Husain Journal

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,...

“He had heard people speak contemptuously of money: he wondered if they had ever tried to do without it.” — W. Somerset Maugham, author of Of Human Bondage I don’t hate money. I hate the philosophy that dictates that money should be hated. Yes, we can’t drown in greed to acquire it. We can’t infringe on anyone’s rights to amass it. But we can’t also leave any legitimate way to earn it. Agree? Then read on. Digging around options to grow my money, I came across an intriguing concept: The Rule of 72. This simple formula helps you estimate how long it will take for your investment to double, based on a fixed rate of interest. Here’s how it works: you divide 72 by the rate of interest. For example, if you invest your money at a 10% annual return, the math is straightforward — 72 ÷ 10 = 7.2. That means ...

“I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.” Abraham Lincoln Ever felt Like Progress Is Too Slow? Has it appeared to you that the going is getting tough? If yes, then read on. Today, I published another post on my blog, and I’m feeling good about it. Staying consistent with my writing has been a challenge, especially when the response from readers hasn’t quite met my expectations. But I’ve realized something important: consistency is key, and that’s what matters most right now. Progress Is About Showing Up As I reflect on my journey, I remind myself that progress doesn’t always come in big leaps. Sometimes, it’s just about showing up, day after day, and putting in the work. Improvement happens gradually — by keeping the momentum going, even when immediate results aren’t visible. I’ve set myself a goal: once I’ve published a dozen or so great posts, I’ll start looking for influencers to help spread the word. It’s often said that the secret to s...

Here’s the thing about hiccups: they’re often disguised as opportunities. Over the years, I’ve come to believe that every moment — good or bad — has something to teach us. Yes, some days, no matter how much we plan, life throws curveballs. Today was one of those days for me. Half the day has passed by, and I’m finding myself mentally drained, feeling as though I hadn’t accomplished anything concrete. Yet, as I reflect on the day, I realize it wasn’t a complete waste — far from it. A Slow Start with a Bright Spot The day began with a small but meaningful success: I offered my morning prayers on time. It was a quiet moment of gratitude and reflection, setting the tone for a promising day — or so I thought. But soon, the sluggishness set in. Despite my initial enthusiasm to write and hit a thousand-word target, I struggled to focus. Restlessness crept in, and my productivity felt like it had hit rock bottom. ...

Let me confess upfront: I’m terrible at small talk. Social gatherings are my Achilles' heel, especially when faced with the challenge of creating engaging yet effortless conversations. However, last evening, when I met my cousin sister and her husband, I found myself thrust into the proverbial deep end of small talk. What could I possibly say to make the evening flow smoothly? As luck would have it, I discovered that my cousin’s husband works in a UAE bank. Aha! Finally, a topic I could tackle: money. Lately, I’ve become deeply interested in personal finance, particularly in frugality and strategies to save for the future. This newfound interest had nudged me toward exploring mutual funds, a topic I eagerly brought up. Why Mutual Funds Caught My Attention For years, I relied on traditional saving options like fixed deposits (FDs) and recurring deposits (RDs). While these tools offer safety, they fail to outpace inflatio...

I normally get overly harsh with myself when I miss any of my important work. This harshness causes me undue frustration, self-hatred, and more often than not, I see my joy and productivity taking a slump. But when this morning I missed my prayers, I treated myself with kindness, as a caring friend. I countered the rising flood of self-reproach with love, forcing myself to see if there could be any underlying reasons behind this slipup. Guess who the first culprit was? A late-night writing marathon to hit my 2,000-word target. While I got close, the cost was a sluggish start to my day. Reflecting on this, I realised that missing my prayers isn’t just about physical tiredness — it’s a signal that I need a better balance in my life. To address this, I’m committing to waking up early and taking proactive steps to reduce unnecessary stress. Stress, especially the avoidable kind, weighs he...

For the past several days, I haven’t allowed myself the luxury of writing freely. Today, before diving into anything else, I’ve decided to hit the keys and reach at least 500 words. If I manage to cross 1,000 words, that’ll be a delightful bonus — but I’m not setting my sights on that just yet. Why? Because aiming too high can often feel discouraging. Instead, I strive to find a balance between setting a challenging goal and keeping it within reach. This balanced approach is something I’ve honed over time. Tasks that are overly ambitious can drain motivation because they feel insurmountable, while tasks that are too easy fail to provide the thrill of accomplishment. Striking a middle ground helps me stay motivated and ensures that I don’t fall into the traps of burnout or complacency. The Power of Balance in Goal-Setting 1. Confidence in Consisten...

Our minds are incredible, but they’re not always rational. Cognitive biases — mental shortcuts and errors in judgment — can often lead us astray, influencing decisions about money, time, and relationships. Here I’ll break down four of the most common biases, show how they play out in everyday life, and provide practical solutions to avoid them. 1. Anchor Bias What is it? Anchor bias occurs when we rely too heavily on the first piece of information (the "anchor") presented to us, even if it’s arbitrary. Everyday Example: Imagine you’re shopping for a shirt without a set budget in mind. The salesperson shows you a shirt for ₹2,000. You reject it as too expensive, so they offer a ₹1,500 shirt. Finally, you settle for one priced at ₹1,200. Here’s the catch: Your original budget — ₹800 — was never part of the conversation. Instead, you anchored yo...

In a world where distractions are endless and time feels scarce, finding moments for self-growth can seem challenging. But I’ve come to realise that some of the best opportunities for improvement are hidden in the everyday routines we often take for granted. Take my work at the front office, for example. My main job is to guide people and resolve their queries. On the surface, it might seem straightforward, but it’s given me countless chances to practice skills like patience, clear communication, and problem-solving. These are small but valuable ways I can grow each day, even in the middle of my regular responsibilities. Waiting for the “Ideal” Opportunity Like many others, I used to think, "If only I had better circumstances, I could do so much more." There were times when I wished for a quieter, more inspiring environment or for colleagues who pushed me harder. But over tim...