Tip #24: Document Your Story
In the countless quiet hours I’ve spent with my journal, I have recorded moments both simple and emotionally inundating, I have scratched wounds wide open in order to start the healing process; I have recorded my vices with a trembling hand and laughed out loud at them later; I have identified some of my more glaring flaws with the hopes of correcting them; I inspired myself, I embarrassed myself, I stunned myself; I found the career I want to have, and the woman I want to be…”
-Samara O’Shea
How often do you reflect on the ordinary moments that occur during the day? In the past, I rarely thought about these details until something forced me to (ex. an unmet goal – what went wrong?). Reflecting from this negative mindset, I found myself focusing on the holes and mishaps. They become magnified over time. For my sister’s 21st birthday, I created a scrapbook to document our lives together. It was an incredible process that opened my eyes to the power of documenting the ordinary and not-so-ordinary stuff that occurs every single day. I naturally gravitated towards journaling and now do it every night before I go to sleep. Reading through my journal, I am able to read my own story — and realize the true power within every single day. I now see the positives much more so than the holes in my journey. Those holes do exist, but carry little weight when compared to the positive memories.
Now, find a way to document your own story. We all have a story to tell. Remember that your story is just as important as any other individual’s story. Think about activities you enjoy – painting, music, writing, reading – and experiment with ways to document your day to day life. Your imagination can take you anywhere – think outside the box.
Take Home Message:
Focus on the process, not the outcome. Create a treasury of memories that tell your story – through your eyes.
What people are saying
— Jon Gordon, international bestselling author of The Energy Bus and Training Camp Read moreIn Perseverance, Carolyn Rubenstein has passionately gathered together the stories of childhood cancer survivors, and I am humbled by their courage. These kids have managed to keep their ultimate goals in mind, to find the beauty in every waking hour, and to live to the fullest in the face of a terrifying disease. That so many have gone on to thrive in young adulthood is a testament to their strength of spirit and their indomitable nature. Everyone can learn from these stories and the lessons Carolyn has shared with us. Read this book and be inspired!!