By Dorit Sasson
At Christine Kloser’s Transformational Author Retreat this past March, I had the chance to act my most authentic and even kooky self… to fly! In that circle of transformational authors, there was a special something that made me feel sacred and safe. I knew it would be a long time before I had this chance again to step up and out with my story. How many times did I walk away from an opportunity only to regret it hours later? With my body glued to the chair, I had to make a conscious decision. And fast.
In a second, I thought, what do I have to lose? My body was shaking with excitement and anticipatory anxiety. Anybody who has to make a decision for the sake of stepping into a better version of him/herself, knows there is a lot of inner work to be done. But when you follow your heart even when there is barely time to think, you are aligning yourself with the power of the Universe.
So, back to the circle….
Bit by bit, I stripped myself to my most vulnerable “kooky” core. People were laughing left, right and center as I acted out my story. I didn’t intend it to be that way – my story just sort of “spilled out.” My Pebbles in the Pond friends will tell you they felt they were on “The Dorit Show” or something like “Dorit Unplugged.” But I hadn’t felt it…yet. Truthfully, I had done so much excavation and soul searching and I was finally ready to share my story with others. It was just a matter of making a quick decision to say “yes” in that moment, with Christine and my newfound friends (and soul travelers) as witnesses.
When I returned to my seat, the energy in the meeting room had completely shifted. Thinking I would be laughed at or people would start making snide remarks or expressions, surprisingly, others started sharing their stories.
Later on that day when I had a chance to process what happened, it suddenly hit me. People started sharing their stories because they felt safe in me and my story. I had the power to help people feel safe! Wow!
As the Dalai Lama says, “the planet does not need more ‘successful people’. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of all kinds. It needs people to live well in their places. It needs people with moral courage willing to join the struggle to make the world habitable and humane and these qualities have little to do with success as our culture is the set.”
We are here at a defining moment in history; a time in which the world – as we know it – is transforming into something bigger and better than we could ever envision. We are phasing out of a “survival-of-the-fittest” mindset into something much more powerful…
Stepping up and out with YOUR story may be the answer to your prayers. Perhaps you’re ready to finally give voice to that book you’ve wanted to write, or convey your truth via a powerful story that needs a sensitive and understanding audience. To truly give birth to an authentic self and story… in a way that feels right during these dramatically changing times, consider the following, which I like to refer to as the “ingredients for developing a story mindset.”
1.Be generous. Storytelling and sharing is a highly generous act. Gratitude helps deepen this process.
2. Be a detective. Be willing to get clear on the emotional triggers of your story; why do you want to tell it so badly? (don’t dig though too much because you might never share it!)
3. Be patient with the discomfort and confusion your story brings. This is a biggie! Know that the more willing you are to sit with these feelings, the more they will subside and the “meatier” parts will eventually come.
4. Remove yourself from outcomes – they only get in your way. (Easier said than done, right?)
5. Be NOW in the stillness and silence so you can hear your story with your heart.
6. Practice bravery – it takes great courage to give voice to your story especially one you have silenced for years. So be patient. (see tip #3)
7. Be persistent – getting emotionally clear with your story requires the sweet gift of time. Keep getting clear by reflecting, journaling and rambling – a powerful story technique.
8. Be yourself – tell your story with your heart. Don’t worry if your story doesn’t appeal to everybody; you don’t need it to; plus, you can only be yourself. This also means sharing your story with all your imperfections. (Yes, I know… another easier said than done point!)
9. Trust the process of getting emotionally clear of your story and let the Universe handle all the details. When you don’t trust, you end up getting in the Universe’s way. The Universe will always come through for you. It may not be the pace you want and how you see the outcome, yet it always works out for your highest good in the end.
10. Be wildly creative and have fun! Storytelling is not reserved for the creative elite – everyone can access creativity at any moment. Be willing to self-express yourself for the act of self-expression itself! And the more creative risks you are willing to take with your story, the more you appeal to your client’s senses and this helps him/her see his own story is him/herself – not just yours.
Make 2013 the year when you finally experience that breakthrough with YOUR story!
Let your voice shine!
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Dorit Sasson is a speaker and a feature author of the Amazon bestseller Pebbles in the Pond: Transforming the World: One Person at a Time. She’s the creator of “Giving Voice to Your Story.” Find out how to make your story relevant in today’s world and download your complimentary 2 part teleseminar series, “Giving Voice to Your Transformational Story” – www.GivingVoicetoVoicelessBook.com
