Whispers of the Soul by Nadia Nizam

While sharing my life experiences with my daughter, I’ve come to realize something important about trust. Once I see a person's true nature, it becomes difficult for me to trust them completely. I may stay in touch, but my belief in them will be diminished, and I will remain vigilant for their next move. There is a saying: you can change nurtured behavior, but not nature, because nature is innate—it's in a person’s blood. A loser will remain a loser, even when given great opportunities in life. A selfish person will always be self-oriented, focused on "I," "me," and "myself." Someone with bad intentions toward others will never find peace, as karma has a way of catching up with them. We must also be aware that some individuals, like snakes, may stay close to us, silently observing our lives and waiting for the right moment to strike. These can be friends or family—often, it’s those we trust and respect the most who can cause us harm.  These harmful...

 At the end of the day, what truly matters is the presence of those who stand by you during tough times. It's about having people around when you need support the most. It's the friends who encourage you with a reassuring "we've got this" when you face difficulties. It's the ones who can sense when you're not quite yourself. They are the ones who reach out when you've been unusually quiet. It's about the people with whom you can share comfortable silence instead of engaging in idle chit-chat. They’re the ones who can tell when you're not being truthful about how you feel, even when you insist you're okay. They are the ones who send you a message to let you know they’re thinking of you on your harder days. In essence, it’s about the people who care. It’s about those who pay attention. It’s about the ones who show up in the smallest yet most significant ways. Ultimately, it’s about the people who remain by your side through everything.

 زندگی میں بعض اوقات ایسا وقت آتا ہے جب ہم خود کو دنیا سے اور اپنے قریبی رشتوں سے دور کر لیتے ہیں۔ اس دوری کی کئی وجوہات ہو سکتی ہیں، جیسے کہ ذہنی سکون کی تلاش، خود کی پہچان، یا دنیا کی حقیقتوں کا ادراک۔ اس دوران، لوگ ہمیں مغرور اور لاپرواہ سمجھنے لگتے ہیں، اور ہماری تنہائی پر مختلف فتوے جاری کرنے لگتے ہیں۔ت یہ دوری دراصل خود کو سنبھالنے اور دنیا کی اصلیت پہچاننے کا نتیجہ ہوتی ہے۔ جب انسان اس حالت میں ہوتا ہے، تو وہ مختلف لوگوں کے لہجوں کے اصل معنی سمجھنے لگتا ہے۔ اس کا مطلب یہ ہے کہ وہ لوگوں کے رویوں اور ان کے الفاظ کی حقیقت کو بہتر طور پر جانچنے لگتا ہے۔  لوگوں کے رویےاس وقت انسان محسوس کرتا ہے کہ لوگوں کے رویے اُس پر اثر انداز ہونا چھوڑ دیتے ہیں۔  کسی کے طنز یا نظرانداز کیے جانے کا احساس دل کو نہیں چبھتا، کیونکہ وہ اپنی اندرونی حالت کو بہتر طور پر سمجھتا ہے اور اس کی اہمیت کو جانتا ہے۔ یہ دوری ایک طرح کی خود کی حفاظت کا عمل بھی ہو سکتی ہے، جہاں انسان اپنی توانائی کو محفوظ رکھنے کی کوشش کرتا ہے اور غیر ضروری تعلقات سے دور رہتا ہے۔ اس دوری کو برقرار رکھنے کے لیے چند مؤثر...

One day, someone was sitting with me in the locker room of my bank and got a chance to see my gold jewelry. They asked me how I was going to divide the gold between my kids. I replied that, according to my will, all my valuables would be distributed equally between my kids, and I had made sure that no one would get more or less than the others. She looked at me and surprised me with her advice. "Give one gold set to your future daughter-in-law and let her bring gold from her parents' side, and all the others to your daughters, as they are your blood and family." That advice still haunts me sometimes, as it's how we, as Muslim parents, justify our parenting by defending our insecurities and inequalities. How can a mother not justify equality between kids when she has given birth to all the kids in the same way? However, a mother thinks one child is superior to another based on gender, financial status, and obedience. It shows her weak faith in God's plans and fate....

  The 48 Laws of Power  is a book written by Robert Greene that offers a series of strategies for obtaining and maintaining power in various situations. Below is a summary of the 48 Laws: 1. Never Outshine the Master : Make your superiors feel superior. Avoid showcasing your talents excessively, as this may trigger their insecurities. 2. Never Trust Friends Too Much; Use Your Enemies : Friends can betray you more easily. If you manage to win over an enemy, they may become more loyal. 3. Conceal Your Intentions : Keep people off balance so they cannot anticipate your actions. 4. Always Say Less Than Necessary : Silence breeds power; speaking too much reveals your plans. 5. Protect Your Reputation at All Costs : Reputation is the cornerstone of power. 6. Court Attention at All Costs : Be visible to remain relevant. 7. Make Others Work for You, but Always Take the Credit : Leverage the efforts of others to your advantage. 8. Make Others Come to You : Instead of chasing others, ma...

Sweet-Tongued Poisonous People During my young age, I really liked people who spoke softly and had a sweet tone. I often envied how calm and gentle they seemed. This was back when I had never had direct interactions with such individuals. You know how it is: as you grow older, you inevitably end up meeting and interacting with many people. You have to communicate and spend time together, and that’s when the secret unfolds: those honeyed words are, in fact, poison. A poison we call "slow poison." Let me tell you something: you might find rude, straightforward, and blunt people quite unpleasant, but they are not dangerous. They show their true selves through their words, and you can defend yourself against them. But how do you protect yourself from those who seem to care for you on the surface but are actually wielding a knife at your throat? You only realize their attack when it's too late, and you’re left wondering what just happened. There’s a well-known saying in Englis...

  Transparency is crucial in all relationships , whether familial (between siblings, parents, and children) or romantic (such as marriage). A lack of transparency breeds mistrust and dishonesty. For instance, if someone is secretive or evasive about a joint venture, it raises reasonable suspicions that something is amiss. Honest and confident individuals value fairness and transparency because they prioritize truthfulness. Conversely, those who attempt to manipulate others through deception often find that their tactics are easily perceived, leading to a loss of trust. In every relationship, transparency is a key, Without openness and honesty, mistrust and dishonesty can flourish. However, if an individual tries to outsmart or manipulate others, such tactics are often transparent and counterproductive. Attempting to be overly "clever" at the expense of others' well-being tends to backfire, as people generally distrust those who are perceived as underhanded or manipulative...

 This Punjabi proverb, "ٹگے دی ہانڈی گئی تے کتے دی ذات پہچانی گئی," translates to "The cooked food is wasted, but the dog's nature is revealed." The proverb explains that in the old days, people were very wise and perceptive. To determine a dog's breed, they would prepare various foods in pots, remove the lids, and let the dog loose. If the dog ate from every pot, it wasn't blamed; instead, its poor breeding was held responsible. The pots could be replaced, but the dog's true nature was revealed. The analogy is then applied to human relationships. If you've poured your heart and soul into someone, only to be met with disloyalty, it's not your fault, nor necessarily theirs. Their actions are a reflection of their inherent nature, just like the dog's behavior revealed its breed.  Someone who has a habit of poking their nose everywhere cannot settle for just one thing. This is neither your fault nor the fault of that person; they too are co...

A friend asked another friend, "What gift did your husband give you when you were happy about having a baby? "The friend replied, "Nothing at all!" She then questioned, "Is this even a reasonable thing to say? Does he not value you at all in his eyes?" This venomous remark spread like a bomb, leading that friend to wrongly judge others based on her own thoughts! Later, that husband came home and, after a conversation, expressed his frustration about being cursed by his peers for his wife's lack of respect. Eventually, he ended up giving her a divorce! Do you know where the roots of problems begin? From such trivial sentences, this friend came to realize! Similarly friend asked his best friend:"Where do you work?" A friend replied: "At such and such shop!" "How much is your monthly salary?" Reply: "18,000 rupees!" Next question: "Only 18,000? How do you manage to live on that?" Reply, taking a deep breat...

In a conversation with my husband about forgiveness, I expressed my thoughts on the matter, shaped by my life experiences. He believes that I should not forgive those who have hurt me. My response, as usual, reflects my nature: I do not hold grudges until death nor seek revenge. Each good or bad experience serves as a testament from Allah, who is judging my strength and patience. I truly believe that He is there to help me, to teach me lessons, and not to take revenge. For me, Allah’s lessons are meant to open my eyes and remind me not to place my trust in anyone except Him. He understands my kind and supportive nature. Each difficult chapter in my life has stemmed from trusting the wrong people and caring for them without limitations. It is through these challenging situations that Allah reveals the true nature of those individuals, warning me to set boundaries and distance myself from dishonest people who seek to exploit me for their own gain. I choose to forgive them and leave their...