Author name: Shabnam Baloch

Sometimes, the most powerful position we can take is not at the center of the storm, but slightly outside it. Detachment allows us to step back, observe, and simply be the spectator. From this vantage point, we often see angles we would have missed in the heat of involvement — subtle behaviors, hidden dynamics, and […]

I often think about how people go through so many different experiences in life. Yet, not everyone grows wiser from them. Some gain wisdom, while others keep repeating the same patterns, facing the same outcomes, and often complaining about them. Over time, I’ve reached the conclusion that just going through an experience is not enough.

What matters most to you has a direct impact on your happiness. For me, it’s discipline, being organized, and finding joy in the smaller, ordinary rhythms of daily life. I have come to realize that days are life, and moments are days. It took me a lifetime to understand that multitasking—so often celebrated—can be more

Last night I was watching some old classic movies and listening to classic music. And it hit me—this is not something we see anymore. Yes, things evolve, industries change, new trends take over. But this was not about the film or music industry. It was about what I saw and heard in these movies or

If there were a Nobel Prize for Empathy, I would hope to win it for one reason: I made people feel seen. In my journey through crises and conflict zones, I’ve learned that invisibility is often the deepest wound. When people are overlooked—whether staff, communities, or colleagues—their strength quietly erodes. But when they are recognized,

I set out with the intention of detaching myself from my natural tendency for deep empathy and practicing only quiet, detached listening. I wanted to explore: What does it mean to listen without empathy? Why would someone choose to listen in that way? And can speakers sense when a listener is present but not connected?

I lived the day behaving completely differently from my usual nature. I chose to exercise hard power—something I have rarely, if ever, displayed. Normally, I carry myself in a way that avoids discomfort for others, leading with empathy, care, and soft power. This experiment took me far out of my comfort zone. It felt unsettling,

Inside ourselves, there are thoughts, emotions, and truths we don’t fully understand. Exploring them feels like diving into a vast ocean where we don’t know what waits in the darkness. Depth reflects our raw reality, stripped of masks. Many people fear that they won’t like what they see when they truly look inward. Just like

“The deepest parts of ourselves are not always meant to be conquered—they are meant to be faced, again and again, with courage and humility.” Sometimes, our own depth can scare us. We feel lost, overwhelmed, and even shaken by the weight of it. To protect ourselves, we often look away—just as we avert our eyes