Husain Journal

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...

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. ...

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...

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...

"To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future." Plutarch There’s something sacred in the quiet moments that follow a brisk morning walk: the sharp air, the gentle hum of the world coming to life, and the soothing warmth of a cup in hand. It’s a time when the soul feels at ease, preparing for the day ahead. This morning, I found peace in the early prayers at the mosque. It set a serene tone for my day, grounding me in the present moment. As I walked back home, the cold air nipped at my face, but I welcomed it. I found solace in the simple act of holding a steaming cup of tea, my hands warmed by its embrace. But today, my thoughts went deeper than the routine comfort of tea and silence. I couldn’t help but reflect on my time in Delhi — those formative years when my journey of learning and self-discovery was stil...

You know what’s good for your growth, and you know what’s holding you back. Yet, you often look the other way. Sure, you’ve made some progress and achieved a few milestones, but most of those accomplishments came from the progressive steps you’ve taken. And deep down, you probably know that if you’d taken even more of those steps, you’d be in a much better place today. Sound familiar? If so, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get real with yourself. Ask yourself these tough questions—your answers could ignite the change you need: What foolish habits or behaviours am I engaging in that are holding me back? How can I eliminate them? What obstacles are in the way of eliminating these barriers? What small action can I take today to start moving in the right direction? Take some time to sit down in a quiet space, away from distractions. Switch off your phone and let those around you know you n...

Resistance: The Hidden Force Keeping Us Stuck There’s a quiet but powerful force inside us that sabotages our best efforts to create meaningful change. It’s resistance — and it’s always lurking in the background, making us second-guess, hesitate, and even procrastinate on the things that matter most. Resistance isn’t just something writers face when they hit a creative block. It’s universal. Whether you’re launching a business, changing careers, or diving into any big, bold project, resistance is there. It whispers doubts into your mind: What if this doesn’t work? What if I’m not ready? It wraps your heart in fear, holding you back when you’re on the edge of greatness. And what happens next? We freeze. We stagnate. We stand at the threshold, stuck in place, too scared to leap forward. But here’s the twist — deep down, we don’t want to stay stuck. We want to feel like we’ve done something , like we’ve taken the plunge, like we’ve c...

It’s weird, isn’t it? You’ve got all the time in the world. You’ve got exciting projects lined up, just waiting to be tackled. But… You can’t seem to fire up your engines. You can’t even get the car rolling. You tell yourself that if you push through and get to work, you’ll feel fulfilled, make money, and even take a step closer to the dreams that stir your soul. But that pep talk? It falls flat. It fizzles out like a dud firecracker, despite all the right words. And what do you do next? You start thinking you’re lazy. Unmotivated. Maybe you’re just not cut out for it. Your passion’s drained, and your enthusiasm feels like it’s vanished into thin air. But then, you remember—you’ve been here before. You’ve faced tough spots like this, some even worse. That thought gives you a little comfort, but it doesn’t quite ignite the spark—the one where the words flow effortlessly,...

"I only write when I'm inspired, so I see to it that I'm inspired every morning at nine o'clock." Peter De Vries Yesterday while I was cradling my daughter to sleep, I played a podcast by Seth Godin called Akimbo. (Podcasts and audiobooks are great timesavers!) Seth talked about writer’s block, and condemned it completely. He said that there’s no such thing like plumber’s block or engineer’s block, but people say that they’re going through writer’s block. Having balked down repeatedly by the same sentiment, after listening to Seth's podcast, it has got clear to me that writer’s block is a clever way of saying that I’m not afraid of putting my work in public, but there’s an internal problem, beyond my reach, which is impeding me to go forth. It’s also a smart way of saying that we’re willing to engage in hard work, but a mysterious problem of our mind is preventing us from doing so. The naked truth though? We're scared. Scared of be...

Do you also have this feeling? Most of the time I feel that I’m not utilising my time and energies as best as I can to rev up my progress. This feeling twists my stomach in discontent, even though most of the times I remain busy. I mean, I don’t waste my time in Facebook, or in watching any mind-numbing web series. Maybe it happens with you, too. You might think of decluttering your life by crossing off secondary things (switching off phones, turning off the Internet, packing off television and so on.) But even when you do it, you feel that there’s a void – something which is sucking your productive time like a leech. Despite your hectic timetable, you feel that you’re not making progress on your core goals. When you look 6 months back, you get a view that you’re still where you were then. And then it gets downright hateful to swallow this shitty lump of guilt, right? If like most people, this situation fits on you, then here’re a few measures you can take up: Ask ...

I’m reading Miss Anne Sullivan’s letters, which she wrote to her former warden of the Perkins Institution for the Blind. Miss Sullivan has given an account of the progress that her deaf and blind pupil Helen Keller made as she taught her. It never appeared to me that she ever got in a hurry to teach her things, or that she overthought about the complexity of the task handed to her. She went slow. She took one thing at a time, and once it was done, she moved on to the other. Teaching a deaf and blind child isn’t easy. Many would say that it’s downright impossible. But Miss Sullivan didn’t let negative stories play in her mind, and she continued to do the little that she could at that given time. If I had been in her place, I might have thought and thought about the disparity between human beings. Maybe I would have thought that fortune didn’t favour the child, and the world is unfair. I would have got worried over the point whether Helen would be able to learn or not. “I...

How success happens? Slowly. Gradually. And then in a smash. Suddenly. But we remain unaware of the slow changes that unfolded bit by bit beneath the surface, and feel no major activity took place. Behind the scenes work is hidden, because after all, it’s behind the scenes. It’s solitary, boring, hard work. Work that makes you fall and sucks your energy. Work that forces you to pass through dreary deserts and long droughts. Despite your massive efforts, you feel no progress is taking place, and this feeling could remain in your heart for months or even for years. Your belief in yourself begins to waver, and you feel like calling it quits. Let’s say that you’re trying to become a writer. You read different books, research the market, decide your target audience, and then assimilate all the information that you gathered to change it into a book. During all this unattractive time, you fall and fail several times. Friends and reviewers tell you that your arguments are g...

If I hadn’t made these 7 common and little-known mistakes in my younger years, this time my success would have been tenfold. 1. I settled with the easy or with the less important. And due to this, I couldn’t burnish my skills. It’s said that one grows when one does something a little over his head – when he stretches himself a little more. For example, when I was at college, I didn’t read actively (marking/underlining the important and making my own notes). I just rushed through the books if I got time from reading newspapers and emails, and obviously it wasn’t the best thing. If I had read actively, and cared less about newspapers and emails, my progress would have been tenfold. 2. I shed a considerable amount of attention on ridiculous stuff. For example, I fussed over what x person would have thought about me. I devoted a lot of time thinking about what folks think about me, though it would have been hugely fruitful for me to utilise the same attention on my core ...

Admit it. You terribly crave to get successful. And to keep yourself motivated and on track, sometimes you tell yourself that you deserve it. While this thought could be a powerful motivator – the only problem? Many times it fails to provoke you to leap up and do the hard labour which you require to grab it. And sometimes you also feel you possess the capability of getting that successful, of putting forth that level of labour, of doing all what it takes to get on the top. Yet… You ruefully catch yourself lagging behind, making a cover of those sheets of weak, even non-existent excuses. Is there anything more daring that could provoke us to cross our limits? That could defy our fears and drag us by our necks in open? More than all these things, the thought that can inspire and provoke us to work hard – as we should be working – can be another realisation. What if we shift the focus from ‘us’ to ‘them’? Yes, what if we feel that our success matters more to peopl...

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...

And the question without further delay– What if you get only 4 hours a day for working? Not a minute more. 4 hours mean 4 hours – working for a minute more is going to give you a heart attack. Sound foolish? But the truth is that throwing on yourself challenging questions and then letting your mind answer them brings you incredibly closer to success. As your mind kicks around in hammering out solutions, you uncover a cluster of mind-quickening tactics implementing which amazingly ramps up your progress. I habitually ask myself challenging questions. By the time I get their answers, I hit upon an eye-glittering treasure trove filled with gems that can speed up my progress manifold. Recently I asked myself: How am I going to work if I have only 4 hours a day to focus on my writing? The following solutions bubbled up to the surface. And though I primarily focus on ‘writing,’ you can replace it with ‘work’ or to whatever you want to fill the blank with. 1. Putting...

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...

“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...

Am I productive or just busy? Am I using my potential to its best? Am I using my time optimally? If I were to take an important exam at this time, would I have been working with the same energy? Well, regarding the first question, I think that I’m not working as productively as I should be. And so far the remaining 3 questions are concerned – I admit it with a ripple of regret that it’s a resounding no. I accept that neither I’m using my potential at its best, nor am I using my time optimally. And oh yes, if I were to take an exam at this time, I would have been working with razor-sharp focus. Results would have sprang forth in a different style then. The overlooked fact … Even though we refuse to take it down our throat, the truth still is that every day, every moment of our work is an important exam for us. You know why? Because – What we do at this very moment ultimately adds a brush to the final picture. The sooner we chew in this morcel, the sooner we’ll begin to ...

You could be wasting your time. A sure-fire test to know if the work you’re pursuing is worth your time or not lies in the fact that it has to be tough for you. If certain work is putting stress on your mind, and you’re not able to do it easily, there’s a very high likelihood that it’s rewarding. Easy things generally aren’t rewarding, and therefore they can be timewasters. If something was difficult to you once upon a time and practising has rendered it easy, it’s a clear sign that you need to level up the toughness – else you won’t improve. Keep pushing your limits, as they say. If you’re in your easy area, in your comfort zone, no progress is going to take place. If you want to be an athlete, try covering a mile in 4 minutes if you’re doing it in 6. If you want to be a writer, try penning down 500 words in 10 minutes if you’re doing it in 20. If we feel complacent with the labour we’re putting up, we’re not going to ever improve. Lifting heavy weights, the ones that ar...