There’s a moment I talk about in the opening episode of my new upcoming podcast season (more info coming soon!), which is a moment that changed everything for me.
It was the day storytelling saved my life.
I don’t say that lightly or for the clicks.
Years ago, I was terrified of speaking in public. I had run away from my career and was living a very small limited life.
Standing up in front of a room full of people made my heart race and my mouth go dry. My brain decided I was in mortal danger. Like so many other people experience.
And in a way, it wasn’t wrong. Evolution has wired us that way.
For thousands of years, standing out from the tribe could mean being cast out. We aren’t really designed to stand up in front of people. Visibility could equal vulnerability, and in ancient times, that wasn’t a good thing.
This fear had a choke hold on me for some time.
But then something unexpected happened that completely turned the tables.
I wrote a story and shared it.
It was raw and real and a little messy, but it came straight from the heart.
And instead of rejection, I got warmth, love, empathy and connection.
Instead of judgement, there was recognition.
People came up to me afterwards with tears in their eyes and said, “That’s my story too.”
That moment was pivotal in my career. But it also healed something ancient in me, the fear of being seen.
It taught me that when we share our stories, we send a signal out into the dark saying: I’ve been here. You’re not alone.
The new season of Words That Change Lives is called Stories in Our DNA, and it explores exactly this, how storytelling is something way more than what we ‘do.’
It’s who we are.
Written into our biology, brains and bones.
Story is how we connect, how we survive and save ourselves, again and again.
Which brings me to something I’d love to invite you into.
I’m creating an upcoming episode called The Story That Saved Me, and I want to hear your story.
Has a story ever saved you?
Maybe it was one you told: the moment you spoke the truth out loud and everything changed.
Maybe it was a story you heard: one that gave you hope, inspiration or courage when you needed it most.
Or maybe it was a story you read that reminded you who you are.
If you’d like to share, I’ve made a short, quick form here:
I’d love to hear about a story that saved you.
If your story is chosen, you’ll get the option for me to read it out on the episode, or you can share it yourself if you’d like to. You’ll get a shout out, and everyone that listens can benefit from the story you share.
Because story doesn’t just change lives.
Sometimes, it saves them.
And maybe yours could save someone else.
Much love
Helen
Here’s the link again.
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