Psychology and Sufism both agree that "an empty mind is the devil's workshop." Always keep yourself busy with good and virtuous deeds. Being busy is part of the nature of the self; if you do not keep it occupied with goodness, it will occupy itself with evil, because the human self is generally inclined towards evil. It is derived from the law of vacuum that the self can never be "empty." It is like a vessel; if you do not fill it with honey (goodness), bitterness (evil) will automatically fill it.
In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty has described three states (types) of the self:
Nafs-e-Ammara: This is the self that incites a person to evil. It only follows its desires and does not care about right or wrong.
Nafs-e-Lawwama: This is the self that blames (shames) a person for evil. We can also call it "conscience." When a person commits a sin, this self stops him and brings him towards repentance.
Nafs-e-Mutmainnah: This is the highest state of the self where a person finds peace and contentment. This is the place where a person completely agrees to the will of Allah and the desire for sins disappears.
The self is the internal existence of man from where desires originate. It is likened to a "horse"; if you keep it under control, it will take you to your destination (God and goodness), and if it controls you, it will throw you into the abyss of sins.
"يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ، بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ، أَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ، وَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ"
"O Ever-Living, O Sustainer! I seek help through Your mercy, correct all my affairs for me and do not entrust me to my self even for the blink of an eye.".
From the pen of: Za-Sheikh