LEBANON - On this International Day of Education, it’s important to recognize that learning goes beyond books and exams; it includes understanding our minds, emotions, and inner world.
How we nurture mental and emotional well-being directly influences how we learn, grow, and engage with life. To explore the connection between self-awareness, confidence, and lifelong learning, Enmaeya spoke with Joyce Youhanna, a clinical hypnotherapist.
You work closely with women and mothers on inner healing and self-awareness. From your experience, how does a woman’s mental and emotional well-being influence the way she learns, grows, and engages with life as a whole?
Women’s emotional and mental well-being is paramount, especially today, as women play multiple and essential roles in society, as mothers, educators, professionals, and business leaders. Caring for a woman’s inner well-being creates greater balance in life, better emotional regulation, and clearer thinking, which ultimately leads to healthier actions and more informed decisions, both at home and in the workplace.
Have you noticed a shift in how women relate to learning and personal growth once they feel more emotionally grounded?
Yes, when women feel more emotionally grounded, it becomes easier for them to perform and stay engaged. They feel more motivated to pursue their goals in life, whether in their personal lives, at home, or in their careers, because they are acting from a place of clarity, confidence, and inner stability.
Today, there’s growing recognition that emotional literacy matters just as much as intellectual achievement. How do you see emotional awareness and mindset as essential forms of education for modern life?
In today’s modern world, beyond academic education, one of the most important skill sets a person can develop is emotional literacy. We live in a fast-paced, often chaotic environment, and it has become nearly impossible to lead a healthy, balanced life without the ability to regulate one’s thoughts and emotions.
Understanding the connection between the mind and the body is essential. Learning these skills allows individuals to navigate constant change, manage stress more effectively, and build emotional resilience, qualities that are no longer optional but necessary for modern life.
Clinical hypnotherapy is often misunderstood or surrounded by myths. How would you describe its role in supporting well-being and deeper self-understanding in a way that feels accessible?
Yes, it’s time to debunk the misconceptions around hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy is simply a therapeutic process conducted in a state of hypnosis, a natural, focused state of awareness. It is particularly effective because, in this state, the individual is deeply relaxed and more receptive, allowing access to the subconscious mind.
Since the subconscious mind stores memories, emotional patterns, and past experiences, working at this level makes it possible, under the proper guidance of a trained therapist, to safely address, process, and reframe unresolved issues. Rather than losing control, clients often gain greater insight, clarity, and empowerment through the process.
What tends to surprise people most once they experience this kind of inner work?
Many people are surprised by how present and aware they remain during a hypnotherapy session. Others are surprised by the memories that surface, often unexpected experiences they didn’t realize were still influencing them.
Some are most surprised by the sudden breakthroughs that can occur, such as completely releasing a long-held fear, like the fear of driving, and confidently getting back behind the wheel after years of avoiding it. These moments are often difficult to explain, yet deeply empowering.
What small shifts in a mother’s inner world can meaningfully enhance family life and support children’s well-being at school?
When a mother feels mentally balanced and emotionally supported, in other words, when her tank is full, she is able to give freely and wholeheartedly.
She has more patience, presence, and emotional availability to offer, which positively impacts her family and everyone around her.
When a mother’s tank is empty, however, giving often feels forced or draining, simply because she has very little left to give. This difference profoundly shapes the emotional climate of the home and at school.
What are some practical exercises or habits you recommend for students to improve concentration, motivation, or self-confidence?
We should teach kids mindfulness by helping them pay attention to simple daily activities. This can be as easy as focusing on eating, walking, or showering. For example, while eating, they can slow down and fully experience the moment, notice the smell, taste, and texture of the food. This teaches them to appreciate small things and build focus.
They can also practice mindfulness by pausing to notice their breathing or bringing awareness to their bodies, like feeling the tension in their shoulders or neck.
These simple practices improve focus, which in turn increases motivation to complete tasks. As they see themselves accomplishing things, their self-confidence grows. In this way, mindfulness, focus, motivation, and self-confidence are all connected.
How can schools in Lebanon include elements of subconscious mind awareness or mental well-being practices to support student life satisfaction?
Based on my experience, offering students workshops that teach them about the power of their subconscious mind can be incredibly empowering and impactful.
However, these workshops must be carefully designed to match the students’ age and level of understanding, so the concepts are accessible and meaningful to them.
How can nurturing mental well-being and subconscious awareness today help shape more resilient, confident, and successful youth in the future?
I believe that awareness fosters confidence. When kids understand their emotions and thoughts, and are provided with a safe, supportive environment where they can express themselves and ask questions without fear of judgment, it creates a strong foundation for mental well-being. This is a recipe for nurturing a mentally healthy generation.
By fostering emotional awareness and providing safe spaces for self-expression, we equip children and adults alike with the tools to thrive academically and personally.
Education is not just about knowledge, it’s about building emotionally resilient, confident learners who can navigate life with clarity and purpose.
