Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Hughes.
Hannah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have always been passionate about dreaming big and helping others. I started writing when I was in high school and ended up self-publishing my first book (Love Is*) in 2014 when I was 19. Two years later, I wrote and published a second book (Waking Up: Living Open*) about my story, things I’ve learned from my experiences, and how other people can start to see the beauty and purpose in their own story.
I was shocked by the overwhelming response of, “Me too!” When I realized how many others were going through the same things as me, it fueled me to continue sharing about my life and process in hopes that others would know they aren’t the only ones. I primarily share these things through social media because I love connecting with others in that space.
Now, I am a life coach. I partner with people in their own stories, encouraging them as they discover just how capable they are, and empowering them to take steps toward achieving their dreams.
*My books are under my maiden name, Hannah Walton, and can be found on Amazon.com.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has definitely been a bumpy road. Especially in the beginning, I worried that because of my age, people wouldn’t take me seriously when I started writing and sharing my story publicly. I let fear hold me back for a long time. I doubted myself along the way, but I was fortunate to be surrounded by amazing people who saw my potential and didn’t let me give up.
To any young woman who’s dreaming larger than life, I would say, you are capable! There’s a reason you’re dreaming that dream. No one else could ever bring it to life the way that you can. Don’t wait for someone else’s approval to start moving. Don’t let feeling unqualified keep you from trying. It may not look like anyone else’s process, but that’s what makes your story so amazing – it’s YOURS. As soon as you start believing in yourself and taking steps, you’ll see how capable you are and wish you’d started sooner!
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a life coach. I know not everyone knows what coaching is, but I basically partner with people to help them discover their passions and purpose, set goals, and take steps toward achieving their dreams. It’s the most fun job in the world seeing people light up as the realize they already have all that they need inside of them! (I just help them dig a little to find it.)
Besides my age in regard to pursuing writing and coaching, I think what sets me apart is the fact that I’m not afraid to show the world that I don’t have it all together. I think people can sometimes assume that life coaches have all the answers, or have it all figured out, but the beauty is that I’m in the thick of it just as much as any of my clients.
I’m not afraid of sharing those every day, real-life moments with my followers because it keeps us human and reminds us that EVERY step of the journey is a meaningful part of the process, not just the “arrival.”
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
I think the biggest barriers today are the ones we place on ourselves. As women, we tend to hold ourselves to incredibly high standards with good intentions, but sometimes they’re standards and pressures no one else may ever place on us. We can be overly critical of ourselves, comparing ourselves and our timelines to the people around us, which can hold us back instead of fuel us forward.
Once we take the pressure off, start believing that we are capable, and trusting that another woman’s success doesn’t diminish our own, we’ll be unstoppable!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thehannahhughes.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/thehannahhughes
Image Credit:
Hope Gray, Hannah Wermich, Destynie Plotke
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