Architect, content creator, and storyteller Mostafa Salem has spent years fusing creativity with resilience. Celebrated for reviving Cairo&rsquo;s overlooked heritage, his journey also serves as a reminder that hope can be found even in moments of chaos.
In a recent appearance on NileFM&rsquo;s Brain Busters with Basmah, Salem reflected on how gratitude, discipline, and perspective have guided him through life&rsquo;s uncertainties. From the disappointment of missing a scholarship abroad to unexpected growth during his military service, his path is a powerful testament to uncovering light in the most unlikely places.
Don&rsquo;t Stop Believing
When asked whether hope depends on circumstances or practice, Mostafa Salem leaned firmly toward practice. &ldquo;I always see that hope is related to gratitude in a way,&rdquo; he explained. For him, gratitude is a daily habit: by noticing small positives around us, we slowly build a reservoir of hope. &ldquo;People are always surrounded by positive things, but once they get used to it, they don&rsquo;t see it anymore,&rdquo; he said. Training ourselves to notice these details is, for him, an act of gratitude&mdash;and gratitude, in turn, fuels hope. His message was simple: &ldquo;We shouldn&rsquo;t stop believing.&rdquo;
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Protecting Your Energy
Hope, Salem believes, isn&rsquo;t only about mindset but also about our social environment. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a big influence from the people surrounding us,&rdquo; he noted, pointing to how friendships have declined in the past 15 years, partly due to social media. Constant exposure to &ldquo;perfect&rdquo; online images can trap us in toxic comparisons. His solution: guard your energy. &ldquo;You have to decrease this intake of social media,&rdquo; he advised, explaining that unplugging frees space for creativity and self-focus.
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Talking to the Inner Critic
Like everyone, Salem has an inner voice that sows doubt. Instead of silencing it, he suggests acknowledging it. &ldquo;My therapist taught me a technique: imagine your negative thoughts as a person and talk to them each day.&rdquo; He even named his critic Thalby (Negative), writing him letters and refusing to let him control his days. &ldquo;If you&rsquo;re having a bad day, it&rsquo;s fine&mdash;it&rsquo;s not mine. I&rsquo;m having a good one.&rdquo; By separating himself from negativity, Salem finds clarity and peace.
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Choosing Motivation in Chaos
When asked what matters most during turbulent times is motivation, discipline, or perspective; Salem chose motivation. &ldquo;Discipline and perspective are very important, actually, but I&rsquo;ll go for motivation.&rdquo; He admitted that in chaos, motivation can be hard to find, but suggested starting with passion: &ldquo;Find something you love to do, and then I think you&rsquo;ll find motivation from there.&rdquo;
Crisis as Opportunity
Salem&rsquo;s own story illustrates this. After winning a scholarship for a master&rsquo;s degree at the University of Greenwich, military service prevented him from traveling. Instead of giving up, he entered an international architecture competition linked to the Venice Biennale, and won, representing Egypt on a global stage. &ldquo;In the middle of all this happening, I just made sure to look for the opportunity, find it, and go for it.&rdquo; His lesson: even when plans collapse, &ldquo;there&rsquo;s definitely something better for you; just believe it will come forward.&rdquo;
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Building a Stronger Mindset
So, how do you cultivate resilience? For Salem, it&rsquo;s about balance: &ldquo;A combination of doing something you love and doing what you have to do.&rdquo; He believes in &ldquo;loving what you do until you get to do what you love.&rdquo; For those feeling stuck, he recommends both practical and spiritual steps: &ldquo;Talk to God, have faith. And if you&rsquo;re stuck, take care of yourself. Find something you love, even a hobby can spark renewal.&rdquo;
Advice to His Younger Self
Looking back, Salem shared the wisdom he&rsquo;d offer his younger self: &ldquo;Life is not a train.&rdquo; He explained that many in his generation were taught to work endlessly, save, and only enjoy life later, when energy often runs out. &ldquo;You need to have a work&ndash;life balance,&rdquo; he stressed. Overworking may build wealth, but it risks joy, creativity, and sustainability. His greatest takeaway? Balance is the key to a fulfilling life.

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