Husain Journal

Whenever I sit down to freewrite, I often wonder if I’m just indulging myself. Am I really doing something worthwhile, or simply escaping tougher challenges? This doubt slows me down. But over time, I’ve realised something important: freewriting is not an escape. It’s a practice that sharpens my thinking, improves my expression, and helps me discover new ideas I wouldn’t have found otherwise. Every session makes me a little better, even if it doesn’t feel like “serious work” in the moment. Turning intentions into concrete goals If I want to create something meaningful, I must treat my writing practice as a rewarding pursuit—and back it up with clear goals. For September, I’ve set myself four tasks: Publish one blog post every week Post two videos Read at least two books Speak in English with my children The first two will help me get consistent with “shipping” m...

Have you ever looked at someone successful and wondered, How did they get there? The truth often isn’t glamour—it’s consistency. Quiet, persistent action. And what may look like overnight success is usually years in the making. I’ve been sitting with a thought lately that’s quietly reshaping my habits: The effort I put in today is a gift to my future self—and to the people I love. The work I do now may feel thankless, but it’s the very thing that could transform my future life. "The future depends on what you do today." – Mahatma Gandhi Whether it’s putting in the hours at work, learning something new, or investing small amounts of money regularly, these acts are not wasted. They compound — just like interest does. Small, consistent effort in the present becomes long-term growth in the future. And nowhere is this principle more visible than in personal finance . Your Daily Habits Are Financial Investments Too ...

Recently, I gave a quick read to a few chapters of The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham. Though the language was slightly heavy at times, I managed to scoop out some incredible insights on how to build wealth. To my joy, the core lessons were clear and impactful — especially for someone like me who’s trying to get better at managing money and understanding the logic behind investing. Here’s what stood out. 💡 Investment ≠ Speculation One of the book’s central ideas is that there’s a huge difference between investing and speculating — and we often blur that line without realizing it. Graham stresses that true investing is about analyzing where your money goes , aiming for long-term growth. Speculation, on the other hand, is about chasing quick profits, often driven by guesses, trends, or hype. He recommends that if you must speculate, keep it to no more than 10% of your total investments. Anything more, and you're just ga...

"At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: ‘I have to go to work—as a human being. Why should I feel annoyed if I’m going to do what I was born to do?'" — Marcus Aurelius (Meditations 5.1) We all have different definitions of happiness. Some people find joy in parties and luxuries, while others, like you and me, feel most fulfilled when pushing themselves towards a goal. There’s something deeply rewarding about working — not just for success but for the sense of growth and progress it brings. Why Work Feels So Rewarding There’s a common belief that work drains you, but people like me find the opposite to be true. The more effort I put in, the more I enjoy the process. It’s like a muscle — the more we use it, the stronger it gets. The challenges that once seemed overwhelming start feeling achievable. Right now, I’m focused on improving my communication skills. Ever...

"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...

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 ...