Why Your Hardest Stories Are Someone Else’s Lifeline

Vulnerability turns fear into connection

It can be scary to share parts of our lives that we have always kept hidden for whatever reason. I myself had some anxiety during the writing and editing process of my first book about some of the things I was revealing.

I had many moments where I thought, “Should I share this?” I would sometimes ruminate on the question in the middle of night, second-guessing my choices.

One thing that helped me a lot was thinking about other stories I had read.

Specifically, one book that often came to mind was this memoir called Re-Humanize by Marlee Liss, which deals with the aftermath of sexual assault.

The author’s vulnerability and frankness in putting into words the unspeakable was astounding to me. Her narrative style so visceral.

Yet, I never judged her at all. If fact, I admired her for daring to say things about the experience that I had never heard anyone say. That gave me the courage to not hold back in my own story. I felt like if she could say those things, then I could too.

I knew I just had to tell.

You never know how sharing your hard truths are going to help someone else. The fear of judgement is usually just a reflection of internalized shame.

Chances are someone needs to hear you story. The very things we're most afraid to share might be exactly what someone else needs to hear. If not for their own healing, but to inspire them to tell their own story.

What’s one story you’ve been afraid to share? Start by writing it for yourself. Let the words come, without judgment or an audience in mind.