Stepping Outside Of One's Comfort Zone

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 4 July 2025 "It is a good lesson–though it may often be a hard one–for a man... to step aside from the narrow circle in which his claims are recognized and to find how utterly devoid of significance, beyond that circle, is all that he achieves, and all he aims at." Nathaniel Hawthrone Nathaniel Hawthrone was born on July 4. ------ It is important for individuals to step outside of their comfort zones and the limited recognition they may receive within their familiar circles. By doing so, they can truly understand the insignificance of their achievements and ambitions when viewed from a broader perspective. This lesson prompts individuals to cultivate a more grounded and realistic view of their place in the world, allowing them to embrace humility and appreciate the vast richness and diversity that exists beyond their immediate experiences. Hawthorne encourages individuals to seek a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them, challenging them to transcend their self-centeredness and broaden their horizons. Urdu poet Faheem Akhtar says, "Tere Apne Toh Teri Taareef Karenge Hi/ Tahseen Woh Hai Jo Doosron Se Mile" (Your near and dear ones will admire you/ But getting praised by others is much more important). It's, therefore, imperative to go beyond the comfortable arrangement of Quid Pro Quo. A star may shine brightly in a small group of stars but the brightness of the same star will appear feeble in a much bigger constellation of stars. Mirza Asadullah Khan 'Ghalib' says in a Persian couplet, which I can't recall at the moment, that "I'll consider myself to be truly great when the Iranian scholars of Persian poetry and literature will admire my Persian poetry." He was so right and humble as well, at least, on this count. Despite being such a great Urdu-Persian poet of the subcontinent, I'm afraid, he (Ghalib) couldn't hold a candle to Firdausi (who wrote 'Shahnama'), Nizami Ganjavi, Firuz Mashreqi or Asad Tusi in terms of the use of Persian language and its numerous idioms. Here, I'm not comparing him with the great Rumi, Shams, Attar, Sanai, Khaqani, Anwari, among others because all those greats were mystics and Ghalib wasn't exactly a mystic, at least in his Persian Kalaam. By the way, Ghalib's Persian poetry lacks poetic pliability of Persian language, which's an inherently Lachakdaar Zabaan (a flexible language); even much more malleable than Urdu. Allama Iqbal also had the same rude awakening when his Persian teacher at Cambridge, the redoubtable Professor, Reynold A Nicholson, suggested that he (Iqbal) must spend a considerable period with the native scholars of Persian to use the language (Persian) with greater skills and ease. Iqbal understood and spent time with the native scholars of Persian to understand his own limitations in Persian language, literature and poetry. Remember, "Woh Phool Sar Chadha Jo Chaman Se Nikal Gaya/ Izzat Use Mili Jo Vatan Se Nikal Gaya" (The flower out of the garden is adorned on the head of a deity or damsel/ He's respected who has gone out of his limited ambit). To understand the true value of oneself, one must go beyond oneself. Rabindranath Tagore aptly stated this in only three words, " Transcendence makes sense " (my translation of Tagore's original quote in Bangla). ----- 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: New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism