“Your world is a living expression of how you are using and have used your mind.” ― Earl Nightingale
Let’s talk about something that’s been on my mind lately — the way we use our minds.
Most of us? We’ve been trained to marinate in our problems. We sit in them, roll around in them, and invite them to dinner. We let our challenges weigh us down, drag our energy, and dim our light. We treat our problems like immovable mountains and ourselves like powerless victims standing at the bottom.
But then… there’s another kind of person.
The exception.
The ones who, when faced with a problem, don’t spiral — they spark. Their minds don’t scream “Why me?” — they whisper, “What now?”
They flip into solution mode, like it’s their default setting.
Let me give you a few legendary examples: The founders of Airbnb and Uber.
These were just regular people — like me and you — who experienced some everyday frustrations. They were either couch-surfing, broke, stuck in traffic, or couldn’t catch a decent cab. But instead of just complaining, instead of saying “This sucks”, they asked:
“There must be a better way.”
And they didn’t stop there. They created that better way.
Think about it. People all over the world were struggling to pay rent — but it never crossed their minds to rent out a room short-term like a hotel. People were frustrated with transport — but never thought of turning their own cars into part-time taxis. The problem was common, but the thinking wasn’t.
And I can personally attest to that.
Running an Airbnb allowed us to build not just a studio unit, but a whole two-bedroom unit too — both of which are rented out now. But here’s the kicker: we had this house sitting there, completely empty, for years. Just there. Doing nothing. We did not realize we were standing in our own acre of diamonds.
It wasn’t until I was planning a trip to Singapore that I stumbled across Airbnb. I was scrolling, looking for a place to stay — and then boom — light bulb moment.
“Wait… I could do this too.”
Before that, it never even crossed my mind. I was just sitting in my room, wondering how to make more money. And then suddenly, the solution wasn’t just in my head — it was in my hands.
Same world. Same struggles. Different use of the mind.
You see, we’re all human. We all have this incredible tool between our ears. But not everyone is using it. Some are just running in loops of “why it’s hard,” while others are building empires off the question, “how can I make it better?”
In his best seller book The Success Principles (TM), author Jack Canfield said: “People only complain about things they can do something about.”
And he’s right. You don’t see people complaining about gravity. Why? Because it is. It’s part of life, and we’ve accepted it. Not only that — we found ways to use it. Planes, rollercoasters, basketball dunks — we didn’t fight gravity, we worked with it.
So let me ask you something real:
💭 What are you struggling with right now?
💭 What challenge has been running laps in your mind, stealing your peace?
Whatever it is, I want you to try something different starting today.
Twice a day — once in the morning and once at night — take out a notebook and write this at the top:
“There must be a better way.”
Then list one possible solution. Even if it sounds silly. Even if your mind draws a blank — write that. But keep showing up. Tell your mind:
“This is who we are now. We find solutions.”
You might surprise yourself. You might just uncover a new path. A new business. A new version of you.
Remember: your mind is not a sponge for problems.
It’s a spark for possibilities. Start using it that way.
Let’s part on these words, your Mind Is Not a Dumpster for Problems – It’s a Weapon for Solutions.
With all my heart,
Salima
