Husain Journal

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. ...

Mark my word…Your productivity would shoot up and go off the ceiling. You know that life will become a lovely, thrilling dream then. But is it possible? Do humans with the same flesh and blood ever manage to do it? Yes and yes. Armies posted at high risk areas do it. The tiny minority of the best, who know how to make things happen and who are habitual of grabbing it – the achievers – do it. Unfortunately, the rest (the vast mediocrity) don’t do it, because they choose not to. And if we refuse to settle with the rest, we too can work with the best of our potential – operating with 100% energy every single second while we work. Remember, those army men, those successful entrepreneurs, those wildly prolific writers aren’t from Mars. Since we too have the same blood and bones and flesh, it clarifies that we too have the energy to work and perform with our 100% alertness each very second, but we have the lazy habit of slipping into restful lifestyle. Just think t...

Will it surprise you if I tell you that you already have everything you require to get successful? For a moment, it might even look ludicrous to you. But maybe, by the time you reach the end of this post, you might get convinced of your foolish, imaginary fears that are holding you back in the trenches you have forged for yourself. Maybe by the end of this post you’ll get convinced that you don’t need more talent, more skills, more connections, more of nothing which you’re presently hoping for… To your astonishment, you might instead uncover that what you need is to break your mental barriers, the ghosts and enemies for success that you have housed in your heart. Ready? Just bear with me for I’m going to be harsh and brutally honest with you. Your fears! 1. You fear hard work Admit it, you could be not working with your full potential because you fear hard work. This is the case with me. If I argue with myself honestly, I’ll know that I could have performed man...

Ever felt your role models were supermen? That heavens have showered upon them powers you’re deprived of? Those high-flying humans would have had invisible wings which you don’t have, right? Wrong. No one's perfect. But, for years this shitty idea clouded my worldview, and it incrementally curbed my onward speed. Oh that I had the belief in the blissful truth that people who I look up to also had their portion of imperfections – you would have been seeing a much more updated version of me. Because believe it or not, it’s true as hell that our beliefs to our destiny are what frames are to clay. But if this looks wishy-washy then reading this will sweep off your doubts: This guy’s belief tore all scientific data – It’s 1954. experts everywhere are citing a mountain of empirical data to tell you that it’s impossible for a human body to run a 4-minute mile. Any questions or arguments countering this fact is foolery. What’s decreed is decreed. But then an un...

Ever felt looking over a massively successful work that you yourself would have created it equally well? Ever felt that you yourself would have delivered the same level of talk and had written the same kind of a novel? I guess that like me you too would have felt so. And maybe then you also would have felt that people get fond of just average or above average things…So if you had simply released your work, you would have made an amazing splash. Or you might have got this question in your head: Were these people simply lucky that they got so high popularity for their works? Maybe they would be having great connections, right? So far being lucky is concerned, well, I believe in the oft-repeated wisdom that the harder you work, the better your luck gets. And so far having great connections part is concerned? Maybe yes, maybe no. But that’s not so relevant. What’s the reason for their success, I think, is their bravery and courage. Yes, their courage to put forth their work i...

And here’s the reason behind it: As a general rule, we fear what improves us. Admit it, you fear public speaking. You fear asking questions in conferences. But you know it deep down in your heart that if you go forth to do it, you’ll get closer to success. We resist what’s tough for us, but the amazing truth is that all improvement takes place beyond the boundaries of our comfort zone. So, if we’re resisting public speaking, it’s a clear sign that it would bring improvement in us, and eventually we must do that particular thing. If you’re resisting physical workouts, you know that it’s the thing you want to go after. If you’re resisting to post regularly on your blog because you feel they’ll laugh at you, you know you need to chase that very thing. We resist what’s tough and risky for us. A student will invent excuses to avoid studying deeply, in a distraction-free climate. He might keep his phone within his reach, he might not turn off the notifications, he might study at ...

The beauty is that unless you outstep your comfort limit, you’re not going to improve. Many incredible people have said that all progress takes place outside the boundaries of our comfort area, on risky terrains. The resistance in us, triggered from our lizard brain, dissuades us from venturing out in risky situations (public speaking, tendering that proposal, launching a business, having a tough talk) because it sees that groundless fabric of fear from miles and miles away. Unable to gauge the gravity of the risk, it treats it as if it were life-threatening, and hence the resistance. This resistance once upon a time was important. The thing is that now things have changed – i.e. now we don’t have that many life-threatening situations as before – but the resistance operates in the same way. And the remarkable thing is that this resistance isn’t merely a concept. It has its physical, material existence, and as I said above, is known as the lizard brain. When we suddenly get alar...

When Alexander the Great conquered almost the entire world, he headed back to meet his teacher with his full pomp and glory. Accompanied with an entourage of elite generals and guards, his caravan came to a stop right before his teacher. He came forward and asked his teacher that what he wants from him . The teacher was sunning himself beside a tree. He didn’t demand any post or treasure or kingdom, though Alexander might have gratefully offered anything to him. You know what he asked? It will take you with surprise. He told the powerful king that before he arrived with his elite men and well-bred horses, he was enjoying the warmth of the sunshine on his bones, but their shadows covered the sun. So he asked the king to move to one side so that he can continue to enjoy the sunshine. Surprising, isn’t it? In this story it comes to light that the king was needier than the teacher. Because he needed to give something to his teacher maybe for contentment’s sake, but the teache...

“The paths of glory lead but to the grave.” Thomas Grey, English poet When Alexander the Great, who conquered the world was dying, he called up his generals and asked them to do 3 things after his death: To have his coffin carried by top physicians, To strewn the path leading up to his grave with precious gems and rubies that he had achieved, And to cut off his hands to keep them outside his grave. His faithful generals, overflowing with emotions, said that they’ll certainly do as the master commanded, but they requested him to tell them the reason behind such weird orders. Ailing in pain, Alexander explained: He wants his coffin to be carried by top physicians to let the world know that death catches everyone, no matter how resourceful he is. Therefore top physicians should carry his coffin. Secondly he wanted the world to know that no matter however power or riches you grab, the path of life eventually ends in death. Therefore precious gems and rubies on the path t...

“As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” Rumy In those silent old days our forefathers carried lanterns to navigate their way. The distance these lanterns illumined, you know, wasn’t that huge. Nevertheless, it alerted them of potholes and reptiles and thorny shrubs etc. In fact, having a view of so far wasn’t needed. If, presenting the excuse that they’re unable to see through so far they hadn’t started off, they won’t have ever reached where they had wanted to. Turns out that it’s plain common sense to move as far as you can see because then you’ll be able to see farther. Right? Well, take the example of car headlights. While driving we’re able to see only a little far ahead, but as we continue to cover the distance, our headlights also continue to illumine the course ahead. Will you ever bring your car to a creaking halt because you’re not able to see what’s 2 kilometres ahead of you? But, this is exactly what many of us do when it comes to steering our...

Ever skipped down a blogpost feeling that the writer would have written it easily? Ever saw a jaw-dropping painting thinking that the artist might have made it effortlessly? Well, until recently I felt as if someone has thrown a glass of hot water on my face while I saw the attention-grabbing works of others. You know why? Because deep down I felt that I never will be able to bring the same charisma in my work. But not anymore. Now I know that if something looks lovely, then there have been many struggling hours behind it. If a piece looks polished and finished, then the worker would have toiled a lot before getting that beauty. The truth is that behind every finished product, there’re a terrific level of striving. But it’s a blunder that we don’t see how much a person has failed or got rejected before finally showcasing his best work. Rarely we hear guys talking about their failures or ham-fisted attempts at projects before getting a breakthrough. “I have not failed. I hav...

“When you feel afraid or nervous of doing a thing then do it because the real harm you may thus receive is less poignant than its expectation and fear.” Imam Ali As the train engine whistled and the screeching wheals rolled forward, my heart pounded violently against my chest. The carriages swung side to side – making me feel giddy. I said to Brijesh, my travelling companion, that I don’t want to go further, that I want to step off the speeding train. It was a humid night of July. I was leaving Lucknow to pursue a 1-year computer course in Delhi. I felt horrified to leave my home because my fears, provoked by my blindness, had imprisoned me in the company of my family and friends. I’m embarrassed to confess that so nervous I felt then that venturing out even from my home chilled my soul. Yet I decided, with the help of my encouraging friends, that I’ll have to make a leap and so I haired off to the Delhi course. I heard the thudding and slamming sounds with the shaking ca...

The Government feels threatened and has to bring a hair-raising law to crush the astounding success of these people. Natal, South Africa It’s 1860s. The British government wants revenue from sugarcane farming in South Africa, and it's not possible without an outside support. So it tempts the poor, caste-crippled people of India by offering them the South African citizenship and full ownership of their farmland provided that they work there for 5 years. Poor Indians, far from their homeland and deprived of basic facilities, can’t pose a threat to the powerful, right? So the British Government thought. “But the Indians gave more than had been expected…” Mahatma Gandhi wrote in his autobiography. “They grew large quantities of vegetables. They introduced a number of Indian varieties and made it possible to grow the local varieties cheaper.” And, according to the conditions of the agreement, after 5 years these farmers became wealthy landowners. Alarmed, the British Gove...