Exclusive interview with Hannah TAN, singer-songwriter, actress, model and television personality
Today, I want to share with you this exclusive interview with Hannah Tan, a Malaysian singer-songwriter, actress, model and television personality.
Sometimes in life, you are lucky enough to come across someone who transforms your life for the better. Hannah was definitely that for me, and I am truly grateful for her inspiration, motivation and support since she came into my life 3 years ago.
Hannah is, in her own words, an introvert & high-school dropout who never gave up.
Over the last two decades, she has not only battled with lack of self-esteem, depression & suicide, but also with failed business partnerships, debt, wrong investment decisions & a host of health issues. But, Hannah is a fighter, survivor and workaholic and believes that affliction is often that thing which prepares an ordinary person for some sort of an extraordinary destiny.
I am delighted to share Hannah’s inspirational story with you as well as her hopes for the future and her advice for never giving up!
Exclusive interview with Hannah Tan
“Sure, God always gives His hardest battles to His toughest soldiers. It’s just that sometimes we wish He didn’t trust us so much – I know. Lol! Don’t give up. You’re not alone and the best is only yet to come.”
Hannah, over the last two decades, you have had near death experiences, health issues, suffered with depression and lack of self esteem. How do you think these experiences shaped your identity and your approach to life?
“We mature with damage, not with age.”
I used to wonder how luck chose its recipients. And why it always seemed that others had it better. Or was I just plain unlucky? Was I being punished?
When a precious fragile object like a bowl or teapot falls and breaks, we typically discard them with regret. In Japan, they are artistically mended with liquid gold/silver, celebrating each piece’s unique history by emphasizing its flaws rather than hiding them, which often makes the repaired piece even more beautiful than the original.
That’s the art of kintsugi (picture below).
So many strong elegant women I know, began as a broken girl. I’ve personally been broken—emotionally, physically, mentally; again and again. Nevertheless, that gave me countless stories to tell, and more importantly, the opportunity and credibility to speak into the lives of so many young women who would in turn, impact their world through their own unique journey of growth.
If you’re reading this, and you’re in a place of pain or brokenness, I just want to remind you that being a good person does not automatically exempt us from life challenges, the same way being in a great relationship or having the perfect job doesn’t guarantee happiness.
In fact, the illusion of perfection is what eventually hurts us more. Because as humans, we are all flawed. We are all work in progress.
Having joy in adversity is possible when we choose to “count it all joy”, which is not an emotional reaction, but a deliberate intelligent appraisal of the circumstance, from a larger-than-life perspective, viewing challenges as hidden opportunities for growth.
I want to encourage you to not allow pain or discomfort, or even regret, to cripple your growth and rob your future. Because, we all have the power to say, “This is NOT how my story will end.”
Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I choose to try again tomorrow.”
What or Who do you think was your greatest inspiration in your journey to healing?
In a book by Dr. David Jeremiah, a story is told of a shipwreck survivor who washed up on a deserted island. After he had been there a few days, he built himself a hut and prayed to God for rescue. Each day he anxiously looked out over the horizon as he waited for God’s deliverance in the form of a passing ship.
One day, after returning from a hunt for food, he discovered that his hut had been consumed in flames.
He was devastated and believed it to be the worst thing that could have happened to him on the island; everything he had was gone.
The next day, however, a ship arrived and the captain said, “We saw your smoke signal.”
Sometimes, when it seems our whole world is crumbling, it is difficult to believe that God is at work on our behalf. But just when we think all is lost, God unfolds His plan and teaches us that He had it under control the whole time.
It then dawned upon me that—the most painful character-building seasons give birth to life-changing stories that are unique to us, and only us. What that means, is that nobody can steal our story.
More importantly, these are stories we earn—by being willing and accountable for the value they hold.
So if you’re fortunate enough to be in a position of pain or discomfort, I want to encourage you to cherish the journey and remember—that growth and healing take time. Trying to shortcut the process will only make your success premature.
Meantime, don’t forget to journal your progress. May this be the juiciest story you’ll live to tell. You got this! 🙂
You founded “Hannah Today” and your Instagram account @hannahonline with the mission to #makeadifference, and create a space filled with encouragement, unconditional love-giving and fuel for continuous growth.
Can you tell us what inspired you to create this “space” and how this has evolved over the years?
These platforms were initially an extension of the work I was doing in the creative industry over the last 2 decades—in a very static one-dimensional way. There was nothing exciting about them, until the account on Instagram eventually grew into a virtual home—to a community comprising of some of the biggest and most beautiful hearts around the globe (like yours, Julia! 🙂 ). It became a space where some of the nicest people, would come together once a week, to encourage one another and show love in a way they best knew how—be it with an emoticon, a simple comment, or an exchange of their own unique stories.
Today’s, it’s an #OnlineFamily. I can’t take any credit for it, because it was nurtured purely on the foundation of unconditional love, support and encouragement from all the generous and inspiring hearts in the space.
Can you share a couple of your favourite quotes with us today, and tell us why these are so special to you?
“Today you could be standing next to someone who is trying their best not to fall apart. So whatever you do today, do it with kindness in your heart.”
I’ve been on the fragile side—of falling apart and breaking into pieces—so many times. But I have also personally experienced the power of what may seem as the simplest and most random act of kindness from a stranger—I’m talking about people who give way in traffic jams, hold doors and show common courtesy in public spaces—they remind me that there is still hope in humanity.
Kindness goes a long way. They say, “grace” is God’s love in action. Someday, someone will come up to you and say, “Because of you, I didn’t give up.”
“Practise makes permanent.”
This applied to everything I was working on—whether it was an effort to be less reactive and not allowing my emotions to overpower my so-called intelligence in the most heated circumstances, or learning to be consistent with a new discipline/habit.
I learnt that it’s not about instantly getting it 100% right, but choosing to do better than the day before.
You host a “virtual hug party” every Thursday at 9pm Singapore time. Can you tell us a little more about this?
K.J. Ramsey
“People who are suffering don’t need fixing. They need your presence.”
Hugs don’t solve problems, but it reminds us that we can be loved and accepted no matter how inadequate we may feel at times. Besides, I love the quote that read, “God invented hugs so we could let people know we love them without saying anything.”❤
The virtual hug parties are our Instagram #OnlineFamily virtual get-together.
The beautiful thing about this #OnlineFamily is that while we’re all so wounded, broken and scarred in one way or another, most still choose to #thinkOthers and live a purpose-driven life that says “This is NOT how my story will end.” And that’s what holds us together as a family.
We usually have conversation starters in the post caption. But really, it’s like an event where you meet new people, connect, share your stories and encourage one another in the process.
And if you’re not sure what to say (which is typically the case for me, as an Introvert, in social environments), you can just respond to as many random comments with a ❤(virtual hug) and let the interactions flow from there. No stress! Lol.
What have been the most influential books, podcasts, or other resources in your life?
-The Talent Code: Greatness isn’t born, it’s grown (Daniel Coyle)
-The Ultramind Solution: Fix your broken brain by healing your body first (Dr. Mark Hyman)
-The Prodigal God (Timothy Keller)
This series is all about representing and empowering dynamic women everywhere; can you recall a particular moment in the last year that influenced your growth and evolution as a woman?
I was at a point where I felt I had nothing left to lose. It was when I saw this quote:
“If you feel like you’ve lost everything, remember that trees lose their leaves every year, and they still stand tall and wait for better days to come.”
I was reminded by something a wise woman once said—that the tiny seed knew that in order to grow, it needed to be buried in dirt, covered in darkness, broken at the core, and struggle to reach the light. The greatest oak was once a little nut who never gave up.
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of our lives today.
Can you tell us what are the biggest challenges you are facing as a woman in business during this pandemic? And how are you overcoming them?
2020 was in interesting year indeed. I felt like I was firefighting most of the time—on all levels. It was also a year which taught me the most valuable lessons in dealing with physical pain, loss (loved ones, income, resources, health), and constant uncertainty.
Nevertheless, it was in the most difficult days of 2020, going through my daily “I’m so thankful for” list, that I finally realised that happiness (or “success” as some would term it) was about wanting what we already have—not quantifiable by any other standards except our own. When we’re thankful for what we have, we will always end up having more. If we concentrate on what we don’t have, we will never ever have enough.
During the global lockdown, it became evident to me that I had everything I needed—a place to call home, I wasn’t hungry, I had clean water, Wi-Fi, and so many other things to be grateful for. Instead of focusing on the things I may have lost along the way, I learnt to focus on the things I still had/managed to retain.
Going through my “I’m so thankful for” list each morning makes me the happiest person, from the very start of the day. And that stayed true, regardless of how the day went.
More importantly, it fuelled me to power through the extra-difficult days.
This joy is my strength. And being able to live each day this way, to me, is the true success. I used to admire people with luxuries. Now I admire people with inner peace and an unquenchable joy. It’s contagious!
“Not all storms come to disrupt our life. Some come to clear our path.”
Can you share your strategies about how to stay sane and serene during this difficult period?
I remember being diagnosed with chronic pharyngitis (inflammation of the pharynx) right after signing a Japan-based recording/singing contract a decade ago. I was at the ENT specialist, viewing tube through my nose down the throat, being told by the doctor that mine looked like that of a heavy smoker. The irony was that I wasn’t even a smoker.
To manage the high chance of total voice lost, the doctor immediately ordered an extended voice rest (ie. silence; perfect for introverts like me, lol).
As you can imagine I had a field day explaining this to my Japanese boss.
That visit to the hospital gave me closure. I finally had an answer to the perpetual sore throat I experienced throughout the many years prior. Most mornings the pain would be so intense, that it hurt to even open my mouth. The discomfort intensifies with use (talking, etc), elevated stress levels and the lack of sleep, so I’ve learnt that it’s okay to listen more, talk less (hubs does most of the talking anyway!), croak instead of sing, and accept the forced opportunity to work a little smarter.
I’ve learnt that—pandemic or no pandemic—difficult circumstances are constant and inevitable. Life will never be perfect. But we can always make it work if we learn to be accountable with the now, take it 1 day at a time, keep things simple/sustainable, and cultivate a posture of gratitude.
In the midst of a crisis, I fall back on these 3 processes:
1) Quantify/Organize the mess (put it on paper—because problems are always more severe in our heads. Besides, we can’t manage what we don’t first organize)
2) What is this trying to teach me/what can I learn from this? (Journal for reference on days when my emotions tend to overpower my intelligence, or when self-pity gets a peek)
3) Deliberately go through/continuously expand on my “I’m so thankful for”list, especially during the lowest moments of my day. This is something I do a couple of times a day, some days more often than others.
I also keep a playlist of “pick-me-up” songs—and make an effort to sing/hum (even when I don’t feel like it). It helps!
I read somewhere that our body immediately releases endorphins when we smile, even when we force it. So, smile, and remind ourselves, that someone else is always happy and doing more, with less than what we have. Our greatest lack can always be our greatest asset.
When I make it a daily habit to disrupt anxiety with gratefulness, joy comes naturally. And it gets better with practise—“Practise makes permanent.” 🙂
What has been the biggest challenge/ hurdle you have faced so far?
Dealing with personal pride and the lack of discipline. Lol. I’m still evidently a work-in-progress. Lol.
What has been your biggest milestone / achievement so far ?
Owning up to the fact that I screwed up in so many ways in the past; and being able to talk about it without reservation. More importantly, learning to detach—from things of the past (from both the failures and the so-called “successes”), which I previously allowed to define myself, and dictate my disposition.
At one stage it was money and financial security. I was working 18-22 hours a day, chasing the elusive “financial freedom.” Loosing everything in a string of bad investment decisions coupled with the poor choice of business partnerships not only spiralled me into a hole of depression, but a host of other health issues.
At another point, it was relationship—Chasing an illusion of the perfect relationship. Only to send me down the same hole of depression, questioning my life-worth. I ended up having to spend almost a decade learning the true meaning of forgiveness and healing, and what it meant to forgive completely; to let go and move on without any remnant or trace of resentment and bitterness (which is toxic to our personal growth).
Then the advent of social media taught me what it meant to eventually detach from the need of social validation. Heading into 2020, I learnt to re-anchor myself—on things of eternal value, rather than the temporary things that are here today, and gone the next day.
I decided that I wanted to live a life that, if I took my last breath tonight, I would be able to do it with a big smile on my facing, saying, “It is finished”, knowing my future in eternity is secured, and that I had exhausted every single resource entrusted to me in this life.
What do you want to be known for in your life and career?
As someone who truly cared. 🙂
What are your aspirations for the future? Where would you like to see yourself 5 years from now and are there any imminent plans that you’d like to share?
I’m at a crossroad right now, but am taking it one day at a time, and learning to praise God with every new day—rain or shine. 🙂
What words of advice do you have for any women who are feeling a little “lost” or in need of advice to get through the tough times ?
I pray you will heal from things no one ever apologised for. Remember that you have permission to rest. You are not responsible for fixing everything that is broken and you don’t have to try and make everyone happy.
Take it 24-hrs at a time. Meantime, remember that sometimes, we don’t get what we want—not because we don’t deserve it, but because we deserve something better. Trust the process and learn to lean on God.
And to the ambitious ones, you deserve peace, too. Love you Superbabes. 🙂
You can find Hannah here, and follow her on Instagram (@hannahonline), and have a look here for more of our inspiring women features.
What an inspiring woman! Thanks for the interview 🙂
have an amazing sunday,
Tiziana
http://www.tizianaolbrich.de
So glad you enjoyed the interview Tiziana 🙂
What an inspiring woman! so many great quotes in this interview and it’s great that she hasn’t let any downfalls hold her back and she is still making a difference in the world 🙂
Hope your week is going well 🙂
Thanks Mica! I agree that it’s great that she retains her positivity and is making a difference in the world! Hope your week is going well too 🙂
What a beautiful and honest feature! I love Hannah’s brave story!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
So glad you enjoyed the feature Ashley x
Fantastic interview ❤
Thanks Kinga x
This interview is so inspiring. So glad I came across it today.
Have an amazing weekend.
http://www.fashionradi.com
Thanks Radi! I’m so glad you found the interview inspiring xo
She is such an amazing person. I enjoy reading this interview so much and I like her life philosophy.
http://www.exclusivebeautydiary.com
So glad you enjoyed the interview! I love Hannah’s life philosophy too 🙂
What a great interview. Hannah is so empowering and inspiring. I love reading her story and journey. And I just teared up reading her story especially the part about being kind to those around you because you never know if they are on the brink of falling apart. That hits home for me.
Maureen
Thank you Maureen. I totally agree, and the quote about trees losing their leaves really hit home for me too x
What a wonderful interview, so many things she mentioned I can relate to. Thanks so much for sharing. <3 x/Madison
Thank you Madison. I can relate to so much of what she says too xo
Hannah sounds like an amazing woman! I would love to get a kintsugi bowl by the way. Thank you for sharing her inspiring story.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
So glad you enjoyed Hannah’s inspiring story, Kathrine. And I agree the kintsugi bowl is beautiful! I hope you had a wonderful birthday party this weekend x
I really enjoyed this interview! Hannah is an amazing woman and so inspiring! I love her positivity and outlook!
Jill – Doused in Pink
So glad you enjoyed the interview, Jill, and I love Hannah’s positivity and outlook too! x
This was an interesting read! Hannah sounds amazing and I like the idea of the virtual hug party!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Thanks Lovely. I’m so glad you found it interesting, and I love Hannah’s virtual hugs parties! They really are a source of positivity on social media xo
Dearest Julia, thank you so much for being such a ray of sunshine and positivity in this space. It’s such an honour to meet such a beautiful person, inside out, and I will cherish all the meaningful conversations we’ve had on IG over the years. Keep up the good work and keep inspiring at your end my Queen. Love you. Biggest hugs!❤️
Dearest Hannah, it was such an honour and a pleasure to interview you for my blog, and I, too, will cherish all the meaningful conversations we’ve had on IG over the years. I am so grateful for your support, positivity and inspiration! Biggest hugs from France xx
Gosh, these are stories we need to hear more often!! We aren’t really broken, but learning to live with our experiences!!
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Yes, I love how Hannah phrases things so that they are more positive! I love so many of her quotes too, she always inspires me! xoxo
Hannah is so inspiring. I follow her on IG. Thank you for sharing this interview.
Nina
http://www.stylingwithnina.com
So glad you enjoyed the interview Nina! I follow her on IG too !
Julia,
This is one of the best post I have read. Great interview and I love the transformed quote “practice makes permanent”. Hannah has come a long way indeed, and you are interviewing her is the best thing you could do for women who are struggling across the globe. Thanks
I’m so glad you enjoyed the interview, Hasin. Hannah has indeed come a long way and has always retained her positivity. I think she is definitely making a difference in a lot of lives and I hope that this interview will help women who are struggling. xo
This is so inspiring…thanks for sharing dear 🙂
Beauty and Fashion/Rampdiary/Glamansion
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post! Hannah is so inspiring and motivating 🙂
Wow that is crazy she had near death experiences. She is inspiring. Thanks for sharing this!
She is so inspiring Rach, and always so full of positivity! 🙂