The reality of humans is that we are broken. We were created weak and we will perish eventually.
"Mankind was created weak." (Qu’ran 4:28)
When you strive for something, you need to hope for the best. Just because you mess up doesn’t mean it has to be over. You lift yourself back up, dust off your shoulders, and continue walking towards you destination.
We are broken, meaning that we are imperfect. Try and try as we might, we might not reach that perfection—yet. There’s still time; as long as you’re breathing, walking, and talking, you keep trying to strive for perfection. And even if you don’t reach it, chase after it.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "No one of you will be saved because of his deeds." They (the companions) said: "Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Not even me, unless Allah bestows mercy upon me. So do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and worship Allah in the forenoon and in the afternoon and during a part of the night, and adopt a moderate course, adopt a moderate course (he said it twice) whereby you will reach your target (Paradise)."
We see through here that no one will be able to reach a perfection that will cause him to enter Paradise; but it is only by Allah’s great Mercy that we will enter it.
Adopt a middle course in order to stay on the straight path. You don’t want to break by overburdening yourself, nor do you want to remain broken by not trying to do the right things that will lead you to good in the Hereafter.
When you sin, you break in a way. You break off that purity that you once had. But don’t despair. Turn to the All-Repairer in repentance and it is expected that you will receive mercy.
No matter how we might try, we might not reach that perfection. This world is temporary and not meant to be perfect. You are human just like me, and we’re meant to make mistakes. We aren’t designed in this world for perfection.
Trying too hard to be perfect may lead to extremism, and trying too less to be perfect may lead to negligence. That’s why in order to be fixed, we turn to Allah the Almighty to fix our affairs and heal us.
We also break when affliction strikes us. Whether it’s a cold, anxiety, sorrow, pain, or any negativity, we break, but you can always rise back up so long as you focus on Allah and his Mercy. Don’t despair of His Mercy, because He will cleanse you if you are sincere and hopeful.
"No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that." –Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
You might be suffering a great deal but Allah will expiate you for that if you are a true Muslim. You will be healed in a way by becoming broken. When you are suffering and feel almost lost, know that you are not alone, and that Allah is always with you, if you’re a good Muslim. That is because Allah is with you when you are suffering. He watches over you and heals you because of your affliction. So thus, even in hardship the believer is looked after, and in prosperity he doesn’t become ungrateful, but he turns to Allah in thanks.
"If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials." –Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
With this mindset, you will be led in the right direction. The believer doesn’t even look at hardship as a bad thing—on the contrary, it’s good for him! He knows that Allah means the best for him and that he is becoming purified by the afflictions and disaster before him and thus is he freed the temporary pains of this life. The Muslim has a positive attitude about everything; when he is sick he knows he is getting expiated for that, when he is in pain he know he is getting expiated for that, etc. People who aren’t on the right path are delayed in their punishment and they are wandering blindly, until they reach their ultimate punishment if they don’t reform their ways.
Always remember that you are not alone, and look at the glass half full. You will find that you will rise out from the darkness immediately to be basked into the light of perfection.
“The heart is like a mirror. Do not prevent it from being broken. It’s breakage is more dearer in the sight of its maker (i.e Allah), than its safety. Almighty Allah being indeed the Maker.” –Dr. Iqbal
“I am with those whose hearts are broken for My sake.” –Allah through Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)