Last week at a seminar, someone made a statement that has stayed with me ever since “You are most qualified to help the person you used to be.”
The moment I heard it, something inside me said, yes. I grabbed my phone like I always do and put it in the notes section of my phone.
This week, a broker asked me to share my story and how I got to where I am today. So I did. I shared pieces of my journey, some of the victories, but also some of the chapters I don’t always talk about. The painful ones. The uncertain ones. The ones that nearly broke me.
Afterward, he thanked me for being vulnerable and said something that caught me off guard. You helped me more than you’ll ever know he said.
I’ve thought about those words ever since. The truth is, most of us underestimate the impact our stories can have on other people. We assume everyone else has it figured out. We assume our struggles are too messy. We assume our failures disqualify us. We assume no one wants to hear about the chapters we’d rather forget, but what if those chapters are exactly the reason someone else needs to hear from us?
I’ve lived through seasons I never would have chosen. I’ve experienced heartbreak, disappointment, abuse, fear, infertility, self-doubt, failed expectations, and moments when I wasn’t sure what came next. I’ve questioned my worth. I’ve wondered if I was enough. I’ve walked through circumstances that left me feeling broken and uncertain. Yet looking back now, I can see that every difficult season gave me something I didn’t have before and that is perspective. When you’re in the middle of the storm, you often feel alone. You wonder if anyone understands what you’re carrying. You wonder if anyone has ever felt the way you feel. Then someone shares their story. Not a polished version. Not the highlight reel, but the real story, and suddenly, you realize you’re not alone.
That’s the power of vulnerability. Your story may be the evidence someone else needs that healing is possible. Your story may be the proof that they can survive this season. Your story may be the encouragement that helps them take one more step when they’re ready to quit.
The older I get, the more I realize that our greatest impact rarely comes from our accomplishments. It comes from our willingness to let people see what God brought us through. People connect with authenticity. People connect with honesty. People connect with hope.
Not because our stories are identical, but because they remind us that we’re all human. Maybe that’s why I feel called to share more of my story these days. Not because I have all the answers. Not because I’ve arrived, but because I know what it feels like to sit where someone else is sitting right now, and if my journey can make their journey a little less lonely, then every difficult chapter served a purpose.
So today, I want to encourage you not to hide your story. You don’t have to share every detail with everyone. You don’t owe the world your wounds, but when the time is right, don’t be afraid to share what you’ve learned along the way. Someone is currently fighting a battle you’ve already survived. Someone is praying for answers you’ve already found. Someone is looking for hope, and your story may be exactly what they need. Never underestimate the impact of your testimony. The thing you survived may become the very thing that helps someone else keep going, and sometimes, the person you are most qualified to help is the person you used to be.
With love for you all,
Shauna
Journey on Yourself 