When a child learns to walk and falls down 50 times, he never thinks to himself ‘Maybe this isn’t for me?’

No. He thinks of how amazing it felt when he managed it, the feeling of euphoria when he balances on his own and actually walks a few steps; he focuses on that and repeats this exercise again and again until he’s got it!

This is what Mr. Cuddles is going through at the moment and his perseverance is admirable. He doesn’t listen to naysayers, he focuses on his goal and quietly continues. The look on his cute little face says it all! MashaAllah.

I love this quote.

When we want something so badly, what makes us decide to give up?

Maybe the thought that we won’t get it in the end. A thought that we’re wasting time and that time is precious? That we could use this time to do something that gives us immediate material benefits i.e money?

I implore you to not give up the dream! Perseverance pays! Maybe not in monetary benefits but, like somebody once said to me, it pays to make time for your hobbies. It is self care and maybe a chance to learn something new.

Who knows? Maybe you’ll find doing something you love and, trust me, it will become a bonus to get paid for it.

So continue, continue, continue until you get what you want!

Allowing negative opinions to dominate is also something that can stop you from pursuing your dream.  Someone with a negative opinion may be very close to you, they may love you and want the best for you. These people may think they’re helping you because it’s risky putting your heart and soul into everything and not have it pay off!

They may like to see hard facts before they take a leap into the unknown. They don’t see the benefits of pursuing a dream unless the Bebe fits are clear. Beware of letting these people affect your enthusiasm! The day they are waiting for will come.

There’s a fantastic poem for those who wish to pursue a creative hobby or passion. Read the panel on the left and then read both panels from left to right.

If read the right way the message is to get an actual job doing what you love and you can change the world! It’s very clever, isn’t it?

So the message in today’s post is to believe in yourself. Don’t be a talker, be a doer! One who is full of action and not just words.

Many studies have been done to show that talking about completing a job actually inhibits it’s completion. Your brain computes you’ve achieved the goal so that initial feeling of motivation you have is wasted on talking!

The interesting thing about this particular research by psychologist Art Markman is that it shows if we identify ourselves as having a hobby or pursuing a career path without being specific about what we’re doing we’ll be more successful in the long-run.

I’ve noticed this with two of my hobbies.

I would say that the most important lesson I learnt on the first writing course I completed, as an adult, was the fact that I was a writer. Not an aspiring writer. Maybe an aspiring author but the writing thing, if I was writing regularly, was now part of my identity. And that is what helped me develop as a writer.  

I no longer felt embarrassed or pretentious getting my pad and pen out to jot something of interest when out and about. No longer did I get weird stares from those nearest and dearest to me (Oh! She wants to be a writer!). Instead I got validation that this is what they expect as this is what a writer does.

The second hobby is singing.  By saying I am a singer and love to sing, I’ve been able to connect with other singers and shared my passion with the most unlikely people (new friends) and also sometimes in the most unusual places (at a henna night in between folk songs!). It always pays to identify yourself by your passions. You’ll be able to learn new things and share with whoever you meet, wherever you go.

Just yesterday I met a fellow blogger whilst holidaying in Mid-Wales. I wouldn’t have learnt lots of new things about blogging and writing had I not identified myself as a writer. Also people take your passions more seriously when you do this, which in turn makes you take yourself more seriously.

So, have you ever found your motivation deteriorating after explaining exactly what your goals and ideas are to somebody? Do you see a difference once you’ve identified yourself as somebody in particular?  Does it help you succeed in what you want to be? Let me know your thoughts on this.

So that’s it from me for now,

Until next time,

Peace and Love,

Sidra Ansari

PS To help me on my journey to enoughism I will write down 3 things I am grateful for at the end of each post. These are:

1. I’ve got some fabulous news to share! I am sooo pleased and excited to announce that I have been offered a publishing contract with Beacon Books for a Self Development Book based on this blog! Praise the Lord! 😁💖😁💖😁!!! Keep going guys! Dreams can come true!! 💫
2. Not only that! I have also got into the Penguin Write Now Live Workshops for the contemporary woman’s novel I’m working on. Woohoo! AlhamduLillah!

2.

3.

I am absolutely so grateful for holidays, especially Welsh ones! International holidays are few and far between so domestic holidays are much appreciated. Happy holidays, everyone!