One of the most incredible things I’ve continued to learn over the years, is that whatever I’m going through, there’s almost always another woman who has already walked my same path, and is willing to talk about it. Whether I know her in real life, or as an author, a blogger, business leader or podcaster, she’s out there. She’s bravely telling her story. It’s up to me to find her and pay attention.
It’s up to me to open up and learn.
Right now, I’m taking an online workshop called The Wisdom of Story with these two heroic women. Brené Brown and Glennon Melton are two women who, unbeknownst to them, have shaped so much of my grown-up life over the past five years. Their honesty about their own stories and struggles has reminded me, over and over again, that I am never alone. They’ve bravely held up their flashlights in dark places saying, “Hey, come this way! I just did it, let me tell you what comes next.”
They pay close attention, so they can come back and share what they learned with the rest of us.
They don’t gloss over the painful parts. Nope. They point them out, but they do it with the authenticity, wisdom and kindness of a wise mother, sister or best friend. They share, not for the healing it brings to them, but for the healing it will bring to you.
Yesterday, they shared this quote from Joseph Campbell that made me want to jump up and shout, “YES! This!”
“The Hero Path
We have not even to risk the adventure alone
for the heroes of all time have gone before us.
The labyrinth is thoroughly known …
we have only to follow the thread of the hero path.
And where we had thought to find an abomination
we shall find a God.
And where we had thought to slay another
we shall slay ourselves.
Where we had thought to travel outwards
we shall come to the center of our own existence.
And where we had thought to be alone
we shall be with all the world.”
~ Joseph Campbell
It’s so deep and so beautiful all at once.
It’s EXACTLY why I do what I do. It’s why HeartStories exists. It’s why I put so much effort into creating the experience of every single Girl’s Night Out.
We don’t have to risk the adventure alone!
If you’re brave and intentional, you can connect online, through books. . . and in real life, with the heroes who have gone before. You don’t have to follow their exact same paths, just the thread of their paths, that leads to hope and healing.
What you’ll find?
What you thought was too big a burden to bear, with their wisdom and guidance, will lead you straight to God. Where you thought you’d have to make someone else pay for their wrongs toward you, you’ll learn how to grow yourself. Where you thought the path was leading you somewhere far away, you’ll find it is leading you to your own HeartStory.
Just when you thought you thought you’d have to walk though the joy, the pain, the heartache, and the learning all alone?
If you’ll show up and look around you, that’s where you’ll find your sisters, walking the same labyrinth, holding your hand, guiding the way.
That’s what I’m learning to do. And I’ll never be the same.
to more love,
Crystal
‘’Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do.”
— Brené Brown
