Don’t you just love an inspiring true story? A story about someone who has overcome adversity, a story that gives you hope and inspiration to face life’s inevitable challenges, or maybe just a newfound appreciation and gratitude for the blessings you have in your own life. Yes, these are often the stories of celebrities, politicians, athletes, and the like, but my favorites are the true stories written about ordinary people like you and me.

Each of us has a story inside, a story that is unique, inspiring and, best of all, true. Many of us have already heard that still, small inner voice that whispers to us that our story must be told. But why would we want to share our personal stories? Why share the private details of your life with family, friends, or even strangers? “I’m a private person,” you might say. I know I did. Maybe you don’t see yourself as a writer or maybe you don’t find your life that interesting. There are many excuses not to do it. But there are also some very powerful reasons why you should.

Telling your story may not be an easy journey, but it’s worth it. In fact, I think it’s something that everyone should consider doing. Whether you decide to publish commercially, self-publish, or simply print a few copies for close friends and family, sharing your story could change lives, and surprisingly, one of those lives could be yours.

I first heard that calm and gentle voice about ten years ago. It just came out of the blue as a thought: “One day I should write a book about my life.” I ignored him and he was gone for a while. But occasionally he would return, only to be ignored once more. Then, after several years, I noticed that the urge in my heart got stronger and stronger to the point where I could no longer ignore it. I asked myself, and I asked God, “why?” After all, I wasn’t a writer and had no aspirations at the time to become one. All I felt was that I could help others who had been through similar circumstances to me. I believed that sharing my story would bring certain issues to light and give hope to others who were living their lives with hearts full of shame, unforgiveness, and lack of self-love. What I have discovered since then is that writing my story has not only helped others, but has brought me many rewards.

1. Personal emotional healing

Many of us have emotional wounds that we have buried and tried to forget. But they still affect our lives in many ways. When I started writing, I believed that I was healed from the wounds of my past. he was fine. He had survived and moved on successfully. Once I started writing, I realized that I still had a way to go. Through my writing, I gave voice to my inner child. I became that child again and the feelings that were hidden in my subconscious gradually revealed themselves to me. I recognized the feelings that my memories evoked and with the help of a good counselor, healing occurred.

2. Relationship healing

How many of us have been separated from our loved ones, often through no fault of our own? Many of us have strained and difficult relationships with loved ones due to misunderstandings or traumatic experiences.

At the time I started writing, I hadn’t had a relationship with my father for 33 years, and I had no intention of even looking for him. But fate intervened and I found myself visiting my father in a nursing home. He was terminally ill and he died before I finished my book. If it wasn’t for the fact that I had been writing my story and getting over some deep emotional wounds, I don’t think I would have been able to spend time with him like I did. I think it was a gift for both of us. I know that his heart was more at peace when he died, and I know that the experience brought me much more than I could have imagined.

Also, my relationship with my oldest daughter had been strained for many years before I wrote my book. Now we are much closer. My story helped her to really understand me, to see where I came from and how valuable she is to me. For many years she had blamed me for every negative situation in her life. Our relationship was very rocky, but on the last Mother’s Day she sent me a card on which she had written: “You are such an inspiration to me.”

3. Leave a legacy

If someone asked you if you would like to read a book your great-great-grandmother had written about her life, what would you say? What a wonderful opportunity to meet a family member that she had never met. Through my book I was able to share some of the life lessons I learned along the way. I know that I can pass this wisdom on to future generations, not only those I know and love in my life, but also those I never get to meet. They will know me through my story and I will have the opportunity to share my heart with them.

4. Discover and challenge your limiting beliefs

Writing my story has helped me discover and challenge my limiting beliefs and realize my true potential. I was always someone who tried to please others and I always worried about how others would judge me, what they would think of me. Unfortunately this limited me and prevented me from doing what was really in my heart. Since writing my book, I had a revelation that was best articulated by the quote: “Do what you think and say what you feel because those who care don’t care, and those who matter don’t care.” I haven’t been able to find the original source of this quote, as there are a few slightly different versions, but they all say the same thing: don’t worry about what anyone else thinks, just be you.

My other limiting belief was that everything I did had to be done perfectly. This was hard to deal with, but I had to overcome this mindset to finish my book. I had to accept that trying to do it perfectly was an obstacle to completing it. If I kept striving for perfection, I would most likely end up in my pile of unfinished projects. So I made a point of striving for excellence rather than perfection. For me, my perfectionism was limiting. It was a belief that limited me and my achievements. It was the belief that I had to consciously change and writing my story helped me do that.

5. A sense of personal achievement

What a wonderful achievement it is to have earned the right to call yourself an author. I think it’s even more of an achievement to have written your own personal and sometimes difficult story. As I mentioned, he was a perfectionist and because of that he had a lot of unfinished projects hidden or lying around. My physical environment became cluttered and this drained my energy. I was someone who was always busy but didn’t seem to get things done because I couldn’t live up to my own expectations of perfection. Writing this book gave me an incredible sense of accomplishment and pride in myself. I was finally able to say to myself, “Well done! You finished it and did the best job you could. And if you can do this, how much more can you do?”

The feedback I have received so far since posting my story has been amazing – it has inspired, encouraged, given hope, challenged and provoked so much thought in others, but what it has done for me is unimaginable.

Many people have told me that they have a story to tell. I often wonder if they will ever find the courage to do it. Sadly, most people die with their story still inside of them. What is that story you have inside of you that should be told? Be bold and brave. Reach deep within you. Find your story and awaken the storyteller within you. Enrich your life and the lives of others in ways you may never have imagined.

(c) Copyright Sharon Leigh Hill — All rights reserved worldwide