What happens when the pace of modern life starts working against us? In this episode, I sit down with DHA-licensed clinical psychologist Sarah El Nabulsi to talk about stress, burnout, anxiety, and the pressure to constantly perform. We explore what it means to build a life that is more aligned with who you are, and why slowing down can sometimes be one of the most productive things you can do.
Sarah introduces us to Transcendental Meditation (TM) and explains how she incorporates meditation alongside her work as a clinical psychologist. We discuss the differences she sees between TM and other forms of meditation, why meditation does not have to mean forcing your mind to become quiet, and how developing greater mental stillness can influence the way we respond to pressure. I also share my own experience with yoga and meditation, including the unexpected lesson that changed the way I measure progress.
We also explore meditation in the context of ADHD, autism, trauma, family dynamics, and high-performance environments. Sarah explains why she sometimes works with an entire family rather than focusing solely on one child, discusses the work of the Transcendental Meditation Organization, and shares how mental health professionals can pursue further training. We close with a conversation about fear, stress, and giving ourselves permission to make decisions from a more balanced and grounded place.
Podcasters
Ali Khawaja | https://alikhawaja.com
Sarah El Nabulsi | https://www.instagram.com/sarahelnabulsi
MHAE Website | https://www.mentalhealth.ae
MHAE Instagram | / mentalhealthae
Outline00:00 Meet Sarah El Nabulsi: Clinical Psychology & Meditation
Sarah introduces her work as a DHA-licensed clinical psychologist and her role with the Transcendental Meditation Organization in the UAE.
03:01 Finding Work and a Life That Align With Who You Are
We discuss the pressure to follow a conventional path and why Sarah believes fulfillment comes from making choices that genuinely align with your nature and priorities.
05:23 How Meditation Can Change the Way You Navigate Life
Sarah shares how discovering meditation at university affected her performance, creativity, decision-making, and ability to stay grounded amid outside expectations.
07:31 My Personal Experience With Yoga, Meditation & Stress
I share how yoga and meditation unexpectedly became part of my routine, and the lesson that changed how I measure progress beyond flexibility or physical performance.
12:20 Meditation as a Tool for Performance and Mental Clarity
We explore why meditation has become part of the performance toolkit for executives and athletes, and how being physically alert while mentally calm can change how you operate under pressure.
17:47 Transcendental Meditation vs. Other Forms of Meditation
Sarah breaks down what she sees as the key differences between concentration, contemplation, and automatic self-transcending techniques, including why TM emphasizes effortlessness.
21:59 How to Get Started With Transcendental Meditation
What does learning TM actually involve? Sarah walks through the four-day learning process, the time commitment, and how the training is structured for people with busy schedules.
24:09 ADHD, Autism, Meditation & the Family Approach
We discuss meditation in the context of neurodivergence and why Sarah sometimes works with parents, children, and the wider family environment rather than focusing on one individual.
30:13 The Transcendental Meditation Organization & Its Work
Sarah explains the international scope of the TM organization, its educational initiatives, meditation communities, and her ambitions for larger projects in the Middle East.
34:03 Fear, Stress & Transforming Your Life
We close with Sarah's perspective on how much stress and negativity people learn to tolerate, why fear can keep us contained, and the importance of making major decisions from a balanced state.