"But long before I could safely write and share my story, I needed to get past the acute stages of healing, otherwise I risked re-traumatizing myself. Any raw emotional wounds needed to be cared for in therapy and with a good treatment plan. If I were still in the tender phase of healing, journaling was healthy. Writing a story meant for the public and performing it for the public was not. Sharing lived experiences can be therapeutic, but should never be therapy."
"I took things step by step so my financial and living situation remained stable. There was no quitting my day job to leap into speaking-a field I knew nothing about. Doing so would have put my health at risk. Any changes I made to my work life-or life, period-were made with intention. I weighed pros and cons, letting clarity-not impulse-guide me. I wasn't about to sacrifice the peace of mind I'd gained for some fleeting stage time."
Recovery must precede public sharing to avoid re-traumatization and protect emotional safety. Raw emotional wounds require therapy and a reliable treatment plan before public performance. Journaling is appropriate during tender healing phases while public storytelling and performance should wait. Sharing lived experience can be therapeutic but must not substitute for therapy. Building a speaking career requires business planning, financial sustainability, and intentional, gradual changes to work life. Trust intuitive warnings about moving too quickly and pause when needed. Impact can come from a single personal conversation as well as from staged presentations.
Read at Psychology Today
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