Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “My life isn’t that interesting. Who’d want to read about it?” I know I have. It’s funny how we can be our own harshest critics, right? But here’s the thing – your story matters. Yes, yours. Even if you think it doesn’t.
I remember the first time I sat down to write about my experiences. I stared at that blank page for what felt like hours, convinced I had nothing worth saying. My life wasn’t filled with grand adventures or earth-shattering events. It was just… life. Ordinary, everyday life with its ups and downs.
But as I started to write, something shifted. I realised that it wasn’t about having the most dramatic tale to tell. It was about sharing the human experience – the small moments, the quiet realisations, the stumbles and the small victories. These are the threads that weave us all together.
In truth, my story has been one of trauma and abuse, and I, like many, have shoved it under the carpet – just like that.
You see, your story isn’t just about you. It’s about all of us. It’s about the universal experiences we share as human beings. Your struggles with self-doubt? Someone out there is facing the same battle. Your moment of unexpected joy? It could spark hope in someone who’s forgotten what happiness feels like.
I’ve learned that the most powerful stories often come from the most unexpected places. It’s not the grand gestures or the picture-perfect moments that resonate most deeply. It’s the raw, honest truth of our lived experiences. Especially the ugly moments.
Think about the last time a book or an article really touched you. Chances are, it wasn’t because the author’s life was extraordinarily different from yours. It was because they managed to put something you’d felt but couldn’t express in words. They made you feel seen, understood, less alone.
That’s the magic of sharing our stories and experiences. It’s not about impressing anyone or proving how special we are. It’s about connection. It’s about reaching out through words and saying, “Hey, I’ve been there too. You’re not alone.”
I remember a woman who came to one of my writing workshops. She was hesitant, almost apologetic about her story. “It’s not very exciting,” she said. “I’m just a dot dot dot.”
No one is just an ‘anything’.
But as she started to write and share, something beautiful happened. Her words touched everyone in the Zoom room. Her description of trying to be a good mother while battling her own inner demons resonated deeply. She spoke about small wins – getting out of bed on a bad day, finding joy in her child’s laughter – and suddenly, these weren’t small things anymore. They were powerful testaments to the human spirit.
By the end of the workshop, she was smiling and speaking with more confidence. Nodding and knowing that her story mattered. I watched the other participants’ faces; you could see that they were silently thanking her for putting into words what they’d been feeling.
That’s the power of your story. It has the ability to make others feel less alone in their struggles. It can offer hope, inspiration, or simply the comfort of knowing someone else understands.
But here’s the really beautiful part – sharing your story isn’t just a gift to others. It’s a gift to yourself too.
Writing down our experiences and shaping them into a book (or blog) can be incredibly healing. It allows us to make sense of our lives and find patterns and meaning in what might have felt like chaos. It gives us a sense of control over our narrative.
I’ve seen it happen time and time again. People come to writing thinking they’re going to create something for others, and they end up discovering themselves in the process. They uncover strengths they didn’t know they had. They find forgiveness for past mistakes. They reconnect with parts of themselves they thought they’d lost.
I worked with a woman in her 30s; she was angry at life, but her book idea was genius, and I watched her change as she wrote. However, one day, she came on a call and told me she couldn’t write the next chapter. I offered to write a bit and see if this could help. I have a way of becoming the ‘writer’, and so I wrote a few pages of her next chapter as her.
It didn’t have the effect I had expected. She was upset and said, ‘I wish I could write like you.’ I replied that this was you. I became you as I wrote this. It’s your voice and the raw emotions that you have been expressing to me.
She stopped writing her book, and we talked and she told me that she had learned something about herself that she wasn’t aware existed. We kept in touch for a while. She told me she’d found peace, forgiveness, and a career she wanted.
I recall at the time feeling as if I had failed because this book idea was soooo good, but the reality was that this had done its job. It was a win-win for both of us.
The book didn’t get written, just as the this mans didn’t.
This man I worked with years ago was initially reluctant to write about his experience of losing his job in his 50s. “It’s embarrassing,” he said. “Nobody wants to read about failure.”
But as he wrote, he began to see his story differently. He realised that what he’d perceived as failure was actually a journey of resilience. He wrote about the fear and uncertainty, yes, but also about how he’d discovered new skills, how he’d learned to ask for help, and how he’d rebuilt his sense of self-worth.
By the time he finished his first piece, it wasn’t a story of failure at all. It was a story of human tenacity, of reinvention, of hope. He decided to turn this into a blog and use it for speaking, many people reached out to him, saying his words gave them courage in their own difficult times.
That’s why your story matters. Because it’s not just a recounting of events. It’s a sharing of the human experience. It’s a way of saying to the world, “This is what it means to be human. This is what it means to struggle, to hope, to persevere.“
Your words have power. They have the power to heal – both yourself and others. They have the power to inspire, to comfort, to challenge, to change.
But I know it can be scary. Believe me, I understand the fear of putting yourself out there. What if people judge me? What if they don’t like what I write? What if I’m not good enough?
You know what none of us like all of the writing out there. I often discard books after a few pages and others I devour.
These fears are natural. They’re part of the process. But here’s what I’ve learned – the magic happens when we push past those fears. When we dare to be vulnerable, to share our truth, that’s when real connections are made.
And you don’t have to be a professional writer to share your story. You don’t need perfect grammar or flowery language. All you need is your truth and the courage to share it.
Start small if you need to. Write in a journal just for yourself. Share a short post on social media. Join a writing group like The Healing Book Project, where you can write, share, be seen and heard in a safe space.
Remember, your story doesn’t have to be polished or perfect. It just has to be real. Because it’s in that realness, that the true power lies.
Every time you share a piece of your story, you’re sending a lifeline out into the world. You never know who might grab onto it, who might find comfort or inspiration in your words.
I think of a woman who wrote about her struggle with anxiety and anger. She was terrified to share it, convinced that people would think less of her. But when she finally gathered the courage to post it online, she was overwhelmed by the response.
People will always reach out to thank you, to share their own experiences, to tell you how much your words meant to them.
Imagine someone saying, “I thought I was alone. Your words made me feel understood for the first time.”
That’s the ripple effect of sharing your story. It creates a wave of understanding, of compassion, of connection. And in today’s world, and it’s a crazy world, where so many of us feel isolated and disconnected, these connections are more important than ever.
Your story has the power to break down walls, bridge divides, and remind us of our shared humanity. And I believe in writing we can heal humanity – in some small way.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never written before. It doesn’t matter if you think your life is ordinary. Your experiences, insights, and unique perspectives are all valuable. Because here’s the truth – there is no such thing as an ordinary life. Every life is extraordinary in its own way. Every person has a unique story to tell, including you.
So, my friend, I invite you to start sharing your story. Start small if you need to. Write a paragraph, a page, or a chapter. Write about a moment that changed you, a lesson you learned, a struggle you overcame.
Start in your journal. Be raw, real and rebellious. Go on, I dare you!
Don’t worry about making it perfect. Don’t worry about what others might think. Just write your truth. Because your truth, your story, has the power to change lives – including yours.
The world needs your voice. It needs your perspective, your experiences, and your insights. Your story matters. Yes, yours. Even if – especially if – you think it doesn’t.
So pick up that pen, open that laptop, and start writing. Your words have power. Your story matters. And somewhere out there, someone needs to hear exactly what you have to say.
You’ve got this. And I, for one, can’t wait to read your story.
You can join The Healing Book Project here. See you on the inside.