I’ve played around with a lot of taglines for my podcast, The Life of Try. But my guest for this podcast, human rights lawyer and UN Humanitarian, Yasmine Sherif said something in this week’s episode that I might have to borrow for a mission statement. She said:
“But if we make a conscious choice to live
with joy and curiosity and creativity and
Wanting to learn, wanting to search, wanting to find why I am here, my purpose,
and to do it with love and humanity and excitement,
we can.
“And we can then better also manage challenges when they come our way.
So instead of being broken by the challenges,
we take them and we quickly recognize an opportunity.
Or eventually recognize it. It depends what it is. Sometimes it takes longer.”
In this episode, we talk about Yasmine’s book, Unleash Your Humanity. It is both a memoir and a manifesto so we learn about Yasmine’s journey from a childhood shaped by two cultures to humanitarian work on the front lines of conflict. In our conversation, she shares how faith, persistence, intuition, and a deep commitment to service helped her choose humanity over fear—even when lives were at stake.
We explore:
- Why trust can become the foundation of courage
- How adversity can lead to personal awakening
- What authentic, purpose-driven leadership looks like
- Why courage grows through repeated choices
- How serving one person can contribute to collective change
One idea stayed with me: our humanity is not a weakness. It is one of our greatest sources of strength.
If you’re navigating uncertainty, stepping beyond your comfort zone, or asking how your work can serve something larger, I hope this conversation reminds you that showing up with heart and purpose matters.
- Click this link to watch in a browser: Unleash Your Humanity: Courage, Resilience & Purpose with Yasmine Sherif
- Subscribe to The Life of Try on Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Podcasts
- Subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thelifeoftry
Links for this episode:
Unleash Your Humanity: Courage, Resilience & Purpose with Yasmine Sherif transcript
Yasmine Sherif’s website
Unleash Your Humanity: Where Personal Awakening Becomes Collective Change website
Buy Unleash Your Humanity on Barnes & Noble, Bookshop and Amazon
Related Episode
Way Will Open: How To Trust Life’s Timing
Success isn’t always about finishing first. Sometimes the greatest victories belong to those who stay prepared, keep growing, and never stop trying.
(featured photo from Pexels)
If my work has encouraged, inspired, or helped you try something new, consider supporting it with a small “cup of coffee” donation. Your support helps me keep creating conversations, stories, and resources that cheer people on as they do brave, meaningful work.
You can find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynneleon/ and Instagram wynneleon
Great things happen in subways – such as getting accepted into law school or having this conversation inspire me during my hump day commute. 😊
Yasmine’s life experience and perspective is inspiring. I love that the made her commitment through prayer and delivered this through her life work, serving humanity with authenticity and courage. The Goethe quote is so true – something about manifesting our goals is so powerful and symbolic and I also believe the universe does conspire to help us. And when we trust and have faith, that does give us the courage to reach for our dreams.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I love that you connected your subway ride to that story, Ab! That’s awesome. You have such a great way of listening deeply and I love what you pick up on. I agree about the Goethe quote! Thanks for tuning in, my friend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good stuff. Positive personal choices, moment by moment, makes all the difference!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Positive personal choices making a difference — love the way you put it, Dana! Yes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looking forward to listening!!! Thank you, Wynne! ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, my dear friend! ❤ ❤ ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Xo! 😘
LikeLike
This looks like a timely post and podcast, Wynne! Thank you! 💕
LikeLiked by 2 people
What a lovely comment. Thank you, Lauren!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Wynne! 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing. Yasmine is so inspiring.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I couldn’t agree more. Thank you, Elizabeth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wynne! I wish you could feel what I’m feeling right now! I just finished your interview with Yasmine. It is so timely. I’ve read Yasmine’s book, “A Case for Humanity: An Extraordinary Session,” twice. She’s brilliant! I love her spirit and commitment to service. Thank you so much for sharing her story with us. If this interview wasn’t for anyone else, I know that it was for me. THANK YOU!!💕🌺💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have chills all over reading this, Shaun! I love that you’ve read her other work. She is a remarkable person and I can see that you two have the same infectious, service-oriented personality! Thank you so much for tuning in — and sharing this wonderful comment!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t wait to read Unleash Your Humanity!😊
LikeLike
What she said is so wise, will definitely check out her book!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, her book is so inspiring and I think you’d like it. Thank you for the lovely comment, Pooja!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re most welcome!
LikeLike
Eleven candidates before Yasmine’s place on the law school waiting list withdrew? The universe was clearly raising her towards her destiny. I love these types of stories because I deeply believe that everything happens for a reason, and she was meant to study law and follow that trajectory to the United Nations. I’m in awe. “Showing up with heart and purpose matters.” Yes! Yasmine’s book is calling me, thanks Wynne.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel your comment all the way to my toes, Melanie! I love that story too — and your deep recognition just makes it even better! She is an amazing woman and I think you’ll enjoy her book! Thank you so much for tuning in, my dear friend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yasmine is a gem! She knew what she wanted, trusted it would be given to her, and our world is a better place because of her. She’s high energy and an inspiration
LikeLiked by 1 person
You said it perfectly, Beth! She is a wonder and her book is great because her energy and inspiration shines through!! Thanks for the great comment!
LikeLiked by 1 person
so inspirational – thank you for sharing – I needed this! L xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Linda! Yasmine really is a wonder! I appreciate your comment!
LikeLike
yes, I’e faced a BIG challenge lately so this gives me thhe confidence to go on ; thanks Wynne 🙂
LikeLike
Powerful and inspiring message from Yasmin’s passion and steadfast mission of trust supporting humanity with incredible examples of living an authentic life through habits of light, passion and follow through. Her call to life is truly AMAZING!
Great podcast!!!! Kudos to you both!!!! xxx
LikeLike
Looking forward to hearing this!
LikeLike
What an amazing episode, Wynne. I especially loved what Yasmine said close to the end about how the world tries to keep us in a box. One of the exercises I do in my retirement workshops and coaching work is to ask people to reflect on how their plan might change if they didn’t let themselves be restrained by what others would say or think. It’s powerful to shake off those shackles.
Putting this on my TBR list. Thank you!
LikeLike
That was a wonderful episode, Wynne. It’s incredible how powerful it is to follow our gut as we pursue our calling, and to keep trying along the way.
LikeLike
Good stuff here! One of my ongoing goals is to “unleash the humanity” within CheeseGov, showing that behind the scenes, we’re a bunch of normal and relatable people. Humanizing a government agency isn’t easy, but it’s an important step toward improved engagement.
LikeLike
Such a profound conversation! It’s so easy to let fear dictate our boundaries.
LikeLike
Yasmine is a remarkable woman! She didn’t just have a nice cozy thought of wanting to help people, she actively sought out the opportunities, and when things got tough or her personal safety was at stake, she stood by her convictions. a beautiful story to share!
LikeLike
Yasmine is an inspiration – and so are you!!! XOV
LikeLike