Ella Mills: finding purpose and putting mental health first
Jan 25, 2023
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Ella Mills, entrepreneur, discusses her journey from debilitating health condition to founding Deliciously Ella, challenges with mental health, finding purpose, and tools for well-being. Topics include navigating mental health, looking at diet for health improvement, the impact of sharing plant-based cooking online, finding personal identity, and daily non-negotiables for physical and mental health.
Wellness is an ongoing journey that requires consistent effort and daily self-care practices.
The importance of addressing mental health and prioritizing self-care amidst hectic schedules and external demands.
Having a supportive network can be a significant driving force in pursuing personal goals and finding a sense of purpose.
Deep dives
The Journey of Finding Wellness and Happiness
The podcast host, Ella, reflects on her journey towards wellness and happiness. She discusses the contradictory and confusing nature of the wellness industry and the need for reframing wellness as true healing. Ella emphasizes the importance of addressing struggles and embracing conversations about mental and physical health. She advocates for simple tools that can lead to a healthier and happier life in the long term. Ella's own experiences with illness, postpartum anxiety, and personal growth have shaped her understanding of wellness and the significance of self-care.
Discovering the Power of Mindfulness and Meditation
During the lockdown, Ella participated in a mindfulness-based stress reduction course and incorporated regular meditation into her daily routine. This practice had a profound impact on her well-being and mental state, leading to personal transformation. Ella highlights the importance of focusing on mental wellness as an integral part of overall health. She acknowledges the need to prioritize self-care and recognizes the power of small actions, such as incorporating meditation, to bring about significant positive changes.
The Continuous Journey and Evolving Nature of Wellness
Ella emphasizes that wellness is not a destination but an ongoing journey. She talks about the importance of regularly reassessing and exploring different facets of well-being. Ella discusses her recent experience of seeking therapy and emotional work to address unresolved issues from her childhood. She acknowledges the power individuals have in taking responsibility for their own well-being and the need to prioritize mental health even amidst hectic schedules and external demands. Ella concludes by highlighting that true happiness and sustainable wellness require consistent effort and the cultivation of daily self-care practices.
Importance of Supportive Relationships
Having someone who supports and believes in you can be a significant driving force in pursuing your goals. In the podcast, the speaker shares how their mother and a close friend played crucial roles in their journey. The speaker's mother provided unwavering support, trying the food they prepared and encouraging them, even during challenging moments. Meanwhile, a friend suggested turning the experience into a blog, setting up a website, and contributing to the success of their venture. These supportive relationships provided the speaker with the confidence and motivation to continue their journey.
Mindset and Empowerment through Cooking
The podcast episode emphasizes the impact of mindset on both mental and physical health. The speaker highlights the importance of finding a sense of purpose and focus, particularly through cooking. Initially, the speaker's first recipe did not alleviate their physical symptoms, but it gave them a sense of empowerment and a belief that they were doing something positive for themselves. This mindset of taking control and making healthy choices had a ripple effect, positively affecting their overall well-being. The episode underscores the connection between mind and body, stressing the transformative power of simple actions and a positive mindset.
Welcome to Wellness with Ella, the next evolution of the Deliciously Ella podcast, where entrepreneur Ella Mills and her guests share their stories of personal transformation through the lens of vulnerability. How did they get to where they are today? What were the biggest challenges her guests have faced? What wellness practices and habits really moved the needle for them? How do they keep moving forward?
To launch the new season, Ella is interviewed by Deliciously Ella’s Digital Director, Charlotte Clark, to unpack her own journey from a debilitating health condition in her early 20s to founding Deliciously Ella, her challenges with mental health, finding purpose, and why it took her 30 years to find happiness; as well as the hurdles and setbacks along the way and the tools Ella swears by to feel her best.
They discuss:
Ella’s experience suffering from a debilitating health condition in her early 20s
Navigating mental health alongside physical health challenges
Ella’s catalyst moment for looking at diet to improve her health
How sharing her journey with plant-based cooking online changed Ella’s life
Figuring out who you are whilst being in the spotlight
Accepting that life isn’t linear
Taking responsibility for your own health & happiness
Ella’s daily-ish non-negotiables to support her physical and mental health