I have the privilege of hearing peoples' stories through my work. When we first meet someone, like it or not, our first impression is based on their appearance. Think of it like seeing a photo of someone. You look at their face, expression, clothing and posture. Context plays into our impression of each person too. All of these things are surface level. Compare this with watching a movie, like "King Richard", "Belfast" or "My Name is Gulpilil". In these, you experience a couple of hours of peoples' lives, and you feel like you have some insight into the ways they think, feel and act. Still this is one small slice of these people and their life stories.
We all have a story to tell. We all have multiple stories to tell. Stories of experiences, relationships and events that have shaped us, formed our identities. Some of our stories are joyful, celebrations of life. Others are painful, perhaps tragic. These hard stories we can only tell to those we can truly trust, those who have earned the right to hear them. Perhaps we have never shared these stories.
* Start by writing your story, journaling your experiences. You may find this to be a healing journey as you name your experiences and feelings; fear, sadness and anger. Notice any areas where you may be stuck, or where the sting of hurt has dissipated.
* Next, read your story aloud. Hear yourself speak it out, Notice how you feel physically, emotionally, spiritually.
*Then, find a safe person to share your story with. Someone who will respond with empathy and compassion. Someone who values you and your journey.
As we tell our stories, as we listen to others’ stories, we will be able to move more courageously into our preferred futures.
Photo by S O C I A L . C U T on Unsplash
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