We’re
all storytellers. Was there a time years ago when you did a lot of writing or dreamed
about being a writer? Perhaps people have told you that you should write a
book.

Maybe
you want to share a family story or secret. But perhaps for one reason or
another, you’ve been silenced and were never able to express yourself. Well, now
might be the time to crack open your journal and begin writing.

Why Write Personal Stories?

Writing
your life story, including all its inherent joys and tribulations, can be a
satisfying way to preserve your legacy and also help you heal from painful memories.

The
fact is, experiences that wound us can injure us in body, mind, and in
voice. The act of writing about your experiences can help reclaim that silenced
voice. Finding your voice as a way to healing can lead to huge leaps in
transformation.

Speaking Your Truth

Each person has his or her own truth. You
can only write your truth. When writing about your experiences, it’s not
so much about what happened to you, but how an experience has affected
you and the person you’ve become as a result.

Speaking your truth is not only healthy but
can also be quite liberating, emotionally. In the end, the rewards for speaking
and writing your truth will be great. But be mindful of the fact that sometimes
what is not said can be more powerful than what is actually stated.

One thing to keep in mind when writing is
that, over time, the details of lived experiences tend to become blurred or
distorted, but that’s okay, because you’re writing from your current perspective.

What Is Your Authentic Voice?

When using your authentic voice, you’re
writing down your genuine emotional feelings. When you write with your
authentic voice, it feels as if the words flow quite easily, and the writing
feels just right.

Your inner voice is taking charge, and you’re
writing from your heart and not your head. During difficult times, your
authentic voice may become even louder.

The best way to practice writing with your
authentic voice is to do so as if you’re seated across the table from your best
friend, telling a story. You’ll see how beautifully your words flow.

When reading others’ work, you can always tell
when they’re using their authentic writing voice because what they’re saying
rings true to you.

It’s a writer’s authentic voice that makes you
want to read more of his or her work. (For the type of personal writing I
do, please check out some of my articles here: www.dianaraab.com.)

Creative individuals such as authors, poets,
musicians, and healers are often thought of as those who are in touch with
their intuition and inner voice.

Gandhi admitted that he heard an inner voice
that shared this message with him: “You are on the right track; move neither to
the left nor the right, but keep to the straight and narrow.”

How to Start Writing

When writing, whether you choose to pen an
essay, memoir, poem, or journal entry, make sure you write what you want
to write, rather than what you think others want to hear. While writing, say to
yourself, “Here is how I see it,” or “This is how I recall it.”

When you write, it’s important not to think
about pleasing those you’re writing about. Chances are, if you’re not writing
your emotional truth, then you’re probably being too careful to write in a way that
doesn’t offend others.

For your best writing to emerge, you must be
willing to take risks, and that involves expressing your inner truth. As writer
Anaïs Nin once said, “The closer a writer keeps to emotional reality, the more
alive the writing will be.”

What to Write

You
might have had many life experiences that you’d like to share, but you’re not
sure where to start. My blog in Psychology Today titled “What
Story Should You Tell?” is a good guide. Here are some questions you might
consider reflecting on before embarking on the writing process:

• What life story has energy for you now?
• What thrills you?
• What do you continually think about?
• Who are your heroes and villains?
• Where are you in your life at present?
• What kinds of stories do you enjoy reading?

So, finding your
voice is not as difficult as it might seem. Be yourself and write like yourself
and the rest will fall into place!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What kind of
writing have you attempted to this point? Did you use your authentic voice? How
did that feel? What did you learn in the process about yourself, your
perspective, and your story? Please share in the comments below.