We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Fatimah Hanif a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Fatimah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I left what I thought would be my career at the time in the food industry as a Chef & Dietary Manager, which was extremely stressful, no matter how much I thought I loved my career. My body didn’t like the stress. I gained so much weight which caused high blood pressure & myself being pre-diabetic. So I knew I had to make a life changing decision. I quit my job & became a Vibrational Wellness Specialist, helping myself & others, from all ages to find their peace and happiness while calming their nervous system.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Thank you for asking! My name is Fatimah Hanif, and I am a Vibrational Wellness Specialist, author, and artist. My journey into this field was born from a deeply personal place. After years of navigating my own healing journey, including therapy, shadow work, and energy healing, I realized the profound need for accessible tools to help people—especially children—learn how to heal, grow, and thrive. I founded my company, I Maintain, with the mission to provide vibrational wellness solutions that empower individuals to break free from the cycles of toxicity, trauma, and negative self-talk.

At I Maintain, I offer a variety of services and creative works designed to support healing and personal transformation. These include sound bath meditations, Reiki, mindfulness workshops, breathwork, vibrational journaling, and more. I also host events, create wellness curricula, and provide educational resources, like my book I’m Tired of Being Toxic: Self-Journey & Transformation. Each of these tools is carefully crafted to help clients release emotional burdens, improve self-talk, and ultimately raise their vibrational energy.

What sets my work apart is my holistic, heart-centered approach and my dedication to making vibrational wellness accessible to all, particularly in trauma-affected communities. I specialize in working with children because I believe that giving them these tools early can prevent the struggles that many adults face, such as inner child healing or coping with adverse experiences later in life. I also strive to meet clients exactly where they are, offering services that are as practical as they are transformative.

What I am most proud of is seeing the shift in my clients—the moment when they realize they have the power within themselves to heal and grow. Whether it’s a child learning to use breathwork to calm their anxiety, a parent reconnecting with their inner peace, or someone finding clarity and hope after years of feeling stuck, those moments fuel my passion.

For anyone just discovering my work, I want you to know that healing and transformation are possible for everyone. My brand, I Maintain, isn’t just about providing services—it’s about helping you learn to maintain your own peace, balance, and well-being in the midst of life’s challenges. Whether you’re looking for personal growth, ways to manage stress, or a community to support you on your journey, my work is here to remind you that you are seen, heard, and capable of thriving.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A powerful lesson I had to unlearn is that my worth isn’t tied to how much I give or how much I accomplish for others. For a long time, I believed that my value was directly connected to how much I could pour into others—whether it was family, friends, or even clients. I felt like I always had to show up, fix things, or overextend myself to be “enough.” But over time, that mindset left me depleted, burned out, and disconnected from my own needs.

The turning point came when I was going through therapy, shadow work, and doing a lot of inner child healing. I realized that my constant need to give stemmed from an underlying belief that I had to earn love and respect. I also noticed that when I didn’t set boundaries, I was teaching others that my energy was limitless—and it’s not. I finally understood that I was deserving of love, peace, and fulfillment simply because I exist, not because of how much I do for others.

This shift wasn’t easy, especially as someone whose work is centered on helping people heal and grow. I had to relearn what it meant to show up for myself first and to give from a place of abundance, not obligation. Today, I remind myself often that I can serve others best when my own cup is full. This lesson has been transformative not just in my personal life but also in my work, as I now encourage my clients to prioritize their own well-being and recognize their inherent worth.

Unlearning this idea has helped me create healthier boundaries, preserve my energy, and serve with more intention and authenticity. It’s a lesson I now carry into everything I do, and it’s one I strive to share with others on their healing journeys.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

If I could go back, of course, I would choose the same profession. The work I do as a Vibrational Wellness Specialist is not just a career—it’s a calling. I want people to help themselves get better with themselves because when we heal individually, we contribute to a collective shift. We already have so much low vibrational energy in this world—pain, negativity, and unresolved trauma. Why not be a force for high vibrational energy instead?

My passion lies in empowering people to recognize their own strength and to embrace tools that help them heal, grow, and thrive. This work isn’t just about momentary relief; it’s about creating lasting change and helping people reconnect with their true selves. Seeing someone move from a place of doubt and heaviness to one of confidence and lightness is why I do what I do.

I wouldn’t trade this path for anything because it’s not just about me—it’s about the ripple effect. When someone raises their vibration, it influences their family, their community, and even their future generations. Choosing this profession means being part of that transformation, and for me, there’s no greater purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imaintainwithfatimah.com
• Instagram: imaintainwithfatimah2
• Facebook: I Maintain With Fatimah
• Linkedin: Fatimah Hanif
• Twitter: imaintainwithfatimah
• Youtube: I Maintain With Fatimah

Image Credits

Fatimah Hanif
Jameelah Hanif
Ricki Leigh