writing

Do a little something…
Do a little something… 2000 1333 Nadir Keval

Read something.
Learn something.
Write something.
Meditate something.
Reflect something.
Grow something.
Believe something.
Love something.

This mindset and series of reminders is one of the ways I keep myself focused and motivated daily. I believe that every day, we are able to work towards accomplishing most of these. Not every day will include all of these goals, but having the higher ambition will result in finding the path to daily betterment.

Taking out time daily to grow and become a better version of yourself through, action, reflection, and ambition, is key to accomplishing our goals and turning our visions into our realities.

Take this mantra and print it out, put it on your wall so you see if every morning and remember that you deserve to grow and take care of you.

What would you add to this list of things you should work on daily?

Poem: Engraved
Poem: Engraved 1920 1080 Nadir Keval

I can’t get her out of my mind
ever since I realized that she’s truly one of a kind.

This is not because she is imperfectly perfect,
or, because she is perfectly human.

It is not as though my heart is deserving of her,
or that she is someone I am worthy of…
though I do hope I earn that space one day,
God-willing.

It’s not her wide smile,
or her childlike laughter,
or that she laughs at the most peculiar things,
making me shine in a light that I have never felt before.

It isn’t her mind, body, or soul.

Though, her mind inspires me,
as she speaks with such passion,
even when she finds it hard to breathe,
because God has given her blessings
of tests to show His Love for her.
Her thoughts scaling the deepest of valleys,
and climbing the highest of mountains,
all in search of truth and sincerity,
and every opportunity to change someone’s world.

Her body makes my adolescent fantasies seem unworthy,
because she is shaped in such a way that it is clear
that it takes a special man to be worthy of seeing her.
Her shape comes not from form-fitting clothes
proclaiming their presence
by expressing every crevice,
but rather it comes from the love and respect she holds
towards herself and all that she possesses,
knowing that God has given her something,
that many can only try to manufacture,
and that she must one day return her body to Him,
in the best possible condition.

Her soul is simply awe-inspiring,
as God has built a connection with her.
She now sees Him as her friend, her support, and her everything.
She yearns to earn His Love and Mercy,
and strives to be her best.
And this soul is one that I aspire to adventure into further,
hoping that one day, I’ll be blessed to journey with her.

She’s not on my mind because I see her in everything:
my passion for cooking has shaped itself to please her palette,
my fashion on the daily is inspired in hopes of seeing her happy.
I see her in every face I see,
from the lost soul I mentor,
to the child’s eyes full of possibility.

All of these things are simply a bonus,
because she is constantly on my mind for only one reason:
God has engraved her name into my heart.

Copyright © Nadir Keval

Poem: The Test
Poem: The Test 2560 1600 Nadir Keval

Even the most patient of men,
are tested with patience.
In fact, that is where the core of their tests lie,
especially in the matters that matter the most.

Take for example the matter of love.
A man with sincere patience will be tested with it,
through waiting,
for an answer, some laughter,
a smile, or even a glance.
He will wait with his faith,
knowing that if she is to be his love,
God will have already paved a way
just for them.

Then, when the time is right,
he begins to realize,
that in love, his test is not at all of patience.
It is of sincerity, faith, and independence.
Understanding, wanting, and generosity.
Ah, so to put it simply…
it is truly the test of love
towards God, self, and her.

More often than not,
that test will lead to reflection,
because it didn’t pass every test of love,
but instead, was meant to be a lesson.
But sometimes, you’d be blessed,
with the chance and opportunity,
to take a leap of faith,
and fall truly in love.
And when that day comes,
don’t squander your gift,
because it’s only through taking risks,
that we find the paths to our truest happiness.

Copyright © Nadir Keval

Poem: Complimented and Completed
Poem: Complimented and Completed 1920 1200 Nadir Keval

I am a man who loves his solitude,
But after having met you,
I can’t enjoy being alone
Unless it’s with you.
You have become a part of me;
The spirit of my soul,
The spark in my mind,
The energy in my body,
And the beat within my heart.
So, to be a man without you,
is to be a man who simply exists.
To be a man with you,
is to be a man who truly lives.
I have not fallen.
I have not been smitten.
I have simply been blessed.
As you being a part of my being,
is the epitome of my mantra:
“Simplicity with a dash of elegance.”

Copyright © Nadir Keval

Poem: True Beauty
Poem: True Beauty 2560 1703 Nadir Keval

They ask me,
“What makes her so beautiful?”

I say,
“Her soul.”

They ask,
“But what of her appearance?”

I say,
“It is given value through her soul.”

They ask,
“What of her mind?”

I say,
“It is but a nomad guided by her soul.”

They ask,
“And what of her faith?”

I say,
“Ah, now that is the question.
It is the water and the sun that nourishes her soul.
It is the strength that flows truth to her ever-loving heart.
It is the soul of her soul.”

They ask,
“Then what matters to you most?”

I smile,
“That her faith be her purpose,
her constant epiphany,
and the essence of her happiness.”

Copyright © Nadir Keval

Quote: The Most Beautiful Rose
Quote: The Most Beautiful Rose 1536 2048 Nadir Keval

“I’m beginning to learn that it is often the most beautiful of roses that acts as our greatest test of patience, as it works up the courage and confidence to bloom, not knowing the potential it holds.” – Nadir Keval

The Most Beautiful Flower - watermarked

10 Tips for Daily Happiness
10 Tips for Daily Happiness 2560 1532 Nadir Keval

In the world we live in, it’s very easy for us to become overwhelmed or sidetracked by the smallest of things. Still, that is no reason for us to allow our circumstances or the words or actions of others deter us from being happy. Life is a roller coaster of ups and downs, as I mentioned in my video a few months back (The Roller Coaster of Life – Nadir Keval), but the thrilling results are worth the struggling climb.

Throughout my journey in entrepreneurship, faith, health, and the other aspects of my life, I’ve found that there are certain things that are great ways to strengthen our relationships with our own selves. Here are 10 tips I’ve come up with over the years:

1. Keep it simple

When you’re ambitious, or have a lot of things on your plate, it’s fairly easy to overfill our daily to-do list. I did this for years, before I realized that the saying, “Slow and steady wins the race,” is one of the wisest things ever said, especially for one who leads a life in need of self-discipline and unrelenting drive. My suggestion would be to stick to no more than 3-5 things on your daily list of tasks. I guarantee, that will be enough to keep you busy, because in a day, things are bound to come up that are out of your control, and keeping a semi-short list of tasks will help you accomplish your daily goals, while also not leaving you feeling overwhelmed or unaccomplished at the end of the day. If you finish those things, you can always add more things, one by one.

2. Pray

A relationship with God is one of the greatest blessings one can have. It is something that is available to all of us. All that’s required of us is that we reach out for it and respect it. Every person has their own faith, but I can only speak of my own experiences as a Muslim. Amongst the things I love most about my faith is the beauty of prayer and supplication. Through five daily prayers, I am blessed with 5 short vacations, where I can detach from my struggles and goals, and connect with Allah and with my self. Through supplication, I always have someone to speak to when I feel overwhelmed or need help in coming to a decision. The beauty of whom I speak to when supplicating is that He, Allah, is capable of all things and wants what is best for me. How beautiful a feeling it is, to know for certain that I will be okay, and will never be alone, as long as I have faith and prayer.

3. Eat

We live in a world that confuses me. Either we eat too much or we eat too little. Personally, I consider food to be the artistic tools God has given us, with which we can create pieces of art to not only enjoy through vision, but can enjoy as nourishment. Some of these artistic pieces God has given us are art in themselves (try a cold mango on a hot day, and you’ll see what I mean)! My advice: eat well, eat often, and eat pure. Strike balance in your meals and in your day. As the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, “The vessels the children of Adam (AS) mistreat most is the stomach. Eat as though your stomach is in three parts. One part for food, one part for water, and one part for air.” (paraphrased)

4. Stay Active

To love food is a great adventure, but just as important as it is for us to enjoy the food that nourishes us, it’s just as important for us to stay active and take care of the body we’re nourishing. Even if it means doing something active for 30 minutes a day, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. Start small, and keep moving forward. Do this for you. For some ideas, and more to come, check out my food adventures!

5. Reflect

We live in a day and age that’s all about constantly being on the go, constantly doing “productive” things in order to stay afloat in this world of constant competition. What only the successful realize is that there is a huge amount of benefit to simply taking a few moments for you every day. Turn off all of your electronics, wear something comfortable, and do simply sit and relax. Think about your life, your experiences, your goals, your heart, and your faith. Just think, and find the good in all aspects of your life, especially the things that seem bad, all in order to find peace within.

6. Me-time

I can’t express enough how important it is to do something every day that is just for you. It makes all the difference in your life, in your mental health, in your happiness, in your success, in your peace. Designate one hour per day, without fail, towards doing something just for you. The pressure of the world and of life and those who surround you will make this a difficult task, but do it for you. It’s of the utmost importance.

7. Interact

Solitude is sometimes a phenomenally beneficial thing, and I can attest to how much it’s helped me get things done in my journey towards the fulfillment of my dreams. That said, at times, it could also result in loneliness. We are creatures of companionship. Interacting with others helps us feel and stay connected. It helps us come up with new ideas, and new understandings of the world and the people in it. As I mentioned before, life is about balance, and in the matter of interacting with others, this balancing concept is very important. Spend time on your own, take time to take care of yourself, but be sure to interact with others, to make friends, and to spend time with those who make you happy and inspire positivity in your life.

8. Write

Growing up, we would always hear about girls keeping diaries or journals, and if a boy were to do it, he would be teased for being girly – absolutely nonsensical and childish behavior. Some of the most successful people in the world, men and women, have kept journals as they strived towards achieving their goals. Begin writing. It’s a therapeutic way to keep your self focused, disciplined, and of clear mind. If it were not for my starting to write, by the will of Allah, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today. Though I still have a long way to go, I hope to one day be the owner of a library full of my journals, insha Allah.

9. Sleep

We’ve heard about the importance since we were children. They say you must get 8-10 hours of sleep every night for the sake of your body, mind, and soul. There are many benefits to sleeping well, and that involves more than just the amount of time you spend sleeping. It also includes your conditions of your environment (a hot or cold room, lights being on, your computer buzzing away, etc), what you sleep on, whether or not you go to bed refreshed and calm, and so much more. Be sure to sleep well, and listen to your body. You may be early bird or a night owl. Regardless of which one you are, listen to your body.

10. Smile!

Sometimes, one of the best things we can do when we’re feeling down is force a smile. It can act as inspiration for a real smile 🙂 A smile is one of the things in life that can alleviate pain and sorrow at times when we feel like there is no reason to smile. Not only that, the Prophet (SAW) said that a smile is a form of charity. I’m not sure of how it is in other parts of the world, but I often try to smile at everyone I meet or cross eyes with, and the return of those smiles and the happiness it brings is indescribable. Smile, you’ll change lives…if not the lives of others, it’ll change your own life.

Now, I’d like to hear from all of you! Do you have any ideas or tips of your own as to how to bring about daily happiness? Leave a comment below and get the discussion started :)!

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