Category: Lifestyle

Over the years, I’ve become aware of what I call “sheep mode.” Sheep mode has no senses, no internal compass, no moral direction. It is the state of moving with the herd, doing what everyone else does, and ignoring the voice inside you.

“What have my fellow sheepers done in this situation?” I would ask myself, and then, almost automatically, I would follow suit.

In the world of sheep, almost everything is automated; it’s a copycat system. You buy a smartphone because everyone else has one, get branded shoes because it’s cool, or keep six feet apart out of fear. Conforming and fitting in often takes precedence over critical thinking, and our subconscious thoughts get silenced along the way.

I decided to switch off my sheep mode during lockdown. I caught myself becoming obsessive, over-cleaning to avoid the virus, following arbitrary rules, and I knew it made little sense. A billion viruses could live on the tip of a needle, yet I still acted as if I could control them. That was one of the moments I chose to step away from sheep mode.

Six years on, I can see how much of my life I spent simply trying to fit in. Looking back at jobs I hated, destinations I visited because they were popular, or trends I blindly followed, I realise how uncomfortable those experiences made me at the core. I suppressed my own thoughts, dismissed my instincts, and became a stranger to my own self instead of welcoming it.

After all, what separates humans from animals, other than our ability to reason, to see, hear, and think critically?

Allah states in Surah Al-A’raf, verse 179:

“And certainly We have created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind; they have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. Those are like cattle. Nay, they are even more astray! Those are the heedless ones.”

Reading this felt like a mirror. My sheep mode thoughts: the fear, the copying, the constant self-suppression, were exactly what this verse describes. It reminded me that the fitrah, the innate nature we are born with, is still there. It’s easy to let the herd silence it, but it doesn’t disappear.

Recognising this has changed everything. I no longer follow the herd blindly. I try to live consciously, listen to my inner self, and make choices that reflect who I truly am, not what everyone else expects.

Yet the world of sheep never goes away. It is always nudging you to conform. So here’s a little reminder, a playful nod to those still in sheep mode:

Hush, little sheep, don’t you cry…
Mummy is going to buy you a brand-new car.
And if that car doesn’t make you happy,
Mummy is going to get you a brand-new plane.

It’s a funny, ironic lullaby, but it’s also a warning. Real happiness, meaning, and freedom don’t come from following the herd. They come from stepping out of sheep mode, facing yourself: your thoughts, your instincts, your fitrah and choosing to live consciously.

Don’t fall asleep counting sheep.

Thanks for reading — stay unconventional.

About the Author

I’m a writer exploring faith, modern chaos, and the path less taken. I believe stories change lives — even if it’s just one reader at a time.

Did this resonate with you? Leave a comment or share it with someone who needs a sign.

You know that feeling when you’ve been walking for ages, only to realise you’re at the wrong location—and now have to walk that same long distance again, but in the opposite direction?

That’s the “What Da xxxx” moment.

🚶‍♂️ The Long Way Round

Looking back, those moments were a blessing for my legs, my belly—trust me, I’m no belly dancer, though I wish I were—and even for my mind. At the time, though, there may have been a bit of steam coming out of it.

Today, just thinking about walking around a large supermarket is enough to irritate me. The thought process usually goes something like this:

“Are you an idiot? Why waste your time when you could just Uber it from the comfort of your own home?”

I’m currently a recovering coffee addict. Uber will likely be next.

🕰️ The Iron Era

Those delayed-gratification days remind me of what I call the Iron Era. It feels so long ago that even mentioning it sounds almost mythical.

My mum is from the Baby Boomer generation, and when she eats dessert, she still leaves a big piece behind. Her self-discipline is comparable to iron steel.

I’ve never managed to break her—get her to finish her plate. Instead, I’m always there, ready to “help out.” Cleaning up is one of my stronger traits.

⚡ Instant Gratification, Instant Everything

We now live in a world of instant gratification—one that grows more tempting by the day. This is the environment in which we’re raising the next generation.

So when you see children battering their parents over a device, you know the battle is already lost. These impulsive little creatures will one day run the world—with little care for their brethren.

I’d like to believe they’ll at least care for their parents. But Eminem already wrote a hit song in the millenium era about dissing his mother. If you didn’t own the album, chances are you still bobbed your head to it.

🌱 A Quiet Resistance

Let’s not sink into despair or give up on the future.

My writing isn’t about comfort. It’s about sparking ideas, ruffling feathers, and—God willing—causing a chain reaction of good.

I don’t want lazy readers. And if you’re reading this, you’ve already chosen not to take the easy route—so well done.

🙏 Well Done

This is my well done to every mother, father, husband, wife, son, daughter, honest shopkeeper, and bookkeeper.

To all those who’ve sacrificed time, money, and independence to do the right thing.

Well done for not cheating yourself out of the ultimate reward:
a clear conscience with a clean slate—forever rewarding.

Uma Love

Thanks for reading — stay unconventional.

About the Author

I’m a writer exploring faith, modern chaos, and the path less taken. I believe stories change lives — even if it’s just one reader at a time.

Did this resonate with you? Leave a comment or share it with someone who needs a sign.