How To Own Your Story + Find Purpose Through Vulnerability
There I was scrolling through the internet trying to find a story that was similar to mine. I was 99% positive that I was the only person on this planet that was going through the personal issues that I was going through, until I found a book that I deeply connected with.
Have you ever met someone who you were able to really relate too because their story was similar to yours? Or maybe they went something that you are currently going through?
You feel belonging.
You feel understood.
You feel hopeful.
That is why it is so important to share your story.
We search for ways that we can make a positive impact or search for what our purpose is in this world, but what we don’t realize the most powerful thing we can do is to own and share our story.
You may even feel like your story is average, but know that every story shared is a chance to make someone feel less alone.
How to own your story?
There’s two ways you can handle your story—sharing it or hiding it. Sharing your story is owning what you’ve been through, where you are now, and where you want to go.
Sharing painful parts of your life is crazy scary and hard.
It’s hard because we fear how others will judge or view us based on our story.
It’s painful because it brings up past emotions of regret, shame, guilt, etc.
The most important thing about owning and sharing your story is to make sure you are at a point where you feel safe in sharing it.
If you are still struggling with overcoming feelings or emotions from a situation, wait until you are healed to share it. A way to know your story is ready to be shared is if you feel confident knowing that you’ve learned from the situation.
This is owning your story. Whether you’ve made a mistake in the past, felt shame from others because who you are, or regret a decision you’ve made, knowing that you’ve done this, this is how it made you feel, and this is what it taught you.
Own your story.
Things to remember:
Sharing your story is scary—acknowledge this from the very beginning and it will help you use those nerves in a positive way.
Practice telling your story. Write a draft of it, and rehearse it by yourself or with a mentor before sharing it. This will help you get those nervousness feelings out and feel more confident in sharing.
Don’t be afraid to show emotions. This is a part of who you are and how you got there. When people connect with emotion, that’s where inspiration really connects.
Ways that will help you own your story:
JOURNAL
This is the cheapest form of therapy that you can get for yourself. If you find yourself having a hard time navigating through your thoughts or vocalizing your emotions, write them down. This is a great first step of sharing what you’re feeling with a trustworthy source—YOU.
START A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE YOU TRUST
It can be hard opening up to family and friends, especially about something you haven’t talked to many people about. It is important to share your voice with people who genuinely love you and want the best in you.
There’s different ways that you can communicate. Whether it is face-to-face, written in a letter, text message, e-mail—whatever works best for you.
FIND POWER IN IT
There’s something about owning your story that makes it incredibly powerful. The power in vulnerability is connection and transformation. Not just for yourself—but for others that will get inspired or hopeful from your story.
Once you see the power in what your story can do for yourself, and others around you—you’ll feel unstoppable.
FIND YOUR TRIBE
Thanks to social media, it’s easy to search a hashtag or account name to find like-minded people.
This is not saying that you should just surround yourself with people who are similar to you. I am a firm believer in diversity and what diversity does for people’s hearts. When you have a story, most likely, you are scared to tell the people that you have been around because it is a different story. They may not truly understand it, and when you have to explain yourself to people 24-7—it will get exhausting and lead to a unhealthy balance within yourself.
Find people who make you feel like you belong. That is your tribe.
Having said that, YOU ARE loves to hear and share powerful stories that will benefit our community. If you have something that you would love to share—whether that’s through a blog, video, or maybe you just need a listening hear with no outlet—we are here to support you.
Lastly, you have one incredible story. Be proud of where you’ve come from and where you are now. Who you are is your power, and finding vulnerability through your story gives so much purpose to this world. YOU allow others to feel as if they belong and matter. OWN THAT.
