Meet Nihal Amarir

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nihal Amarir a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nihal, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
Being and feeling optimistic didn’t come overnight in my life. I remember feeling joy in my heart since I was a little kid. I grew up with parents who loved, respected, and trusted each other blindly. Not only did I witness that, but I felt it too. I spent more time with my dad. He is such an optimistic person and never runs out of hope. If you ask me about optimism in my life, I will tell you it’s first genetic. But how have I remained optimistic despite the continuous ups and downs of childhood and then adulthood? In my personal experience, being optimistic 100% of the time first requires having a good heart. You need to be good in your mind to be able to see the good in people who are in your life and those you meet daily. You should be nonjudgmental all the way, genuinely thinking well of others, have no expectations from others, and think to serve them without waiting for anything in return. No halfway measures, only see them with genuinely good eyes. When you are able to see the good in people, you are automatically able to see good things as they happen. As much as I strongly believe that being an optimistic person is genetic and then comes from the environment you grew up in and your role models as a kid, I equally believe that having the mindset of working hard, being consistent, taking accountability for your own actions, and being disciplined makes you talented at the things you do. It makes you confident enough to believe that you can make things happen in your life, and you believe in and actually make a difference in others’ lives. All this leads to being fearless in your life; you become unstoppable, you become optimistic.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Thank you for this opportunity to share insights. Before we explore the skills that make a difference, I’d like to introduce myself to your readers. My name is Nihal Amarir, and I am a dedicated mother to four incredible children—two girls and two boys—who inspire me to never give up, no matter the challenges I face. We are based in Salt Lake City.

Professionally, I wear many hats. I am an accountant, a tax analyst, an artist, an author, a poet, a model, a web designer, a photographer, and a videographer. People seek me out for various reasons: some need guidance on accounting or tax matters; others are intrigued by my books or wish to purchase my artwork. I am often approached to model for sports attire, pose as an art model, or to capture special moments through photography and videography at events. While I deeply value all my professional roles— Today, I am particularly excited to highlight my photography and videography business, which serves both individuals and organizations. With over a decade of professional experience, I collaborate with photographers and videographers—some of whom boast 15 to 30 years in the field. We provide a wide array of services including: – Branding – Corporate events – Real estate photography – Wedding photography and videography – Cultural celebrations like Quinceañeras and Sweet 16 parties – Milestone events such as birthdays, maternity, and newborn sessions – Boudoir photography – Academic and sports event coverage – Podcasts and interviews – Food photography – Musical performances – Creative portraits – Professional headshots These services are just a glimpse into how my team and I support our clients, capturing their significant moments and helping to elevate their professional profiles.

Why would people choose my business for their special events?

Simply because I’m genuine”. I apply my experience and knowledge to treat you well as a client and consider what’s best for you. I feel a sense of ownership over the work you entrust to me and deliver beyond your expectations. Our photographers and videographers are equally caring, genuine, and good-hearted professionals. We think and feel for you as if you were our own. We make a difference!

I’m passionate about connecting with people in their language. To facilitate this, I want you to know that I speak English, Spanish, French, Arabic (And Arabic dialects), Moroccan and Amazigh (Berber).

Aperture Art Photography has 3 studios in Downtown SLC:

1 is a showroom where we meet with clients, and discuss their photoshoots or events if they prefer to meet in person, It is located at 357 S 200 E , Salt Lake City, UT 84111

The other 2 are for private sessions, one at 231 E 400 S  Salt Lake City, UT 84111, and the other one at 1420 Major St, Salt Lake City, UT 84115.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Based on my modest personal and professional experience, if I had to choose only three qualities or skills, I would pick:

Diversity: What I mean by this is the importance of continuously learning new skills. Don’t limit yourself to maintaining just one. Our brains have the capability to master multiple skills, excel in all of them, and use them to improve our lives and the lives of others.

Hard Work: Yes, working smart is important, which means engaging in activities that make you happier, increase your income, and grant you more freedom. However, this doesn’t happen without the willingness to work hard. Hard work lays the foundation for working smart.

Consistency: It’s crucial to be consistent in doing things that facilitate learning, keep you informed, enhance your talents, bring you joy, provide stability, offer freedom, or help you earn more money. This must be a daily effort, with no half-measures. You must wake up eager to engage in these activities and look forward to continuing them for as long as possible in your life.

These three qualities or skills can transform and enrich your life. It takes time, but the growth becomes evident and deeply felt as you progress. So, to those at the beginning of any journey, my advice is: Don’t give up. It might seem daunting at the start—empty and impossible. And then, as you persist without immediate results, facing more setbacks than advances, losing more friends than you make, scrutinizing your bank account and feeling overwhelmed by bills and debts, you might doubt yourself. When you see peers or family members succeeding, possibly younger, less skilled, or less fortunate, and you’re still struggling to achieve your goals, remember that persistence is key. Trust in yourself and avoid comparing your journey to others’. Instead, celebrate their success while steadfastly pursuing your own path. Making the right adjustments when things don’t work out is crucial, but never, ever give up on moving forward with your ideas and efforts. Don’t give up; keep putting in the work!

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
It’s challenging to single out just one book as pivotal in my development. Instead, I’d like to highlight a category that has profoundly impacted my life and way of thinking: books about the human brain. Here are a few titles I highly recommend:

Change Your Brain, Change Your Life by neuropsychiatrist Daniel Amen, M.D., originally published in August 1996 and recently revised and updated on November 3, 2015. This book introduces a breakthrough program for conquering anxiety, depression, obsessiveness, lack of focus, anger, and memory problems. Daniel Amen posits that brain health is central to all health and success. According to him, when your brain functions properly, you do too; and when your brain faces difficulties, your life is likely to reflect those troubles. His work aims to help people achieve better brains and better lives.

The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science by Norman Doidge, published on December 18, 2007. Doidge’s book is a seminal exploration of neuroplasticity, offering various accounts and studies on how environmental factors, experiences, and behavioral interventions can significantly alter the brain’s structure and function.

The Neurofeedback Book by Michael Thompson, M.D., and Lynda Thompson, Ph.D., published on March 15, 2015. This comprehensive guide to neurofeedback includes a detailed exploration of brainwaves, especially theta waves, and their implications for our understanding of the brain.

The Silva Mind Control Method by José Silva, published in 1978. Silva’s book delineates the principles and techniques of the Silva Method, aimed at achieving improved mental states, including reaching the theta state for enhanced learning, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.

Reading these books not only changed and enriched my personal and professional life but also inspired me to start my own series titled “MindScape.” My series is available at select local Barnes & Noble stores and online at this link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/mindscape%20nihal%20amarir or on my online library: https://easypeezystuff.com/collections/nihal-amarir-author-books.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Aperture Art Photography LLC

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