Feeling stuck? Like some parts of you just can’t change? You’re not alone — that’s the fixed mindset talking.

In this episode of Reflections & Realizations, we unpack how fixed mindset thinking limits growth, fuels self-doubt, and traps us in old stories. But here’s the game changer: the power of yet — the simple word that shifts “I can’t” into “I’m learning.” Drawing from Carol Dweck’s groundbreaking mindset research and faith-based encouragement, we explore how belief shapes our ability to grow.

I introduce a straightforward two-step journaling tool, From Fixed to Growth Mindset, designed to help you spot those limiting thoughts and reframe them into hopeful, growth-oriented ones.
This is about catching those stories before they become your identity — and gently rewriting your inner narrative with kindness and possibility.

🛠️ From Fixed to Growth Mindset Framework

➤ Step 1: Spot the Fixed Mindset Thought
Write down the limiting belief:

“I’m not a morning person.”

“I can’t stay organised no matter what.”

➤ Step 2: Reframe with Growth Mindset
Rewrite it kindly and hopefully:

“I’m learning how to create a morning routine that works for me.”

“I can develop better organisation skills with small daily habits.”

Journaling this regularly trains your brain to choose growth over defeat — one thought at a time.

With love,
Alveena
Reflections & Realizations

#GrowthMindset #FixedMindset #FaithAndPsychology #MuslimPodcast #CarolDweck #SelfGrowth #JournalingTool #MindsetShift #InnerWork #EmotionalResilience #PositivePsychology #SpiritualGrowth

Thank you for listening. If something in an episode touched you, made you think, or just hit different… I’d love to hear it. Alveena

Your thoughts aren’t always facts. Especially the loud, anxious ones.

Ever spiralled after one text left on read… or convinced yourself something terrible happened just because someone was late?

In this episode of Reflections & Realizations, we explore the hidden mental traps your brain sets — known as cognitive distortions. These are the lies that shape your emotional reality: fortune-telling, catastrophizing, mind-reading… they feel real, but they’re not. Left unchecked, they steal your peace, fuel anxiety, and distort how you see yourself and the world.

I introduce a two-step Realignment Tool, inspired by Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), to help you catch those distorted thought loops and choose a new response.
This is about waking up. Interrupting your patterns. And reclaiming the version of you that’s been buried under anxious noise and mental autopilot.

🛠️ The Name It & Challenge It Framework

➤ Step 1: Name It
Catch the distortion and call it out.
Examples:

“I’m definitely going to fail this.” → That’s fortune telling.

“They’re not replying. They must hate me.” → That’s mind-reading.
Naming it helps you see the thought for what it is: not truth, just a mental reflex.

➤ Step 2: Challenge It
Now slow it down. Ask yourself:

What’s the actual evidence?

Am I ignoring other, more likely outcomes?

What would I say to a friend who had this thought?

What does my faith remind me about Allah’s mercy, qadr, and ease?

You can respond with curiosity instead of fear. You can speak back with truth instead of silence.

Because challenging distorted thoughts isn’t about perfection — it’s about freedom.

With love,
Alveena
Reflections & Realizations

#CognitiveDistortions #FaithAndPsychology #CBTTools #MuslimPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #MindsetShift #SelfCompassion #IslamicPsychology #ThoughtWork #InnerPeace #InterruptTheLoop #EmotionalResilience

Thank you for listening. If something in an episode touched you, made you think, or just hit different… I’d love to hear it. Alveena

Ever caught yourself wondering, “Why am I even doing this?”—whether it’s grinding through work, managing parenting, or just getting through the day?

In this episode of Reflections & Realizations, I lean into Simon Sinek’s golden insight: start with why. Purpose isn’t just corporate jargon; it’s the fuel that powers us through burnout, doubt, and exhaustion. When your why is clear, even the toughest tasks become meaningful.

I introduce a simple, two-step journaling practice I call the Return to Your Why Framework.
This is about pausing in your busy day to name the moment you’re in and reconnect with the deeper reasons behind your actions.
It’s a practice to carry you through the grind with intention, faith, and heart.

🛠️ Return to Your Why Framework

➤ Step 1: Name the Moment
Pick one moment — your morning workout, that next work email, bedtime with your child — and bring it fully into focus.

➤ Step 2: Remind Yourself Why
Ask yourself:

Why does this matter?

Why am I doing this?

List or talk through your whys — the deeper purpose behind your actions. For me, it’s often, “I’m doing this so I have energy to parent” or “because I’m caring for the body Allah gave me.”

The more you practice, the more your why becomes the energy that carries you — especially on the hard days.

With love,
Alveena
Reflections & Realizations

#FindYourWhy #SimonSinek #FaithAndPsychology #PurposeDriven #MuslimPodcast #IntentionalLiving #BurnoutRecovery #JournalingTool #MindsetShift #InnerWork #SpiritualGrowth #ParentingWithPurpose

Thank you for listening. If something in an episode touched you, made you think, or just hit different… I’d love to hear it. Alveena