The Sufi in this case acts not only as patient but, at the same time, as doctor to him or herself. The Sufi says, "Is my condition bad? Is it the effect of the past? I am going to cure it. The past has brought the present, but this, my present, I will make the future." The Sufi does not allow the past influences to overpower his or her life; the Sufi wants to produce in the present the influence to make his or her life better.