{"id":34410,"date":"2023-04-08T14:23:36","date_gmt":"2023-04-08T10:23:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/?post_type=articles&p=34410"},"modified":"2023-04-09T01:31:50","modified_gmt":"2023-04-08T21:31:50","slug":"zainab-al-eqabi-interview-inspirational-para-athlete","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/zainab-al-eqabi-interview-inspirational-para-athlete\/","title":{"rendered":"“I am a great believer in the power of attraction”: Iraqi Para-Athlete Zainab Al-Eqabi On Her Career Highs"},"content":{"rendered":"

The most inspiring people in the world are\u00a0those who achieve great things in the face of adversity, like Zainab Al-Eqabi. She’s an unstoppable Iraqi para-athlete whose leg was amputated at the tender age of seven after an unexploded bomb from the Gulf War detonated at her family’s home in Baghdad.<\/p>\n

“Pain and passion for life are what inspired me to take up\u00a0sports and change my life,” Al-Eqabi shared in an exclusive interview with GRAZIA<\/em>. She took up sports while attending university, per a doctor’s recommendation. “I wasn\u2019t introduced to sports earlier on in my life, probably because\u00a0it was not part of our culture and my family was over-protective of their child who is an\u00a0amputee.”<\/p>\n

Today, Zainab Al-Eqabi is\u00a0a multi-hyphenate entrepreneur who has spent her career mastering extreme sports, like scuba diving, and inspiring audiences with motivational speeches. You might recognise her from her TEDx talks or from her appointment as\u00a0Volkswagen’s\u00a0Middle\u00a0East Brand Ambassador. Discover expert advice on nurturing mental health and finding self-acceptance in our interview with this inspirational female para-athlete ahead.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Courtesy of Zainab Al-Eqabi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When presented with challenges that might seem insurmountable, what keeps you<\/strong>\u00a0determined to follow through on your goals?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Zainab Al Eqabi: “My passion, along with the voice in my head that says, ‘Why give up or stop trying?’ This is\u00a0what keeps me focused and determined to follow through on my goals, no matter how hard\u00a0they are to achieve or how long it takes. If a goal is unattainable and I am certain that it is a\u00a0closed door, I move on and focus on my next goal.<\/p>\n

I am a great believer in the power of attraction, and if I keep visualizing my goals and maintain\u00a0resilience, they will manifest and become a reality at the right time, despite how long it takes.\u00a0However, I also maintain a balance and accept that some things are not meant to happen and\u00a0let things go with a smile if I am unable to achieve them. I know that it is gone for a good reason,\u00a0and there are way better things out there for me.”<\/p>\n

\"\"
Courtesy of Zainab Al-Eqabi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You’ve achieved so much in your life. Can you pinpoint a moment in your career that<\/strong>\u00a0you are\u00a0most proud of?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Z.A.E: “I am super grateful for everything that I have achieved in my life. Recently, I became the Middle\u00a0East Brand Ambassador for Volkswagen. I had visualized and dreamed of a partnership with\u00a0Volkswagen for a couple of years as I love the brand and its values of moving people forward.\u00a0This partnership happened at the right time and in a much bigger format than I had\u00a0imagined! As a person who loves driving and feels at peace behind the wheel of a great\u00a0car\u00a0(with great music), which helps me to brainstorm great ideas and allows me to dream big, I\u00a0feel honoured to represent every person who loves driving, particularly women, through this\u00a0ambassadorship.”<\/p>\n

\"\"
Courtesy of Zainab Al-Eqabi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What advice do you have for\u00a0our readers who might be struggling with self-acceptance<\/strong>?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Z.A.E: “Be kind to yourself. We are all truly unique and of great value in our own ways, with\u00a0everything, we were born with. We have so much beauty, strength, power, knowledge and skills\u00a0to share and enjoy in this life. We all deserve to be appreciated. Never fall into the trap of\u00a0comparison, or accept other people or circumstances that make you feel worthless. Because\u00a0you are not worthless and will never be.”<\/p>\n

\"\"
Courtesy of Zainab Al-Eqabi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You’ve touched so many people in a positive way. Who is one person in your life that\u00a0has influenced you the most?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Z.A.E: “Every stage of my life was influenced differently. However, childhood and teenage years are the\u00a0foundation and most important stages that could influence one’s personality and mindset. I am\u00a0super grateful to have a very strong and supportive mother who made sure that I stay strong\u00a0and true to myself, no matter how harsh life could be. She is my superhero\u00a0who always made\u00a0my tears turn into a smile, encouraging me to achieve my goals and continuously reminding me\u00a0that everything happens for a good reason.”<\/p>\n

\"\"
Courtesy of Zainab Al-Eqabi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You’re known\u00a0for the phrase, “It’s all about your mindset.” What self-care practices do\u00a0you have that help you maintain your positive mindset?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Z.A.E: “A positive mindset is developed from a combination of practices and differs for everyone.\u00a0A great way to recharge your soul and mind with books, podcasts, thoughts or ideas that speak\u00a0to yu deeply and will give you strength and clarity to look at life from a much bigger perspective.\u00a0Being active, being in touch with mother nature, travelling when possible and getting to know\u00a0different cultures and, most importantly, spending quality time with myself and my loved ones\u00a0also help me maintain a positive mindset.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31230,"featured_media":34411,"template":"","format":"standard","categories":[260,35,4025],"yoast_head":"\nInterview With Inspirational Para-Athlete Zainab Al-Eqabi<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Inspirational Iraqi para-athlete Zainab Al-Eqabi shares advice on nurturing mental health and finding self-acceptance in our interview.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/zainab-al-eqabi-interview-inspirational-para-athlete\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\""I am a great believer in the power of attraction": Iraqi Para-Athlete Zainab Al-Eqabi On Her Career Highs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Inspirational Iraqi para-athlete Zainab Al-Eqabi shares advice on nurturing mental health and finding self-acceptance in our interview.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/zainab-al-eqabi-interview-inspirational-para-athlete\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Grazia Middle East\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-04-08T21:31:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2023\/04\/interview-with-inspirational-female-athletes-Zainab-Al-Eqabi.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/zainab-al-eqabi-interview-inspirational-para-athlete\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/zainab-al-eqabi-interview-inspirational-para-athlete\/\",\"name\":\"Interview With Inspirational Para-Athlete Zainab Al-Eqabi\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2023-04-08T10:23:36+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-04-08T21:31:50+00:00\",\"description\":\"Inspirational Iraqi para-athlete Zainab Al-Eqabi shares advice on nurturing mental health and finding self-acceptance in our interview.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/zainab-al-eqabi-interview-inspirational-para-athlete\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/zainab-al-eqabi-interview-inspirational-para-athlete\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/zainab-al-eqabi-interview-inspirational-para-athlete\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"“I am a great believer in the power of attraction”: Iraqi Para-Athlete Zainab Al-Eqabi On Her Career Highs\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/\",\"name\":\"Grazia Middle East\",\"description\":\"Grazia's Middle East Site\",\"alternateName\":\"Grazia ME\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Interview With Inspirational Para-Athlete Zainab Al-Eqabi","description":"Inspirational Iraqi para-athlete Zainab Al-Eqabi shares advice on nurturing mental health and finding self-acceptance in our interview.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/zainab-al-eqabi-interview-inspirational-para-athlete\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"\"I am a great believer in the power of attraction\": Iraqi Para-Athlete Zainab Al-Eqabi On Her Career Highs","og_description":"Inspirational Iraqi para-athlete Zainab Al-Eqabi shares advice on nurturing mental health and finding self-acceptance in our interview.","og_url":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/zainab-al-eqabi-interview-inspirational-para-athlete\/","og_site_name":"Grazia Middle East","article_modified_time":"2023-04-08T21:31:50+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1280,"height":720,"url":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2023\/04\/interview-with-inspirational-female-athletes-Zainab-Al-Eqabi.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/zainab-al-eqabi-interview-inspirational-para-athlete\/","url":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/zainab-al-eqabi-interview-inspirational-para-athlete\/","name":"Interview With Inspirational Para-Athlete Zainab Al-Eqabi","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/#website"},"datePublished":"2023-04-08T10:23:36+00:00","dateModified":"2023-04-08T21:31:50+00:00","description":"Inspirational Iraqi para-athlete Zainab Al-Eqabi shares advice on nurturing mental health and finding self-acceptance in our interview.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/zainab-al-eqabi-interview-inspirational-para-athlete\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/zainab-al-eqabi-interview-inspirational-para-athlete\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/zainab-al-eqabi-interview-inspirational-para-athlete\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"“I am a great believer in the power of attraction”: Iraqi Para-Athlete Zainab Al-Eqabi On Her Career Highs"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/#website","url":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/","name":"Grazia Middle East","description":"Grazia's Middle East Site","alternateName":"Grazia ME","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Grazia Middle East","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articles\/34410"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articles"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/articles"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31230"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}