Tag: art

the stories we tell ourselves

Posted on by Ajmal

Long before anyone else defines us, we begin telling stories about ourselves. Some are whispered in childhood, shaped by the voices around us. Others take root later, woven from experience, doubt, and quiet fears. Over time, these stories become the lens through which we see the world..not just reflections of our past, but predictors of our future.We tell ourselves we are not enough or too much. That we are unlucky in love, bad at new things, not the kind of person who takes risks. We convince ourselves that failure is a pattern, that happiness is temporary, that some dreams are simply not for us. And with each retelling, these stories tighten their grip, becoming truths we never question.But what if the stories we have been telling ourselves are just that… stories? What if they are not unchangeable truths, but narratives we have the power to rewrite?Imagine speaking to yourself the way you would to a dear friend. Imagine replacing I can’t with I’m learning. Imagine letting go of the weight of an old story that no longer serves you.We are all storytellers. And the most powerful story we will ever tell is the one we tell ourselves about who we are. Make it a good one.

beautiful, fleeting, ever-changing

Posted on by Ajmal

We spend so much of life trying to hold on. To moments, to people, to the things that make us feel alive. But everything we love is fleeting. Sunsets disappear into night. Laughter dissolves into silence. Even the brightest days slip into memory, no matter how tightly we try to grasp them.But maybe that is what makes them beautiful. Maybe things are not meant to last forever. Maybe their temporary nature is not a flaw, but the very thing that gives them meaning. A flower that never wilted would not remind us to stop and admire it. A song that never ended would lose the power to move us.The impermanence of life is not something to resist .. what i feel is that, it is something to embrace. Because what fades teaches us presence. It reminds us to cherish, to notice, to love without hesitation. The fleeting nature of things does not make them any less real. If anything, it makes them more precious.So let life be what it is .. beautiful, fleeting, ever-changing. Do not fear what fades. Instead, let it teach you to be fully here, fully present, before it slips away. Because in the end, the fact that it does not last forever is exactly what makes it matter.

the mindfulness cup

Posted on by Ajmal

Mindfulness changes everything. When you begin to truly observe your words, your actions, and your reactions, you shift the way you move through the world. You stop operating on autopilot and start living with intention. Every moment becomes an opportunity to choose who you want to be and how you want to show up.

This awareness creates space—space between your impulses and your responses, space between your thoughts and your identity. And in that space, something powerful happens: the negative parts of yourself, the habits and patterns that no longer serve you, begin to lose their grip. They only had power because you were feeding them with your attention. When you stop giving them energy, they start to fade.

Mindfulness isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present. It’s about watching yourself with curiosity, not judgment, and choosing to align your actions with your values. When you practice this, even small changes have a profound impact. You’ll notice more clarity, more calm, and a sense of control that comes not from forcing life, but from flowing with it.

By living with intention, you’re not just improving yourself—you’re creating a ripple effect. Your presence inspires others to slow down, to reflect, to act with care. And that’s how mindfulness changes not just your life, but the world around you.

the perspective shift of gratitude

Posted on by Ajmal

Gratitude is the anchor that keeps us steady. When life feels overwhelming or uncertain, shifting your focus to what’s good can bring you back to center. It’s not about ignoring challenges or pretending everything is perfect. It’s about recognizing the quiet gifts that are already here—gifts we often overlook in the rush of everyday life.

Gratitude invites us to see life differently. It shifts our perspective from what’s missing to what’s present, from lack to abundance. It reminds us that even in the simplest moments, there is something to appreciate—a kind word, a shared laugh, the warmth of sunlight, or the comfort of home. These small acknowledgments have the power to reshape how we experience the world.

When you practice gratitude, it opens your heart. You start to feel more connected to yourself and to others. Generosity flows more naturally, compassion deepens, and you begin to notice a sense of wholeness. Gratitude doesn’t add anything to your life—it simply reveals what’s already there.

Take a moment. Pause. Look around. What can you appreciate right now? Let that thought settle in. Gratitude isn’t just a feeling; it’s a practice that, over time, transforms how you live.

the gift of missteps

Posted on by Ajmal

Not everything you try is going to work out—and that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be. Each misstep, each wrong turn, is part of the process. It’s how you discover your strengths, let go of old patterns that no longer serve you, and get clearer about what truly matters to you. The moments when things don’t go as planned are the ones that shape you the most.

Every attempt, whether it works or not, is a lesson. It’s a step toward understanding yourself better—what lights you up, what drains you, what you’re capable of. And as you continue to trust yourself, even in the uncertainty, you begin to refine your path. You shed the doubts, the habits, and the expectations that hold you back. You start moving closer to the life that feels fully aligned with who you are.

One day, seemingly out of nowhere, everything will click. The pieces will come together in ways you couldn’t have imagined. You’ll look back and realize that every misstep wasn’t a failure—it was a crucial part of the journey. Without those moments, you wouldn’t have found the clarity, the resilience, or the self-trust that brought you here.

So, keep going. Keep trying. Keep trusting yourself. The path may not always be smooth, but it’s leading you somewhere extraordinary. And when you arrive, you’ll know that every step was worth it.

boundaries over chaos

Posted on by Ajmal

Stepping back from the culture of urgency doesn’t mean abandoning your responsibilities. It’s not about turning your back on the world or ignoring the things that matter. It’s about reclaiming your time, your energy, and, most importantly, your sense of self. It’s a decision to stop pouring from an empty cup and to nourish yourself instead.

Life doesn’t have to be a constant race. The emails, the messages, the to-do lists—they will wait. What won’t wait is your well-being, your peace, your joy. When you pause, when you take a step back, you’re not being selfish. You’re prioritizing what truly matters: a life that feels whole instead of fractured, fulfilling instead of frantic.

This isn’t about escape—it’s about alignment. It’s learning to say no when your plate is already full, to set boundaries that protect your energy, and to recognize that you don’t have to be everything to everyone. It’s letting go of the pressure to always be on and instead choosing to be present for yourself.

When you step back from urgency, you create space. Space to breathe. Space to reflect. Space to rediscover what lights you up and makes you feel alive. And in that space, you realize that life isn’t meant to be a constant sprint. It’s meant to be lived, fully and intentionally.

peace over performance.

Posted on by Ajmal

You don’t have to live at the pace of everyone else. The message waiting in your inbox isn’t an emergency. The notification on your screen isn’t a siren. Give yourself permission to pause, to breathe, to let the world spin without your constant vigilance. Not every moment needs a response, not every question needs an answer right away.Urgency is an invention, not a truth. It convinces you that your worth is tied to your speed, that to matter you must always be available. But your mind wasn’t built to run on endless deadlines, and your body isn’t a machine designed to operate without rest. When you slow down, when you let go of the expectation to keep up with everything, you aren’t falling behind—you’re reclaiming your humanity.Your nervous system craves stillness, your heart longs for rhythm, your breath waits to deepen. These are the gifts you give yourself when you say no to the pressure of immediacy. Let the world adjust to your pace. Let the ping of your phone wait unanswered. Choose peace over performance.Because, at the end of the day, the emails will still be there. The tasks will remain. But you—your energy, your health, your joy—are fleeting. Protect them. Guard them. Choose them. The world doesn’t need your constant availability; it needs your presence, your authenticity, your calm. Be kind to your heart. It will thank you for it.

sprinting to a blurry finish line

Posted on by Ajmal

The idea of “enough” is a quiet thief. It whispers to you in moments of doubt, planting seeds that you aren’t measuring up. That you should be further along, doing more, being more. It creeps into your achievements, your relationships, your day-to-day life, wrapping itself around you until you feel like you’re constantly chasing a moving target.But here’s the truth: “enough” was never something you had to earn. You’ve been enough from the start—before the accolades, before the external validation, before you learned to tie your worth to what you could produce or accomplish. Being enough isn’t about meeting a standard; it’s about recognizing that your existence, in all its messy, imperfect glory, is already valuable.Sometimes, the world makes it hard to see this. We are inundated with messages that tell us to keep climbing, keep proving, keep achieving. But if you pause—really pause—you’ll notice that the things that make life meaningful have nothing to do with being “enough” for anyone else. It’s in the quiet moments: the way the sun feels on your face, the sound of someone you love laughing, the nights when you rest without guilt.You don’t have to keep sprinting toward a finish line that doesn’t exist. What if you let yourself just be? What if you allowed yourself to sit with the knowledge that who you are, right here, right now, is enough? What if you started treating yourself the way you would a dear friend, reminding them that they are already whole, already worthy?Enough isn’t out there, waiting to be found. It’s been with you all along, quietly waiting for you to notice.

there’s more to life

Posted on by Ajmal

If you’re reading me here for quite long, you might notice that one of the aspects that I often pencil here is about hope. Never loose hope in life. Kindle it with whatever you can . Life is hope. There is no dead end for anything that you and me encouter or experience . Life has an endless capacity to surprise us, to offer moments of wonder, and to open doors we never knew existed. There are experiences waiting around the corner, possibilities we haven’t yet imagined. For every coffee shop we haven’t discovered, there’s a unique ambiance to savor. For every song that hasn’t been written, there’s a melody that will someday resonate with us, capturing emotions we didn’t know could be expressed in music.

The beauty of life lies in its potential for the unknown. There are countless cities, neighborhoods, and landscapes to explore, each with its own charm, history, and story. Somewhere out there is a place that will capture our heart, a view that will take our breath away, or a sunset that will etch itself into our memory. And with each new person we meet, there’s a chance for a deep connection, a shared laugh, or a conversation that will stay with us. Our minds are like that as well.

Clothing that makes us feel strong and confident, books that will change our perspective, meals that will linger in our memory – these simple joys remind us that there’s so much to live for, so much left to discover. Each day, we have an opportunity to create new memories, to embrace joy, kindness, and love. Even in difficult times, life’s abundance is there, waiting for us to reach out, explore, and connect. Don’t ever loose hope.

There is, indeed, always more to life. More laughter to share, more love to give, more kindness to receive. This vast, beautiful world is filled with infinite moments waiting to be lived, if we choose to believe in the endless possibilities ahead. Never loose hope.

journey, not race

Posted on by Ajmal

I want to comfort you especially if you’re overwhelmed and it can be daunting, especially with the weight of unfinished tasks, new responsibilities, and the unknown that each day brings. It’s natural to feel a little anxious, but we often overestimate how challenging things will be and underestimate our own resilience. The reality is, we’re usually more prepared than we think, and the journey through the days is filled with small victories, even if they aren’t always obvious.Each day is an opportunity to take things one step at a time. By focusing on what’s immediately in front of us rather than the entirety of the week, we make the mountain seem more manageable. Breaking down tasks, setting small goals, and giving ourselves credit for each accomplishment – no matter how small – can make a significant difference. Trust in your own ability to handle what comes, and remember that you’ve faced countless challenges before. This week is just another chapter, one you’re fully equipped to navigate.The key is patience with yourself. Not everything needs to be solved today, and not every day will be perfect. Allow yourself grace in the process, recognizing that effort counts just as much as outcome. Sometimes, just showing up and giving it your best is all you need to do. So, let this be a gentle reminder that you’re not alone in feeling the way you do, and there’s a quiet strength in taking things day by day. You’ve got this, and each day is a fresh chance to prove it to yourself. Be at ease.