In the journey of self-discovery and transformation, Anna Mouchref has walked paths that many might find daunting, yet her story is one of resilience, creativity, and deep spiritual awakening. As a poet, design strategist, and transformation coach, she has channeled her experiences—from navigating the corporate world to overcoming personal struggles—into a life of authenticity and service. Her book, The Shooting Starfish, is a testament to the power of trust, self-truth, and the courage to dive into the unknown. Through her work, Anna continues to inspire others to embrace their own transformative journeys with compassion, creativity, and unwavering belief in their inner strength.
1. Can you share more about the inspiration behind your book, The Shooting Starfish?
I was always inspired by the great stories of Alice in Wonderland, The Alchemist, and The Little Prince. Somehow, I ended up on a 12-month journey where I followed my feet, and trust, and let myself see what I might find. My process was that of following and being in my self-truth, and diving into fear. I lived the experience for a year, and wrote the story in one night on a full moon.
2. How has your spiritual awakening journey influenced your work as a poet, design strategist, and transformation coach?
Somehow, it felt like I’d always been writing and creating in the same way, but my awakening created a deeper opening to more authentically seeing, creating, and being in service to the art of creation for people, business, and planet.
3. Could you describe a pivotal moment that led you to write The Shooting Starfish?
I always knew I needed to write the story, but the title wasn’t yet ready until one day, I was shopping with a friend here in Lisbon, and saw this very sweet red feathered headband, with a golden starfish on it, and delicate strings of gems strung from it. I fell in love with it, and the book name ‘The Shooting Starfish’ popped in my mind. I wore that crown the night I wrote the story and still wear it during group reading experiences.
4. What role did your experiences in the corporate world play in shaping your creative and personal journey?
I lived an incredible career, but at a certain point, when I got to the ‘top,’ I still felt empty. Even though my work was always heart and human-centered, there were so many aspects of myself I was constantly censoring and feeling restricted by. I was always fascinated by the arts and creation, and often brought a creative and daring lens into the room, which really helped me in my career as a more strategic and innovative solution creator.
5. How did overcoming burnout from the corporate world impact your approach to writing and coaching?
The body is everything. Similar to this special planet we reside on. Coming ‘home’ to the inner workings, learning the superpowers of intuition, connection with breath, and self regeneration help me tap more deeply into the space of empowerment practices for my work, especially with my clients. I often ask clients facing a challenge, ‘if this (problem, challenge, or blockage) was somewhere in your body, where would it be? What shape does it take, or color? How does it feel? What would it like to say?’ This helps us creatively navigate together, while integrating the body, mind, heart, and spirit in a more holistic form towards development and growth.
6. Can you talk about the challenges you faced in leaving an abusive relationship and how it influenced your work?
Abuse comes in many forms, and often times we don’t recognize it until it hits us too hard and knocks some sense into us. At a certain point, I found myself either burying myself in my work, and/or becoming much more fierce in my work after leaving. I also became quite confident – there was something in me that woke up – an inner fire of confidence and pride. Survivors know this quite well. I will also share, it took many years of deliberate un-learning, healing, and ‘returning’ home to myself in a more grounded, centered way in relation to work after that.
7. What was the process of creating your own narrative after leaving the religion of Islam like for you?
Leaving the religion of Islam is not easy – it comes with loss of community, deep shame, and solitude. Of course that hurt me, and I could have easily gone into ‘victim’ mode for many years after that. It turns out, I was living victim for so long, that leaving the religion was a way for me to entirely reclaim my mind, my way of thinking, understanding belief, and also validating that there are many ways of living in harmony with the world around us. While I have spent many years ‘unshaming,’ I do hold deep respect for many elements I’d learned and lived as a former Muslim, and still have much of it in my heart, just in my own way now. It’s important to do and live what feels aligned, true, and right and to live a life with intentions for the greater good of all. I enjoy choosing life this way.
8. How do you integrate your experiences with mental health into your poetry and coaching?
I liberated my mind in many ways, and still continue to do so. If there was one thing I’d love to leave as a legacy from this life, it would be for my words to touch people’s hearts, ideally in tenderness, but very truly, in pursuit of self-empowerment. You got the power to make and live the life you want. It’s not always easy, but it is a much better feeling to take the pen, even if the words are shaky, and write the story for yourself. Poetry, for example is one of my favorite integration methods – it’s my way of seeing, feeling, and understanding the world around me, then expressing and sharing from that vantage point. As a coach, my worst nightmare is for someone to become ‘dependent’ on me. We work on a ‘project’ together for a set period of time, then I’ll be with my coachees for a bit until they can fly off and continue on their next dream runway.
9. What strategies or practices have you found helpful in managing and overcoming burnout?
Burnout is no joke. I used to think it’s for the ‘weak,’ until it hit me, hard. It was a very humbling experience which brought me to the basics – breath, nature, and trust in my body to do what it needs. It was a profound teacher as my body said to my mind, ‘Relax. I got this; it’s going to take some time, but trust me.’ I did, and I learned the power of meditation, relaxation, trust, and patience. It is daily up-keep, and I know it’s up to me to lovingly manage my tendencies of what we might call ‘workaholism’ into creating and living in harmony and balance with all aspects of the wheel of life.
10. How do you stay motivated and inspired while dealing with personal and professional struggles?
Well who else is going to do it for me? 🙂 I like to think of motivation and inspiration as special muscles inside our being which are especially necessary to call upon during struggles. Who do I give more power to? My will power, trust in myself, and creative problem solving skills, or the woe at hand? Don’t get me wrong though, if I need an afternoon of sulking, crying, eating whatever I want, I do that too, but I don’t let it become of me. At a certain point, I need to roll up my sleeves and say, ‘Let’s go, I’m gonna make it!’ It works.
11. What advice would you give to women who are facing similar challenges in their personal and professional lives?
Compassion. See where you are, give yourself credit, love, and compassion. When you’re stuck somewhere, or not feeling too great, know that everything is perspective. Sometimes we just need to find the will to move our nose in a new direction, shift our perspective, and gently loosen up the grip of the gum on the heel of your shoes and take the next step forward. The nature of life is imperfection, but never forget that you always have a choice, so be in the one that feels most aligned and true for you. Trust yourself, and show up for yourself – you deserve to give this to you.
12. How do you use your work to support and empower others who may be on a similar journey?
It’s the only thing I really want to do, and luckily I’m building a sustainable life for myself where I can. I believe in this work, because I’ve done it, personally, many times. I am a transformer, with many years of refining the power of word within and liberating my voice. It’s not always perfect, but wow what an absolute delight to help people come into their light, feel inspired, connected to themselves, and empowered to ‘be’ in the life that is truly theirs.
13. Can you share a specific example of how your book has impacted a reader or client?
‘That was profound’ – I’ve heard this line a few times now after offering readings. The most powerful gift we have is our imagination. It’s our ability to dream up the life we want (not to be mistaken with a life projected by others onto us). When I say, ‘the life we want,’ what I mean, is that special soulful magic you have inside, brought to life. That’s what this book is about.
14. What are some misconceptions people have about the journey of personal transformation, and how do you address them?
A lot of my life doesn’t make sense to many people. Within one week, I went from transformation coaching, to designing the program for a new well-being space, to performing poetry at a ‘mad tea party’ experience. When we live in a world of boxes, it’s hard for our minds to understand people who live ‘outside of the box’. Transformation, by nature, means big change. The call for that change needs to be greater than the comfort of the safe space. It doesn’t mean it won’t be ‘safe,’ but it does mean there will be unknowns. In the space of the unknown, we need to awaken different innate senses that help us navigate the uncharted territories to what is emerging in the next ‘now’ form. I’ve always had guides during my transformations; those who have been space holders, advice givers, or simply support agents to help me become more deeply to knowing who I am and what I’m made of, and making it, from that space. For me, there might be few greater treasures of life than that knowing in the journey of transformation.
15. What future projects or goals are you excited about, and how do they align with your vision of personal growth and authenticity?
I have a few things up my sleeve, and in my heart. Most importantly, I’m staying curious, humble, and grateful.
More books to come, with certainty – books on poetry, awakening, the art of receiving, love, and spending time with the ‘self’. I’m opening up a well-being and art space in Lisbon and embracing sharing my voice more and more in public spaces.
IG: @annamouchref
