Mariyam Mohamed

This morning, I found myself sitting in silence, listening to my morning fortune tune. As the music played, I closed my eyes and felt as though I had been transported into the heart of a forest. I could hear birds singing in the distance, the gentle dripping of water, and the rhythmic sound of waves meeting the shore. It was one of those rare moments when the outside world disappeared, and all that remained was stillness. In that stillness, a thought entered my mind so quietly that it almost whispered. I came into this world with nothing. And one day, I will leave this world with nothing. For a few moments, I simply sat with those words. They carried a strange sense of peace, yet they also challenged something deep inside me. If I own nothing in the beginning and nothing in the end, then why do I spend so much of my life wanting? Why do I sometimes feel hurt when people do not give me the attention I hoped for? Why do I become attached to relationships, achievements, recognition, or ev...

  "Have you ever found yourself crying while saying 'thank you'? Perhaps someone showed you unexpected kindness, you reflected on how far you've come, or you paused to appreciate the blessings in your life—and suddenly, tears appeared. You weren't sad, yet you weren't simply happy either. You felt something much deeper." For many people, gratitude is expected to feel warm, peaceful, and joyful. Yet gratitude often comes with tears. It may happen while praying, hugging a loved one after a long separation, receiving help during a difficult time, graduating after years of hard work, or simply reflecting on life's journey. These tears can be confusing because they seem to contradict what we believe happiness should look like. The truth is that gratitude is far more than a pleasant emotion. It is one of the most complex emotional experiences the human mind can produce. It intertwines memory, emotion, relationships, survival, hope, and meaning. When all of t...

  "People may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel."  Maya Angelou The Last Seat in the Auditorium      I deliberately chose the very last seat in the auditorium. There was something comforting about observing from a distance rather than being in the spotlight. As I looked toward the stage, a strange feeling washed over me. It felt familiar—as though I had experienced this exact moment before. A wave of nostalgia settled in, reminding me of the countless conferences, seminars, workshops, and speaking events I have attended over the years. Even after spending the last five years working as a professional speaker, I still enjoy being a student of great speakers. Every stage has something to teach me.      Then the speakers began walking onto the stage. What surprised me was that the first thing I noticed wasn't their opening line, the title of their presentation, or even their confidence. It was their smile. Before...

  A Moment That Changed My Perspective The other day, I sat with a business owner discussing the importance of giving back to the community. As we talked, something struck me deeply. There are still individuals who give sincerely from their hearts, expecting absolutely nothing in return. In a world where success is often measured by profit, competition, and personal gain, witnessing genuine generosity brought me an unexpected sense of relief. It reminded me that goodness still exists quietly, often unnoticed. That conversation led me to reflect on one of the most fascinating principles of human life: the power of giving. Across cultures, religions, and generations, people have observed that those who give often seem to receive something valuable in return—not necessarily money, but peace, meaningful relationships, opportunities, or inner fulfillment. Similarly, gratitude appears to have a remarkable influence on people's lives. The more people appreciate what they have, the more t...

  The Invisible Psychology Behind the Words We Hear Every Day Every day we are exposed to thousands of words. We scroll through headlines, watch the news, listen to speeches, browse social media, and engage in conversations with friends and colleagues. We often assume we are simply gathering information, but psychology tells us that the human mind does much more than receive information—it interprets it, organizes it, and gradually builds a picture of reality. What is fascinating is that many of the beliefs we think are entirely our own may have been subtly shaped by the words, suggestions, and messages we encounter every day. Influence is rarely loud or obvious; more often, it is quiet, repeated, and psychologically persuasive. The Power of Suggestion One of the most remarkable aspects of human psychology is the power of suggestion. Suggestion occurs when ideas are communicated in a way that encourages us to arrive at a conclusion without being directly instructed to do so. Our br...

Lately, I have been feeling butterflies in my stomach. Sometimes my palms become sweaty, my heart beats a little faster, and my body feels as though it is preparing for something important. As someone who coaches individuals on emotional regulation, trains leaders on the autonomic nervous system, studies organisational psychology, and has a deep passion for neuroscience, I know exactly what is happening inside my body. Yet knowing what is happening does not stop me from experiencing it. Instead of calling it anxiety, I have started calling it my growth phase , because every time these sensations appear, they seem to arrive just before I step into something that will help me grow. To help me understand these moments with more compassion, I gave my inner protective voice a name: Sakeena . I chose this name because I have always been inspired by the beautiful Arabic word Sakīnah (سَكِينَة), which in Islam refers to the tranquillity and peace that Allah places in the hearts of believers....