Husain Journal

"If someone succeeds in provoking you, realise that your mind is complicit in the provocation." — Epictetus I’ve wasted precious hours in unnecessary quarrels. It’s easy to get off course, to let ego pull us away from what truly matters. And in the past, I’ve allowed this to happen more times than I’d like to admit. Looking back, I can see how pointless those arguments were. If I had kept my goals in sight, I would have understood how meaningless those conflicts would prove to be. Every moment spent on negativity was a moment stolen from my growth. But if there’s one thing I can learn from my past mistakes, it’s this: my energy is better spent on self-improvement, not on proving a point to others. Rising Above If my journey toward discipline and self-mastery makes me appear weak or cowardly in the eyes of others, so be it. The truth is, the real strength lies in restraint – in taming our dest...

"If you are ever tempted to look for outside approval, realise that you have compromised your integrity. If you need a witness, be your own." — Epictetus Recently, I shared my Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025 photos and videos with others. Their reactions were heartening — words of appreciation, encouragement, and admiration. And I won’t lie — it felt good. Their recognition gave me a surge of self-esteem. But then, a question crossed my mind: Would I have felt this level of confidence if no one had acknowledged my achievement? The honest answer? No. That realisation was unsettling. Because regardless of whether anyone noticed, the truth remained unchanged: I had accomplished something. Something that required effort, discipline, and perseverance. And that alone made it worthy of recognition — even if the only person recognising it was me. Yet, my self-esteem had risen not because of what...

Do you feel that the pace at which you’re progressing is slow? For everyone, there are moments when rewards appear elusive, and efforts feel long and arduous. I admit that sometimes it seems as though I’m moving forward through a desert and drought, with fertile lands far out of reach. Progress rarely unfolds in a straight line, but every small step matters. As Confucius wisely said, “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” Today, I’m taking a moment to reflect on my journey and express gratitude for how far I’ve come. One of today’s highlights was completing my speaking session. It wasn’t easy — I had to push through negativity and self-doubt to find my voice — but I did it. To top it off, I also published a new blog post. These small actions might seem insignificant on their own, but together, they create meaningf...

“Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot, but make it hot by striking.” — William Butler Yeats Have you ever felt that life has thrown everything problematic it can at you? Yesterday was one of those days for me. It was tough — emotionally draining and physically taxing — and as it closed, I could feel the toll it had taken on my health. But here’s the thing: despite the exhaustion and setbacks, I didn’t give up. I showed up. Today, I’m back to the drawing board, meditating, putting in the work, and focusing on honing my skills. In fact, I’m doing something I’ve been thinking about for a while now — starting a YouTube channel. The plan was to record a video last evening. I had even picked a topic, one I was really excited about. But, as life often goes, unexpected events cropped up, draining my e...

Each year, a state-level award is bestowed upon outstanding employees with disabilities for their exceptional performance in Uttar Pradesh. This year, I dared to dream of it. My nomination was a compilation of my proudest achievements: running marathons, publishing two books, earning an award from my workplace for incredible performance, and delivering inspiring talks at various conferences. By all accounts, my chances seemed promising. But when the results came out, my name wasn’t on the list. At first, the news hit hard. Disappointment lingered momentarily, but as the dust settled, a surprising emotion emerged: a profound sense of accomplishment. How could rejection feel like a reward? Let me explain. A Blessing in Disguise Had I won the award, my schedule would have filled up with celebrations, interviews, and formalities. While those moments of recognition would have been exhilarating, they might have ...

No classroom, textbook, or seminar could have imparted the wisdom I gained through the tough experiences of lending money. Ironically, the lost money turned into tuition fees for the school of hard knocks, teaching me invaluable truths about financial responsibility and boundaries. This isn’t a tale of bitterness or regret; it’s a journey of growth. If you’ve ever lent money to someone and regretted it, my story might resonate with you. The First Knock: Trust vs. Responsibility Once a friendly person told me that he was in a tight spot and urgently needed money. I didn’t hesitate — I handed over what he needed, confident that he would repay me as promised. Weeks turned into months, and the repayment never came. I found myself making excuses for him, convincing myself that he would honour his word eventually. But instead of repaying me the old money, he asked me for more, telling me, with hesitation and embarrassment, that he had got into ...

Yesterday, I lost my temper with my daughter. I treated her harshly, and I can’t help but feel deep regret and shame. The sobering truth is, my actions caused her pain, and that’s something I’ll never forget. I started with the best intentions, but somewhere along the way, my frustration got the best of me. Instead of guiding her with love, I responded with cruelty. I can’t take back what happened, but I can learn from it and make sure it doesn’t come to pass again. It’s a painful lesson, but it’s one that I needed to learn: love is the only force that truly shapes a child. You can’t force them to change or grow, no matter how hard you try. I’ve learnt that the hard way, but this wisdom has stood the test of time — and it’s something I will now carry with me every day. The Impact of Rash Actions Before I talk about what I plan to do differently, I n...

Whether one admits it or not, it happens all the time. We look at a huge project and feel that wave of cold dread washing over our bones. I’m going to tell you a shameful secret about myself. It could ruin the little reputation that I have, but let it come. Years ago, I started writing a huge novel, but the tyranny of the project overwhelmed me. So I gave up on it. Did I just tell you that I failed? Exactly. I had just started my 21-kilometre run when I felt a heaviness on my chest. The enormity of the distance for an untrained person like me was powerful enough to wipe out all the motivation. Yes, I tell you, right on your face, I had wanted to crawl back into bed. I felt the game’s over. Finish. But I told myself to keep running, even if I didn’t reach the target. And so, I kept at it. As far as my novel is concerned, well, I couldn’t complete it, but I wrote two books and covered huge distances in marathons. And wh...

Have you ever sat down to write without a specific topic in mind? I often do this, and while it might sound unstructured, I’ve found that it leads me to some of my most valuable insights. Today, I decided to give myself a ten-minute writing session without a clear plan, just to see where it takes me. For me, this approach isn’t just about filling the page — it’s a way to break free from predictability. I’ve realised that in writing, painting, or any creative pursuit, breaking away from what’s ordinary is essential. People, including myself, seem to enjoy variety. When everything feels too predictable, people tend to lose interest, and the effort can start to feel ignored. That said, I’ve also discovered that finding the right balance between novelty and familiarity isn’t always straightforward. While surprises in creative work can keep things fresh, too much of it might feel overwhelming or disconnected. For instance, in my own writing,...