Forget Survival of the Fittest. Only the Purposeful Prevail

Why resilience is no longer optional in a world full of challenges.

It's January, freezing cold and everyone is broke. So many people I've spoken to recently are down in the dumps.

If you’re feeling downbeat or fragile, you’re not alone. Times are hard and uncertain.

But as Muslims, we’re fortunate to have two powerful sources to turn to for guidance:

• The Quran—our Book of eternal and uncorrupted truth.

• Nature—the signs Allah has told us to ponder and reflect upon.

A few years ago, I did a very interesting course on Biomimicry, studying how animals adapt and thrive during crises.

What stood out was their unshakable resilience - something we can definitely all do with more of.

So, why are animals (and even plants) so resilient?

It's simpler than you think.

For them, resilience isn’t optional. It’s their sole purpose. Survival and the continuation of their species drives them forward, no matter the odds.

Each species of course approaches resilience and survival differently:

• Fire ants collaborate and build together. They also use swarm intelligence and collective data processing to emit pheromones to indicate food sources.

• Elephants turn to their elders for wisdom.

• Antelopes form alliances.

• Antarctic crustaceans slow down and conserve energy.

And what about us?

Humans, too, were created with a single, profound purpose. Yet many of us feel lost, disconnected, or stuck in survival mode.

Yes, I agree life can be hard. But is it any harder than it is for the animals?

Take the baby sea turtle, for example.

The moment it hatches, it faces a brutal challenge. Running purely on instinct, it scrambles toward the ocean, dodging predators, waves, and obstacles. Only 1 in 1,000 make it. Yet they continue to try. Every single one.

The Arctic fox thrives in temperatures that would make most of us crumble. It adapts to its environment by growing thicker fur and conserving its energy, remaining purposeful in its movements.

The albatross can spend up to 5 years flying without touching land. It doesn’t moan about the storms or cry about fatigue. It adjusts its wings, uses the wind to its advantage, and keeps going.

Here’s the point - nature doesn’t wait for optimal conditions. It doesn’t wallow in self-pity.

Every creature in the animal kingdom knows that their resilience is not optional. It’s wired into their being.

But herein lies the problem with humans. We fall into the comfort trap all too easily. Our culture of convenience and comfort contributes to a society that only breeds snowflakes, not soldiers.

Many of us confuse convenience with happiness. As such, we avoid discomfort at all costs, even when that discomfort is the very thing that would help us grow.

This misalignment is why we struggle with resilience.

Without clarity on our divine duty, challenges often overwhelm us.

The great irony of life is that we’re not given an easier path than the sea turtle or the albatross—but we have been given the tools to navigate it way, way better.

Your struggles aren’t random, as painful as they are. They’re shaping you, if you let them.

We have to stop avoiding the storm and start embracing the growth it brings.

When you align with your purpose, resilience is a natural consequence. It becomes your default, driving your focus and building your fortitude.

Forget survival of the fittest. In today's world, only the purposeful prevail.

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If you’re ready to embrace your challenges, to survive and thrive and finally want 2025 the year you do this, there’s a few things you can do.

1. Be like ants and use data. Figure out how aligned your life currently is to your purpose and where you need to improve through this free scorecard - understand where the gaps are!

2. Be like antelopes and form alliances! Join a like-minded community of people all trying to be better and more resilient, too: https://www.skool.com/kn-ow/about

3. Like the elephants, it could be time to get a mentor and guide to support you on this journey. Apply to book a free discovery call with us and let us assist you on this pursuit towards a life of purpose.