Joanne Jewell is a therapist, educator and speaker. Born in the UK, she became an expat at just 12 years old when her family moved to South Africa for her father’s job.
She says she spent most of her adolescent years trying to fit in or to avoid fitting in – not appreciating then the theory behind the need to belong and feel securely attached.
Jo lived the life that was expected of her by her family and society until she was 30, but always knew there was something missing. That despite her constant efforts, the answer to happiness was not in the world around her, but instead in the world inside her – something that I think will sound familiar to so many of my listeners.
Watching her three boys grow and fearing that she would not be the mum they deserved was a catalyst to starting her mindfulness journey, and this, combined with a family loss, gave way to a new phase of her life. Jo entered into therapy, started training as a counsellor and read everything she could find about healing ourselves from within.
Jo says: “My greatest learning has been that through mindfulness I can change my blueprint; whatever I was taught and no longer want to use can be changed, and this is true for all of us.” This optimistic thinking gives me hope that we all can change, and is something that I explored in our conversation.
We also talked mindful parenting and it’s power when it comes to raising resilient, optimistic children, how it isn’t our job to make our children happy, and we also discussed the genocide in Palestine and how to talk about this with children.
Jo is so wise and brilliant and every time I talk to her I learn something and feel uplifted. I know you will too – please enjoy the conversation.
Follow me, and the Good Intentions podcast:
https://www.instagram.com/kellyharvarde/
https://www.instagram.com/goodintentionsuae/
Find Joanne Jewell here:
https://www.instagram.com/joannejewelltherapist
https://www.joannejewell.com/
Immerse yourself in some of the books we discussed:
Why Love Matters - Sue Gerhardt
https://www.amazon.com/These-Girls-Hope-Muscle/dp/0446672106
How to Do The Work - Dr Nicole Lepera
https://www.amazon.ae/How-Do-Work-Sunday-Bestseller/dp/1409197743