Have you ever called yourself lazy because you couldn’t get started or stick to your goals? What if the problem isn’t laziness—but fear? In this episode, I share how I uncovered the real reason behind procrastination, self-doubt, and overwhelm. Spoiler: It’s not about being unmotivated; it’s about your subconscious trying to protect you.

We’ll reframe laziness as a mask for fear, explore how fear shows up in sneaky ways, and talk about how to stop judging yourself for it. I’ll also give you practical tools to work with your mind instead of against it - like breaking big goals into smaller, safer steps and affirming that growth is safe.

By the end of this episode, you’ll see fear not as a barrier but as a sign that you’re growing. Tune in and discover how to move past the resistance that’s been holding you back.

- What’s one fear you can reframe as an opportunity today?

If you found this episode helpful, share it with someone who needs to hear it or leave a review to help others find it too!

Why does change feel so hard? In this episode, we dive into the real reason most people struggle to stick to their goals: your subconscious mind. I’ll break down why your brain resists change, why discomfort is actually a sign of growth, and how to push through the mental barriers holding you back. If you’ve ever felt stuck or ready to quit, this episode will show you how to keep going and make 2025 the year you finally break through. Let’s make this your turning point!

To make space for more into our lives, we must first master what is here. This episode intends to help you understand the wisdom behind what that truly means. So if you're struggling with many problems in your life and you dream big, then this is for you.

The biggest challenge we all face when it comes to pursuing our dream is "Where do I even start?" This question leaves you feeling paralysed and overwhelmed from making a decision. I want to help you solve this problem by understanding how your current set of challenges/problems are here to help you become the person you want to be. Tune in to the full episode to find out how.

What if you could focus on becoming the best version of yourself and get paid for it, would you do it? If the answer is yes, then this episode is for you!

Ultimately, money cannot be your sole reason for getting a job. Especially in the world we live in today, where people are doing whatever they want and making a living from it. And for those of you who believe that you have to suffer and grind to make a living, that will be true for you.

I choose otherwise! If you were getting paid to be you, who would you be and what would you actually do?

‘What is my niche?’ This one thought created a lot of problems for me as a content creator and educator!

Every “business guru” out there is saying you have to niche down to make money and, ‘if you chase two rabbits, you catch none.’ So I niched down, again and again, and again!! Until I hated what I was doing! -_-

I mean, this is what they say I need to do to make money, so I don’t have a choice right? WRONG! I built my personal brand ‘Just minhaz’ talking about whatever I wanted to!! And I made a lot of money doing so (£50K+ over the space of 2 years) Alhamdullilah.

But yet, I lost myself to the “business” advice again and I niched down. Lord have mercy!!

I literally built a completely separate page on Instagram/TikTok/YouTube and a separate podcast channel for it. I hired two new team members and doubled down on it completely! We went flat out a built a free course to collect email leads for potential clients and a free community to join on Skool. It took me and my team 1 year to do this and It was a lot of work, and a LOT of money spent!

After 30 days of launching this community (27 members on board) and posting content everyday without fail, I REALISED, I HATED IT!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (My frustration was real!)

I can’t live my life like this, where I have now created another job which means nothing to me but the financial gains.

So, we start again! I wiped it all clean, and made the decision to go solo again and had a quarter life crisis. LOL

This left me with the question:

‘How do I build something that makes me excited and makes me money?!’

I was determined to figure this out! And little did I know, the answer was right in front of me.

The way I built my personal brand ‘Just Minhaz’ was the answer. I used to share all the things that changed my life and not just approach everything with the intention of ‘how do I make money?’ It excited me and scared the life out of me at the same time as I shared my real life experiences and mistakes along the way.

BUT, there was no structure and systems involved! I was winging it completely and financially it was a mess.

I have learnt a lot this year and baby I’m back!!!!!! And we about to do things a whole new way, Alhamdullilah.

What is my niche? It’s me :) Self-development, healing, relationships, fitness and most importantly faith, Alhamdullilah.

I feel free to be myself and most importantly I will lead by example. That means, I have to improve my life in the areas that I want to and that is my job! Ya Allah sign me upppppp!

For those of you who have a message to share with the world and want to make a career out of it - remember this, ‘Your mess is your message and your pain is your power!’

"Your mess is your message and your pain is your power" means that the difficult experiences and struggles you face in life, often considered "messy" or painful, can be transformed into a powerful message or purpose that can help others who might be going through similar situations

Your hardships can become a source of strength and wisdom to share with others.

YOU ARE THE NICHE!

P.S. bun anyone who says otherwise!

In this context, "bun" is likely British or Caribbean slang meaning to dismiss, reject, or disregard someone or something. The phrase "bun anyone who says otherwise" suggests ignoring or rejecting those who disagree with the author's perspective on finding one's niche.

P.P.S. I am removing all the random members that joined my community and reopening it with courses on healing, self improvement, relationships and my favourite - business! Click here to let me know that you’re interested in joining and I’ll add you to the waiting list.

Peace & Love my beautiful peeeps!

Your brother from another mother, Minhaz Ahmed.

In this episode, Aisha Javed and I discussed the challenges Muslim women face through divorce, including financial independence.

Aishah shared her experience of struggling with financial independence and offered guidance on approaching the issue. Aisha discussed the importance of empowerment and taking small steps towards personal and professional growth, acknowledging that the process may be difficult but stressing the importance of being open to change and networking with the right people.

We delved into the importance of communication in marriages and how it can impact the relationship. Aisha discussed how miscommunication can lead to resentment and arguments and stressed the need to communicate needs and feelings respectfully.

We also explored how past traumas and emotional baggage can affect relationships and attract similar partners. We also touch on the concept of energy and how it can impact the type of partners we attract.

The discussion also covered the complexities of accepting responsibility for divorce and acknowledging the difficulty of facing one's role. We discussed the importance of doing inner work to understand patterns and make changes for future relationships and how this can lead to healthier partnerships. Aisha also discussed the importance of shifting energy towards gratitude and openness to receive rather than solely focusing on providing for others. Emphasizing the healing aspect of letting go and surrendering your deepest fears and how those fears can stem from personal experiences and trauma.

We also delved into the importance of understanding and taking responsibility for one's emotions to let go of them and the need for deep heart work and grieving to release emotions. Aisha encouraged individuals to allow themselves to feel and express their emotions to release them, even if it means revisiting them multiple times.

Be sure to contact Aisha Javed if you resonate with this episode. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/aishah_javed/

Salamualaykum.

Your partner will trigger the parts of you that you aren’t consciously aware of, and vice versa.

At that moment, we fixate on our partners and try to change them, which leads to two big adults fighting it out like kids.

This is common in relationships and something we have all seen growing up.

Most people aren’t able to work through these moments and brush them under the rug. This leads to a build-up of frustration and resentment, and, ultimately, you both disconnect from each other.

What most of us fail to do in this moment is to see what is coming up as an opportunity rather than another burden.

If you wish to unlock more profound levels of yourself and your strengths, you must be able to look at the parts of you that are running the show unconsciously.

These parts of us are wounded children. They haven’t been able to process what happened to us as kids and continue to operate from a place of fear and self-protection.

Your relationships will be the greatest opportunity for you to become aware of those parts of you. There is a reason marriage is half of our deen. Alhamdulillah.

So when a brother or sister comes to me, and all they talk about is their partner or kids, I will point back at you.

The work always starts with you!

This episode with Franco Zavala centred around personal growth and development, particularly in blended families and step-parenting.

Franco shared his struggles with infertility and negative reactions from loved ones when he decided to become a stepdad. He emphasized the importance of building trust and respect with his stepchildren's mother and earning the trust and respect of his stepchildren to participate in parenting fully.

Franco and I discussed the importance of self-development in becoming a successful stepdad and leader, emphasizing the need to work on personal growth constantly and understanding oneself.

The conversation also touched on the impact of childhood experiences on personal growth and understanding what it means to be a man. Franco emphasized the need to take responsibility for one's own problems and reactions and to be mentally prepared to handle obstacles in life. We also discussed the importance of understanding love languages for effective communication with children and the need to listen to and understand their needs.

The conversation highlighted the importance of personal growth and reflection in becoming a better person and parent. Franco announced his plan to launch a Facebook group called the Blended Family Brotherhood for men, providing a safe space to speak their minds and seek genuine help. The group will have live calls, Q&A videos, and guest speakers. Franco hopes to use this platform to get more speaking engagements and eventually offer one-on-one calls for a fee.

Links to connect with Franco Zavala:  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075996184672 Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/theprofessionalstepdad/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheProfessionalStepDadShow Catch the full episode on all podcast platforms. - https://linktr.ee/justminhaz

Salamaulaykum.

Peace & Love.

Stepping out of your comfort zone is like embarking on a real adventure. It's like straying from your cosy bed and diving into the unknown. Fear will tag along, trying to hold you back, but that's where the magic happens!

You have to face those insecurities head-on! It's like shining a light on the darkest corners of your mind. Instead of running away, confront them and grow stronger. You'll face obstacles, but treat them like stepping stones to success.

As you walk this path, you start questioning those limiting beliefs, those ghosts from the past. They were just illusions. You got the power to do way more than you think!

And here's the deal: it's not about reaching some "perfect" dream reality; it's about embracing the journey of self-discovery. Keep pushing yourself. You're gonna discover your true potential and, with consistency - live a limitless life. All you have to do is take the first step!