceeded to punch in seven digits (phone numbers). The store-owner observed and listened to the conversation.
Boy: ‘Lady, can you give me the job of cutting your lawn?
Woman: (at the other end of the phone line): ‘I already have someone to cut my lawn.’
Boy: ‘Lady, I will cut your lawn for half the price of the person who cuts your lawn now.’
Woman: I’m very satisfied with the person who is presently cutting my lawn.
Boy: (with more perseverance): ‘Lady, I’ll even sweep your curb and your sidewalk, so on Sunday you will have the prettiest lawn in all of Palm beach, Florida.’
Woman: No, thank you.
With a smile on his face, the little boy replaced the receiver. The store-owner, who was listening to all this, walked over to the boy.
Store Owner: ‘Son… I like your attitude; I like that positive spirit and would like to offer you a job.’
Boy: ‘No thanks.’
Store Owner: But you were really pleading for one.
Boy: No Sir, I was just checking my performance at the Job I already have. I'm the one who is working for that lady I was talking to!’
Moral: This is what we call ‘Self Appraisal’. Every time if we don’t get ahead of others, we blame others for it. We should rather look within and compare, find our own weaknesses and work hard to throw away weaknesses. Always work hard, be honest and with full Dedication. Remember, it always pays up. At the same time, we must keep assessing ourselves. There's a Japanese proverb: You can afford to be lenient with others but you mustn't be lenient with yourself. One must be tough on oneself and keep asking where s/he stands. Self-analysis, self-assessment and self-criticism help us stay on top in this competitive world, where one small error can eliminate all our chances to progress and surge ahead. Great composer Sebastian Bach had a habit of looking himself into the mirror and asking: Am I playing my notes perfectly on the piano? Mind you, it wasn't his self-doubt. The world already acknowledged his greatness. It was a way of self-assessment, affirmation, assurance and assertion that he was on the right path as Allama Iqbal said: Kho na jaa iss sahar-o-shaam mein ae sahib-e-hosh / Ek jahaan aur bhi hai jismein na farda hai na dosh/ Sahab-e-saaz ko laazim hai ke ghafil na rahe/Gaahe-gaahe ghalat aahang bhi hota hai sarosh (Don't lose yourself into this plastic world/There's a far greater world awaits you yonder/It's imperative on the part of an instrumentalist to remain alert/Then only, will he be able to correct his flawed musical notes). Self-analysis is, therefore, a sine qua non.
It keeps you on your toes and never lets you rest on your laurels. Remember the words of Urdu poet Nida Fazli, " Khud ko jaanchta chal / Behtar hoga tera kal " (Keep assessing yourself / Rest assured, you'll have a better 'morrow). Once a young man asked Nida Fazli, how to succeed in life, Nida replied in his laconic style, " Khud ko taraash / Poori hogi teri talaash " (Hone yourself / Your search will end). But this honing and polishing must continue till the end for, this is a lifelong exercise and an eternal process. Writing our eulogy can be a wake-up call to prioritize what truly matters. Self-evaluation and assessment should be a major part of our lives.
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/assessing-oneself/d/139441
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