The Tour Life with Janine Richards

At a Crossroads: Rene Villanueva of Hacienda on Grief, Mental Health, and Rediscovering Purpose

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In this episode of The Tour Life, we sit down with Rene Villanueva, musician, writer, and member of the band Hacienda, to explore the crossroads of personal loss and professional success. Rene opens up about the sudden loss of his mother right before a major tour with Hacienda and the emotional toll it took on him and his brothers. Despite their growing success, including collaborations with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, Rene describes how suppressing their grief led to burnout, mental health struggles, and the eventual need to take a step back from their career.

We discuss the importance of prioritizing mental health, especially in high-pressure industries like music, where pushing through grief can cause long-term harm. Rene reflects on how he and his brothers learned to process their emotions, embrace self-reflection, and re-evaluate their purpose before returning to the music scene.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Pause to Heal: Even when you're on a trajectory of success, it’s okay to take a step back to process grief and trauma. Ignoring emotional health can lead to burnout and long-term negative effects.
  2. Healthy Coping Mechanisms: Instead of bottling up emotions, finding outlets like meditation, self-reflection, or even taking time off can make a significant difference in your well-being.
  3. Compartmentalizing Grief Isn’t Sustainable: Trying to “push through” personal tragedy while performing or working can lead to breakdowns in other areas, including relationships and mental health.
  4. Redefining Success: Success doesn’t always mean continuing on a predetermined path. Sometimes, true success is recognizing when you need to hit pause and take care of yourself.
  5. Support Systems Matter: Keeping close relationships with loved ones can provide grounding and perspective, especially when the demands of the road feel overwhelming.

    6. Follow Rene Villanueva on Instagram:

    • @hacienda_tx

      • Don't forget to subscribe to The Tour Life on your favorite podcast platform, leave a review on iTunes, and follow us on Instagram at @thetourlifepodcast.

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      The Tour Life with Janine RichardsBy Janine Richards | WellBetterBest
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