Reflections & Realisations

Alveena Salim
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Reflections & Realisations is a faith-based psychology podcast exploring how our past shapes who we become and how we can heal through self-awareness, spirituality, and compassion. Hosted by Alveena, a Psychology MSc student, writer, and seeker, the podcast blends mental health insights, spirituality, and personal storytelling to explore themes of identity, healing, and growth. Each episode unpacks the real psychology behind how we think, feel, and love, from attachment styles and trauma to faith, self-worth, and emotional resilience. Born from years of journaling, therapy, and reflection, Reflections & Realisations invites you to slow down, question, and reconnect with yourself through honest conversations that bridge science and spirituality. If you’re drawn to psychology, faith, healing, and self-discovery, this podcast is for you. No quick fixes. No perfect answers. Just real reflections that remind you that you are not alone in your journey. Together, we explore: Mental health, emotion, and healing through a faith-based lensThe psychology of attachment, trauma, and resilienceHow spirituality and self-awareness guide emotional growthHonest reflections on belonging, identity, and loveJoin the journey toward understanding yourself and healing deeply, one reflection at a time.

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  1. 2월 10일

    From Shame to Strength: How Sharing Stories Transforms Women's Health

    Welcome to Reflections and Realisations.  In today’s episode, Alveena sits with Kausar Tahir, clinical pharmacist and founder of MeNow Health, for a candid conversation about perimenopause, menopause, and the cultural and generational barriers that make it hard for women to talk openly about their health. Together, they explore the cultural silence around menopause, gaps in medical research, and how faith and societal beliefs shape women’s midlife experiences. You’ll hear about the power of sharing stories, advocating for yourself in healthcare, and supporting one another through life’s big transitions. This episode is for anyone navigating perimenopause, menopause, or supporting women through these life stages, and is all about breaking taboos, building awareness, and finding strength in community. Key Quotes "No one's in competition with anybody else. We can all work together and collectively rise — a powerful movement for our daughters to see." "They're calling it meno-divorce. But if a woman doesn’t understand what she’s going through, how can she communicate it to her partner? He has no idea what’s happening." ________________________________________ Links & Resources LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alveena-salim-a98abb49/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withalveena/ About the Guest Kausar Tahir is a clinical pharmacist and the founder of MeNow Health, a culturally sensitive health platform supporting women through perimenopause and menopause. Her work focuses on education, advocacy, and breaking the silence around women’s hormonal health. 🔗 Learn more about MeNow Health: https://menowhealth.com/ About the Host Alveena is a psychology MSc student, writer, and seeker exploring the intersection of mental health, psychology, and Islamic spirituality. Her work blends academic insight with lived experience to explore identity, belonging, and healing. Through her writing and podcast, she shares personal reflections that bridge science and spirituality, encouraging honest self-inquiry and wholehearted living. She invites listeners to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with who they truly are. Thank you for listening. If something in an episode touched you, made you think, or just hit different… I’d love to hear it. Alveena

    55분

  2. 2월 1일

    How Unresolved Emotions Shape Parenting | Understanding Emotional Triggers

    In this episode, Alveena reflects on a childhood memory she had buried for decades and how it resurfaced in an unexpected moment with her own daughter. She explores how unresolved experiences shape our automatic reactions, especially in parenting, and how generational patterns can quietly repeat themselves without us noticing. Drawing from Daniel Kahneman’s system one and system two thinking, as well as concepts from psychology, attachment theory and faith, she explains how much of our behavior comes from autopilot responses rather than conscious intention. Through storytelling and reflection, she shares how slowing down, noticing our triggers and choosing a different response can break generational cycles. This episode is for anyone who wants to parent more intentionally, understand their emotional reactions or step out of patterns they never chose. KEY TAKEAWAYS Childhood experiences often shape adult reactions more than we realise. System one thinking creates fast, automatic responses based on old patterns. System two allows us to pause, reflect and choose a different response. Unresolved emotions can become generational loops if we do not bring awareness to them. Attachment patterns from our childhood often influence how we parent. Breaking autopilot requires slowing down, noticing triggers and reframing before reacting. The From Impulse to Intention framework supports intentional parenting and communication. BEST MOMENTS “I didn’t realise how much mum’s fall had impacted me until decades later.” “It wasn’t a random reaction. It was a loop from my own childhood playing out.” “System one jumps to conclusions. System two chooses wisdom.” “I wasn’t reacting to my children. I was reacting from something unresolved inside me.” “My childhood wounds were wearing an adult mask.” “Sometimes it takes decades to see how old patterns have shaped us.” LINKS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alveena-salim-a98abb49/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withalveena/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@withAlveena ABOUT THE HOST Alveena is a psychology MSc student, writer and seeker exploring the intersection of mental health, psychology and Islamic spirituality. Her work blends academic insight with lived experience to explore identity, belonging and healing. Through her writing and podcast, she shares personal reflections that bridge science and spirituality, encouraging honest self inquiry and wholehearted living. Grounded yet introspective, she invites others to slow down, reflect and reconnect with who they truly are. Thank you for listening. If something in an episode touched you, made you think, or just hit different… I’d love to hear it. Alveena

    14분

  3. 1월 18일

    Why You Think You Can’t | Understanding Fixed Mindset

    In this episode, Alveena reflects on the mindset stories we absorb as children and the quiet ways they shape our adult lives. Through her own experience struggling with maths in school and later facing a statistics module as a parent with no time to spiral, she explores how old narratives can sneak back in and limit what we believe we are capable of. Using Carol Dweck’s research on fixed and growth mindsets, along with reflections from parenting, faith and personal growth, she unpacks how mindset is less about ability and more about the stories we repeat to ourselves. She shares how witnessing her mother navigate life with blindness reshaped her understanding of resilience, and how shifting her mindset allowed her to step into opportunities she once saw as out of reach. This episode is for anyone who feels held back by old beliefs, self doubt or the idea that they are just not good at something. KEY TAKEAWAYS Fixed mindset stories often form in childhood and quietly shape our adult decisions. Growth mindset is built through action, persistence and reframing, not confidence. Breaking tasks into small steps can override panic and old narratives. Witnessing the resilience of others can expand what we believe is possible for ourselves. Parenting language influences how children internalise ability, effort and failure. Reframing limiting thoughts builds long term emotional and cognitive flexibility. BEST MOMENTS “I internalised a story that I was not wired for maths.” “That old panic came rushing back decades later.” “My mum was living with real limitations and still refused to stop figuring things out.” “I kept repeating my fixed mindset story to myself.” “That course taught me how to pray bigger, dream bigger and believe I could grow.” “The only thing holding me back before was my mindset.” LINKS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alveena-salim-a98abb49/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withalveena/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@withAlveena ABOUT THE HOST Alveena is a psychology MSc student, writer and seeker exploring the intersection of mental health, psychology and Islamic spirituality. Her work blends academic insight with lived experience to explore identity, belonging and healing. Through her writing and podcast, she shares personal reflections that bridge science and spirituality, encouraging honest self inquiry and wholehearted living. Grounded yet introspective, she invites others to slow down, reflect and reconnect with who they truly are. Thank you for listening. If something in an episode touched you, made you think, or just hit different… I’d love to hear it. Alveena

    13분

  4. 1월 4일

    The Power of Letting Go | Healing Anxious Attachment Through Faith

    In this episode, Alveena shares the quiet moment she emotionally checked out, not out of anger but exhaustion. She reflects on the psychology behind letting go, exploring how anxious attachment, fear of abandonment and the urge to control outcomes show up in our relationships, our parenting and our faith. Drawing from attachment theory, cognitive diffusion and spiritual teachings, she explains how releasing control is not giving up. It is reclaiming peace. Through personal reflection, psychology and faith, Alveena shows how letting people think what they want and choosing your own response can bring you back to yourself. This episode is for anyone who overexplains, over functions or carries the emotional weight of trying to be understood. KEY TAKEAWAYS Emotional checking out is often a protective response, not drama. Anxious attachment forms from unpredictability, shaping adult fears of abandonment and overexplaining. Control becomes a survival strategy when we feel responsible for every outcome. Faith teaches balance. Do your part, then surrender what is not yours to manage. Letting go is what creates the mental space needed for creativity, healing and growth. In parenting, hovering can inhibit resilience and accountability. The Release and Reclaim framework helps redirect energy inward instead of outward. BEST MOMENTS “I stopped explaining myself. I stopped defending myself. I was done.” “You do not control the perception. You only control your response.” “Anxious attachment is not clinginess. It is a survival strategy.” “Do your part. Tie your camel. But do not try to control what is not yours.” “Letting go brought me back to myself. Suddenly there was space again.” “Control is not love. Sometimes trust means letting people misunderstand you.” LINKS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alveena-salim-a98abb49/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withalveena/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@withAlveena ABOUT THE HOST Alveena is a psychology MSc student, writer and seeker exploring the intersection of mental health, psychology and Islamic spirituality. Her work blends academic insight with lived experience to explore identity, belonging and healing. Through her writing and podcast, she shares personal reflections that bridge science and spirituality, encouraging honest self inquiry and wholehearted living. Grounded yet introspective, she invites others to slow down, reflect and reconnect with who they truly are. Thank you for listening. If something in an episode touched you, made you think, or just hit different… I’d love to hear it. Alveena

    13분

  5. 2025. 12. 14.

    How to Reverse Trauma | The story of ‘The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog’

    ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode, Alveena reflects on the true story of The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog by Dr. Bruce Perry and the powerful lesson it carries about how our environment shapes the brain. Through the story of a neglected child who learned to heal through love, presence, and stability, Alveena explores how trauma can be reversed when safety and care are reintroduced. She connects these insights to psychology, faith, and parenting, showing how our surroundings influence not just who we become but how our brains develop. This episode is for anyone interested in psychology and trauma, faith and healing, or understanding how emotional environments shape mental health and relationships. KEY TAKEAWAYS Healing starts with environment; safety, consistency, and presence allow the brain to rewire. Relational poverty is a lack of stable love and connection, not a lack of material comfort. Children learn emotional regulation by being in calm, consistent environments, not through rules. Emotional regulation begins with the parent; the tone of the home sets the foundation for growth. Small shifts like setting boundaries or changing your space can start emotional healing. Love and predictability are medicine for the nervous system. BEST MOMENTS "Doctor Perry didn’t see a broken brain. He saw a neglected one." "A child can grow up in a mansion and still be relationally starved if they don’t experience consistent love, presence, or emotional regulation." "You don’t teach emotional regulation. You create the conditions where regulation is possible." "Children don’t need fixing. It’s the environment that needs to change." "Trauma can be reversed. Brains can rewire. Love, safety, and predictable routines are medicine." LINKS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alveena-salim-a98abb49/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withalveena/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@withAlveena ABOUT THE HOST Alveena is a psychology MSc student, writer, and seeker exploring the intersection of mental health, psychology, and Islamic spirituality. Her work blends academic insight with lived experience, drawing from her background in teaching, therapy, and faith to explore identity, belonging, and healing. Through her writing and podcast, she shares deeply personal reflections that bridge science and spirituality, encouraging honest self inquiry and wholehearted living. Grounded yet introspective, Alveena invites others to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with who they truly are. Thank you for listening. If something in an episode touched you, made you think, or just hit different… I’d love to hear it. Alveena

    12분

  6. 2025. 12. 07.

    Breaking Free from Echoism and People Pleasing | Stop saying "You're fine"

    ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode, Alveena unpacks the psychology of echoism, the tendency to shrink, stay quiet, and put others’ needs above your own. She shares her experiences growing up between cultures, learning to make herself smaller to avoid judgment or conflict, and how that pattern showed up later in adult life. Through psychology, faith, and personal reflection, she explores how saying “I’m fine” when you’re not can slowly erase your voice and identity. This episode is for anyone who struggles with people pleasing, setting boundaries, or finding their voice after years of silence. KEY TAKEAWAYS Echoism is the opposite of narcissism; it’s when you erase your own needs to avoid being a burden. Shrinking yourself to keep the peace isn’t humility, it’s self abandonment. Our worth is inherent and doesn’t depend on being small or silent. Healing echoism means recognising when you say “it’s fine” just to stay comfortable. Speaking your truth doesn’t make you unkind, it makes you whole. The Echo Breaker Framework helps you break the pattern by noticing, saying, and standing in your truth. BEST MOMENTS "I felt like I was failing at being a good Pakistani, but at the same time I didn’t quite fit into the Western world either." "It wasn’t the henna I was ashamed of. It was myself, imagining how everyone else saw me." "When narcissists centre their needs at the cost of others, echoists erase theirs completely." "Shrinking yourself doesn’t make you virtuous. Honouring your voice is part of your spiritual dignity." "You don’t have to change yourself to fit what everyone expects. You’re already enough." LINKS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alveena-salim-a98abb49/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withalveena/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@withAlveena ABOUT THE HOST Alveena is a psychology MSc student, writer, and seeker exploring the intersection of mental health, psychology, and Islamic spirituality. Her work blends academic insight with lived experience, drawing from her background in teaching, therapy, and faith to explore identity, belonging, and healing. Through her writing and podcast, she shares deeply personal reflections that bridge science and spirituality, encouraging honest self inquiry and wholehearted living. Grounded yet introspective, Alveena invites others to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with who they truly are. Thank you for listening. If something in an episode touched you, made you think, or just hit different… I’d love to hear it. Alveena

    12분

  7. 2025. 11. 30.

    What Psychology and Faith Teach About Connection | How Attachment Shapes Love

    ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode, Alveena explores how the way we love is shaped long before we realise it. From childhood moments of comfort and conflict to how we connect in adulthood, she unpacks attachment theory and its impact on our relationships, resilience, and faith. Through psychology, faith, and personal reflection, she explains how early experiences with caregivers teach us lessons about love, safety, and belonging that echo throughout our adult lives. This episode is for anyone interested in attachment theory, emotional healing, or understanding how early experiences shape the way we give and receive love. KEY TAKEAWAYS Attachment develops through small daily interactions, not major moments. Early experiences shape how we give and receive love as adults. Secure attachment leads to emotional balance, resilience, and openness. Insecure attachment can create anxiety, avoidance, or self-protection. Healing begins with awareness of the patterns we inherited. Our relationship with God often mirrors how we first learned to experience love and safety. BEST MOMENTS "I learned to keep my feelings to myself, to write in my diary, and to cry in secret." "Attachment develops gradually through thousands of tiny interactions in the early years." "Being anxious or avoidant doesn’t mean you failed. It means you learned to survive." "Children learn about God’s mercy through how their parents show mercy to them." "Those moments that shaped us don’t have to define who we become." LINKS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alveena-salim-a98abb49/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withalveena/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@withAlveena ABOUT THE HOST Alveena is a psychology MSc student, writer, and seeker exploring the intersection of mental health, psychology, and Islamic spirituality. Her work blends academic insight with lived experience, drawing from her background in teaching, therapy, and faith to explore identity, belonging, and healing. Through her writing and podcast, she shares deeply personal reflections that bridge science and spirituality, encouraging honest self inquiry and wholehearted living. Grounded yet introspective, Alveena invites others to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with who they truly are. Thank you for listening. If something in an episode touched you, made you think, or just hit different… I’d love to hear it. Alveena

    11분

  8. 2025. 11. 22.

    How Culture Shapes Identity and Belonging | "I Wished I Was White"

    ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode, Alveena opens up about growing up wishing she was white and the long journey toward self acceptance. She reflects on identity, belonging, and how cultural expectations can quietly shape who we become. Through honest storytelling and psychological insight, she explores self discrepancy theory and the tension between who we are, who we wish to be, and who we think we should be. Alveena blends ideas from psychology, mental health, and Islamic spirituality to show how self awareness and faith can help us bridge those internal gaps and start living more authentically. This episode is a powerful listen for anyone interested in faith and identity, mental health podcasts, or healing through faith and psychology. KEY TAKEAWAYS Self discrepancy theory explains the emotional gap between our actual, ideal, and ought selves. When those selves clash, it creates inner tension that can lead to guilt, burnout, or perfectionism. Wholehearted living means accepting your current self as worthy instead of chasing an ideal version. Belonging starts within, moving or changing environments won’t fix internal disconnection. Faith and spirituality can become tools for self compassion when rooted in sincerity, not performance. Healing often begins when you reconcile your real self with the version of you that once hid to fit in. BEST MOMENTS “For a long time I wished I was white, just because being white seemed easier.” “The gap between who I was and who I wished I could be is what psychologists call the self discrepancy theory.” “Wholehearted living means I’m worthy now, not when I lose weight, not when I pray more, not when I look like my friends.” “Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.” “The freedom I’m giving my children to be themselves is the same freedom I’m learning to give to myself.” LINKS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alveena-salim-a98abb49/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withalveena/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@withAlveena ABOUT THE HOST Alveena is a psychology MSc student, writer, and seeker exploring the intersection of mental health, psychology, and Islamic spirituality. Her work blends academic insight with lived experience, drawing from her background in teaching, therapy, and faith to explore identity, belonging, and healing. Through her writing and podcast, she shares deeply personal reflections that bridge science and spirituality, encouraging honest self inquiry and wholehearted living. Grounded yet introspective, Alveena invites others to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with who they truly are. Thank you for listening. If something in an episode touched you, made you think, or just hit different… I’d love to hear it. Alveena

    14분
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Reflections & Realisations is a faith-based psychology podcast exploring how our past shapes who we become and how we can heal through self-awareness, spirituality, and compassion. Hosted by Alveena, a Psychology MSc student, writer, and seeker, the podcast blends mental health insights, spirituality, and personal storytelling to explore themes of identity, healing, and growth. Each episode unpacks the real psychology behind how we think, feel, and love, from attachment styles and trauma to faith, self-worth, and emotional resilience. Born from years of journaling, therapy, and reflection, Reflections & Realisations invites you to slow down, question, and reconnect with yourself through honest conversations that bridge science and spirituality. If you’re drawn to psychology, faith, healing, and self-discovery, this podcast is for you. No quick fixes. No perfect answers. Just real reflections that remind you that you are not alone in your journey. Together, we explore: Mental health, emotion, and healing through a faith-based lensThe psychology of attachment, trauma, and resilienceHow spirituality and self-awareness guide emotional growthHonest reflections on belonging, identity, and loveJoin the journey toward understanding yourself and healing deeply, one reflection at a time.

정보

  • 제작진
    Alveena Salim
  • 방송 연도
    2025년 - 2026년
  • 에피소드
    8
  • 등급
    전체 연령 사용가
  • 저작권
    © 2026 Reflections & Realisations
  • 웹사이트 보기
    Reflections & Realisations