Stop worrying, and start believing in yourself. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN.

We are no superhero. But I believe that each of us have enormous potential in something. How do you know that you can not succeed when you did not even try? And how can you be so confident that you can not succeed just because you tried and you failed? Are you sure that you already put all the best that you can?

If you want something, work hard for it. WORK FOR IT. WORK FOR IT. Stop complaining, stop worrying! Honest effort never betray you. But I also believe that we do not always get what we want. Because Allah knows what is the best for us.

But the most important thing is, stop complaining and start believing in yourself. Put all the best that you can. And tawakkal.

Live our own vision, our own dream. A person is judged from WHAT HE WANT TO ACHIEVE in his life. Not from what he achieved. – Dr Tawfique Chowdhury

“Just be yourself” – I know these are supposed to be words of freedom, and of course they are, but it seems to me they can also be constricting: when you change, people get scared. It takes bravery to step out of your comfort zone, and people will always have something to say about it. You make new friends, suddenly you’re a social climber. You wear a new outfit to school, and suddenly, oh you’re trying so hard. NO. Okay, maybe the denim jumpsuit was a bad idea. But don’t listen. You have absolutely no obligation to be who you are at 18 for the rest of your life. It’s not wrong to change.

“Be yourself” means “be whoever you want to be.” Not “be who your friends think you are.” Not “be the same person you were last year.” If you’ve always known what you want to be, more power to you. But it’s equally great if you wake up tomorrow morning thinking, “I’m gonna take a gap year to make a documentary in Cambodia.” “I know I signed up to do Teach For America this fall, but – I wanna start a hedge fund.” Dare to be who you’re not. The world has no right to tell you who you are, so don’t let anyone’s judgment or expectations hold you back.

By Sophia Chua-Rubenfeld

I seriously wanted to write more. There are a lot of things in my mind. And I’m sure everyone has it too.

But somehow I cant.

As if there’s something that obstruct me. Maybe it’s the insecurity that is growing even bigger inside me. Or the thought of looking back and feeling stupid about my unnecessary writing.

Anyways, I started reading again. Books. Maybe I’ll write about it. Maybe not.

Like seriously.

“Give me a break.” How I wish I could say that.

Am I allowed to complain about this?

Just finished & submitted all my final designs for upcoming event HALAL FAIR 2012. Yay!

And the designs that I did for USC

But more design jobs coming soon. Not sure if I should be really happy with it now. I just realised that I have been spending most of my free time in my room sitting in front of the laptop all day (either photoshop-ing or online). Gahh! This is NO GOOD.

But who can resist that little extra money that you can earn from doing this thing. Plus I really love this job actually.

Where do I learn how to do such design?

90% self taught. Took more than three years for me to be able to create such design. Iya lah. Try and error (playing around here and there), no formal education. =.=” View more things that I designed on my Facebook HERE.

If you ever thought about why do you have to work hard, strive for something more and stress out yourself to achieve something when you could just do moderately and be content with what you have now (be content as in you doesnt care that you could have more and be much better if you work harder).

Remember this,

“Whoever works righteousness whether male female while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e., Paradise in the Hereafter).” (An-Nahl 16: 97)

Honest effort never betray you. Unless Allah decide something else is better for you. Do your best for Allah. Do your best and be something that you can feel proud of later. Do your best because Allah has given you the capabilty to do so. Lastly, the result of something doesnt equal to excellence. It’s the amount of effort that you put that matter most.

May Allah and people around us guide/remind us to be a better person.

And what could I say other than Alhamdulillah.

First thing first, searching/skimming for C+ among all the grades. And YES! I SAW THAT FREAKING C+. Seriously! Never thought that I would be so darn happy with C+. Like really happy sampai rasa nak gugur jantung.

Now I’m so ecstatic. Thank you Allah! Nailed all subjects except obviously Finance Management and BM Komunikasi Perniagaan (Gahhhh! I blame it on the fact that I didnt manage my time well, thus, couldnt finish the paper in time).

Imma work harder next semester, the result is far better than what I expected, Alhamdulillah.

Oh ya, for the umpteenth time, honest effort will never betray you!

Where should I start and how should I start?

Maybe with a lil bit (how should I say this?) review on my last year performance/resolution? To be honest, IMO, I think I did great. 2011 was awesome. A lot of things happened. Well, obviously! There are 365 days after all. I excel in my studies, bought iPhone 4s with my own money, was offered a part time job as graphic designer and consultant, and so much more. I’m blessed. Alhamdulillah.

Just because I said that 2011 was great and awesome, it doesnt mean that everything are always a rainbow. One thing that I learned is, we have to stop dwelling on the past. Past is past. Why let the past stop you from reaching the stars? And today, I’m convinced that I should have move on years ago and step outside my comfort zone.

For this year, I’m going to name this year as “The Year Where I Start My World Domination Plan“. And why would I named it like that? Well. That’s a secret I’ll never tell. Haha. Just kidding. You’ll know when the time come.

So, I made up few resolutions for this year.

# Save up my money! At least RM200 per month (Future Fund) and at least RM200 per month (to buy ultrabook by next year)

# Buy Sony SAL 30mm F2.8 lens 50mm F1.8

# Manage my spending well. THIS! Ever since I earn quite a lot of money, I’ve been spending my money far too lavishly. Before this, I would have never or would hesitate on buying things over RM100 but now, I would spend hundreds whenever I decided to shop.

# Improve my studies (and stop the procrastination). I manage to improve my grades early 2011. But by the end of 2011, my motivation went down and well, I flunked my finance midterm paper. Not sure how about my final. I just can hope that I’ll pass. If not, I need to repeat the paper and that would mess up my study plan. :/

# Keep a friendly face. Keep a friendly face. Smile smile smile. Stop making the poker face. I need to be more friendly with people. Step outside the comfort zone. Initiate the conversations. And well, be more confidence with myself.

# Read more books

And the list goes on. I hope this year would be much better than the years before and no matter what happen, if this year turn out to be disaster, I’ll always be positive and optimistic. And before I end this, allow me to share something from Yasmin Mogahed.

To all those suffering from sadness or depression, know that it isn’t your fault. It isn’t because you’re weak. It isn’t because you’re just not grateful enough. It isn’t because you’re just not religious enough. It isn’t because you don’t have enough faith. It isn’t because God is angry with you.

To all the well-meaning people who tell you this, just smile. And know deep in your heart that the tests of God come in different forms to different people. And know that, by the help of God, every test can become a tool to get closer to Him. And that, verily, with hardship come ease–and like all things of this world–this too shall pass.

That was long! Haha.

I blame this on my mundane life. Or Twitter. Or maybe my iPhone.

And my study week (final exam).

Okay. So yeah, I blame everythings except me. Haha. But seriously, I dont feel like blogging, at least for just the time being. I’ll be back (as in I’ll write more, not just pulishing random pictures). There are few awesome things (going to happen) this year and I just cant wait for it!

I hope everything went well. InsyaAllah. This year will be one of ze most awesome year for me! And for that, thank you everyone, thank you Allah, Alhamdulillah for all the nikmat that you have bestowed upon me. (:

Yesterday and Today. Pretty much the same. I guess 1st January 2012 is just another day.

Anyways, HAPPY NEW YEAR!