السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
I’m Jo’Hara.
Just like you, I am a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mom of 3, an aunt, and a friend. However, my journey as a coach didn’t start from the beginning. I began my career in media at a young age, but my story had a dark beginning.
During therapy as an adult, I uncovered my earliest memory – a harrowing scene of violence and injustice. Growing up, I lived in a hypervigilant state, filled with fear and an intense anxiety resulting from further injustices and abuses I had witnessed. The abuse and injustices continued into my teenage years, leading to physical violence directed towards me. The instruments used to harm me were not only physical, but also the vile words that blamed me, a child at the time, for an adult’s poor behaviour and emotional instability. I internalised those beliefs, convinced that I was always at fault.
In addition to witnessing ongoing injustices, my family frequently relocated, leaving me to attend multiple schools in my primary years. Adapting to new environments and making new friends every year was challenging for a fragile and broken-spirited girl. However, that constant change also became a blessing, allowing me to develop people skills and adaptability from a young age.
My proficiency in connecting with others led me to my dream job as a presenter on a pre-teen educational TV show. My love for media propelled me further in that field as a young adult. It was a world I knew well, and I enjoyed every moment of it.
However, the remnants of childhood trauma, combined with repeated exposure to domestic violence, created a breeding ground for anxiety, self-limiting beliefs, and an unhealthy attachment style.
Fast forward several years, after marriage and working in radio, I underwent personal and spiritual transformations while expecting my first child. It was during this period that I decided to explore what kind of parent I wanted to be and made significant changes in my life.
Following the birth of my children, I chose not to return to full-time work and found myself conforming to a conventional lifestyle. While mainstream media often depicts graphic images of domestic abuse, the reality of my own marriage didn’t align with those portrayals. It took time for me to admit that my husband and I were caught in a cycle of abuse.
Seeking healing from my own anxieties, traumas, and the layers of domestic abuse, I discovered the power of life coaching. Initially, I didn’t plan on coaching as a career. I was content with using these tools privately, but soon realized how transformative they were in my life.
Now, I utilise my skills to bridge the gap between mental health and spirituality. My mission is to live purposefully and contribute positively to the world. I am deeply passionate about empowering Muslim women to find their own voices and live their truth authentically in faith.