advice
Advice that will put you on the path to success; tips, tricks and nuggets of wisdom from trusted experts and motivational mentors.
Leaving God Behind
In the silence of the night, the call to prayer echoed through the city. But the young man was lost in the noise of his own restless prayers. His name was Ali—educated, talented, and full of dreams. He wanted to achieve something great, to attain everything life had to offer. But the biggest obstacle in his path... was himself. Ali wanted everything from the world—wealth, fame, love, peace. He was always asking for something: "O Allah, grant me a job." "O Allah, bring my beloved back." "O Allah, let everyone admire me." But the one thing he never asked for was… God Himself. Time passed. He kept giving interviews, kept falling in and out of love, kept praying, but nothing changed. Disappointment began to leave permanent lines on his face. He turned to medicines, visited spiritual healers, sat in front of fortune-tellers selling dreams of paradise—but nowhere did he find peace. One day, when all roads seemed blocked, he wandered to an old shrine on the outskirts of the city. An elderly dervish sat under a tree, reciting quietly. Frustrated, Ali asked, “Baba! I’ve asked for everything, tried everything, but I’ve gained nothing. My dreams are shattered. I’m exhausted. What am I doing wrong?” The dervish looked up and smiled gently. “Son, you asked for everything, but you left behind the One you should’ve asked for.” Ali was confused. “What do you mean? I’ve prayed all the time.” The dervish recited a verse: ‘I sought remedies everywhere, Yet left behind the prayer. I couldn’t walk this worldly path, Without shedding guilt or despair. Surprised I am at my own desires, O Iqbal, I asked for all things from God— Except God Himself.’ These words hit Ali like lightning. He realized he had never truly asked for God. He had only asked for what God could give. He hadn’t loved the Creator—only chased His creations. That night, for the first time, Ali returned home and bowed in prayer without asking for anything. “O Allah! Whatever You’ve already given me, I am grateful. I ask for nothing now—just make me Yours.” And that single act of surrender became the most precious moment of his life. Gradually, things began to change. He got a small job—nothing flashy, not in a big company, but he accepted it with a thankful heart. He began to speak less, smile more, and help others quietly. He gave blessings freely, without expecting anything in return. Months later, he received a call from an organization he'd forgotten he applied to. There, he was offered a role where not only was he respected, but his talents and values were also recognized. Love returned, too—but in a different form. He no longer craved someone’s attention; he had fallen in love with life itself. It no longer mattered where he was or who he was—because he knew God was with him. His prayers took a new form: “O Allah! Fill my heart with Your light.” “O Allah! Help me be content with what pleases You.” “O Allah! Just stay with me.” Ali no longer wandered in search of medicine, nor did he chase temporary peace. He had embraced prayer, and prayer had led him to God. One day, he wrote in his old journal the same poem that had awakened his soul: I sought remedies everywhere, Yet left behind the prayer. I couldn’t walk this worldly path, Without shedding guilt or despair. Surprised I am at my own desires, O Iqbal, I asked for all things from God— Except God Himself. Ali had finally understood: True peace is found when God becomes the purpose, not just the provider.
By IRSHAD MUHAMMADabout a year ago in Motivation
ChatGPT Told Me How To Win At Writing Despite All The AI
Words have always fed me. Six, seven years old, carrying books home from the library two blocks from mama’s house, crawling in and out of stories like ants in a log, bees in a honeycomb. Filling my belly.
By Md kamrul Islamabout a year ago in Motivation
Turn Criticism to Motivation
In every pursuit be it personal, professional, or creative criticism is inevitable. It comes in many forms: an offhand remark, a performance review, a comment online. At times, it stings; at others, it deflates. But within every critique lies a choice: to let it hinder us or to let it push us forward. The difference lies not in the criticism itself, but in how we receive it. When we learn to reframe criticism as motivation, it becomes not an obstacle, but a catalyst for growth.
By Fred Bradfordabout a year ago in Motivation
Echoes of the Morning Commute
The city woke up with a yawn, stretching its concrete limbs as the first rays of sunlight slipped through the gaps between towering buildings. For Maya, however, the morning was a familiar rhythm—a symphony of hurried footsteps, the hiss of bus brakes, and the distant hum of traffic. She adjusted the strap of her worn leather bag, her gray coat catching the golden light as she stepped onto the sidewalk, joining the stream of commuters flowing toward the subway station.
By Aalyan Khanabout a year ago in Motivation
Survival, Choices, and Humanity
When Squid Game premiered, it wasn’t just a thriller... it became a mirror to society, wealth inequality, and the brutal consequences of desperation. This fictional South Korean series, created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, tells the story of 456 players who accept a mysterious invitation to compete in children's games. The prize? A life-changing ₩45.6 billion (roughly $38 million). The cost? Their lives.
By MIGrowthabout a year ago in Motivation
The Myth of Overnight Success. AI-Generated.
Introduction: The Allure of the Instant We live in the age of acceleration. One-minute TikToks promise life hacks that will change your destiny. Startups dream of unicorn status in 12 months. Influencers gain millions of followers overnight. “Overnight success” has become the modern fairytale, one we’re told we can live if we just hustle hard enough, manifest relentlessly, and stay “consistent.” But here’s the truth nobody wants to post: real success is slow. It’s gritty. And most importantly, it’s invisible—until it isn’t.
By Ahmet Kıvanç Demirkıranabout a year ago in Motivation
Father: The Greatest Support After God
Tears welled up in Zohra’s eyes. Her heart was full of emotions, yet the words wouldn’t reach her lips. She replayed the journey from her childhood to adulthood like a photo album—and in every picture, there was only one face that brought her comfort: her father's. Zohra grew up in a small village. Her mother had passed away when she was very young, and since then, her father, Haji Ilyas, had been both a mother and a father to her. He worked as a laborer—spending long, exhausting days under the scorching sun, lifting bricks and cement, just to make sure his daughter never felt the sting of deprivation. People would say, “Ilyas, your daughter is becoming too bold. You give her too much freedom.” But Ilyas would only smile and reply, “I won’t become a barrier in her flight. The world may try to stop her—but not her father.” One day, Zohra said, “Abba, I want to go to the city and join a college.” Ilyas saw the spark in her eyes and buried his own desires deep down. “Go, my daughter,” he said. “Chase your dreams. I leave you with my prayers and my shadow.” Arriving in the city, Zohra discovered a whole new world—new people, new ways of life. At times, she forgot the man behind her struggles—the father who continued sending money through hard labor. Sometimes, she even complained, “Abba, the money you send isn’t enough. Everything is expensive here.” All Ilyas could say was, “I’m trying, my dear. I’ll find more work.” Then one day, Zohra fell in love with a boy. He seemed decent, but his mindset clashed with Ilyas’s values. When Zohra told her father, he didn’t protest. He only said, “If you’re happy, I’m happy. I’ll only give you my prayers—not my resistance.” But after marriage, Zohra learned that love alone doesn’t sustain life—understanding and patience do. When her new home failed to offer both, she made a tearful call to her father late one night and said, “Abba, I want to come back.” Without a single question, Ilyas replied, “A daughter’s true home is always her father’s home. Just come back—I’ll handle the rest.” Zohra returned to the same humble village she had once left. She expected criticism from people, complaints from her father—perhaps even rejection. But when she knocked on the door, her father opened it and embraced her tightly without a word. “My daughter has returned. That’s all I ever needed,” he said. People whispered, “Ilyas, your daughter came back after marriage. That’s a disgrace.” But Ilyas calmly replied, “People can think what they want. For me, my daughter was, is, and will always be my pride.” Zohra began to realize that every relationship in the world comes with conditions—do good, and you’re loved; make a mistake, and you’re abandoned. But there’s one bond that loves unconditionally, that provides without asking, that forgives endlessly. That bond is: a father’s. Ilyas returned to his labor work. Zohra started sewing at home to help out. Together, they supported each other. For the first time, Zohra truly understood that respect doesn’t always come from the world—sometimes, it comes from a tired father’s quiet smile. Time passed. Zohra learned from her mistakes and became everything a daughter should be. Every day, she lived with the realization that after God, if anyone can love without limits, it’s a father. One day, Zohra held her father’s hand and said, “Abba, I’m strong now. It’s my turn to be your shelter.” Tears glistened in Ilyas’s eyes. “If you’ve become my prayer, my dear, then what more could I ask for?” --- Whenever someone prays, “Oh God, grant my parents a long life,” the deepest part of that prayer rests in a father’s silent smile—the smile that becomes a blessing in every sorrow, a strength behind every child’s success. Do you know a father like that—who gave you everything while asking for nothing?
By IRSHAD MUHAMMADabout a year ago in Motivation
Salary
At first glance, a monthly salary feels like a blessing. You receive a fixed amount every month, enough to pay your bills, buy groceries, and manage your basic needs. It keeps your home running, fills your fuel tank, and gives a sense of security. You breathe a little easier knowing that something is coming in every 30 days.
By The Zeb Scholar about a year ago in Motivation
Change your thinks, Change Your World
Have you ever noticed how two people can go through the exact same situation, but one comes out stronger while the other feels broken? Why does this happen? Because it's not the situation that defines the outcome — it's how we see and react to it. Your mindset shapes your world more than anything else.
By The Zeb Scholar about a year ago in Motivation
The Distraction-Proof Mind: How to Build Unshakable Creativity and Discipline in a Noisy World
Every artist, writer, and innovator faces the same battle: a world designed to distract them. The phone buzzes. The inbox pings. The endless scroll of social media whispers, Just one more minute. And yet, some people still create. They write books, compose music, build businesses, and master crafts—despite the noise.
By Maaz Ahmadabout a year ago in Motivation
