About

Hi! I’m Johanna. (It’s pronounced like the name Hannah…just put a Jo in front.) You can also call me Jo, for short.
I wonder if our stories have something in common...
Johanna Schram
  • I spent years of my life striving to know all the answers and keep everyone happy.
  • I watched people for cues about who they expected me to be, afraid they might realize I wasn’t good enough.
  • I chased after achievements in an attempt to prove my worth and then wondered why I didn’t find them satisfying. I avoided trying anything new because I might make a mistake.
  • I hid my opinions unless I was sure they matched those of the people around me. I worried my relationships couldn’t handle the strain of conflict or disagreement.
  • I shoved down my emotions because I didn’t think I had a right to feel them. I didn’t let anyone see that I was lonely, hurting, and afraid because I thought I was the only one facing those struggles. I didn’t want to seem weak or needy.
  • No matter how hard I tried to fit in and make everyone like me, I never felt like I belonged. The harder I tried to be someone else, someone better, the less I liked myself.
Any of this sound familiar?
I still do these things sometimes because…well, I’m still human. But I’m not alone. We’re not alone.
Here's the thing, you don’t need to become someone different or better before you can navigate challenges and stretch toward what you want. I believe that cultivating a kind and supportive relationship with ourselves is foundational to everything we want to do and be in the world.
As a life coach, I support fellow humans as they learn to recognize their inherent worth, express themselves with courage and integrity, and connect deeply in relationships—growing their self-trust along the way.

Your worth is not something to prove.

Johanna Schram
I’m certified through the Courageous Living Coach Certification program, which is rooted in a holistic philosophy and grounded in supporting clients where they are. Learn how we can work together.
I started this blog in 2014 because the work I was doing with my life coach was changing the way I thought about myself and my relationships and what was possible. I couldn’t keep what I was learning to myself! My writing has also appeared on Tiny Buddha, Kind Over Matter, Becoming Who You Are, The Mudroom, Possibility of Change, and more.
Starting my YouTube channel in 2022 has been another fun way to talk to you and practice using my voice.
Every few weeks I send a note to readers including recent blog posts and videos, questions to further conversation, and, every so often, a little something extra. Subscribe and gain access to an entire library of self-trust resources.
When I’m not coaching or writing, you can find me sewing my own clothes, walking in the woods, or playing tug-of-war with my Boston terrier, Pixel.
Need to get in touch? You can contact me here.