10Living a Life by Design, Not Default

Over the years my life became more balanced and richer. I had achieved many of my goals and begun building a legacy I hope will remain after me.

But at this stage I realised something important: happiness and contentment are not only in achieving great goals, but in the ability to design life in line with one’s values and aspirations.

Real success is living your life with awareness and design, not by default or at random.

Text in this figure

By default · By design · Others’ expectations · Your values and vision · Unexamined habit · Clear intention · Reaction · Conscious choice · Anxiety about results · Effort, then trust · Figure 29

Living with Full Awareness

Many people spend their days busy with daily tasks and never stop to ask what they truly want from life. I decided to be different, to live each day by design, with meaning and value in every step.

I began my mornings after Fajr with moments of reflection to set my intentions for the day, asking: “What do I want to achieve today?

How do I come closer to my vision for my life, and to the pleasure of my Lord?” The small decisions we make every day are what shape our lives in the long run, and “actions are only by intentions.”

Design Versus Default

I reflected on how I had lived before beginning this journey of change and realised I had lived most of my time on assumptions: what I should do, what others expected of me, what I thought I needed to be happy. Now I know life should not be lived that way.

Design means every decision has meaning and every step a clear intention. It does not mean planning every moment, but being aware of what I do and choosing according to what I truly believe, not external expectations or habit.

Six Steps to a Life by Design

• Revisit your vision: Reflect on how you have grown since you first wrote your vision, assess how well your habits and goals align with it, and set new intentions.
• Design daily habits that support it: Identify the key habits, start small, and track your progress. Twenty minutes of reading a day, or a course a month, makes a great difference over time.
• Make time for reflection and adjustment: Schedule regular check-ins with yourself, weekly or monthly, asking: Am I living by my values? What is working and what needs to change? What lessons have I learned? This is the self-accounting of which ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account.”
• Embrace flexibility: Stay open to new opportunities, adapt goals that no longer serve you, and let go of perfectionism; life design is progress, not perfection.
• Live in alignment with your values: Know your core values, make them the compass for every decision, and be ready for hard choices that put what matters most first.
• Keep evolving and growing: Stay curious, reassess your vision periodically, and commit to lifelong learning.

Daily Balance

Every day I kept to balance; I did not focus only on work and professional success but made balance in everything a priority: time with my family, care for my health, and time for myself to think and create.

In this balance I found real happiness; I no longer chased only big goals but enjoyed every moment, for living by design also means being present in the moment and enjoying life’s small details.

The Strength of Simplicity

At this stage I discovered that simplicity is the key to happiness. I no longer looked for big things to feel content, but found happiness in simple moments: quiet time with my family, a book that inspires me, a walk in nature.

People often chase more and more, but real strength lies in simplicity and contentment; life is not in the things we own but in the experiences we live and the relationships we build.

“Whoever among you wakes up secure in his home, healthy in his body, and has his food for the day, it is as if the whole world has been gathered for him.”

Celebrating Every Moment

I learned to celebrate every moment. I no longer saw the future as the final goal, but lived each day as if it were the goal itself, appreciating every moment and celebrating small successes and beautiful times with family and friends.

Life is not a race to reach a particular end, but a journey full of moments worthy of gratitude.

Designing a Life of Meaning

At the end of this journey I discovered something greater than success or legacy: how to design my life so that every day is full of meaning and contentment. I no longer live only to reach particular goals, but by conscious design, where every step and decision matters.

Life may be full of challenges and transitions, but I am ready to meet them with a designer’s mindset and a heart that trusts in Allah. True happiness comes from living with awareness, intention and determination to find balance and meaning in every part of life.