Introspection

There’s a well-earned peaceful lull in the middle of my workday, unusual, but deeply welcomed. Phones and notifications are conveniently silent for once. The gentle hum of the air conditioning, the fluttering of fans, and the whispery work voices of colleagues in the distance are soothing. Jazz music drifts from the room next door like a lullaby.

This calm feels strange, and I’m not quite sure what to do in this moment of peace.

 I have the world at my fingertips ... so many possibilities, so many opportunities to connect: on WhatsApp, on video calls, on Instagram. It’s so easy to fill emptiness with chatter, playful banter, and smiley faces. I do this well! We've all become masters of small talk, haven't we? It’s almost second-nature to be flippant, flirty, and frivolous online.

When our fingers do the talking, we become brazen, less inhibited, more daring. It’s easier to drop the mantle of shyness, replacing actual emotions with emoticons and abbreviations. How many times haven't you sent “LOL” or “Haha” with a completely serious expression on your face? It's so easy.

 Yet today, I'm pensive, out of sorts really, not quite making sense of all the contradictions the world is throwing out there in good measure. Daily we witness so many glaring disparities:

Complete excess and complete annihilation.

Over-consumption and food insecurity.

Overwhelming joy and deep regret.

First-world and third-world realities.

Instant gratification and delayed blessings.

The list is long, and I could go on. 

So yeah, introspection is called for. What is the universe actually requiring of us? What is the lesson we are not learning? Because damn, the signs keep on coming ... first gently, and then like a hammer throw.

In these uncertain times, I cling to the known: the ones with a record of love and support, the practices that are uplifting and calming... and most importantly, prayer. The melodious repetition of Thikr is the only thing that calms my edginess. This spiritual anchor, whether it’s prayer, meditation, or simply quiet reflection, isn't an escape; it's the foundation for deeper thought. It allows us to face those contradictions, the glaring distance between excess and annihilation, not with despair, but with purpose. The world is asking us to stop being masters of small talk and start becoming masters of change, changing small talk and banality into meaningful action.

This isn't about solving all our troubles overnight; it's about closing the gap between the person we currently are and the compassionate, purpose-led person we know we need to be.

 The call to action is simple: Choose one contradiction and commit to disrupting it in your own life.

To counter Instant Gratification: Commit to enjoying the full experience. Instead of immediately filling the lull with digital noise, dedicate that found time to an act of focused creation...reading something profound, writing a letter, or simply sitting in silence. Train your mind to value depth over speed.

To bridge First- and Third-World Realities: Commit to Conscious Consumption. Before you buy, ask: Who made this? What is their reality? Support local artisans, ethical supply chains, and organisations dedicated to alleviating the food insecurity you lament. Make every dollar a vote for a more equitable world.

To transcend Flippant Chatter: Commit to Practicing Presence. Put down the phone when you are with your "ones." Look them in the eye. Use your actual voice and your actual words to express love, regret, or support. Let your communication be heavy with sincerity, not light with emoticons.

The real lesson we need to learn isn't complex; it can be found in awareness, disruption and courage. By taking one sincere step, grounded in the quiet we've found, we turn our personal introspection into a greater good. The signs will keep coming, but we'll meet them not with edginess, but with quiet resolve.

What single act of sincere presence will you commit to today?