I'm your host, Sekina Yakub, and in this episode of The Hearts Connect Podcast, I sit down with Diana Alghoul for a powerful conversation about self-knowledge, faith, identity, healing, emotions, the subconscious mind, tawakkul, and love. Diana shares her journey from journalism into hypnotherapy, reflecting on how her experiences shaped her understanding of herself, her faith, and the deeper beliefs that influence how we show up in the world. She explores what it means to truly know yourself, let go of identities that no longer serve you, and trust what is already within you. We also talk about emotional healing, learning to listen to the body, creating safe spaces to process difficult emotions, and moving beyond “good vibes only.” Diana reflects on her journey back to Islam, the importance of seeking knowledge, daily spiritual practices, solitude, self-love, people-pleasing, and learning to trust yourself.

Throughout the conversation, we return to the importance of keeping Allah at the centre — and remembering that whatever we face, Allahu Akbar.

Takeaways

• Understanding what it means to truly know yourself
• Letting go of identities and beliefs that no longer serve you
• The relationship between the subconscious mind, beliefs, and behaviour
• Faith, questioning, seeking knowledge, and returning to Allah
• The importance of emotional awareness and healthy emotional processing
• Listening to your body and learning to trust yourself
• Creating safe spaces for healing and self-reflection
• Solitude, introversion, and reconnecting with yourself
• Self-love, people-pleasing, rejection, and healthy boundaries
• Balancing personal goals with spiritual values
• Understanding hypnotherapy and the subconscious mind
• Keeping Allah at the centre through tawakkul and surrender

Chapters

• 00:12 Introduction to Diana's Journey
• 01:21 The Deep Connection Between Subconscious and Faith
• 03:01 Memory and Its Impact on Behavior
• 04:18 Defining Self: Spirituality, Rationality, and Lightheartedness
• 04:41 Knowing Yourself to Know Allah
• 07:12 The Facets of Self and Contextual Behavior
• 07:49 A Defining Moment During COVID
• 09:15 Letting Go and Trusting Allah
• 11:09 The Expanding Universe and Self-Development
• 12:04 Light Within: Bringing Out Inner Potential
• 14:51 Misunderstandings About Diana’s Practice
• 18:29 Daily Practices for Spiritual and Mental Well-being
• 25:22 Rediscovering Faith and the Power of Allah
• 33:52 The Role of Solitude and Reflection
• 39:13 Love, Self-Love, and Conditioning
• 43:25 Final Words and Advice from Diana

About the Podcast

The Hearts Connect Podcast is rooted in authentic storytelling and spiritually grounded self-development. Inspired by the book Hearts Connect, which documents the lived experiences of African and Afro-Caribbean converts to Islam in the UK, this podcast continues meaningful conversations around faith, healing, identity, and building healthy relationships — with ourselves, with Allah, and with others.

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