We live our life going forward and don’t always see the value of retelling the stories of our past. But these stories have shaped who we are and we miss our fullness without them.
Perhaps we’re all familiar with those individuals who constantly relive their past detached from current realities – the proverbial star athlete who tells of his glory years in every conversation.
And while we don’t want to get stuck in our past, many of us swing to the opposite extreme and run as far away from it as we can. We can’t change the past and so we see no point of going back to visit it.
But our past still matters and will always be part of our story. The more we forget our past the more we loose important parts of who we are.
And this is where sharing our stories with others can help.
We’re relational to our core and having someone else to witness our story with compassion is incredibly healing. It helps us to reconnect with the disowned and forgotten parts of who we are.
And without changing anything from the past, this reconnection and healing can make all the difference in the present.
For instance, the shame of our past might be a hidden motivator in many of our decisions today. Sharing our story can help us to overcome this shame, which in turn will influence how we approach life.
Perhaps we no longer feel the pressure to be the smartest, most successful, or perfect one in the room. And maybe we can then live with greater freedom and creativity as we rest in the truth of who we are.
It takes courage to retell the stories of our past. But it’s through wholeheartedly sharing ourselves with each other that we heal and grow.
Dare to tell your whole story with trusted others, including those “forgotten” parts of your past.
Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash
