In honour of National Mental Health Month this October.
With a deep interest in meditation and self study, Sydney model and writer Hannah McDougall chats to us about her journey to self, relationship with mental health and favourite self-care rituals.
Tell us a little bit about your journey to self.
I will say that my journey (or return) to self commenced at a very young age when I began to observe and question the aspects that my existence was comprised of. Naturally this journey began in the family dynamic, my first immediate experience of what a relationship was and then extended outward to the relationship of all things, and in doing so, this of course deepened and enriched my understanding and relationship to self.
Upon completing high school, a career in the fashion industry as a model began to unfold, and this again, by way of its stark emphasis on the physical self, provided an environment and the conditions to further inquire into who and what the self is.
What does self-exploration mean to you and how does your writing serve as a tool for deepening this exploration?
Self-exploration to me is a process of deep inquiry. A process, that if undertaken with the discipline I believe it is owed, is forever unfolding, moment-to-moment. With an unwavering focus and attention, all manner of things are revealed that would otherwise be overlooked. From this place of clarity and insight, we begin to understand what causes our experiences, and what causes us to have the same experiences repetitiously despite our desire for change.
Writing has always held a firm place in my experience. As a young girl I was always writing, and as a result, developed an understanding into the function of my own mind. Writing is a medium, that for me personally, seems to lend itself to a deep form of self-expression, and that expression of self is certainly something to be valued, nurtured and encouraged in all of us.
What is your relationship with self-exploration and mental health?
It would seem that the relationship between self-exploration and mental health is one of degree. From my observations, I would say that the greater the experience of mental health (or mental dis-ease – anxiety, depression, etc), the lesser the undertaking of self-exploration. The opposite could also be said, the greater the degree of self-exploration, the lesser the experience of mental health (given that what is discovered and understood through self exploration is integrated).
The conditions of the global pandemic have certainly served to highlight the prevalence of mental health, or the need to attend to this cornerstone of our experience. Which of course, we have always needed to attend to, but it seems we often fail to act until we are left with no other choice, the discomfort is too great to ignore.
What does mental health mean for you?
Using the mind, engaging it as and when required, rather than the mind using me. A learning that was made particularly clear to me through working with Mr Woolf, a Sydney-based Mind Trainer whose programs surpass any other that I have come across in my exploration and research, and certainly a leader in the field of wellness who I would recommend to anyone interested in developing a deeper understanding of the mind and the tools required for personal transformation, and consequently, anyone interested in playing a role in social and cultural change.
In your opinion, what can we do to continue the conversation of mental health and release any shame surrounding it?
Perhaps we can begin by acknowledging that shame exists within the collective and we will have experiences that provoke this emotional state until we address the root cause. I suppose release, or letting go, are the key words here. Conversation should be focused on the tools required to understand the mind and emotions, as well as highlighting the correlation between our state of being and our individual and collective experiences.
What steps do you take to look after your mind, body and spirit?
My formula is rather simple – journaling, meditation and yoga. These are the three pillars of my morning routine. Beyond that, I eat a clean, wholesome diet, spend time in nature, and surround myself with people and experiences that are supportive of wellbeing, as well as those experiences that deepen my connection to and understanding of the self.
Meditation to me really is the foundation of self-care. Once you have connected to yourself, thus strengthening the connection to the intuition, whatever the body requires at any given time for maintenance and care is made clear. Self care rituals are then directed less by external influence, but rather derived from within; a truly sustainable form of self-care and ritual.
As part of Mental Health Awareness Month Hannah will visit the studio to experience a Super Session with DNA Emotional Practitioner Leanne Magoulias & Chiropractor Dr. Evan Sgammotta. Stay tuned as Hannah writes about her experience and the impact is has on her mental and emotional health.
Follow our Instagram to be kept up to date with all of our other offerings for Mental Health Month including a Meditation Course, a complimentary Move & Meditate class and much more.