What if your story was not only about staying on top of things but about getting to the bottom of things?
What if your story was not only about staying on top of things but about getting to the bottom of things? What if you actually needed unforced rhythms and slower paces to truly live through this season in a way that helped you grow? What if there are stories inside of you that are waiting to be shared, thoughts, and ideas stirring inside of you that can only be cultivated when you’re not in a rush?
When we think of expressing ourselves or sharing our stories, it’s normal to think of social media or sharing with a crowd of people. But this is only one way of sharing. The stories we tell ourselves about ourselves matter, too. The way we talk about our childhood or frustrations or the root of our joys is much more than small talk. Human beings need stories, and yet it’s far too easy to get wrapped up in everyone else’s.
The stories we see on our social media feeds.
The stories of our siblings or friends.
Who’s further along.
Who’s more interesting.
Who actually has a story worth telling.
In the rush of life, it’s hard to see our stories for what they actually are: a never-ending circle filled with depth. Life. Fullness. Mystery. Hope. In the rush of life, it seems like our stories are only, “I was born here, this happened to me, this is where I went to school, this is who I was in a relationship with…”
Our stories are so much more. More than can ever be put into words.
Our stories are filled with emotion. Think of a moving film you’ve recently watched. Reflect on how the characters invited you into their experiences not from the plot summary but through what they were feeling. Even if your life looks completely different than the character’s, you felt a connection to their story.
Of course, you can’t see your life objectively in this way but you are free to use your imagination. Imagine what this season of your life might look like if it were played out on a screen. No matter how boring or ordinary it may seem at times, there would be emotion. There would be grit. There would be grace.
And one of the most beautiful grace-filled things about your story is that it doesn’t have to be relatable. You don’t have to share it with everyone. You don’t have to write a book about it. But you are free to own it. You are free to have an awareness of how far you’ve come and let this give you a sense of hope throughout the day.
You are resilient. Resilience is woven through your story. Even the parts of your story that aren’t inspirational or easily understood. You don’t have to figure out how resilience fits into every part of the narrative to know that the fact that you’re still here is a sign of resilience all on its own.
When it comes to your story, keep paying attention. Keep sowing seeds of awareness of where you are and where you’ve been. It’s okay if you don’t know how you feel about every single thing that has ever happened. It’s okay if you’re just now figuring out what to share, how to share. What matters is that you know: your story matters. You are so much more than what has happened to you.
Your story is rounded.
Whole.
Grace and resilience run through.
There is so much more to your story than what you can see right now.
