#LifeLessons - The Biggest Life Learnings Of Leena Magdi

NAME: Leena Magdi

AGE: 33

INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @xleenamagdix

JOB TITLE: Positive Psychology Practitioner at RS Educational Consultants and Author

Leena is a Positive Psychology Practitioner in the Educational field. She works with high-school students in educating and developing character strengths and well-being tools that support a holistic approach to thriving academically and otherwise. At RS-Educational Consultants, Leena applies evidence-based strategies from positive psychology to help students identify their core values and strengths, and make decisions that align with their authentic selves. Leena is passionate about helping students build lasting habits that extend beyond their immediate academic goals, becoming lifelong tools for thriving beyond high school and university. She believes that developing self-awareness early empowers students to take intentional, aligned action.

Leena is also the author of Mourning Air. A memoir mixing poetry, prose, and storytelling detailing her own internal journey with the sudden loss of her brother and the war in Sudan.

Today Leena shares with us some of her biggest life learnings to-date:

Through my work, and my experiences, I have learned a few things. What I’ve come to understand is that so much of our difficulties lie in a lack of true self-awareness. When we do not have a clear understanding of our own selves, our values, our purpose, it’s harder to stay grounded when things get out of control. It’s also easier to get caught up in trivial matters and lose sight of our bigger picture – the relationships that really matter, the goals that truly count. A lot of the time people say that maturity and wisdom come from experience. However, if someone does not face their experiences, and themselves, no growth actually occurs. We stay stuck in that same phase, repeating the same patterns. Growth starts with confronting ourselves, our experiences, and taking honest steps in knowing and understanding ourselves. A significant part of my healing with grief journey is built on self-awareness through character strengths. This is a big part of why I am passionate about working with high school students.

It’s so easy to lose yourself in high school. To forget who you are. To lose sight of what makes you, you. To forget about the unique qualities and quirks that you possess. And in the rare moments that one remembers— you may not recall them as gifts or things to be proud of. But when you’re taught early to look for and recognize the innate strengths you have, the things that make you, you — that you otherwise may not pay attention to or grow complacent about -- it builds a sense of confidence, of self-worth, of knowing. A feeling of I know myself. That’s something. Especially at that age. When you know who you are and you like you are. You hold on a little tighter to yourself. Your validation starts to come from within. That sense of internal validation is something I feel most of us struggle with well into our adult lives.

These are some of the lessons that I’ve learned from my work, the beautiful relationships I’ve had, and the difficult experiences I’ve faced.

#LIFELESSON – 1 - Everything goes. Pay attention to the little things but keep the bigger picture in mind. 

Everything is impermanent. Our relationships, our jobs, our time. Even so, we spend so much time fixated on little things. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very big on the details. I think the tiny habits in our life are what make our big picture. What’s important, though, is getting to know what details align with our authentic self. What tiny habits and patterns will help me create the life I want for myself? And understand that at the end of the day, everything is temporary. So, if I miss a deadline today, I can make it up tomorrow. If I’m successful this year, I may have a slow phase next year. Spend time getting to know yourself-- your values, your strengths, your points of growth. When our own sense of self is shaky or hazy, it’s easy to get distracted and phased by little things. Trivial things. When we’re stable and secure, however, we are able to choose our battles wisely, to discern between key principles and insignificant matters.

#LIFELESSON - 2 - Sometimes we have to go with flow. Other times we need to create it. Our job is to learn to recognize the difference. 

My twenties taught me to let go. I let go of everything in my twenties. I had a very specific idea of what my life would be like and how it was going to unfold. But life had other plans. Sometimes we’re put in positions where it seems like the decision has already been made for us; where there seems to be one choice. I know it doesn’t sound empowering or anything, but I have learned that knowing when to surrender and when to fight is the most empowering lesson. Sometimes, you have to just be still. Go with the flow. Let the universe unfold in the way it needs. That does not mean you’re not doing anything; it just means that not every fight is fought the same way and not every fight is worth fighting. Sometimes the hardest fights are the ones you just let go.

My thirties have been about claiming the flow, creating it, owning it, and making it mine. Being the flow. Because I’ve spent time being still, I have a clearer picture of what falls in alignment with my purpose.

#LIFELESSON – 3 - Things often do not go as planned. Make a plan anyway

I think most of us like to feel like we have some sort of control in our lives. It’s human nature. We make plans, backup plans, emergency plans. And it’s always a shock when life throws unexpected challenges at us. But I’ve learned that the sudden move, or new beginning, or ending, is an integral part of life; things will inevitably not go according to plan. Life is one giant curveball. We don’t learn things like that in school. We’re taught that if we do things a certain way, reach certain milestones by a certain age, things will go right. “How they’re supposed to.” But the truth is, most things don’t ever go how they’re “supposed” to. There isn’t a supposed way for things to go, really. It’s just a way for us to maintain our feeling of control. That isn’t to say we should throw our hands up because we can’t control the outcome. Planning is necessary even when things go sideways. Learning to plan flexibly has been a key lesson for me.  And that comes with understanding what our long-term vision is; what is my purpose? What is my main goal? Sticking to that and releasing any attachment with one specific way of getting there. The universe is far wiser than any individual mind, and nothing is ever a coincidence. Sometimes these unexpected changes are leading us to a clearer path towards our purpose.