Finding Sakeenah

14/07/2025

I used to think saying yes to everything was the key to living fully. But I learned (the hard way) that sometimes, the best yes is a no.

It took me years to recognize my role in the recurring cycles of excess and burnout in my life.

It took me years to realize that saying 'yes' when I needed to say 'no' - to myself and to others - was one of the primary pathways to overwhelm, exhaustion and the simmering unease and resentment i felt so often.

Years to understand that chasing the modern standards of ‘success’ was not a path to a calm, focused and meaningful life.

Years to realize that my value and worth isn’t based on what I 'achieve', and what I can do for others.

It took me years.

It cost me years.

Even when I felt out of alignment, even when I was tired, overwhelmed and stressed, "Perfectionism and Achievement" kept showing up, convincing me that more was better.

Telling me that striving (no matter the cost and ‘hustling’ was the way forward.

But over time, I learned that it wasn’t all it was professed to be.

That there is another way to live.

More simply, more slowly, more in alignment.

I know how hard it can be when you feel like you’re drowning in clutter and overwhelm, but I also know there’s a way out - and that’s why I care so much about what I do.

Disclaimer: The overwhelm I help sisters work through is connected to lifestyle choices, mindset, behavior and environmental influences.

If you are experiencing overwhelm due to grief, trauma or mental health challenges, please reach out to seek professional help. Seeking helps is seeking Allah’s mercy.

02/07/2025

The social media conundrum... 'to be seen or not to be seen'...

Anyone who knows me or has been on my page for a while will know my long term internal conflict with social media and whether or not to have an 'online visual presence'

Or even be on social media at all... tbh, I'd rather be gardening.

Sigh. The many reasons not to vs the benefit of connecting and possibly reaching (and helping) more people, bi'ithnillah.

So, I'd decided to go 'Faceless' - I had a plan...

I figured if I did go online, I could wear niqab. But I also had this ni**le at the duality of doing that - and the practicality longer term - so I held off...

Then in May I visited a friend who happens to be professional photographer and we had a brilliant long weekend of hilarity and catching up, and she also took some amazing photos for my website, alhamdulilah.

If you've ever had someone take photos of you, you'll know it's not exactly comfortable but something she said really resonated and clicked

'It's not about you'

It really clicked - It's. not. about. you!

And that's the thing with cinematic photography and videography -it really isn't about you at all!

Sure, while part of the Finding Sakeenah story IS about me, my personal story is just a very very small part of the whole.

My journey and the struggles and the challenges that I went through brought me to where I am today, and make it possible for me to help others find their way our of clutter and chronic overwhelm, bi'ithnillah.

But Finding Sakeenah is so much more than that...

It's a message of hope, of peace, of letting go and embracing a new, softer, gentler, way of living - aligning our time with our ultimate purpose, one small and simple step at a time.

So, in this new era of Finding Sakeenah - I plan to use cinematic videography and photography as a medium to share that message.

Being a little more visible online...

And we'll see how it goes...

Bismillah.

Thank you to my friend for a fresh perspective and Larva, the beautiful horse in the photo for being an incredibly patient superstar of a horse. Last time I rode ba****ck, I think I was in my teens, LOL

01/07/2025

❤️ Several years ago, I made a decision that changed my life.

I was ‘ticking the Islamic boxes’ for the most part – I prayed, I fasted in Ramadan, I wore hijab, ate halal food, and said alhamdulillah – but if I’m honest, my daily life was far from focused on my true purpose or my Hereafter.

📝 It had become a stream of never-ending to-do lists, overflowing inboxes, countless downloads I’d never even looked at crowded my devices, books I’d bought and had never read weighed on my mind (and I kept buying more).

I signed up for courses I never finished, saved recipes I never made, and I had way too much stuff; clothes I never wore, arts and crafts materials I planned to use ‘one day’.

My ‘to buy’ list never seemed to get any smaller, no matter how many things I acquired; there was always something else I wanted.

On a good day, I coasted by on autopilot; on a ‘bad’ day, I was overwhelmed to the point of paralysis. Most days, I felt like I was fire-fighting my way through life without a moment of introspection.

Time slipped by and the Quran gathered dust while thoughts of the Hereafter - Jannah, Jahannam, and my inevitable return to Allah - rarely crossed my mind. Most days, I don’t even remember.

Exhausted, I sought solace in scrolling social media or binge-watching Netflix in my ‘downtime’ feeling too drained to do anything else.

Caught in a downward spiral, neither present in my life nor in my worship, I knew I was in trouble.

“How did I get here?”

“And how do I get out?”

If you’re reading along thinking “This is me’, comment ‘SIMPLIFY’ below, and I’ll send you my guide to help you start decluttering your life, like I did.”

It’s a summary of years of experience - condensed into a 20-min read (with pictures) and actionable tips so you can start your own simplification journey today!

25/01/2025

A little over a month until Ramadan..

05/10/2024

For years, I believed overwhelm was something that happened to me, caused entirely by what was around me.

It took me years to recognize my role in the cycles of excess and burnout that showed up repeatedly in my life.

It took me years to realize that saying 'yes' when I needed to say 'no'—to myself and to others— was one of the primary pathways to overwhelm, exhaustion and the simmering unease and resentment i felt so often.

Years to understand that chasing the modern standards of ‘success’ was not a path to a calm, focused and meaningful life.

Years to realize that my value and worth isn’t based on what I 'achieve', and what I can do for others.

It took me years.

It cost me years.

Even when I felt out of alignment, even when I was tired, overwhelmed and stressed, Perfectionism and Achievement kept showing up, convincing me that more was better.

Telling me that striving (no matter the cost), ‘hustling,’ and the ‘Boss babe’ mentality was the way forward.

But over time, I learned that it wasn’t all it was professed to be.

That there is another way to live.

More simply, more slowly, more in alignment.

I know how hard it can be when you feel like you’re drowning in clutter and overwhelm, but I also know there’s a way out—and that’s why I care so much about what I do.

If you want to start reducing the excess in your life, comment SIMPLIFY and I’ll share the eBook I wrote, which is a summary of years of experience wrapped up into a 20-minute read (with pictures).

Disclaimer: The overwhelm I help sisters work through is connected to lifestyle choices, mindset, behavior and environmental influences. If you are experiencing overwhelm due to grief, trauma or mental health challenges, please reach out to seek professional help. Seeking helps is seeking Allah’s mercy.

Ps: the 4 words that changed my life 👉 Make space for change 💥

01/10/2024

7 years ago, I made a decision that changed my life.

I was 'ticking the Islamic boxes' for the most part – I prayed, I fasted in Ramadan, I wore hijab, ate halal food, and said alhamdulillah – but if I'm honest, my daily life was far from focused on my true purpose or my Hereafter.

It had become a stream of never-ending to-do lists, overflowing inboxes, countless downloads I'd never even looked at crowded my devices, books I'd bought and had never read weighed on my mind (and I kept buying more).

I signed up for courses I never finished, saved recipes I never made, and I had way too much stuff; clothes I never wore, arts and crafts materials I planned to use 'one day'.

My 'to buy' list never seemed to get any smaller, no matter how many things I acquired; there was always something else I wanted.

On a good day, I coasted by on autopilot; on a 'bad' day, I was overwhelmed to the point of paralysis. Most days, I felt like I was fire-fighting my way through life without a moment of introspection.

Time slipped by and the Quran gathered dust while thoughts of the Hereafter - Jannah, Jahannam, and my inevitable return to Allah - rarely crossed my mind. Most days, I don't even remember.

Exhausted, I sought solace in scrolling social media or binge-watching Netflix in my 'downtime' feeling too drained to do anything else.

Caught in a downward spiral, neither present in my life nor in my worship, I knew I was in trouble.

"How did I get here?"

“And how do I get out?”

If you’re reading along thinking “This is me', comment ‘SIMPLIFY’ below, and I’ll send you my guide to help you start decluttering your life, like I did.”

It’s a summary of years of experience - condensed into a 20-min read (with pictures) and actionable tips so you can start your own simplification journey today!

https://www.findingsakeenah.com/simplify-book

04/08/2024

So crazy days, it seems that I won't be able to close my Facebook account after all.... subhanAllah, the things you don't think about....

1. If I close my account, my Finding Sakeenah Business pages can be cloned/copied by anyone.

2. My personal profile can be cloned/copied by anyone and the 'real me' isn't around to realise/report - there's also no way anyone would know a clone wasn't me if my actual profile isn't present.

3. Mark Z is smart and it turns out there are business apps (which I use) that REQUIRE a fb account to login. smh.

So it appears, once you're in, especially with business... you're in to stay as long as you and/or the business are alive LOL.

Next best thing, I'll go back to plan A - clearing my 'friends' list to people I know and genuinely connect with.

Bismillah.

05/07/2024

Behind the scenes work on Quran Essentials for Non Arabic speakers.. alhamdulilah

👀 this space

28/06/2024

07/04/2024

hehe, someone managed to make an extra donation of $50 before I closed the campaign links, alhamdulilah, qadr Allah - may Allah accept it from her and multiply her reward. Ameen.

The campaign is now officially closed until Dhul Hijjah. Baarak Allahu feekum for your support and precious duas!

07/04/2024

SubhanAllah!!! Alhamdulilah! Thank you and jazzakum Allah khayran to all the beautiful supporters this Ramadan!

We've hit our first target so the campaign is now closed and we're ready to get started on phase 1 after Eid! In sha Allah.

If you'd like to stay up to date on the development of the program, please join the Telegram Update channel: https://t.me/quranessentialsupdates

I'll also post updates on my personal page and Finding Sakeenah page.