Dr. Michelle R. Hannah of Belmont Shores on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Dr. Michelle R. Hannah and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Michelle R., thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me right now starts with a check-in—before anything else gets access to me. I take a moment to scan my body, my emotions, and my spirit, and I do it again before bed. It’s my way of staying honest about what I need, what I’m carrying, and what I’m being called to release.
From there, I begin with prayer and reflection—not as a routine, but as a realignment. I’m learning to listen before I leap.
And instead of letting the day plan my life, I plan my day around my check-in. If I’m strong, I build. If I’m tender, I restore. If I’m stretched, I simplify. I move with intention, not pressure.
Since overcoming cancer and a 6 week recovery from surgery-Three days out of the week are dedicated to purpose work—the kind of work that aligns with both my personal calling and my business mission. I’m clear about what’s allowed access to me, and I protect that access with boundaries, discernment, and grace.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dr. Michelle R. Hannah—Personal and Business Relationship Coach, best-selling author, and the founder of The Self Vows Collective. At the heart of my work is one mission: helping people build lives, love, and leadership that are rooted in self-honor, emotional intelligence, and healthy boundaries.
What makes my brand unique is that I don’t just teach “better relationships”—I teach relationship identity. The way you relate to yourself determines the access you give others, the standards you keep, and the life you ultimately create. That’s the foundation of my Self Vows framework, which has become a full series for all ages—from Littles to Teens to adults—because I believe self-leadership should start early and evolve for a lifetime.
Through MRH Academy, I also train and certify coaches and leaders who want to create real transformation—not surface-level motivation, but tools that shift how people think, communicate, and heal. And through Self Vows Business Intimacy, I support entrepreneurs and emerging leaders in building businesses with alignment, integrity, and relational strength.
Right now, I’m expanding this work through new programs, retreats, and my upcoming book, Access Denied, Access Granted, which explores boundaries as a spiritual and practical discipline—who and what gets access to your life, your peace, your purpose, and your future. My story—and my work—are deeply rooted in resilience, faith, and the belief that you can rebuild from anything and still become the most whole version of yourself.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that has served its purpose—and must now be released—is the version of me that poured into others from the depths of my soul, without leaving enough for myself.
That part of me helped countless people break through, break out, and step into deeper layers of purpose. I taught others how to stay present in joy, how to pursue happiness, how to rebuild their lives with intention. But in the process, I realized I wasn’t giving myself the same permission. I was guiding people toward happiness without ever pausing long enough to define what happiness truly means for me.
I rushed my own moments of joy—only to hurry back to nurturing joy for everyone else.
Now I understand: Access Denied isn’t harsh—it’s holy. It’s protection. It’s preservation. And Access Granted isn’t automatic—it’s preparation. It’s discernment. It’s the wisdom to know what—and who—has earned the right to enter my time, my energy, my peace, and my purpose.
This season is about releasing overextension and choosing reciprocity. It’s about letting my joy be mine—not something I borrow in between serving everyone else

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that has held me back the most has been the fear of experiencing the world by myself.
It’s been with me most of my life—and truthfully, it’s still there. The difference now is that I’m no longer letting fear lead. I’m meeting it with a mindset that feels like my life depends on it, because in many ways, my peace does.
I know there is more out there for me—more experiences, more expansion, more healing, more growth, and even relationships that I can only discover from a different perspective. And while most of us want someone to travel the journey with us, there comes a moment when that isn’t possible—and it becomes necessary to do what’s necessary for you.
This season isn’t about waiting on happiness anymore. It’s about creating an environment that can receive it. It’s choosing movement over hesitation, presence over postponement, and trusting that I can be safe, whole, and guided—even when I’m walking forward alone.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
I believe there have been seasons where the public version of me was very close to the real me—especially within my personal circle of love, where authenticity has always mattered to me.
But right now, I’m in a deeper season of evolution. I’m becoming more comfortable with my truth as it continues to grow and unfold. I’m learning that authenticity isn’t a fixed destination—it’s a living commitment to who you are and who you’re becoming.
In this season, my no’s are golden. They’re not walls—they’re wisdom. And my yes to me is the most authentic yes I’ve ever given, because it’s aligned with my healing, my boundaries, my purpose, and the woman I’m becoming—without apology.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What will you regret not doing? 
I’m changing the narrative around this question, because I don’t want my future to be shaped by regret—I want it to be shaped by intention and a beautiful reflection.
What I would never want to look back and realize is that I didn’t go where my soul has been calling me to go. That I didn’t travel to the places I truly desire to experience—places that expand me, soften me, and remind me how big the world is and how much life is still available.
I would never want to look back and feel that I missed the kind of love that is perfect for me—safe, full of laughter, romance, purpose, transparency, do-overs, standing power, and deep alignment. The kind of love grounded in spiritual intimacy with the Most High, where connection isn’t just chemistry—it’s covenant-level peace.
And I would never want to look back and realize I didn’t forgive more… didn’t love out loud in the places that mattered… or didn’t nurture the relationships that truly meant something to me.
So I’m choosing to live this now—not as a fear of regret, but as a beautiful reflection in progress. A life where I don’t wait to be brave, I practice it. A life where I don’t postpone joy, I make room for it. A life where love, purpose, and presence aren’t occasional moments—they’re the way I move forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: Theselfvows.com michellerhannah.com
• Instagram: Michelle_r_hannah @theselfvowsretreat
• Facebook: Theselfvowsretreat
• Youtube: @drmichellerhannah

Image Credits
Ashley Eberbach