Sheikha Majda Al Sabah. Photographed by Djinane AlSuwayeh for Vogue Arabia, October 2018
Born in Kuwait in 1970, to Sheikh Jaber Humoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Sheikha Amthal Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the sister of the the late Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Sheikha Majda Al Sabah is one of five siblings. She was raised with the mindset to chase your dreams, working hard to achieve them, and that she did. In 2007 she established herself as a beauty industry entrepreneur and philanthropist.
A firm champion of women, citing them as the “backbone of any healthy society”, Al Sabah often talks openly about the burdens that most women face in their lives. In 2017, she even set up the ASAP Initiative, a private campaign committed to increasing mental health awareness and to destigmatize mental health in the region. As she opens the doors to her home in the debut issue of Vogue Living Arabia, we take a look at some inspirational quotes by Sheikha Majda Al Sabah.
On finding the light
“I’m still struggling every day and this is normal, this is life. No one deserves to stay in this dark place. Everyone should enjoy their lives.”
On awareness
“The first and most important misconception when it comes to mental illness is the snap out of it response but the thing is if you knew how to get out of it you would. People need to understand this.”
On speaking up
“People are afraid of talking about mental health as if it’s a shame or a sin that they need to hide or escape from. They need to know that it is not a shame.”
On self-care
“I strongly believe in self-care and that beauty starts with a clear and peaceful mind. I follow my daily skincare routine without fail – day and night, and I watch my water intake and try to sleep well.”
On happiness
“Your heart is everything! Keep it pure and fight your grudges towards others to be happy.”
On controlling your emotions
“Just like any other skill, managing your emotions requires practice and dedication. You can do that easily by learning how to label your emotions and reframe your thoughts.”
On your comfort zone
“Your subconscious mind is the gatekeeper of your comfort zone. Just as your brain is built to regulate your physical self, as does it try to regulate your mental self.”
On channelling positivity
“We all have the mind power to make our experiences either positive and meaningful, or negative and dreary. People don’t realize how thinking differently could put them in better control of their present and future.”
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