Finding the Strength to Share My Story

As I sit here, reflecting on my journey, I feel the weight of what it takes to share my story. It hasn’t been an easy thing to do, especially with the emotions that come rushing in. For so long, I’ve kept the personal side of my story hidden from the public eye, tucked away in the corners of my heart, fearing judgment, vulnerability, or even rejection. But as I continue to build my life and my work, I’ve realized that my story — the good, the bad, and the ugly — is a powerful testament to my resilience, strength, and unwavering faith.

Let me take you back to when my life was anything but easy. At the age of 16, I found myself married — too young, too soon, but feeling like I had no other choice. The circumstances at home were far from loving; I went from stable loving family-life to abused and abandoned in an instant never to return home. The trauma I experienced in those early years shaped much of who I was becoming, but it also ignited a fire within me to choose a different path. I decided that I was going to live my best life, despite the hardships that seemed so unfair to me.

Finding the strength to share my story has been far from easy. I dropped out of college for four years and fought tirelessly to hold my young marriage together, only for it to ultimately fall apart. But despite it all, I found the strength to rise again. I put myself through college, determined to finish what I had started. By the time I graduated, I had already launched a successful consulting business, navigating the toughest paths in entrepreneurship, all while laying the foundation for the coaching and mentorship I offer today. In the end, I earned the respect and credentials I had longed for. But even with those accomplishments, I still quietly battled feelings of loneliness, despair, and abandonment — reminders of the broken 16-year-old girl I once was, and how much further I had yet to go on this journey.

But even now, it’s not easy to talk about the tough times, the darkest days. There were moments where I wanted to give up, to crawl back into the shell of silence. I struggled for a long time to share the details of my pain and my journey. But what I’ve learned through the process is this: don’t share until you’re ready. You don’t owe anyone your silence, nor do you owe anyone your speed in telling your story. This is yours to share when it feels right, on your terms.

I’ve also learned that it’s okay to wait until you've healed and it feels natural. Don’t force it or try to say what you think others want to hear. Let the emotions flow — and believe me, they will. There have been countless moments where I’ve cried, even just thinking about the battles I’ve fought, the obstacles I’ve overcome. And yet, despite all the pain, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude. Gratitude for how far I’ve come, and how good God has been to keep me through it all.

I still get choked up when I reflect on how many times I’ve been knocked down, only to rise again. And that’s the beauty of the journey — even when life tried to break me, I was never defeated. My faith, my resilience, and my unwavering belief in living my best life carried me through. My gratitude overflows for everything I’ve experienced, because it has made me who I am today.

Now, as I share this, I realize how much strength it takes to open up. I wonder, do you struggle with telling your story too? Does the idea of being vulnerable or sharing the hard days feel overwhelming?

If so, I want to offer you a prompt to help you reflect on your own journey:

Introspective Prompt:

What are the most significant challenges you’ve faced in your life, and how have those experiences shaped who you are today?

What would it feel like to share your story, fully embracing both the struggles and the victories?

What has held you back from sharing, and what would it take for you to feel ready to let your story be known to the world?

Remember, your story is yours to share when you feel ready. And even if it’s hard, it’s okay to let the emotions come.

There is so much power in sharing what you’ve been through — not just for you, but for those who need to hear it. Your story can inspire someone else to keep going, to keep fighting, to keep believing.

So, take your time. When you’re ready, let your story flow.

P.S.

I’ve been working on my upcoming talk show episode, titled My Story, but it’s still not quite ready. Be sure to subscribe to The Cry But Don’t Quit Show™ channel and turn on notifications so you’ll be the first to know when it drops. For a while, I’m shifting the focus to sharing my own perspectives and stories before returning to guest interviews. In the meantime, check out the sizzle reel introducing my Solo Series below on our YouTube channel, and stay tuned for more!