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- May 22, 2025
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“I’m Glad You’re Here”: How Joshua Barrett Is Helping People Rebuild Through Love, One Life at a Time
Have you ever felt like the world was moving around you, but no one actually saw you? Like your struggles were too heavy, too messy, or too painful to share? If so, you’re not alone, and Joshua Barrett wants to make sure you never feel that way again.
Joshua Barrett is a speaker, author, and life coach based in Indianapolis, Indiana. His journey from deep personal trauma and addiction to becoming the Best Life Coach in the USA for 2025 is not just inspiring, it’s a lifeline for others navigating mental and emotional darkness. Through his coaching brand Go Be Love, Barrett is delivering a powerful and timely message: You matter, your story matters, and healing is possible.
From Crisis to Calling
Barrett’s early life was marked by unimaginable adversity. After enduring a childhood of abuse, he entered foster care and was eventually adopted. But the emotional wounds of his upbringing led to years of mental health struggles and substance abuse. He spent over two decades battling addiction, using alcohol to escape the pain of trauma and anxiety.
His turning point came when he hit rock bottom and realized he had a choice: either remain broken or begin rebuilding. He chose to change everything.
Barrett returned to school, earning two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree in Christian counseling. More importantly, he began the difficult inner work of healing. This combination of personal experience and academic training now forms the foundation of his transformational work with others.
The Birth of Go Be Love
At the beginning of the pandemic, as fear and uncertainty swept through communities, Barrett noticed a gap that people needed encouragement, clarity, and connection. He began posting the phrase “Go Be Love” online. It resonated immediately.
Within hours of launching a Facebook group by the same name, more than 3,500 people joined to support one another through acts of kindness. Although the group eventually dissolved as the world reopened, the message of Go Be Love continued to spread, evolving into a full-fledged brand dedicated to personal transformation.
Barrett began sharing motivational content daily while coaching individuals and organizations. He also served as a chaplain and sponsor, working with those in recovery and emotional crisis. His unique combination of raw authenticity and professional insight sets him apart in a crowded self-help landscape.
A Book for the Broken
In 2024, Barrett released Through the Fire, a self-help guide written from his personal experience. Unlike traditional coaching or therapy books, Through the Fire is written in simple, relatable language designed for people in real pain.
Barrett spent five years breaking down complex concepts like mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and trauma recovery into tools anyone can understand and use. The result is a book that feels less like a textbook and more like a conversation with a friend who’s been there.
An audio version was released in May, with a Spanish-language edition launching soon, further expanding the book’s reach and accessibility.
A Coaching Model Built on Compassion
Barrett’s coaching is built on the belief that healing should be accessible, not exclusive. His services include one-on-one coaching, group sessions, and organizational training. He also speaks at schools, churches, nonprofits, and businesses, sharing his story and strategies for personal growth, emotional health, and resilience.
What sets Barrett apart is not just his background, it’s the sincerity of his approach. He is unpolished by design, offering an alternative to traditional clinical self-help. Clients often describe him as a guide who leads with vulnerability, honesty, and deep care.
“I don’t want to impress people,” he says. “I want to connect with them. I’ve lived the isolation and hopelessness. Now my life is about making sure others know they’re not alone.”
Vision for the Future
Barrett’s mission is clear: to continue reaching people who feel unseen, unheard, or unloved. He is currently expanding the Go Be Love Network, developing podcasts, video content, and blog platforms to extend his message of comfort and courage to even more individuals.
With each new client, speech, or post, he reiterates one simple truth: people matter. In a world overwhelmed by anger, fear, and disconnection, Barrett is offering something rare: grounded, consistent love in action.
Joshua Barrett’s life and work reflect the power of turning personal pain into public purpose. Whether through his book, coaching, or speaking engagements, he is building a movement grounded in authenticity, accessibility, and radical compassion.
His message to the world is as simple as it is profound:
“If you made it through the fire, reach back in and help someone else out.”
For Barrett, healing is not just about survival, it’s about transformation. And his greatest hope is that others will join him in that mission.
To learn more, access coaching, or schedule a speaking engagement, visit:
GoBeLove.org
How Yoga Helps with PTSD
PTSD often causes a person to feel disconnected from their body. Traumatic experiences can result in a heightened state of alertness or a constant state of fear, making it difficult to relax or feel safe. Yoga provides a grounding practice, bringing attention to the body and the present moment.
The breathing exercises (pranayama) in yoga help regulate the nervous system by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms the body’s fight-or-flight response. Breathing deeply and slowly can activate the relaxation response, reducing symptoms like rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, and tight muscles.
Yoga also teaches mindfulness—being present with what’s happening without judgment. This can be especially helpful for PTSD survivors, who often relive traumatic events through flashbacks or intrusive thoughts. Yoga encourages a non-judgmental approach to the present moment, allowing individuals to observe their thoughts and feelings without becoming overwhelmed.
Additionally, yoga poses can help relieve physical tension caused by stress and trauma. The release of tightness in the body can mirror the release of emotional tension, helping to promote mental and physical healing.
Yoga Poses for PTSD Relief
Here are a few poses that can help calm the mind, reduce anxiety, and promote relaxation. These are gentle and restorative movements, perfect for anyone looking to ease the burden of PTSD symptoms.
1. Child’s Pose (Balasana)
This grounding and restorative pose brings the body into a position of rest and surrender. It promotes a sense of safety and security, two feelings often disrupted by PTSD.
How to do it:
- Start on your hands and knees with your knees wide apart and your big toes touching.
- Sit your hips back toward your heels and extend your arms in front of you.
- Rest your forehead on the ground and take deep, slow breaths.
- Let your body relax into the pose, noticing the gentle stretch along your spine.
Benefits:
- Calms the nervous system.
- Encourages a sense of safety and surrender.
- Relieves tension in the back, hips, and neck.
2. Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
Downward-facing dog is a full-body pose that stretches and strengthens the entire body. It’s often seen as a rejuvenating pose that helps shift energy and focus.
How to do it:
- Start on your hands and knees with your hands shoulder-width apart and your knees hip-width apart.
- Press your hands firmly into the mat and lift your hips toward the ceiling, straightening your legs.
- Keep your arms and legs active, drawing your heels toward the floor.
- Hold for a few breaths, then slowly return to your starting position.
Benefits:
- Reduces tension in the shoulders, back, and legs.
- Encourages a flow of energy throughout the body.
- It helps build strength and flexibility.
3. Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)
Warrior II is a powerful and empowering pose that helps to build strength and focus. It can also promote feelings of courage and resilience, which are essential in the healing process from trauma.
How to do it:
- Start by standing tall with your feet wide apart.
- Turn your left foot out 90 degrees and bend your left knee, keeping your knee aligned over your ankle.
- Extend your arms straight out to either side, keeping your shoulders relaxed.
- Gaze over your left hand, feeling strong and grounded.
- Hold the pose for several breaths before switching sides.
Benefits:
- Strengthens the legs, hips, and arms.
- Promotes stability and balance.
- Enhances focus and clarity.
4. Cat-Cow Pose (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana)
This dynamic movement between two poses helps release tension in the spine and neck, promoting emotional and physical release. The flow of movement between arching and rounding the back is soothing and helps to reconnect with the body.
How to do it:
- Start on your hands and knees with your wrists directly under your shoulders and your knees under your hips.
- Inhale as you drop your belly toward the floor, lifting your chest and tailbone for a cow pose.
- Exhale as you round your back, tucking your chin to your chest for a cat pose.
- Continue to flow between these two movements with each breath.
Benefits:
- Releases tension in the spine, neck, and shoulders.
- Helps with emotional expression through movement.
- Promotes body awareness and mindfulness.
5. Legs Up the Wall (Viparita Karani)
This restorative pose is excellent for calming the mind and relaxing the body after a stressful day. It encourages deep relaxation and helps to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and insomnia.
How to do it:
- Sit next to a wall and lie on your back, then swing your legs up against the wall.
- Position your hips close to the wall, allowing your legs to rest straight up with your feet flexed.
- Place your arms at your sides, palms facing up, and close your eyes.
- Breathe deeply and focus on releasing tension in the body.
Benefits:
- Relieves tension in the legs, lower back, and feet.
- Encourages relaxation and peace.
- Reduces anxiety and promotes restful sleep.
Additional Practices for Healing
Incorporating breathwork into your yoga practice is one of the most effective ways to calm the nervous system and release tension caused by PTSD. Some specific breath exercises you can try include:
- Box Breathing: Inhale for four counts, hold for four counts, exhale for four counts, and hold for four counts. This technique can help regulate your breath and calm your mind.
- Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana): This technique involves breathing through one nostril at a time, which can help balance energy and reduce anxiety.
Finally, creating a regular yoga practice can provide a sense of structure and routine, which is beneficial for individuals dealing with PTSD. Consistency in yoga can create a strong foundation for healing, even if just a few minutes a day.
Final Thoughts
Yoga is not a quick fix, but it can be a crucial part of the healing process for those living with PTSD. By promoting body awareness, reducing physical tension, and calming the mind, yoga provides a holistic approach to healing trauma. Incorporating poses like Child’s Pose, Warrior II, and Legs Up the Wall, combined with breathwork, can help ease anxiety, restore balance, and create a sense of peace. If you’re dealing with PTSD, consider adding yoga to your healing toolkit—it may be just the practice you need to calm the mind and heal the body, as shared by Joshua Barrett in his journey toward recovery. Like the steps Barrett describes in Through the Fire, yoga can help turn the page to a new chapter of healing and personal strength.