Propaganda I fell for before my frontal lobe developed
There’s a social media trend where people post “propaganda they’re not falling for.” I wanted to make a YouTube video instead, and I reveal some of the biggest mistakes I’ve made growing up and in my early/mid twenties as well.
Thoughts on Jubilee debate with Candace Owens
I share my thoughts & analysis on the Jubilee debate between Candace Owens, who does not identify as a feminist, and 20 other people of different genders who do identify as feminists.
I talk about how Candace Owens oversimplifies women’s experiences and personhoods, and how her assumptions about women undermine her arguments.
Why I got a flip phone (it’s Barbie themed!!!!)
While I still keep my smartphone because I still need it in this day and age, I have been craving to reduce my screen time— especially time spent on social media— so that I can be more present in the real world.
The value of your creativity is worth more than likes, comments and views
In the age of social media, it can be hard to feel like our creative work is worth something when we post it online and it doesn’t get a lot of attention. But just because something isn’t noticed at first doesn’t mean it’s not valuable.
God over religion: I left Islam, but I also didn’t
I talk about how I went from being a devout Muslim to an agnostic non-Muslim.
Cynicism is not making you a good person
I’m calling myself out here. Sometimes cynicism takes away from our sense of self-accountability in doing better to make the world a better place. When we stop believing in others, we also stop believing in the value of what we have to offer in promoting positive change.
I hate modern dating advice because it discourages real connection
Especially where there are discussions of “feminine” and “masculine” energy, people are commodified and women and men are taught to perform for each other in order to end up in happy relationships (I focus on heterosexual relationships in this discussion). I talk about how patriarchy still shows up in online discussions where this kind of performative dating is presented to be empowering for women when it really is not.
Your identity is not a performance
Who are you when society’s expectations of who you “should” be aren’t weighing on you? Which beautiful, powerful parts of yourself have you been suppressing because somewhere you’ve been conditioned to believe that they don’t make you enough?
Stop gatekeeping yourself from yourself
You actually do have a lot of creative, intellectual and other kinds of power within you— but shame has deluded you into believing that you are not capable of accessing those. In reality, your ability to create, articulate and innovate are still within you— it is less about forcing yourself to produce something and more about you getting past these blocks of shame manifesting as self doubt, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, etc so that you can remember yourself and access yourself.
Why I want to leave the US (and move to Europe!)
While I’m grateful for my privileges as a US American living in the United States, I also know that my country isn’t perfect. I crave a better work life balance and a stronger sense of community— which is why I want to move somewhere else where relationships & collective well being are a big part of the culture.
The kind of love that I want
I discuss the different elements I desire in my platonic and romantic relationships, especially so that they align with the values of genuineness and freedom I have.
Influencers and celebrities are NOT entitled to your attention
You could be doing so much more with your time and energy when you stop losing it to mindless scrolling where you’re consuming content from people who aren’t adding value to your actual life. I know I’m a creator myself, and I’m not hating on other creators— I’m just saying to make sure that you’re intentional about whom you’re consuming from and making sure that it mutually benefits you (that includes considering if my own content benefits you, too).
Sheltered girlies— get outside of your comfort zone
As someone who grew up very sheltered, I’m still reclaiming my sense of autonomy in my twenty’s. Even though it can be scary to get outside of your comfort zone and try new things, it’s so rewarding— you feel a lot more liberated and build self confidence over time.
How to stop caring what other people think
What are you missing out on if you let the fear of other people judging you determine whether or not you will go for the things that make you happy?
You have got to decenter men to find true love
By centering men as a straight women desiring a heterosexual relationship, you ultimately end up performing as you prioritize impressing over connecting. This way, a guy will only choose you based on a filtered, inauthentic version of you— and that will not result in genuine love. As long as you are not known and considered and chosen for who you are, it will not be possible to be loved for who you are. If you do truly desire love, then you have to recenter your values and be unapologetic about your identity— even if that means romantic love will be rarer to find. Even if it becomes harder to find, it will be so much more special and fulfilling if/when you do find it.
How I became a LOT more confident
My physical glow up came as a result of my internal glow up. For most of my childhood, I was shy and reserved. In my adulthood, I discovered many extroverted and confident parts of myself as I learned to distinguish who I actually was and what I valued versus societal conditionings that were imposed upon me to tell me who I “should” be. As I reclaimed my authentic self more and more, the more confident I became and the more I accepted and advocated for myself. Ultimately, the more I treated myself like I was worthy of good things, the more I strengthened the belief that I was.
Why I will never give up on my dreams
I’ve been wanting to make a YouTube channel since I was a teenager, and I’ve tried and failed a few times in my early twenties. At 26 years old, I am finally doing this. And on the topic of that, I talk about why it’s essential to go after your dreams, especially if you have the privilege of doing so.