Here’s the Thing

On Vulnerability and the Courage to Tell Your Story

Let’s be honest—telling your story can feel terrifying.

Even the thought of it can make your stomach knot up. Maybe you’ve said to yourself:

Who would care?

What if I get it wrong?

What if they judge me—or worse, don’t believe me?

What if I’m not ready to feel it again?

If any of that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Most of us have some version of this quiet fear sitting in the background when we think about sharing our stories out loud.

Telling the truth—especially the truth about our tender spots—isn’t just brave, it’s vulnerable. And vulnerability often gets a bad reputation. We’ve been taught to hide it, manage it, or cover it with a joke. But here’s the beautiful thing: vulnerability is the birthplace of connection. It’s where we drop the performance and let someone see who we really are. That’s the moment when the magic happens.

But still—there’s fear. So let’s talk about that.

What Makes Us Afraid to Tell Our Stories?

• Shame. We worry our story will reveal something “bad” about us.

• Judgment. We’re afraid of what others will think.

• Unworthiness. We wonder if our story is “important enough.”

• Loss of control. Once it’s out there, we can’t take it back.

• Emotion. We might cry. Or get angry. Or feel things we haven’t felt in a long time.

It’s a lot. And it’s real. But those fears don’t have to win.

So How Do We Move Through the Fear?

1. Start small. Tell a story to one trusted person. Don’t start with your deepest wound—start with a moment that matters.

2. Write first. Speak later. Writing lets you process and shape the story before you say it out loud.

3. Name your fear. Literally say, “I’m afraid to tell this because…” Naming it reduces its power.

4. Remember your why. Are you telling this to heal? To connect? To let go? Keep that reason close.

5. Stay with safe people. Not everyone deserves your story. Choose people who listen without trying to fix, judge, or hijack.

6. Practice self-compassion. If your voice shakes, if you forget something, if you cry—that’s okay. You’re doing something beautiful and hard.

Why Do It At All?

Because telling our story makes space for others to tell theirs. Because when we speak our truth, shame loses its grip. Because holding it all inside is heavier than you think. And because your story—yes, yours—is the thread that could weave someone else back together.

And maybe, just maybe, when we tell the story we’ve been afraid to tell… we find out we’re not alone after all.

So if you’re thinking of sharing your story—know that you don’t have to do it perfectly. You just have to begin.

I’ll be right here, cheering you on.