Husain Journal

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...

“Your worst enemy cannot harm you As much as your own thoughts, unguarded. But once mastered, No one can help you as much, Not even your father or your mother.” Lord Buddha A simple thing that can turn us highly productive is that we must train ourselves to guard our thoughts. If every moment we’re guarding our thoughts optimally, if every moment we’re true in doing justice with our cognitive capabilities and blessings, the success we dream about isn’t going to evade us for that long. The problem with us is that we’re lazy, rest-loving folks, and doing justice with our blessings is no easy feat. This is because we have entangled ourselves in bad, unproductive thoughts, and therefore we find ourselves backing out when it comes to using our blessings optimally. The ugly truth is that we have chained ourselves in clutter and frivolity: The clothes we want to wear at the party Why is she hanging around with that guy so often…is there a romantic story brewing up? He never ...

Certainly, we’re of a hasty temperament. And “Hastiness,” Imam Husain said, “is a kind of stupidity.” To curb the rush of my mind, I meditate by using the free version of an app called Headspace . When I play the body scan session of this app, I feel relaxed and well-grounded in the present. The instructor will ask you to think about a photocopy machine. As the light whizzes back and forth through the paper in it, similarly he will ask you to imagine a light is passing through your body, scanning every part of it from head to toe. Actually, oftentimes there’s a voice in my head which tries to race ahead of the present time. This voice disturbs me because it doesn’t permit me to focus on my present. As a consequence I can’t enjoy and saver the bliss of the present moment. But when I meditate, it reminds me to come in my natural unhurried speed, and unloads the burden of doing more than it’s required of me. The effect is that I get unburdened, and then I’m fairly successful in...

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...

Suspicion in some places is shattering and disastrous. What you expect of the other person he is very likely to become like it. If you think that that person is good, he likely will elevate himself to meet your expectations, but if you think that he is bad, you likely are going to see the reality stooping down to match your expectations. In How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie suggests “Giving others a great reputation to live up to.” This is called The Expectation Effect. Yes, it’s possible that sometimes cold waters of cheating might sweep away your trust, yet overall it’s beneficial in relationship, work, and in all other dealings. What I’m saying here might appear flimsy to you at first, but give it a long, hard look, and you’ll find many businesses standing on this policy. How? A lot of businesses give the customers the guarantee that if they didn’t like their products post-purchase, they can return them and take back their full money without any ques...

Picture this to yourself… You’re crazily in love with an innocent and gorgeous girl. Just the kind of lady you ever dreamt to be with you on your tea and dinner table. You’re spinning up excuses to be around her. You’re creative in doing things to please her. You’re repeatedly opening your heart to show her your overflowing love. But oops…she thinks that you’re becoming a drag on her. Your constant indulgence is making her sick of you. Yes, it doesn’t mean that your love for her is untrue. No, you’re sincere, earnest, and you love her from your full heart and soul. But the only problem? You’re unable to make an effective proposal. A proposal that she would thank you for, can’t wait to jump upon, and finally drench you by her angelic affection you so dream of. Paradise on earth, right? And while you’re making frantic efforts to woo her, the cruel fate grins and something cruel stings you right on your face. Smash… A cleverer guy walks in, dials the right number, and she is g...

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...