The one story you should never tell.
A blue Suziki Swift pulled over to the curb. Her curly brown hair spilling out the window along with her voice that called “Leeeeigh???” I was excited to see the driver was female. She was the second female Uber driver I had ever come across.
Not only was she female but she was Iranian. As we were driven home she shared her remarkable story of how she had left Iran at the age of 16, never to return again. Spending the last 30 years in Australia supporting refugees in their struggle and rallying for equality for all.
A few years after arriving in Australia she joined a Christian church and was asked by the priest to give talks about her past. One evening as she was preparing to speak of her rebel exodus, whereby her first attempt resulted in her uncle, a renown smuggler, being jailed and tortured and on the second, successfully crossing the border, she was asked what to called the talk. Her response was “I Ran!” This woman was incredible. Funny. Gregarious. Courageous and inspiring because she chose a life that was by no means easy, but one that she valued above all else.
I haven’t met very many Iranians before but this one left an imprint on my soul and I couldn’t help but feel like our paths were meant to cross. I admired the way she turned her tragedies into tales to help others stand up for themselves and build a life they really want.
Everybody has a story but what do the stories of your life accomplish? Are they one of empowerment for both you and the listener or are they narratives you should simply never tell, yet you find them running on repeat holding you back.
It’s time to get really honest, to check in with yourself and change your outlook on life. To let go of that story that’s not serving you and rebuild that which is.
Top tips to creating a story you will want to and should share;
1. Stop telling yourself and everyone else that dis-empowering narrative.
2. Break it down and take a good hard look at it. Identify the positives and the negatives, the truth and the perceived truth.
3. Look at it from a different angle. If you were to ask a family member would they remember the same details? Or has your story been so fabricated over the years that you can’t tell what is real anymore?
4. Time to choose; stay stuck in your past or revel in the possibilities of your future.
5. Re-frame the story encapsulating the positive change you wish to instill by telling it.
“Your life story provides the context for your experiences, and through it, you can find the inspiration to make an impact in the world.”
Article written by Jayne Robinson, life coach. Read more about Jayne here.
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