A Practical Model for Self- Management Based on Imam Khomeini's Book of Forty Hadithes

Research and writing on management have given a great deal of attention to managing societies، organizations، groups، and individuals، but little attention to self- management. Utilizing «grounded theory» as a qualitative research method، this article attempts to answer the question of how one can manage oneself. Our answer is based on Imam Khomeini`s ideas in his noteworthy book «Forty Hadithes». To this end، eight hadithes were selected by theoretical sampling method and analyzed. Their key points were then derived and coded، and related concepts and categories were identified. Due to the achieved model، self- management has two stages: the first is related to the worldly aspect of human beings، which pertains to administrating our visible faculties and amending our actions and behaviors. The second stage is related to the invisible and sublime aspect of human existence، which is accompanied by managing the triple faculties i. e. al-quwwah al-wahmiyyah، al-quwwah al-ghadabiyyah، and al-quwwah al-shahawiyyah. Self-management strategies at first stage are contemplation، resolve، stipulation، self-vigilance، self-examination، and remembrance. Those of the second stage are retention of fancy، equilibrium، and amendment of habits which in their own turn contain theoretical and practical solutions.