Guezzz.. hallo! I pray you have been well and that you have transitioned into 2023 as gently and swiftly as Allah wills. That sacred moment when everything is still and all you hear is your breath. When nothing is in a rush and your heartbeat steadies. When it is just you and Allah SWT. If I can experience this beautiful pause in my day, even if it's just for one minute, where I do not have to say anything, hear anything, or see anything that will pull me away from Him, I am most grateful. Because silence is a priceless blessing in this often-noisy world.

Many of us don't make space to do cool and good things because we are too busy planning our lives rigidly and too distracted chasing after things we thought we want, when in actual fact, we don't! This leaves us little to no space to pursue and do good things that our souls would actually thank us for.

To unlock your full potential and achieve your greatest dreams, you need to take a step back and examine the kind of life you are living.

Questions to ask yourself before getting older:

1. WHERE DO I WANT TO BE IN THE NEXT ONE, FIVE, OR TEN YEARS?

It’s impossible to predict, but it’s essential to have a plan of where you want to be. Asking yourself this question allows you to set goals about what you want to achieve in your life.

2. Will I GET WHAT I WANT IF I CONTINUE DOING WHAT I AM DOING TODAY?

Remember, your future life is dependent on the things you do today. Asking yourself this question helps you identify the things in your life today that are wasting your time.

3. WHAT IS MY WHY?

Without knowing the “why” behind your goals and dreams, you minimize your chances of achieving your goals. You will face challenges that will make you feel like quitting. It becomes easy to quit without a clear picture of why you are going for that goal.

4. WHAT AM I GRATEFUL FOR?

Being grateful doesn’t mean stop trying.

It means we should count our blessings and appreciate the life we have today.

Gratitude is one of the keys to a happy life.

5. WHAT NICE THING CAN YOU DO FOR SOMEONE ELSE TODAY?

Even little things can make a big difference in someone's day.

- Give someone your spot in line, 

- Buy a co-worker his favorite morning drink, 

- Call your mother and mindfully listen to her tell you about her week.

6. WHAT ARE MY VALUES, AND AM I BEING TRUE TO THEM?

It’s important to have values that guide you. Know yourself, see your set of beliefs and ethical principles that guide your behavior. Your values are the essence of who you are.

7. HOW MUCH DO I WORRY ABOUT WHAT OTHERS THINK?

You can’t be at your best self if you’re constantly worried about what other people think of you.

You can never really know what’s in people’s heads, so instead of worrying about it, be your most confident self.

8. WHAT WOULD I DO IF I WASN’T AFRAID OF ANYTHING?

This question can have a very profound impact on your life. 

Fear holds so many people back from going for what they truly want. 

Pondering on this question helps you identify the things that truly matter to you.

9. WHAT WOULD I DO IF TODAY WERE MY LAST DAY?

Imagine today is your last day. 

Would you spend it mindlessly scrolling through Social Media?

No one knows when they’ll die. This means that today could very well be your last day on earth. Why waste it doing useless things?

10. WHY NOT?

We have been brainwashed by society that we need to follow the rules.

Following this path often leads to an average life. 

Sometimes, you need to go beyond the rules and stop playing it safe.

11. WHAT HAVE BEEN MY BIGGEST MISTAKES?

Your mistakes teach you valuable lessons which strengthen your character.

“The bigger the failure, the greater the lesson.”

12. IS MY SOCIAL CIRCLE INFLUENCING MY LIFE POSITIVELY?

Hang out with happy people.

Asking yourself this question allows you to evaluate the social circle you surround yourself with.

Are they people that challenge and encourage you to be a better version of yourself?

14. AM I GIVING THE PEOPLE I VALUE MOST ENOUGH TIME?

You should never be too busy with people who love and care for you. In the end, they are the only ones who matter.

People who spend more quality time with people they value tend to have higher happiness levels.

15. WHAT PART OF THIS SITUATION IS UNDER MY CONTROL?

This is a powerful question because very little is actually under our control.

It’s only by focusing on what you can control that you can actively move the needle.

The answers to these questions will:

- Change your life, 

- Give new meaning to your life,

- Open you up to new experiences,

- Help you tap your hidden potential and

- Help you determine whether your life is headed in the right direction.

However, whatever it may be this year I pray with all my heart that we will be more mindful and proactive in ensuring that we create and make space in our lives to do more good things.

Especially,

Dear my husband:

Stay longer in me, take roots.

Forever. My a keeper.

Semoga Allah sibakkan jalan keluar saat engkau dirundung kesukaran…

Allah tenangkan hatimu dari kesedihan yang engkau miliki diam-diam...

I kiss your brow and your eyes,

Your dearwife.

Love and ever so grateful that I can still give space in this blog to you,

Sena.

Kaliurang, 21 Januari 2023