Mirror Ride
When the Hustle Meets the Mirror
Dear Soul Traveler,
Welcome to the second issue of When Silence Speaks, The inner Journal of Terod Naej—a space where we honor the quiet moments that shape our loudest transformations. Here, we reflect before we rush. We breathe before we build. This week, I invite you to ride with me through a personal pause—a moment behind the wheel that turned into a mirror for the soul. As we explore what it means to choose purpose over pressure, you'll also find threads of ancient wisdom, echoes of science, and sparks of clarity to guide your own path. Whether you're at a crossroads or simply catching your breath, may these words meet you where you are… and gently remind you that sometimes, silence says it all.
With presence,
Terod Naej
🎙️ Poetic Piece – “Mirror Ride”
In the silence after motion,
I met my own reflection—
Not in glass,
But in the echo of a song,
Where Bruno and Wayne express
what my spirit already knew.
I am the man between shifts,
Between duty and dream,
Holding a steering wheel with one hand,
And a nation with the other.
My feet move for money,
But my heart drifts toward meaning.
Two jobs, one hustle,
No time to breathe—
But the mirror doesn’t lie.
It shows a tired soul
Who’s still full of fire,
A warrior of two worlds—
America’s grind and Haiti’s grief,
A son of struggle
Still daring to plant hope
In the ruins.
I think I need this pause.
Not to stop… but to start
Becoming.
To work smarter,
To love deeper,
To rise clearer.
So I inhale this setback
As a sacred invitation—
To slow down just enough
To find my Ikigai
In the rearview mirror.
Journal Notes from Terod - Inner Reflection
Some moments hit different—not loud or dramatic, just quietly, like a mirror held to your soul.
Today, it happened right after my rideshare shift. Mirror by Lil Wayne and Bruno Mars played through the speakers. I’ve heard it before, but this time… it echoed deeper. Maybe because I’m in a space where my heart feels quiet, but my mind is racing through a maze of responsibilities.
Working two jobs. Driving late into the night. Thinking of my family here and back home country, where things are painfully unstable. Gangs call themselves revolutionaries. Politicians keep proving their failure. The people? Still trying to survive. And I still try to play my small part—offering advice, staying engaged, not giving up on hope.
But tonight, that mirror song made me pause.
Am I really living, or just surviving?
There’s a decision looming. Maybe it’s time to let go of one job—not out of laziness, but to reclaim time. Time for my daughter. For my dreams. For learning, creating, healing. For being.
Life has taught me that hustle doesn’t always equal progress. Sometimes, you move forward by stepping back.
So maybe this is that moment.
A pause. A reset.
A breath before the breakthrough.
And if I listen close enough…
Maybe that breath will guide me toward my Ikigai.
✍️ Your Turn – Journal Prompt
"What mirror moment are you facing right now?"
Write about a recent inner conversation you've had with yourself.
What decision is quietly calling your name?
🔊 Listen While You Reflect
🎵 Pachelbel ambient piano
Press play on your Pause
🕊️ 1. The Stillness Thread – Ayizan & the Wisdom of Quiet Initiation
In Haitian Vodou, there is a lwa named Ayizan—guardian of sacred knowledge, gatekeeper of spiritual initiation, and protector of market wisdom. She is not loud. She does not come with thunder. Her power is carried in ritual silence, and her teachings are often revealed only in the still spaces between words.
Ayizan reminds us that wisdom isn’t always taught; sometimes, it’s caught—in the in-between, in the moments we dare to unplug, reflect, and listen to what isn’t being said.
We live in a world that pushes noise and speed like a drug. But Ayizan calls us to slow the pulse, to remember that the soul doesn’t shout—it whispers.
So today, ask yourself:
🧘🏾 Where is silence trying to initiate you?
What lesson is being whispered that you’ve been too busy to hear?
Ayizan is already at the gate.
Either you are a believer or not, You just need to be still enough to receive.
🧠 3. Brain + Soul – The Science of Stillness
Here’s something neuroscience confirms:
Just 5 to 10 minutes of intentional stillness a day activates the prefrontal cortex—the part of your brain responsible for clarity, focus, and wise decision-making.
That means when you pause—breathe, reflect, meditate, or journal—you’re not being unproductive. You’re recalibrating your leadership. You're rewiring your brain to respond rather than react.
Studies show that people who build in quiet “micro-pauses” during high-stress weeks make better long-term decisions, sleep more deeply, and retain a stronger sense of purpose over time.
The mind needs quiet the way lungs need air.
So if you’re standing at a crossroads like I was in this week’s Mirror Ride, give yourself permission to step back.
Let your soul and your science sync.
Your next move will come from a clearer place—not panic, but presence.
📜 Quote of the Week
Rumi
"Try not to resist the changes that come your way. Instead, let life live through you."
🧘 — From the Masnavi
In this quote, Rumi reminds us that life is not meant to be controlled, but trusted. The winds of change may feel disruptive, but they often carry the very momentum our soul needs to grow. When we stop resisting and allow life to flow through us, we shift from survival to alignment. Rumi teaches that surrender isn’t giving up—it’s opening up to transformation.
✍️ A Closing Word from Terod Naej
If you’ve made it this far, thank you.
You’ve just walked with me through a real moment—one of those quiet turning points we often keep to ourselves.
This journey isn’t just mine.
It’s for anyone caught between responsibility and renewal…
between duty and the deep desire to live meaningfully.
My hope is that this pause—this Mirror Ride—reminds you of your own power to choose.
To reflect.
To realign.
To rise, not just by grinding harder, but by living wiser.
Stay grounded.
Stay generous.
And never stop listening to that inner voice that says:
“You were made for more than just surviving.”
– Terod Naej
When Silence Speaks…
📣 P.S.
If this spoke to you, forward it to someone navigating their own hustle.
Let’s grow this tribe—those who reflect before they rush.
Join the tribe of Mirror Riders
Beautiful. I love the prompt. So glad I found you here. Thank you!