We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joni Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Joni , we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
This question is nineteen years in the making, and counting. Where do I even begin?
Full disclosure- Because of my philosophical, spiritual + abstract mind that loves new ideas + creating unseen possibilities, I deeply struggle to navigate my historical, autobiographical timeline with ease. So, for the sake of guessing when things happen + it being inaccurate, I will just leave them out.
I want to begin with stating that for the first fifteen years or so of grappling with, dissecting, learning about, and studying to understand myself, I would call this the decade (and then some) of persistence. And then around 2021, I began to crossover into the ‘overcoming” phase. However, I really want to invite the use of the words ‘healing’ or ”mastering’ as replacements for the word ‘overcoming.” The word ‘overcoming’ feels violent and dominating. And the reality is that when you are working with “mental health issues,” there is a deeply nurturing, deeply loving, and compassionate listening that needs to occur in order to work WITH your trauma responses. Only once you learn to work WITH your shadow can you actually move THROUGH towards healing and acknowledging the wholeness that already exists within you.
Sidenote: I call “mental health issues” something more like “separation of the mind, body or soul to Love itself,”
Within these nineteen years, there are the logistics of the mental health journey. Logistics like trying multiple therapists until I landed on the right one that focused on somatic practices. Like working with a variety of mental health organizations and psychiatrists and choosing to walk away whenever I felt like the services I received were domineering in nature and non-attentive to my needs and concerns. It wasn’t until 2021 that I actually found a psychiatrist that I respected and in turn, respected me.
Sadly, this meant that I was misdiagnosed for a good majority of my “mental health” journey. This meant I was fighting alone for my actual healing. I was radically under-resourced in my geographical location, and in my mental health peer support. Doctors were not listening to me, nor were they taking appropriate care of my physical responses to their prescribed medications. Many medications in which I had terrible side effects and did not want to continue. If someone wouldn’t offer me tangible solutions, or autonomy over my body, I would walk away and in some cases, quit taking the medication without medical permission.
Sidenote: Cold turkey quitting mental health medication is NOT a good idea. I would never recommend that.
These actions stated above were (and still are to some degree) quite radical. My family didn’t understand my decisions, and truthfully didn’t support them. I have always respected the Wisdom and knowing of my body, and if I was healthy enough to truly listen to its guidance, I would always choose the intuitive nudges. Even if it meant pissing other people off in the process. I trusted it enough to move forward with courage and hope. And here I am, on the other side.
Sidenote: Intuition vs. fear responses are very different.
Wow, the details I could give within these formative years are quite sad and disgusting honestly. But, this is a story of warrior-like perseverance. This is a story of radical Love + hope. And, above all, this is a story of GRACE.
Juxtapose the logistics of the ‘mental health’ journey, there is a relationship with God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.
For me, I have fluctuated tremendously through my understandings, beliefs, and openness. Without sharing all the wild details here too, I have landed on an absolute truth that Jesus is my greatest companion for my mental health healing. And, I am building a truly genuine Love for Him these days. I will not call myself Christian, as I do not support the mishandling of His name in the justification of hateful treatment to our earthly family. But, I do define myself as radically devoted to His powerful Love and teachings and I call on the Holy Spirit when I am living challenges that feel beyond my human capacity.
My Yogi and Reiki path have served as incredible practices to quell and understand my pain and shadow with softness and compassion. They have allowed me to see Love and truth in a new way. My meditation + movement practices have also facilitated with clearing my mind, non-attachment, and feeling into or moving with energetic wounds. These practices allow me to honor my truths + the Wisdom within. However, the holy teacher that Jesus is has brought a quieter peace within my mind + body so that I AM a vessel of peace for others in turn. Service is a fruitful way to live and a beautiful way for me to connect to His love consistently.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I studied Broadcast Journalism in college and minored in Visual Communications. While in college, I developed a deep love for community. I created a Toledo replica of ‘Humans of New York’ where I would ask people questions and take an intimate portrait. This project fueled my love of photography and connection. I began to develop relationships with people all over the city. I also created a replica of the Candy Chang “Before I Die” wall (along with help).
My focus then + now is centered around supporting grief, inspiring healthy living, living a present + radically engaged life, connecting deeply + authentically with others, + living the questions that fuel more soul. These might appear rather general but I know I can be take these focuses with me wherever I land, short or long term.
Right now, I am focusing on building my voice. I intend on starting a podcast of my own. The idea has been silently calling me for years, and I kept making excuses. However, the more I witness in life and the clearer and healthier I become, the more of a true calling I am feeling towards sharing the Wisdom through my personal experience, as well as showcasing so many incredible philosophies and teachers that I have learned from throughout my path.
Truthfully, anything else career-wise is just to financially support my personal purpose of service and creative expression. I’m a bit fatigued from capitalism and its tiring language. I’m truly leaning into a quiet, simple life with much idea exploration, reading, time outside and (fingers crossed) gardening.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Adaptability: In this lifetime, I feel like I have lived so many lives. People pass away. Work places have grown obsolete. Relationship dynamics shift, as people will always surprise you. Life shifts + evolves. It simply is what it is. Adaptability has allowed me to learn the art of acceptance. Acceptance has allowed me to understand non-grasping. Non-grasping has allowed me to practice non-attachment. Non-attachment helps me remain open. Remaining open gives room to expand. Expansion allows for growth. Growth seems to lead to seeking. Seeking has always returned me to wonder + awe. Wonder + awe return me to gratitude. Gratitude leads me to Love. Love leads me to the understanding the regenerative needs of the world. Understanding these needs leads me to service. Service always leads me to God. See the picture here?
Relentlessly devoted to Love: This means truly diving into what grace + forgiveness mean. It means practicing. It means messing up, and trying again. It means walking away. It means moving my body some days or taking a quiet bath other days. It means sharing a meal. It looks so different all the time, but is so fricking part of the point of existence. Such a simple concept, yet such a cosmic dance to remember its beauty.
Laughter: I mean, social media has it fair share of rabbit holes. But, I swear, the amount of laughter from animal and kid videos on there keeps my heart open when I am ready to shut down. It’s a wonderful gift to take life incredibly serious but also laugh at yourself and our human absurdities. My sister and I have mastered the art of creating imaginary worlds (audibly, that is) that make me laugh so hard my potential GERD is activated. When we share some of these creations publicly, people always thank us. The weight of the world lessens with laughter. I guess I could Google the science behind why that is. Another day. Anyway, I am serious when it calls for it. I like to make light of situations when tension doesn’t need to exist. And on the best days, those fluid days with minimal pressure, I am just super dorky and enjoy the art of play.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
This is such a wonderful question and feels potent with potential.
With my podcast vision, I am looking for:
– someone to assist with editing + sound design
– people to connect in conversation within the topics of mental, physical, spiritual health + God, I also intend to navigate conversations of philosophy, cultural + social change, leadership, and more.
– someone to guide me towards public speaking opportunities
Another thing that has been internally guided is to look for opportunities to collaborate in or spearhead research within the categories mentioned above.
I can be contacted via email: [email protected]
My Instagram is: @light_whispers
Contact Info:
- Instagram: light_whispers
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3AqpkD3SgCAB237LKr-GBP8qIi3fZC-C&si=AxAOzctPtBu7Nhss
- Other: Email: [email protected]
