Wake Up: Change your mindset before it’s too late. My story will humble you.

Asalāmu’alaikum & hi there ♡

I’m Sidra.

Welcome to my very first newsletter!

I’m excited to connect with all of you, even if it feels a bit scattered right now.

Bear with me as I refine my approach, I know it will improve with time!

If you could reply to this email, it would help me out a lot! Let me know why you’re here and what you’d like to learn more about.

I assume you want tips on mindset and productivity as you look to improve your mindset and achieve success in this life and the next.

Or you want to read my very first newsletter.

Whatever it may be, welcome!

And please, share it so I can feature you on my stories over on Instagram.

I wanted my first newsletter to give you as much value as possible.

Let’s start with my very own personal experience.

In 2014, I entered the hospital for a routine infusion. I expected to leave feeling better.

Little did I know, this would start an exhausting journey.

It would see me spending 11 months in various UK hospitals.

I battled a pain that no doctor could diagnose.

As I was admitted, I was filled with hope for some reason.

But soon, that hope began to fade, replaced by the relentless grip of excruciating pain.

No doctor knew why.

They ran every test imaginable, coeliac, IBS, IBD, Crohn’s, but each result came back negative.

Then things got worse.

I had a seizure.

Medical staff rushed me to intensive care. They sedated me and connected me to various machines.

My sister took a picture of me; my head dropped to one side.

Then they told my family, “Keep your fingers crossed."

Once the sedatives wore off, I was transferred to another hospital. I was desperate to get a diagnosis.

The pain was getting worse every day.

After a week of invasive tests, including a special endoscopy, they sent me back to the first hospital, still in pain.

Each day blurred into the next.

I became bedridden, unable to care for myself.
I could not do simple tasks.
I could not go to the bathroom, get dressed, or comb my hair.

I had lost so much weight; my body didn’t feel like my own, weakened by the unrelenting struggle.

My life became a haze of medications: morphine, fentanyl, diamorphine, and ketamine. They were given to dull my suffering. I was nil by mouth; even the thought of food caused an unbearable surge of pain. Instead, I received total parenteral nutrition. I relied solely on Allah and intravenous sustenance to survive.

After months of this gruelling life, I was sent to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Here, among the prison-like walls and beeping machines, something shifted.

Allah had answered someone's du’a.

I felt the will of Allah begin to lift the pain away gradually, I started to become happier.

Slowly, I started to heal.

I began walking and eating. I gradually regained my independence. It made me so happy!

Through this journey, I came face to face with death and despair more times than once.

The day I had been waiting for, for 11 months, finally showed.

I was discharged from the prison aka hospital.

I remember the day I walked out; I felt like a free person.

It felt strange to be with my family at home. Eating at the dinner table and sitting in my Dad's car for the first time was odd.

It made me feel so grateful for being able to see everything I had once left behind.

Allah could have taken my soul, but He decided to give me another chance at life.

So, why should I disappoint my Lord?

I slowly started fitting back into “normal” routines:

After 3 surgeries and many hospital visits, I remained grateful for Allah's plan.

I had so much free time, but so little energy, so I decided to start looking at my hobbies and interests.

Whilst recovering, I started Umm Simplicity.

My journey wasn't a physical test. It was a spiritual awakening. It completely shifted my mindset.

And while each of our paths is different, there are some common lessons you can take away from my story.

I realised that my struggle was not in vain; it was an awakening for myself and those around me to the adaptability and grit of humans and the profound mercy of Allah.

The Qur’an reminds us, “And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.” (Qur’an, 2:155).

This trial drew me closer to Allah and deepened my faith. It reminded me that this world is temporary.

As I reflect on those dark days, I am filled with gratitude for the lessons learned and the strength gained.

I learned that, even in suffering, there is wisdom and purpose. It is a chance for growth, reflection, and a deeper connection to our Creator.

I am here today to share my story.

I want to remind you that, even in deep suffering, there is Allah. He will not burden you with more than you can bear.

These lessons aren't just about surviving. They're about living and finding your purpose, in this world and the hereafter.

My story teaches you to stop waiting.

STOP ASSUMING YOU HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD!!!

Don’t wait for a life-changing event to force you to change your mindset or shift your priorities.

Start today.

Start now.

You don’t need to experience extreme suffering to begin growing.

You need to open your mind to the lessons that Allah has put in front of you, even in the moments that don't make sense, yet.

Change your mindset before it’s too late.

My turning point was that picture I saw of myself laying in a hospital bed, lifeless.

What will be yours?

Let my story be a reminder for you.

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, what if I’m getting it all wrong?

What if the way I’ve been thinking, the way I’ve been living, is leading me down a path I’ll regret—when it's too late to turn back?

Your mindset shapes every decision you make, and every step you take.

It's not about worldly success, but eternal success.

We chase goals and seek comfort. But, we often forget that life is a brief moment in the grand scheme of our existence.

Imagine reaching the end, standing before Allah. Then, you realise you have wasted your life. You chased temporary gains and pleasures, missing chances to perfect your deen.

Your mindset is the key to unlocking success.

But the door to change is closing every day.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned us of the temporary nature of time, saying, “Take advantage of five before five:

These words remind us, in this dunya (world), to change. Every moment is a chance to focus on what truly matters.

But how often do you let these moments slip through your fingers?

How often do you tell yourself, "I’ll focus on my faith tomorrow," or "I’ll start praying more when I have less on my plate?"

We postpone change because we assume there is more time.

But what if there isn’t?

What if tomorrow never comes?

That’s the reality we’re all avoiding.

We live as if we have unlimited time to fix our mistakes, to become better, and to live in a way that’s aligned with our faith and values.

But the truth is, our time is running out—every breath brings us closer to the end.

It’s time to wake up.

Your mindset isn't just about personal development; it's the key to your spiritual journey and success.

Every thought and action is either bringing you closer to Allah or pulling you away. And the consequences of those choices don’t just impact your current life—they echo into eternity.

The Qur’an reminds us, “And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion?” (Qur’an 57:20).

We chase wealth, status, and luxury. In the end, we are empty and unfulfilled.

Why?

Our souls were not made for this world. They were made for something far greater, more beautiful, and everlasting.

The time to change is now.

You don’t have the luxury of waiting.

You don’t know when your end time will come.

You don't know when you'll take your last breath. Then, you'll stand before your Creator, with only your deeds and intentions to speak for you.

But it’s not too late, not yet.

You have this moment, right now, to make a change.

To shift your mindset.

To realign your heart.

To focus on what matters most: your relationship with Allah, your growth, and your contribution to the world.

You have the power to rewrite your story.

To live with purpose, gratitude, and faith. To not only succeed in this life but to secure your place in the eternal Jannah.

So I ask you: Are you ready to wake up?

Your mindset is the key that unlocks the door to a life of meaning, fulfilment, and ultimate success.

But the choice is yours, and the time to make that choice is now—before it is too late.

Waking up from your subconscious routines is the first step. It will help you see a bigger, fascinating world beyond the cycle of eating, working, and sleeping.

I started my Instagram page for women like you. You want to defy societal norms. You seek to reach your highest potential and be successful in this life and the hereafter.

Follow me here: @sidrashakoor_

I'm excited (and a bit nervous) to be on this journey with you. Let's see where it takes us!

Until next time.

مع حبي ودعائي (with love & du’as)

— Sidra ♡