Zaid Ismail
@zaidie@zaidismail.com
Author, life coach, and mental health activist. We need to change the narrative from disorders, illnesses, and survival to accountability, understanding, and thriving.
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When silence is preferred
We’re sometimes so focused on being heard, that we don’t stop to consider if we’re taking the time to understand. Feeling heard is similar to feeling appreciated, and no one behaves badly when they feel appreciated. Therefore, when we encounter difficulties in communicating with those close to us, we must pause to consider why it…
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A moment of trust
It’s impossible to go through life without trusting others. But, if we’re not careful, the trust that we invest in others could result in consequences that create a struggle for the rest of our lives. Most often, when choosing a partner, we focus on how trustworthy they are in the present circumstances, but have no…
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The destruction of self-deprecation
In our efforts to subdue our ego, many resort to self-deprecation. Sometimes we put ourselves down to test if anyone will be willing to disagree with us, thereby hoping to receive acknowledgement or appreciation that would otherwise not be forthcoming. At other times, we put ourselves down because we try to convince ourselves that we…
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A simple smile is all it takes
Discover something amazing about your emotional wellbeing by Googling the science of a smile. The obvious part from your research will reveal that it is the choice to smile, and not having a good reason to smile, that releases feel-good hormones into your brain. Therefore, a physical smile, even without good reason, raises your mood…
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Dehumanising the human
Don’t become so fixated on labelling yours, or the behaviour of others, that you lose sight of the human struggle behind that behaviour. Labels make it easier for us to deal with stuff. The moment we give it a name, we can manage our expectations around it. This is fine when it comes to abstract…
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Looking a gift horse in the mouth
When we’re driven by aesthetics and appearances, social standing becomes more important than substance or authenticity. We lose ourselves to the way we want to be perceived, rather than what we want to create. We grow defined by how others treat us, or how well we can hide our flaws. We pursue all the right…
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Raising humans
Parents are pretty much always well meaning, even when we behave like idiots. We’re either trying to encourage our kids to be driven like us, or trying to raise them to be better than us. And if we’re convinced that we’re not good for them, or that they deserve better, then we create distance between…
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Gratitude is the sister of faith
When faced with trials, there are too many who surrender to coping with such trials instead of persevering to overcome them. Purposeful perseverence is called for when we find ourselves in situations that are weighing us down. No matter how little our resources or ability to influence the outcomes, using that little that we have…