Mindful Musing : Recent Episodes
Maz Ifzal
More often than not life moves really fast! It's only for you to PAUSE and breathe. Sadly, none else can do that for you.
I am my own muse. I am the subject I know best. The subject I want to better.
This podcast is about whatever interests me in the moment.
Tune in when you need some extra love, a place to catch your breath, or creative prompts to get back into the flow. Mindful Musing is not just a podcast it's like a warm hug for your soul.
Occasionally I am going to interview guests and you the listeners stand a chance of joining in on episodes.
Who knows where inspiration comes from. Perhaps it arises from desperation. Perhaps it comes from the flukes of the universe, the kindness of the muses.This podcast is a place where I fall into those gaps. You know, the gaps that open up in between thoughts. The clock of time is a wild child, one that can neither be controlled nor disciplined, it simply slips away from your hand while you grapple trying to hold it back. More often than not- Life moves really fast! It's only for you to pause and breathe ..
It’s been 12 months since I started this podcast and I have recorded 34 episodes. Soooo it seemed liked a good time for a Check IN and to remind myself why I started recording Mindful Musing.
Intrusive thoughts are like waves, they come and go, but you remain. Don't let these thoughts rent space in your mind. Evict them and make room for optimism.
Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back.
Despite the natural belittling of oneself, the doubts, the insecurities, we have to wake up to the realisation that we all write our own autobiography, we are the authors of our life story. Realising that, write a good story with your life and make sure to write yourself as the protagonist. Be the hero of your journey. Shape yourself before the world shapes you.
When you can no longer think of a reason to continue, you must think of a reason to start over. There’s a big difference between giving up and starting over in the right direction. And there are seven little words that can release you from your past and guide you forward to a positive new beginning. These words are: “Every ending is always a new beginning” ..
Oh, life. We work until we can barely keep our eyes open. We push our bodies and minds to keep up with impossible standards of productivity, achievement and beauty. We forget to take care of or love ourselves because we’re too busy taking care of and loving others. Living in a constant state of stress and work is not living at all though; it’s existing in a self-made state of fight or flight. Not only is it unnatural to live in this state for extended periods of time; it’s unhealthy, too.
Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are.
Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” Brené Brown
We all have those days when the challenges we’re facing seem insurmountable, when we’re not sure how to move forward or find motivation. These days may surprise us, or small challenges may build up over time and turn into bigger challenges. The human spirit has an unwavering ability to overcome. Challenges have always been the stepping stones to greatness, propelling individuals and societies forward.
Whether you are a new mum or a seasoned one, a single mum or a working mum, one thing I know for sure — motherhood is hard. Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn’t know you had and dealing with fears you never knew existed.
Dark times are not stop signs, they are guidelines. These guidelines can change the course of your direction to lead you to things that will serve your life in a different way, or they exist to challenge your resolve. What if your dark times are pushing you directly into the path of people and opportunities that will be great for you?
There is a struggle to achieve mountain-sized goals, and a lot of people neglect the power of baby steps. Babies learn to walk before they run. So what makes you think you can go against the law of nature and skip the process to get the success you want?
Today marks the start of mental health awareness week.The official theme for 2023's Mental Health Awareness Week is anxiety.Did you know In the UK, over 8 million people are experiencing anxiety at any one time time.You and I need to have a conversation.Why is it that some people heal their anxiety and some don’t?
So many of us have been on a journey to ‘find ourselves’, whether that be physical or mental. Considering that the definition of the word “find” is to locate or obtain by search or effort, what exactly are we expecting to discover? Answers? Direction? A new me?Instead of looking in earnest for a version of yourself that already exists, why not start from the beginning and build a brand new you? Who do you want to be? What life do you want to lead?Now is the time to stop searching and start creating!
Those who overcome great challenges will be changed, and often in unexpected ways. For our struggles enter our lives as unwelcome guests, but they bring valuable gifts. And once the pain subsides, the gifts remain. These gifts are life's true treasures, bought at great price, but cannot be acquired in any other way.
How would your life be different if you stopped allowing other people to dilute your day with their words or opinions? Let today be the day you stand strong in the truth of your beauty and journey through your day without attachment to the validation of others. And If you’re searching for that one person that will change your life, take a look in the mirror.
To some people, surrender may have negative connotations, implying defeat, giving up, failing to rise to the challenges of life, becoming lethargic, and so on. True surrender, however, is something entirely different. It does not mean to passively put up with whatever situation you find yourself in and to do nothing about it. Nor does it mean to cease making plans or initiating positive action. Surrender is the simple but profound wisdom of yielding to rather than opposing the flow of life.” ~ Eckhart Tolle
Why do we hold on to the past? Why is it so difficult to let go of experiences that have caused us pain and suffering?
We are greatly influenced whether we like it or not by those we surround ourself with. It affects our way of thinking, our self-esteem, and our decisions. I think we often underestimate the importance of the company we keep. We forget that every small moment in the process eventually comes together in the end to make a huge impact on our success.
There's no doubt about it: We live in stressful times. From dealing with the pandemic, raising our kids, caring for our aging parents, keeping the house spic and span, and working 9 to 5, it might seem like there's no downtime. And even if you find a few moments to relax, how do you soothe your body and mind and actually let go of all that tightness and tension? Meditation is a way for nourishing and blossoming the divinity within you. Enjoy ..
We forget the little things, so it's no wonder some of us mess up the big things. True greatness consists in being great in little things. Focus on the small things life already has offered you, or else you may turn your boundless blessings to countless disappointments.
The Greek philosopher Theophrastus once said, “Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.” This is one of the most powerful truths about the value of time, which is that something that cannot be held, seen, or touched is one of mankind’s most priceless treasures.
We don’t know where we’re going, we don’t know what’s going to happen, but no one can take away from you what you put in your own mind. Remember there is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self.
The greatest force is derived from the power of thought. The finer the element, the more powerful it is. The silent power of thought influences people even at a distance, because mind is one as well as many. The universe is a cobweb; minds are spiders.
Silence has many dimensions. It can be a regression and an escape, a loss of self, or it can be presence, awareness, unification, self-discovery. Negative silence blurs and confuses our identity, and we lapse into daydreams or diffuse anxieties. Positive silence pulls us together and makes us realise who we are, who we might be, and the distance between these two. Within each of us, there is silence. A silence as vast as the universe. And when we experience that silence, we remember who we are.
We’re so caught up in trying to do everything, experience all the essential things, not miss out on anything important. We can’t read all the good books, watch all the good films, go to all the best cities in the world, try all the best restaurants, meet all the great people. Life is better when we don’t try to do everything. Learn to enjoy the slice of life you experience, and life turns out to be wonderful.
There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.
Are you being toxic to yourself? The most important relationship we have throughout our entire life is the one we have with ourselves. If you are constantly feeling negativity in the relationships around you, it's time to look inward! Tune in for 10 signs you are being toxic to yourself...
To acknowledge, honour and validate what we feel is the first step in dealing skillfully with our feelings. We don’t move on until and unless we take this first step.
I think the greatest sound in the world is the human voice. The voice is a human sound which nothing inanimate can perfectly imitate. It has an authority and an insinuating property which writing lacks. It is not merely so much air, but air modulated and impregnated with life.
Someone once told me, that it is not always the mountains that trouble us in our journey but the pebble in our shoe that troubles our climb. Do not let the harshness of this world look down on you if you are behind in whatever you pursue. At times, people forget that we are allowed to struggle. If God does not expect perfection from us, then who are we to expect it from each other?
Self-improvement lets you identify your personal strengths and play on them. From relationships to careers – knowing your strengths is important for every sphere of your life. It gives you a better understanding of what you are seeking and where you are likely to thrive and excel.
As the new year approaches, you will notice that without any space to breathe whatsoever, what was a once a newsfeed saturated with the festive season has now become one bursting at the seams with new year, new you. If that works for you great, if it doesn’t then tune in to Mindful Musing - New Year |New You.