Her Ikigai

We are often so busy living in the now, focussing on tomorrow that we rarely stop to appreciate how much we have already achieved… how many hardships we have already overcome, and will continue to overcome. On this episode, I share some of my reflections during the last 10 nights of Ramadan, the nights that are considered the greatest opportunity for Muslims worldwide to perform acts of good deeds and to make prayers for the years to come.Reflecting on the concept of Rizq and the beauty of the dua (prayer) that is accepted, I hope to encourage others to make note of the goals that they have already accomplished and to celebrate them, especially during this time of uncertainty where we need a little boost of hope ♥️Music by LiQWYD:YOUTUBE: Music by LiQWYD Free download: bit.ly/flight-free-downloadINSTAGRAM: Music by @LiQWYD

Isolation can feel like a bit much after a little while. In this time, I’ve decided to take a step back and reflect on some of my personal achievements this year (Alhamdulillah). This is the perfect time to really think about who we were before the lockdown and how we can become better versions of ourselves once we leave our little bubbles of isolation... and return to normal life. In this episode, I share some of my thoughts and discuss who I want to be after I leave my own space of self-isolation and share some stories along the way! ^-^Music by LiQWYD:YOUTUBE: Music by LiQWYD Free download: bit.ly/flight-free-downloadINSTAGRAM: Music by @LiQWYD

COVID19... It’s a crazy time right now. Many of us never imagined that something like this could possibly ever happen during our own lifetime. We hear of new viruses and diseases, but they are often spreading in distant worlds far away from 'us'. This is something that we have never experienced before… A pandemic that has completely changed our ordinary way of living, in the 'first world' or 'developed' world.On this episode, I share some of my own reflections and the lessons that a number of my friends have learned from this pandemic, and whilst self-isolating. I explore the ways that we can change our own perception and mindset and how we can come out from our bubbles of self-isolation as a better community, once this is all over. I also then share some advice on how to protect ourselves and our health, and some tips on how to make the most of this time in self-isolation.Please do have a listen and let me know what you think below! ^-^Music by LiQWYD:YOUTUBE: Music by LiQWYD Free download: bit.ly/flight-free-downloadINSTAGRAM: Music by @LiQWYD

Times can get pretty tough right now, especially with the constant spread of negative press and the overload of information on social media.When practicing mindfulness, our feelings align with what we are experiencing in the moment, rather than focussing on past events or visualising the future. On this episode, I discuss a number of techniques that continue to help me deal with my own anxiety and stress, both at work and beyond. I explore ways to uphold consciousness of our inner thoughts, emotions and surroundings through adopting a softer and nurturing outlook and implementing this practice into our everyday lives.I hope this helps! ^-^Music by LiQWYD:YOUTUBE: Music by LiQWYD Free download: bit.ly/flight-free-downloadINSTAGRAM: Music by @LiQWYD

In today’s society, mensuration is still cloaked by the veil of silence, shame and embarrassment.Why are we still whispering when it comes to the ‘P’ word? Why is menstruation still such a taboo topic in South Asian culture?We’re living in 2020 and sanitary products (basic necessities) are STILL categorised as ‘luxury’ and ‘non-essential’ goods in the UK.For many young girls and women, periods are simply a part of ordinary life. Worst case scenario, periods are considered monthly nuisances, and at best, they reassure us that our bodies are functioning as normal.For me, it’s a little different.Every month, I always have the worry of it coming back. I always know that it will, and it scares me. I hate it. I feel exhausted, irritated and put simply… I feel dysfunctional.In this episode, I discuss what it is like to suffer from premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a condition that can make mensuration feel like nothing but two weeks of absolute torture. I discuss a number of issues ranging from menstruation at work and accusatory comments, South Asian attitudes towards periods and the importance of male support and understanding. I explore topics ranging from dysmenorrhoea and endometriosis and encourage more open conversations through breaking out of my own comfort zone and sharing my personal experience with PMDD, a condition that can challenge women mentally, physically and emotionally.Note: This is just my experience and so it does not speak for everyone else. It is a little longer than usual so bear with me! In attempt to break away from the stigma, I’ve tried to keep this as plain-spoken as possible ^-^Music by LiQWYD:YOUTUBE: Music by LiQWYD Free download: bit.ly/flight-free-downloadINSTAGRAM: Music by @LiQWYD

How do men deal with hardships? Is it difficult to open up?The stigma surrounding mental health often prevents many people from opening up about their very personal experiences. For men, having open conversations about mental health and anxiety can be just that extra bit difficult, if not humiliating. Through the existence of both ‘lad culture’ and ‘macho’ culture, men can often feel the pressure to follow stereotypes and hide emotions related to hardships and difficulties.On this episode, I sit with Dan Naqvi who shares his journey towards coming to terms with his own mental health and anxiety, and how he re-connected with his inner self. We talk about a number of different experiences, methods for developing individual resilience, practicing self-talk and much more. We explore the problems with lad culture, power dynamics between men and women and ways for men to practice self-care. In this episode, we try to encourage men to support one another and develop support networks, taking the first steps towards defeating the stigma and stereotypes.Music by LiQWYD:YOUTUBE: Music by LiQWYD Free download: bit.ly/flight-free-downloadINSTAGRAM: Music by @LiQWYD

You leave university and adulthood hits you differently. How do you go about balancing your new job, your new responsibilities and adjusting to the changes… whist also trying to make time for the things that you're passionate about?This first episode of Her Ikigai is a little introductory episode, exploring the concept of Ikigai in more detail and how it relates to this project. In this episode, I talk about my experience after leaving university and entering the world of work, feeling like I had lost my energy and sense of self, my inspiration for starting this podcast and what I hope to do with it in the future.Keep an eye out for future episodes where I’ll be covering topics including anxiety and mental health, dysmenorrhea and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, race at work and a number of other important subjects, whilst also documenting my progress towards achieving my Ikigai.Please do subscribe to my podcast and any suggestions are welcome!Music by LiQWYD:YOUTUBE: Music by LiQWYD Free download: bit.ly/flight-free-downloadINSTAGRAM: Music by @LiQWYD

Just a quick little something...Also, thank you to LiQWYD for allowing me to use his work. Check out his music using the links below:YOUTUBE: Music by LiQWYD Free download: bit.ly/flight-free-downloadINSTAGRAM: Music by @LiQWYD#mentalhealth