We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hannah Pollack. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hannah below.
Hannah, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
My ability to take risks has developed over time. As someone who naturally seeks the “edge” in life, I’ve often walked towards challenges with the mentality of, “I wonder what’s on the other side of this”. Life has inherent risks, and ones that we normalize (like driving your car or riding your bike), so why not seek opportunities that personally excite us? Fear and excitement illicit similar feelings in the body, and I believe we do a disservice to ourselves if we continue to shy away from the edge of our comfort zones. Why not move towards what excites me? Innately, we [humans] are hardwired for safety and predictability, but the beauty of being human is that we get to make the conscious choice to expand our capacity to experience more life through the risks we take. I understand risks on a spectrum, from small risks like offering to purchase coffee for a stranger, to bigger risks like asking for what you need from a romantic partner, or taking the leap to establish a new career. There’s so much variance in how we can expand our lives through risk, but I believe that’s what life is all about: bravely stepping out of your “known” to experience more of life!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
On paper, I’m a certified death doula, certified yoga instructor and Reiki master, but all of these are simply facets of my whole self. What I offer is a blend of all of the above, such as grief-focused restorative yoga classes and grief facilitation – a unique space that allows participants to access emotions in their bodies before verbally processing them among others, if they choose to share. I’m excited to continue to facilitate educational and kinesthetic experiences for those who have been close to, or are curious about death, dying or grief, in addition to working hands-on with patients at end of life. I see potential to use death as life’s informant, regardless if death is imminent or a consideration for those who are fully alive and wanting to connect to a deeper purpose in life. In essence, my work emerges from allowing death/our temporary time on this earth to be one of our greatest guides towards living a life (and death) that’s deeply authentic.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Intention, consistency and willingness to learn/be wrong. I believe that everything we do in life is intentional, even if what we are doing isn’t ideal. I’ve learned that getting to the root of my actions is essential to know what’s driving me. Then, being blatantly (and lovingly) honest with myself if the intentions driving me are helpful, hurtful or needing more time to get clear. It’s an ever-evolving process of extracting what’s essential and authentic to my life at that point in time, and using intention to move with it. As far as consistency goes, I gave it little credit for a long time because it exhausted me. I perceived consistency as massive, enduring life changes that came with impenetrable motivation on a daily basis. Which, in reality, consistency is small, sometimes imperceptible choices we make daily in the direction of our goal, desire, mindset shift or outcome. Bite sized is better when it comes to consistency, and celebrating the little wins along the way! Lastly, and perhaps the most challenging is the willingness to maintain a beginner’s mindset. Inevitably when we begin to push our boundaries, develop new qualities, skills and areas of knowledge, there will be a lot that’s unknown. Surrendering the need to be perfect or correct at every turn has been one of the hardest and most humbling aspects of my growth journey. However, it is so essential because the truth is: you/I don’t have to carry to weight of the world of all knowingness. There is so much beauty in leaning into to right people who will cheer you on as you aim to grow.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
Seeing me for me. For a long time I was unaware of how divisive my life was because I was in a constant state of putting other people, activities, habits and behaviors before me. When I was alone, I felt lost, but when in the company of others, I was overwhelmed because I didn’t have a true sense of how I moved purely as me. I got really good at becoming a chameleon, ie: blending into my surroundings because I was liked for what I perceived others would like, not because I was being authentically myself. As a result I would self-isolate, think about others, and how I could “do/be perceived better”, but at the same time I would resent my excessive consideration because I felt stretched and off-center. In other words, I was in consistent state of seeking external validation when what I really needed was to get to know myself. As I considered this, I made drastic changes such as leaving a disproportionate relationship, removing alcohol and moving into my own place (and then some). Through these significant shifts, I started from scratch very deliberately. I’m not saying that massive life changes are required to remember who the f*ck you are, but the hard reset cleared the debris of unaligned ways that I was living. Is there still work to be done? Absolutely. But, my improvement has taken great strides through little, daily reminders to come back to myself and trust myself. Everything else will fall into place.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.deathdoulahannah.com/
- Instagram: deathdoulahannah
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-pollack-05a41664/
Image Credits
Chloe Ekberg
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