15/01/2026

THURSDAY | JAN 15, 2026

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Scroll, watch... but don’t forget you T HERE is a fine line between enjoying a story and slowly drifting into it. Most of us have crossed that line and curated narratives can start to feel larger than life. They provide hope, confidence and direction in ready-made form. M I N D T H E M I N D The brain

transitions more smoothly when it knows what comes after. It is also helpful to reconnect attention to purpose through small, tangible goals. Instead of imagining distant success, focus on the next step – five minutes of writing, one message sent, one task completed. Motivation strengthens when progress feels immediate and real. In truth, meaning is not found in spectacle; it is built through participation and through choices made repeatedly, even when no one is watching. Enjoying stories does not require devotion. Appreciation is complete when the experience ends and we return fully to our own lives. Stories can inspire and comfort but they are not meant to replace living. Perhaps the gentle reminder is this: enjoy what moves you, then notice where your attention flows next. When it comes home, life regains its rightful place, not as something observed from a distance, but as something actively lived. Mind the mind and remember where life is actually happening. DrPraveena Rajendra is the author of Mindprint: Engineering Inner Power for Growth, Purpose and Regeneration. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

tired” or “I am seeking comfort”. Research shows that naming a mental state activates the brain’s regulatory centres and weakens automatic behaviour. The aim is not to suppress enjoyment but to restore choice. Another method is “micro grounding”. Bring attention back to something immediate and physical. Feel your feet on the floor, notice your breath for three slow cycles and name three objects around you. These small acts anchor attention in the present, where action becomes possible. A third technique involves rapid interruption, often referred to as the “five-second rule”. When you notice hesitation or distraction, count down from five and move immediately into the next required action. This brief window prevents the brain from engaging its avoidance circuitry. In Mindprint terms, this is the moment where a thought becomes a trace; when action follows awareness quickly, the trace reinforces urgency rather than delay. From an engineering perspective, the mind also responds well to clear intention cues. Before consuming content, set a boundary in advance. Decide how long you will engage and what you will do next. This creates a mental handover rather than an abrupt break.

The brain enjoys this because it receives emotional reward with minimal effort. There is no harm in that, unless we forget that our own lives deserve the same attention. When attention drifts too far outward, it is rarely because people are careless; more often, it is because they are tired, overwhelmed or quietly searching for meaning. Real life asks for patience, responsibility and emotional presence. Watching asks very little in return. But life does not happen on a screen. Beyond what is visible and shareable, people are showing up every day in ways that rarely attract notice. They are caring for children and ageing parents, teaching, healing, volunteering, protecting animals, supporting communities and holding families together. These acts are not dramatic; they come without applause. Yet, they shape lives in real and lasting ways.

without noticing. A song played on repeat because it lifts the mood, a series watched late into the night because it feels familiar or a steady stream of content that fills the silence between tasks – these moments bring comfort and distraction, and sometimes a sense of belonging. There is nothing inherently wrong with this. Stories, music and shared narratives have long helped people cope, regulate emotions and feel less alone. The quieter question is not whether enjoyment is healthy but what happens when it begins to occupy more space than our own lives. The human mind is naturally drawn to experiences that feel emotionally rich yet safe. Watching someone else’s story unfold allows us to feel excitement, inspiration or relief without having to take risks ourselves. It offers escape, it is soothing and for a while it feels easier than facing uncertainty. From a cognitive standpoint, this makes sense; the brain is wired to conserve energy. Observing effort or emotion can activate similar neural pathways as acting, without the cost of action. This is why imagined worlds, constant updates PICKY eating is a familiar struggle in many Malaysian households. From pushing vegetables aside to refusing unfamiliar foods, mealtime battles can leave parents feeling frustrated and children missing out on essential nutrients. But a new home-based programme called “Eat Like a Star” developed by researchers at Management and Science University (MSU) is offering families a refreshing, evidence-based way forward. “Eat Like a Star” is a home-based nutrition module designed to transform mealtimes from battles into opportunities. While fussiness can seem like “just a phase”, persistent picky eating can create real problems: 0 Nutrient gaps: Children who consistently avoid vegetables and new foods risk missing out on essential vitamins and minerals crucial for healthy growth. 0 Lifelong habits: Research shows that patterns set in early childhood often follow children into adolescence. “Eat Like a Star” is designed to intervene early, giving families practical and enjoyable tools to build healthy eating habits before fussy patterns become permanent. Power of play The strength of this module lies in its realistic, low-pressure approach, perfectly suited for the busy Malaysian household. It moves away from rigid rules and instead embraces fun, sensory-based strategies to help children gradually COMMENT by Dr Maisarah Abdul Mutalib

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“Enjoying stories does not require devotion. Appreciation is complete when the experience ends and we return fully to our own lives. Stories can inspire and comfort but they are

So, how do we catch the mind when it begins to drift away from our own life? One practical approach is “attention labelling”. The moment you notice yourself scrolling, binge watching or mentally escaping, pause and name the state without judgement: “I am avoiding”, “I am Is your dinner table a battlefield?

not meant to replace living.

Before “Eat Like a Star”

After “Eat Like a Star”

High tension and frustration

Mealtime tension decreased, replaced by curiosity

Food refusal was common

in parents – even those who struggle with mealtime stress – the module creates lasting change where it matters most – at home. This programme aligns with global recommendations from organisations like the World Health Organisation, which highlight the importance of early exposure to nutritious foods and creating supportive mealtime environments. Small module, big mission Made possible by the MSU Knowledge Transfer Programme Grant, “Eat Like a Star” is a powerful example of community-driven research that directly addresses national concerns about childhood nutrition. With further development, “Eat Like a Star” can be expanded into preschools, community nutrition programmes or even nationwide public health initiatives addressing childhood nutrition. Meaningful change in a child’s health doesn’t always start in a hospital; it begins at home, one family and one confident, joyful meal at a time. By helping children build curiosity and confidence at the dining table, this programme is helping parents Children showed greater willingness to try new vegetables Parents felt more confident managing fussiness without pressure

Parents felt helpless

accept new foods. The module includes themed recipes featuring familiar ingredients like spinach, French beans, carrots, broccoli and potatoes. Each activity is designed to help children touch, smell, observe and play with vegetables. This sensory exposure is vital for overcoming the natural anxiety children feel towards new or unfamiliar food textures. Parents are also guided on how to respond calmly to food refusal, avoid forcing or bribing and model positive eating behaviours that children naturally imitate. Happier, healthier mealtimes in five weeks In early trials, parents who used the “Eat Like a Star” module reported significant, meaningful changes at their dinner tables ( see table ). These small wins are everything. When a child associates vegetables with pleasant, stress-free family time, they are far more likely to accept and enjoy them in the long run. Unlike many nutrition programmes that focus solely on children, “Eat Like a Star” focuses on the parent as the architect of the home food environment. By building skills and confidence

‘Eat Like a Star’ is designed to intervene early, giving families practical and enjoyable tools to build healthy eating habits before fussy patterns become permanent. – PIC COURTESY OF MSU

Dr Ang Yeow Nyin, together with PhD candidate Nur Shahirah Mohd Tahir from Management and Science University. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

shine as the true stars of their children’s well-being. This project was led by Dr Maisarah Abdul Mutalib and co-investigator