The Value of Your Voice in a Today’s World
Your stories matter. How does it feel when I say that?
Many people might nod along with the idea, getting it on an intellectual level. And yet, when it comes to writing what they want to say (or writing to better figure out what they want to say,) they hesitate.
They tell themselves something like: I don’t have time to do this now. This has all been said before. No one would want to read what I wrote anyway.
Each of those, and the dozens of other thoughts I regularly hear from those who want to write, are parts of belief systems. Sets of strategies the mind uses to keep you doing exactly what you're already doing (or not doing).
Beliefs can be dismantled.
The work to untangle beliefs sometimes feels like a drip of water on rock, slow and unsure until a wall crumbles, a dam bursts.
Today, though, I want you to consider the idea that your stories have value because you have value. Your life experiences, your gifts, your journey, your DNA, your upbringing, your culture, and subcultures—every element is unique to you.
And expressing your perspective—whether that be through a poem, a piece of fiction, a page of memoir, or a passage in a journal—commits that experience to being real. It takes you and all your divine mystery and turns it into something concrete, into words on a page.
This is valuable, even if no other soul reads those words.
You've taken an ineffable part of yourself and shaped it into something concrete.
And if you then decide then to share that tangible piece of yourself with someone else in whatever way you may feel drawn to do—on an anonymous piece of paper pinned to a bulletin board, a Substack article, or a reading at an open mic—your words become magic.
Because they then possess the ability to transform someone else as well.
When we write what is longing to be expressed—despite all the voices inside and out trying to tell us not to—we challenge the systems that seem to say some matter more than others.
Each of us has a voice. Using that voice to write says I matter. And in saying that, you give permission for others to say they matter too.
What story will you start to write this week?
If you’ve been wanting to write your stories but are feeling stuck, consider signing up for a free 60-minute assessment. Discover what's holding you back and gain clarity on your next steps. No obligation—just personalized insights to help you move forward. Learn more or schedule your session now.