The Other Side of Success episode 008
From Abandonment to Empowerment: Hannah Sward's Journey of Resilience
Hannah Sward's life story is marked by profound struggles, beginning with her abandonment by her mother at a young age. This early trauma instilled in her a sense of unworthiness and rejection. The emotional scars from her childhood were compounded by a series of harrowing experiences, including being kidnapped and abused at the age of six. These events contributed to a deep-seated feeling of isolation and a longing for connection, which Hannah grappled with throughout her life.
Through early adulthood, Hannah's choices reflected her internal struggles. She turned to sex work and substance abuse as coping mechanisms. This period of her life was characterized by a disconnection from her body and a desperate attempt to find validation and escape from her pain. The use of drugs and the pursuit of external validation only deepened her feelings of self-hatred and abandonment.
"From the earliest age I can remember, I felt like I didn't have a right to exist."
As shared in her deeply moving book, Strip: A Memoir, Hannah's journey took a pivotal turn in her thirties when she decided to confront her past and seek healing. The act of surrender became a crucial element in her recovery. Hannah described this surrender as a moment of desperation, where she recognized that she could no longer continue living in the same destructive patterns. It was through therapy, community support, and a commitment to recovery that she began to reclaim her voice and sense of self.
Hannah's story emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance in the healing process. By acknowledging her past and the role she played in her own life, she was able to break free from the cycle of resentment and anger that had held her captive.
This journey of self-acceptance allowed her to transform her narrative from one of victimhood to one of empowerment. Every step of the way, Hannah's ability to turn setbacks into stepping stones reflects a profound understanding that success is not merely the absence of failure but rather the ability to rise above it.
HANNAH SWARD
Hannah Sward is the IPPY Gold winning author of, STRIP: A MEMOIR. Her most recent work can be read in the LA Times, HuffPost, NY Times (Tiny Love Stories) and The Rumpus.
Hannah lives in Los Angeles where she is working on her next book.
IG: @hannahswardauthor
Website: hannahsward.com
"The Other Side of Success," is a limited-run series brought to you by LIVE BETTER Media, and hosted by Ella Lucas-Averett.
We expose the hidden side of success. You'll hear from successful people that every failure you survive is a lesson - and that the resilience that failures creates is required to be truly successful.
We’re extracting the insights and resilience gained from these experiences - because behind every success story, there's a tale of epic failure waiting to be told!
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