Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Hughes.
Hi Hannah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When I was 21, I published my second book (Waking Up: Living Open). It’s all about my personal journey with things like eating disorders, depression, anxiety, suicide, and faith. In the years since then, I’ve also spoken out about my experience with sexual abuse. For years, I was scared of what people would think if I spoke up. I worried that my voice didn’t matter, that my story didn’t matter and that I didn’t matter. But now I know that when I embrace my story, it brings hope, healing, and purpose to the process; and when I share my story, it helps others do the same. That’s why I created By Words, an online community for women that’s all about faith-based personal development to help them discover their purpose and step into it with confidence. I also have a podcast by the same name where we get real and deep dive into things like mindset, goal-setting, burnout, relationships, and other topics that equip women for purposeful living.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road for me. I would consider myself still very much in the process, but I’ve come to prefer it that way. I love being able to share openly with women from right where I’m at, because “in the process” is where most (if not all) people are anyway. Especially as a work-from-home mom to a toddler and recovering perfectionist, I’ve learned to give myself grace, take time off to rest when I need it, and I’ve grown to accept when things don’t go the way I planned. I’ve learned to surrender the timeline and stop comparing my journey to others. I still have lots of dreams and goals I want to accomplish, but I’ve found that making space for myself to be present in the here-and-now always leads to more effective output – rather than pressuring myself to create or share something because “I’m supposed to,” to keep up with an algorithm, or out of the fear of “falling behind.”
I’ve learned it’s not a race. I’m not chasing anyone to my own finish line. This is my own story and I get to choose whether I’ll rush through it or enjoy the process along the way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My podcast, By Words, is all about equipping women for purposeful living. I love asking the hard questions and having conversations about taboo topics and issues that I wish were talked about more. I want to help women discover their purpose, create life-giving rhythms that support forward movement toward their dreams and goals, and overcome the fears and self-imposed pressures that so often hold us back. Although it’s a personal development podcast, what makes By Words different is that we opt for the opposite of hustle culture. When it comes to living out your dreams and purpose, I firmly believe that you don’t have to hurry, strive, or end up burnt out. It sounds backwards, but I believe that when you focus more on things like rest, health, and cultivating intentional community, your work is always more effective. It takes time to break out of the self-focused, hustle-applauded norm, but it’s my goal to help women see how worth it, it is!
I’m most proud to say that I definitely practice what I preach. What I share and teach is almost always coming from a place of my own experience and the journey I’m currently on as I learn to navigate these things through different seasons like marriage, motherhood, and loss. I talk more about these experiences in my two books, Waking Up: Living Open (found under my maiden’s name, Hannah Walton) and Love Is.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
You can find my books on my website: www.thehannahhughes.com
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@thehannahhughes.com
- Website: https://www.thehannahhughes.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehannahhughes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ByWordsTogether
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/hannahhughes
- Other: https://anchor.fm/bywords
Image Credits:
Hughes Photo Co.
Allison Faith Photography
Micki Moon Photo
Destynie Paige Photography
