Ismail Abdus-salaam

Forever a student of life. Telling stories through music and film.

[JK Molina @OneJKMolina]

Not everyone's your customer.

Not everyone needs you.

Not everyone can afford you.

And that's ok.

Because you don't need everyone anyway.

[Ismail Abdus-salaam @_Ishmusic_]

Social media is a tool for connecting with others but it doesn’t take the place of real world connection.

[Ismail Abdus-salaam @_Ishmusic_]

In a world of social media, it is becoming increasingly important to unplug routinely so we don’t get caught up and indoctrinated by the false realities that are given to us by algorithms.

[Ismail Abdus-salaam @_Ishmusic_]

Emotional intelligence and personal accountability are two sides of the same coin.

[Ismail Abdus-salaam @_Ishmusic_]

It’s never too late to turn around or forge a new path. Transitioning in this way is a lot like learning to crawl again. Give grace to yourself for being brave enough to start anew.
You can learn. You can change. You can grow.
Give yourself grace.

[Ismail Abdus-salaam @_Ishmusic_]

Consider that it’s possible to go your whole life unconscious of the fact that you’re going down a path that was paved for you and that the path may not have been paved with your best interest in mind.

[Ismail Abdus-salaam @_Ishmusic_]

Grace is necessary. No one person is born a master. You must crawl before you can walk and walk before you can run.

[Ismail Abdus-salaam @_Ishmusic_]

To call yourself an artist you must leap towards the danger that is chaos, spear in hand, with confidence that you can domesticate it. You must also realize with full acceptance that you could succumb to it.

Creative living is a path for the brave.

Artists must be courageous.

[Ismail Abdus-salaam @_Ishmusic_]

It is the role of the artist to create order from chaos. To create story from seemingly unrelated happenings. This means that as an artist you must be prepared to venture into the unknown.

[Ismail Abdus-salaam @_Ishmusic_]

If something bad happens, know that it is a test.

Chaos is the pressure required to become as fortified, luminous, and brilliant as diamond.

[Ismail Abdus-salaam @_Ishmusic_]

Bad days happen. In fact, they are inevitable. The same paradigm that you enter to nurture your issues and move forward is the same one that you should set as a foundation. Often times the answers to our problems start with critical thinking, mindfulness, and humility.

[Ismail Abdus-salaam @_Ishmusic_]

Be intentional. Consider cause and effect. Take responsibility for your actions. These are ingredients for personal growth.

[Ismail Abdus-salaam @_Ishmusic_]

Bear in mind that it’s possible for positive intentions to have negative outcomes and vice versa.

As the saying goes, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

[Ismail Abdus-salaam @_Ishmusic_]

Intention is important. Not only to the extent of being a catalyst for positive change, but in its potential for change as a whole. With intention comes a varying level of responsibility to the outcome.

[Ismail Abdus-salaam @_Ishmusic_]

Pain can be sobering. Often times on the other side of painful experiences you will discover great truths. Reframe your relationship to failure and pain. Consider them necessary on your path to mental fortitude.

Embrace duality. Discover your ability to adapt.

[Ismail Abdus-salaam @_Ishmusic_]

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[Ismail Abdus-salaam @_Ishmusic_]

Kindness and strength aren’t mutually exclusive. Often times strength is garnered and cultivated when we take the opportunity to be kind, patient, and open when there is no forthright or obvious reason to be. Kindness is where we learn some of our greatest lessons.