My name is Hinaa Khalid, and I am the founder of Dervish Connections.

After graduating from University I spent most of my career in the health and social care field and worked at senior management level for organisations such as Age UK, and Alzheimer’s Society, and then in my later years for local government again at senior management level with a focus on community cohesion, wellbeing and implementing equality in our neighbourhoods. My passion has always been to support others and throughout my career I have embedded this principle in many ways.

For much of my life, I learned to be capable, responsible and strong. I could lead, support others and face challenges, but within my closest relationships, I sometimes found it difficult to express what I needed.

I became accustomed to keeping the peace, meeting expectations and placing the needs of others before my own. Although I appeared confident and motivated in the outside world, there were times when I did not feel fully heard, respected or understood within my personal life.

Relationship difficulties and divorce encouraged me to look more deeply at my conditioning, emotional patterns and core values. I began learning how to communicate more honestly, recognise when something was no longer aligned with me and stop remaining in situations that required me to abandon myself. I began to listen to my inner voice and stopped worrying about what the world would say and let go of expectations.