Our stories help us understand each other as well as ourselves. Clinical psychologist Carl Greer said that when we write our stories, we stop feeling confused about the events in our lives, and begin to access the wisdom that might not have been available while we were experiencing them. When we explore our own stories and learn how to express them, we can be clear on who we are and how we show up in relationships with others.
– Jamie Bonczyk author, education leader

This message is from Exchange Editor-In-Chief, Binta Dixon.

In the Exchange article, “Healing Out Loud: The Life-Giving Power of Story,” Jamie Bonczyk shares a vulnerable experience of growth, challenge, and healing from her life. Through this story, Jamie provides a soft landing for others to see themselves in their humanness. We are beings that are always in process, without any end goal, finish line or point of perfection. One portion that struck me, was when Jamie was facing a difficult ending in her career, she made a decision to move towards the discomfort, instead of numbing herself against it. This is a step that requires great courage, support, and trial and error.

She writes:

“Inevitably, the moment came that I had to look my staff in the eyes and tell them that although they were amazing, our organization would be sunsetting. This felt abrupt, like the shortest day of winter, without the transition of twilight.

The timing of my sister’s next proposal felt like she had book-ended my career move with life changing opportunities. This time the question seemed simple enough: do you want to participate in dry January?

Did I want to give up alcohol for a month at a point in my life that I really wanted to be numb? I agreed to what I thought would be 31 days. But, I never started drinking again, because what I found in that month was that I still had more work to do to become the ancestor I envisioned. In order to lay a foundation for my family’s future, I was going to need all cylinders firing!”

We all face moments that call us into new levels of clarity, awareness, and strength. Sharing, reading, listening to stories of these growth edge moments can give us the nourishment to climb just a higher longer towards our biggest visions for our selves.