Some of the world's most influential people come from the most heart-wrenching backgrounds; they felt real pain, enough to break even the strongest spirit. What stands them out was their ability to nurture that pain and transform it into purpose- touching lives and changing the world in their various fields of endeavor. One of such individuals is Uzma Naqvi, a teacher and transformational coach with a life-long passion to touch as many lives as possible until her last breath.
Rising from the ashes of a traumatic childhood and a series of abuses and victimisation as an adult, Uzma has emerged as a source of light and hope to many across the world. Severely abused at the tender age of 4- before she could even speak properly; forced into an unhealthy marriage, with two subsequent abusive but failed marriages, as well as five suicide attempts, seven burglaries, violent home attacks and influenced evictions, she was the symbol of a typical single mother trying to find a voice and a purpose.
Today, she's helping other women come out of abuse and marginalisation by giving them the compass to find their voice and purpose. Her journey began with a quote from one of her most revered icons, Imam Ali (AS); "Your sickness is from you, but you do not perceive it and your remedy is within you, but you do not sense it. You presume you are a small entity, but within you is enfolded the entire Universe. You are indeed the evident book, by whose alphabets the hidden becomes manifest. Therefore, you have no need to look beyond yourself. What you seek is within you, if you only reflect". Her understanding of that quote has metamorphosed into a life of service and impact. As a coach, she takes on a holistic approach, incorporating the healing of the mind and the heart.
In her words, "the usual coaching and therapies often deal with the mindset alone, which is hugely powerful and absolutely gives huge shifts, but sometimes we're still left with the feeling that something is missing or perhaps the changes don’t last long enough. This was certainly the case with me in my healing process. In my coaching practice, I address that by intertwining the healing process of not only the mind, but also the heart, incorporating deeply spiritual and energetic healing. I pride myself in being a holistic transformational life coach which is why my method leaves no stones unturned when it comes to inner healing," she says.
Uzma's inspiration comes from her past. Her story. She was stuck at some point and nothing made sense. She simply drowned helplessly into a vortex of hopelessness, especially after her last marriage broke down, leaving her to be a single mother of 4 boys. Knowing that there are women out there who may be going through similar or worse situations is the only motivation she needs to keep pushing, despite the criticism and opposition she's had to contend with. This is why speaking to people who're hurting comes naturally to her.
Her methods are very dynamic and categorised into four (4) major modules, such as Mind Work (where the subconscious mind is reprogrammed), Heart Work (which focuses on intellect (inner compass), intuition and wisdom, emotional intelligence, character traits, personality types, values. Everything in module one and in module two is poured into spirituality with practical exercises to bring about mind and heart coherence. This gives her clients a very solid foundation to build the rest of their life upon. Only after doing this fundamental work, she steps into training her clients on physical life in the third module; health & fitness, marriage, parenting, career, money mindset, social life, lastly, a bold vision for life and purpose is created over the course of a year.
"Every area worked on has specific goals but I do not take goals by just using the 5% conscious mind. All goals that are set are taken through a deeply relaxing visualization process at the end of each session to get clients to see themselves in the most optimal state in that particular area tapping into their own God given inner wisdom. We use the alignement between the heart and mind to make the visualization alive using all five senses. I have a special framework which is used throughout the program to ensure that they can achieve those goals and take solid steps towards their vision," she notes, explaining the learning process.
From her life's experiences and her interactions with other women across the world, there are lessons to draw in order to live a better life. She says no one needs to live with sadness, anger, depression, anxiety, difficulty, and misalignment when they can simply decide not to live like that. Secondly, you need to realize that the power inside of you is unfathomable; if you're unable to tap into them, find someone who'll help you. Her third lesson is that you must invest in yourself, it is the fastest way of growth. Fourthly, you need to break out of the cycle of taboos which suggests seeking help means something is wrong with you; if you need help, get it. And lastly, don't live your life for anyone; whoever will stay will stay and those who would leave weren't meant to stay in the first place.
Uzma believes it is important to pursue one's purpose as long as it is geared towards helping humanity and in line with God's will. The expectations of an Asian, single mother can be quite restrictive culturally, but Uzma is not letting any of that stop her. "I am serving a purpose way greater than me. If not me, then who?" She asks. As she continues to draw inspiration from teachers like Imam Ali, Rumi, Helen Keller, and several others, Uzma knows that the work ahead is greater than what has been accomplished.
Leaving her full-time, secure government job may have seemed like a mistake to many, but the fruits are beginning to bloom. She has found peace, happiness and a true purpose for life. "As a muslim woman, a woman who proudly wears her hijab, a woman who is a divorcee, a woman with many healed scars, I feel coaching for me is divine work. My duty expands far beyond myself and I am willing to break the barriers of generations passing on hurt. I still have people telling me I should not write my book because it would bring shame to the community, but I believe I was created to disrupt generational stereotypes and not just an industry," says Uzma.
With a forthcoming book and several coaching programmes to her name, Uzma feels poised to help every woman, family and community become the best versions of themselves and live their best lives without regrets, grudges or cultural limitations.