So many of us grow up feeling imprisoned by our bodies. Here are 10 unusual things you can do to feel better about your appearance.
Author: Shirin Zaid
How to Stop Feeling Ugly & Unattractive – Part 1
Insecurities can hurt like hell Feeling awful when you look in the mirror is a horrible kind of pain. When your reflection brings you shame, sadness, or maybe even disgust, it can impact so many areas of your life. And it feels so unfair because you didn’t get to choose your genetics or decide on […]
Doubting Your Faith Part 2: Scepticism & Disconnect
Living in the ‘grey area’ In part 1, I reflected on how truth unveils itself slowly, over timeframe that cannot be rushed. But how do we cope while we’re in the ‘grey area’ between certainty and confusion? “You will certainly move from stage to stage.” — Qur’an 84:19 Every experience shapes us. We’re in a […]
Doubting Your Faith Part 1: When it’s Hard to Believe
Sometimes one contentious issue or unanswered question can shake the foundations of belief. Religious doubt can feel like pain, shame, guilt, anger, confusion, despair and disconnection.
Why don’t good deeds always feel good?
You could be standing in prayer and feel nothing. You might offer to help someone and feel only irritation and stress. At times, ‘being good’ just doesn’t feel good. If Islam teaches that goodness is always rewarded with goodness, why does life sometimes feel heavy and hard. What happens when there’s no instant gratification or […]
How do I bounce back from guilt, regret & self-blame?
How do you weigh accountability against self-compassion? Ok, so, you messed up. And now you feel like crap. You’re stuck reliving your mistakes, weighed down by regret, guilt and shame, struggling to move on. Whether it’s returning to a sin, hurting someone you love, destroying a relationship, or just doing something ‘stupid’, the answer is […]
The link between desire, anxiety & depression- Qur’an 4:32
Having desire is healthy and normal. But when does longing for more become a problem? And how do we find a balance between being satisfied with what we have and our natural inclination to strive for better? What do our desires tell us? Whether it’s making more money, wanting designer clothes, marrying a certain person, […]
Lessons from the Bee About Overthinking – Qur’an 16:90
The bee and Divine inspiration In Surah Nahl – (the chapter of the Qur’an named after the bee) – there is honey for the soul. The Qur’an tells us that Allah inspired the bee to go out and eat from every flower and fruit from the earth, resulting a unique healing for all mankind: “And […]
Standing against genocide – rebuilding Palestine
It’s easy to feel powerless watching a brutal genocide unfold. But there is always something you can do to help. Here are two campaigns you should know about that offer practical solutions to some of the challenges facing Palestinians right now. You, or someone you know, could be uniquely placed to make a real and […]
What helps when depression feels like you’re drowning?
A short meditation on the mercy of water, for anyone who feels like they’re drowning in sadness or depression. “…And We have made from water every living thing…” – Qur’an 21:30 The intricate water cycles of life-giving rains, rivers and oceans are ‘signs’ referenced continually in the Book written by the One who created all […]