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I’m not by nature a morning person. So much so, one could say I’ve been prone to wake on the wrong side of the bed from time to time, particularly when it comes to an early start. In tandem, when I have these types of mornings, it’s the one when the alarm jolts me awake, my coffee spills and I happen to catch every red light possible, as if it’s personally timed. Perhaps it’s easy to chalk it up to fate – a ‘bad day’ predestined from the moment we open our eyes.
But what if the trajectory of our day wasn’t dictated by circumstances but by our response to them? What if the simple act of shifting our perspective could transform our reality? Case in point: if we flip the switch, there’s those days that you just wake up on the right side of the bed in a glowing mood and it sets you up for a great day ahead. But the beauty of perspective is that it’s malleable. Just as easily as we can find reasons to lament, we can find reasons to celebrate. It’s simply a state of mind, particularly the power of the subconscious.
This reminds me a few months ago when Roxie Nafousi – the author of Manifest: 7 Steps to Living Your Best Life and an individual who has arguably spearheaded the concept of manifestation into the mainstream – hosted her first live show here in Dubai, sharing her insider thoughts into how to help you “live your best life”. But it was one simple change in the way we speak that she discussed which really does kickstart this change in mindset. When it comes to the everyday jargon you speak to yourself, instead of saying “I have to” why not switch it around to “I get to”.
“I get to work out.”
“I get to go to work.”
“I get to spend time with friends and family.”
“I get to experience new things.”
The list goes on…
This is where gratitude becomes our most powerful tool, our internal compass guiding us towards abundance rather than lack and this is exactly what the 13th issue of GRAZIA explores under the theme “Laws of Attraction”. It’s a term which was first officially harnessed by author William Walker Atkinson in his book Thought Vibration: The Law Of Attraction In The Thought World, which arguably paved the way for a new age of thought and discourse.
Essentially, what this encompasses is what we cultivate within ourselves, we inevitably bring into our lives. It is not a mere philosophy but an energy and we can choose to move with it or against. This issue is dedicated to that energy, to the intricate push and pull that defines relationships, ideas and movements.
Scientifically speaking, harnessing gratitude in your life is said to have a deep-rooted impact on the way we, as humans, function which we explore in ‘Mind Over Matter’ on page 122. “This interplay between our mental state and physical health underscores the importance of cultivating a positive mindset,” Dr Mona Youssri, senior clinical psychologist and family counsellor at Maison Santé tells GRAZIA, adding, “Thoughts and emotions have profound physiological effects.”
In a similar vein, as we celebrate the Holy Month of Ramadan, it’s a time for reflection, inward thinking and gratitude. To mark this special time in the Islamic calendar, GRAZIA spoke to some of the most inspiring women in the region about the rituals they practise during Ramadan and what makes it a poignant time for them in ‘Rituals of Renewal’ on page 78. “It’s a time to cleanse not only the body but also the soul, by focusing on positive actions, seeking forgiveness, and practising gratitude,” Amina Taher explains in her passage.
For GRAZIA’s 13th edition, Palestinian-Jordanian singer and songwriter Zeyne graces the cover. If you want to talk about a meteoric rise in the music industry, look no further than Zeyne. Initially set to explore a completely different trajectory for herself, the singer is a testament to the power of dreaming and the subconscious mind, which we delve deeper into in her cover shoot and profile on page 200.
“Whatever is meant for you, is for you for sure,” she declared when I sat down with her. “I’m a firm believer that everything is written in life, and whatever happens is not rejection, it’s redirection. But at the same time, I’m also adamant on making things happen and making sure that I always believe in myself. I believe [things] happen in a state of flow and not resistance.”
So, while it may sound cheesy or like an eye-roll statement, why not try starting your day by practising gratitude? I may never 100 per cent be a morning person, but when that 6.30am alarm goes off tomorrow, I’ll be choosing an attitude of gratitude and I urge you to do so, too.
Enjoy the issue.
THE 13th EDITION OF GRAZIA Middle East is now available. ORDER YOUR COPY HERE.
