WELLNESS IN MOTION

WELLNESS IN MOTION
'Why Mental Health Is a Daily Practice, Not a Destination'
Exclusive Interview with Kevin Hines
Conducted by Erin Macauley

In his new book, The Art of Wellness; How to Find, Live and Stay Mentally Fit, Kevin Hines goes deeply into himself to pour out the lessons he has learned along the way of his own mental health journey. Backed by scientific evidence, this is a book you can refer back to again and again after you have read it. The pages are filled with actionable things you can do all in the name of wellness, and he even got me started on my own path to wellness. Here we discuss this incredible book with Kevin and find out more about it.

ERIN: Kevin, thank you so much for talking with me today about your new book, which I absolutely loved. Where did you get the idea to make it a book you could return to again and again to reference and reinforce different wellness strategies? 

KEVIN: Thank you, Erin, that means the world. I wanted this book to be more than just a read; I wanted it to be a living, breathing companion. My wellness has never been a “one-and-done” deal. It has been a daily, moment-by-moment practice of trial, error, falling down, and choosing to rise again. So I thought, what if I could give people a toolbox they could carry with them, something they could open up when life felt unbearable, when their brain felt heavy, or even when they just needed a spark to keep going? That is why it is written to be revisited, not shelved. Wellness is never finished. It is a lifelong journey, and I wanted the book to walk with people through every stage of it.

ERIN: What I loved about the book was how deeply personal it was as you list everything that has helped you remain well. Was it ever confronting being this open? 

KEVIN: Absolutely. It was confronting, it was raw, and at times it felt like ripping open old wounds. But I believe vulnerability is our superpower. When we speak the unfiltered truth about our struggles, we cut through discrimination and we give others permission to do the same. I  don’t subscribe to this idea of mental health stigma. I  believe people who have brain health issues aka mental illness are discriminated against and we need stronger language to call it what it really is. Yes, it was difficult, but I refuse to live in silence. Silence almost killed me once. Openness saves me every day. If sharing my story makes even one person feel less alone, then every ounce of discomfort was worth it.

ERIN: The practices are so simple to put into your daily life, such as exercise and journaling - what would you say to someone who isn’t in the right headspace to do these things? What steps can they take for their own wellness journey to commence? 

​KEVIN: I would tell them to start with the smallest possible step. You do not have to run a marathon. You do not have to write ten pages. Start with a breath. Start with one glass of water. Start with opening the blinds to let the sunlight in. Those tiny, seemingly insignificant choices compound over time and become momentum. If you are not in the headspace, honor that and do not shame yourself. But also remember: the smallest action you take in the right direction could be the very thing that helps shift your headspace tomorrow. Little steps save lives. It only takes 1% better a day to get to 100% in 100 days! 

ERIN: How important was it for you to share your own journey throughout the pages of this book? 

KEVIN: It was essential. If I left my journey out, the book would just be theory. But I wanted to show people what the science looks like when it meets real life, when it collides with crisis, and when it is used to rebuild from the ground up. My story is living proof that these practices are not just abstract ideas, they are lifelines. They kept me here. Sharing my journey was my way of saying, “I have been in the fire, I have been to the edge, and this is what has helped me come back.”

ERIN: When you sent it to me I know we had a little discussion about me starting the self care tips. I started journaling, walking the dog every day and meditating. I didn’t think it was possible for change to occur within a week but it has, as I now cherish those parts of my day. Was that your hope when writing this book that people would take on your selfcare and wellness tips? 

KEVIN: Erin, hearing that is everything. That is exactly what I hoped for. My dream was never just to write words on a page, it was to spark action in people’s lives. If someone picks up the book and immediately begins practicing even one wellness tool, of the hundreds featured in the book, then the ripple effect has once again begun. Your story proves that transformation does not have to take years. Sometimes it begins the very moment you choose to try. That is the hope I wanted this book to carry: that change is possible, and it can start today.

ERIN: You’ve been in the mental health space for a long time but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a book like this before. Why was it so important for you to write it? 

KEVIN: Because people need practical tools now more than ever. I have spoken to millions of people, and the most common question I get is: “What do I do when I feel like I can’t go on?” This book is my answer. I could not just keep sharing my story without giving people the tangible practices that have sustained me. It was important to write it because mental wellness should not be a mystery. It should be accessible, doable, and empowering. I wanted to make sure people walked away not just inspired, but equipped.

​ERIN: All of your wellness tips are backed by scientific evidence so it’s refreshing to see a book on wellness and all the science that backs it. Why was it so important for you to have all your knowledge backed by science? 

KEVIN: Because hope and science together are unstoppable. Lived experience is powerful, but when it is supported by peer-reviewed evidence, it becomes unshakable. I did not want this to be “Kevin’s opinion.” I wanted it to be a resource people could trust, one that merges the heart with the data. Science shows us what works. My life shows you how it works. Together, they form a bridge that people can safely walk across toward their own wellness.

ERIN: Finally, what’s your message to people who are looking to start a mental wellness program? 

KEVIN: My message is simple but powerful: start today, and start small. Do not wait for the perfect mood, the perfect time, or the perfect plan, because those do not exist. Just begin. Commit to one practice you can repeat daily. Over time, that one practice will expand into two, then three, and before you know it, you will have built a foundation of wellness that can weather life’s storms. And please remember this: you deserve to be here, you deserve wellness, and you are never alone in this journey. ∎

Follow Kevin on Instagram:
@kevinhinesstory
Get ‘The Art of Wellness: How to Find, Live, & Stay Mentally Fit’:
​www.awarenow.us/book/the-art-of-wellness