We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jo Weatherford. Check out our conversation below.
Jo, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
Apathy… there is an epidemic of “not feeling” taking place. We talk a lot about the horrors of feeling pain, but what’s worse than pain is feeling nothing. Some is self-induced by medication, substances, avoidant behaviors or lifestyle addictions. Some is due to a life wasted on trying to please others and missing out on courageous authenticity. Some people are simply trying to survive and don’t have the vitality to express joy, love, hate or anger.
We get so complacent in life and live on autopilot- so take a different route to work, clean up your diet and try a new hobby. Travel, dance, play in any way that reminds you are here to feel it all and take it all in. Be here for it. Show up. If y0u are slowly disappearing in your life, act. Act now. Act big. Pattern interrupt and do something to shake it up.
Like Mary Oliver said “What is it you plan on doing with your one wild & precious life.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
JO WEATHERFORD
My brand is “Hurt Better”
Stop numbing, face your pain, and reclaim your power one honest moment at a time.
You don’t have to hit rock bottom before you’re allowed to heal.
I help high-performing individuals stop numbing their pain and start reclaiming power by developing the emotional capacity to hurt better so they can finally break patterns of addiction, avoid the rock bottom, and live with full presence, sovereignty, and self-trust. Together, we can face pain incrementally, building tolerance, emotional depth, and real freedom in the process.
About Jo
Jo Weatherford went from Playboy model to professor.
She is now 13 years sober and helps others break free from addiction.
A renowned addiction expert, TEDx Speaker with over 3 million views on YouTube, and mindset coach who addresses the root cause of addiction, Jo will light up your stage and ignite your audience into action.
You’ve held it together long enough.
Let’s get underneath the coping and start the real work.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My marriage to my ex-husband was by far my greatest catalyst for transformation (after getting sober.) I was left in a foreign country with no money, no job, no house, no idea how I would provide for myself, I just knew I had to leave him. It wasn’t awful, but it wasn’t good, and we had exhausted all our resources and hopes to make it better. So rather than stay out of convivence, I got very uncomfortable, and I left.
What I learned is that I am beyond resilient. Now don’t get me wrong, resilience is great…. resilience says, “I can survive hard things.” But what I have is grit, I love challenges and opportunities to see just how tough, smart and capable i really am. Grit says “bring it, give me more” because I know it’s all happening for me, not to me, and I always come out better.
Fast forward to today, I live in Nevada City with my amazing partner, I work remotely with incredible clients and can travel all over the world, and I am in the process of helping to open a treatment center which is an absolute dream of mine.
I literally have it all!
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I was molested at age 4 and I learned very early on that my worth was my body, and my sexuality was my greatest asset I had poor boundaries and very little self-respect. I objectified myself and sought out men, jobs, experience etc. that further had me view myself as noth9ing more than a sex object.
I’ve done 100’s of hours of therapy, medicine journeys to heal trauma and most profound was an iboga ceremony where I was able to process much of my shame and make peace with those situations and for9ive myself for the ways I acted out to try and make sense of such a confusing experience.
Now I have a partner who is safe and loves me beyond my physical form. Every day I discover more tender, sweet and innocent layers to myself and I love the woman I have become while also loving the woman I had to become early on to survive.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
I keep it 100% real – what you see is what you get. I may wait until a situation has resolved before sharing it publicly, but I like to use real life examples and share the good, the unpleasant and everything in between. It’s all medicine, and I trust myself to know how, when and h0w much to reveal. I do believe people need to own your story and boundaries are key. But for me, I’ve been speaking and teaching publicly for 15 years, so I trust my discernment on vulnerable shares. But you could ask my friends, clients, clients, boyfriend who I am and they would all give you the same(ish) answer, just maybe minus a few curse words.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
My energy, my smile, how I look people in the eyes and really see them. When I hug you, it’s real, because i have a true desire to connect and make myself and others feel nurtured, appreciated and loved. My sense of humor and playfulness have nothing to do with “who” I am and everything to do with “what” I am.
No one really cares how you look on paper, that stuff is a cheap dopamine hit. People care how you make them feel.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.recoveryremix.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jo.weatherford/
- Linkedin: www.facebook.com/jo.harvey.547
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jo.harvey.547
Image Credits
@alicenerr.photography
@dreampilotfilms
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
