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...