Sarah Gleeson | @survivor_unleashed

We all have a story that has shaped us in some capacity. Some chapters we're proud of, and others we wish had never been written.

But what if the parts you've tried to forget are the ones that hold the most incredible power to move you?
To move others?
To make an impact.

For many of us who have walked through hard things, our stories once felt like something we should hide.
We learned to survive, to keep going, to protect ourselves from being seen too deeply.

But storytelling isn't about reliving pain; it's about reclaiming the narrative.
It's about telling the world that "this happened to me, but it doesn't define me anymore".

"When you give your voice to your story, you transform it from a wound to a source of profound wisdom."
-Sarah Gleeson

Here's how to turn your story into a source of strength and purpose:

Your Story Connects You to Meaning

Purpose rarely appears in a flash of inspiration.
It grows in the quiet moments of when you start to make sense of what you've lived through.

Storytelling helps you find that meaning. Writing, speaking, or simply reflecting on your experiences allows you to see patterns, lessons and strengths that once felt buried underneath the pain.

Each time you tell a piece of your story, you gather another thread of understanding. Over time, those threads weave into a tapestry of purpose.

You begin to see that your story isn't random; it's the foundation of the impact you're meant to make.

Your Story Reminds You That You Are Not Alone

When you share authentically, you create a connection.
The stories that scare us to tell are often the ones others most need to hear.

Someone is out there waiting to hear your words, letting them know that healing may be possible for them, too.

That's why storytelling matters.
It turns isolation into belonging.
It gives others permission to face their own truth and find light in their darkest chapters.

"Your courage becomes a mirror to reflect hope."

Your Story Can Become a Pathway to Purpose

The moment that you decide to use what you've been through for "good", is the moment that purpose begins to take shape.

Maybe your story leads you to write a book, start a business, volunteer, or mentor someone who's walking a similar path.
Purpose doesn't always arrive as a grand calling. Sometimes, it's the quiet conviction to turn your pain into something that helps someone else.

When you stand in that space, between what broke you and what built you, you step into leadership. You become living proof that transformation is possible.

Just remember, you don't have to have it all figured out to begin sharing your story.

Start with a single truth.
A single lesson.
A single moment that changed you.

Your story doesn't have to be polished and perfect; it just has to be honest. Because the world doesn't need another perfect narrative.... it needs real ones.

When you own your story, you reclaim your power.
When you share it, you ignite purpose...

Not just for yourself, but for the other women who are waiting and wanting to rise too!

"The story that once silenced you might become the very story that sets someone else free."