“My dream is to become a doctor so to serve my people and make my parents happy.”

Education is ingrained in our culture. No matter how hard the Taliban try to take that away.

#Afghanistan

Don’t run from the pain. Learn to recognize it. Invite the feeling to sit still with you. Take the deepest breaths. You’ll begin to recognize that the healing happens in these moments of reflection. It gives way to calmness, happiness and joy.

Stay in the present, always.

❤️

Abusers feed off of mind manipulation in order to control your behavior & emotions. They say you’re worthless to alter your sense of reality & make you feel helpless & fearful.

You gain back control by living in the present, detaching & not listening to their lies anymore.

❤️

For those who are brave enough to protest against the Taliban’s ban against girls’ & women’s education inside the country, we should all continue to bring awareness to this human rights abuse happening right now.

Keep their voices alive.

#Afghanistan

Spoke w/ New Arab:

“There is no future for the country without educating both genders. Education for children helps nurture critical thinking, emotional intelligence and acts as a buffer against mental illness.”

#Afghanistan

newarab.com/analysis/two-y… via @the_newarab

Crying can be therapeutic. Healing.

Crying is a form of communication & social connection. Releases endogenous opioids & other chemicals to help one relax. Reduces stress hormones for a healthy immune system.

It’s ok. Breathe. Let it out. Then stay in the present moment.

❤️

How much time is wasted explaining to others how they hurt us as though we can reason with those who lack the self awareness necessary to even understand themselves?

Instead, focus on regulating your inner system so you can heal, grow and thrive! You radiate from within.

❤️

We’ve been conditioned to hold the weight of other people’s expectations, criticism & toxicity without complaint. As though this weight doesn’t get heavier slowly breaking the nervous system down till our bodies finally give out.

Release it all. Empty your mind. Just breathe

❤️

Afghans love so deeply because we’ve experienced grief in an intimate way. We understand the unpredictability fleeting nature of life which in a moment can take away loved ones. So when we find unique energetic souls, we instinctively hold on tighter.

That’s bittersweet.

❤️

It took time to undo the conditioning which made me feel like I couldn’t succeed. It was my default setting.

Now when an intrusive negative thought arises which makes me question myself, I counter it quickly by saying, “and what if it all works out?”

Self talk does help.

❤️

There will never be peace & security in Afghanistan until an indigenous grassroots movement to uproot the colonial project happens.

Until then, we’ll continue to witness the destabilization, displacement, exploitation & trauma of our people & lands.

#Afghanistan

You can’t control anything but your own behavior. Once you realize that, you’re free.

Instead of focusing on the negative, ground your being. Practice daily healthy habits:

-sleep
-exercise
-eat healthy
-connection
-deep breathing
-gratitude
-nature immersion

#mentalhealth ❤️

Happy Saturday from Milo & I!

Give your system a boost today w some quality time out in nature. Breathe it in & breathe it out. Now smile. You got this.

❤️

Beautiful.

Imagine being handed over power of a country & people who embrace education like we do & choosing to ban it for one entire gender.

Don’t ever forget the Taliban have banned education for girls & women.

#Afghanistan ❤️

In order to heal, you have to believe you possess the capacity to heal. This can be hard when you’ve been conditioned to believe you’re not worth much.

To find the stillness & silence within an environment that is suffocating will be the greatest challenge you must overcome.

❤️

What we as Afghans must do is work on breaking generational trauma. This is the single most important act. There is no other way to awaken the collective consciousness. To end cycles of abuse & pain.

Do the inner work. Take care of your body & brain. Then heal one another.

❤️

Early childhood trauma can lead to issues w/ cultivating healthy interpersonal relationships as adults where vulnerability & connection are required. The brain misinterprets this as danger

But recovery & the ability to successfully build secure attachments is still possible

❤️