There were times people questioned my decision, the way I drifted in life. There were times I felt hurt and angry when people close to my heart didn’t understand my values.
Feeling that the world owed me an understanding, I was struck by a moment of truth — isn’t this diversity? That we are all different and we do different things?
To live a life true to myself, I need to have a strong mind and a breakable heart. I need to put in more effort, more work, more patience, and more courage.
It means that people will doubt me and challenge me, and yet I need to have faith in myself, to know that I will be okay even when things didn’t turn out the way I want.
Many people thought that I was brave to carve my own path, but they were wrong
Every time I made a big decision, I had fierce wrestling with fear inside, knowing that a step in an opposite direction will forever change my life.
From one pursuit to another, discomfort kept forcing me to make tough decisions until I learned to trust my guts.
The fear of uncertainty would never subside, but the joy of doing the right thing was so powerful that it overrode fear.
I found my path when a friend engaged me to produce content, then he came back again and again, referring more people he knows.
While I was secretly amazed by how much people trusted me as a writer, I indulged myself in the process of researching different industries and creating the best contents I could.
When I felt the power of creating, I knew I found my place
I’ve always wanted to create beautiful and meaningful contents that connect, inspire and empower people. Through words, I wish people I love know that I need them on this path; I wish people on similar path know that they are not alone.
My story is not glamorous, but I lived through every chapter, every twist and turn; I took chances, gave my best shot and unfold the consequences.
Going through all kinds of emotion in the past 5 years, it felt as though I came to a dead end in a few circumstances. Every bit of it brought me where I am today, and I embrace it as part of me.
I didn’t always make the right choice, but every mistake presented invaluable lessons that I couldn’t learn from books.
Stories shape who I am
When I started to see my life as a story, I was able to dive into my past and reimagine my future.
I asked myself, do I see a character overcoming challenges to achieve a goal?
If I don’t, I need to visualise who I could be, what kind of challenges I want to overcome, and what is the goal that I am willing to struggle for.
To look at life as a story, I am aware of my power to follow my inner compass, to unfold mysteries within myself and create a story that I love.
What is the art of owning your story?
It is not a competition to tell the best story.
When I share my truths with kindness and generosity, it is the most powerful tool that I have.
‘Stories matter. Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign, but stories can also be used to empower and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people, but stories can also repair that broken dignity.’ — Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
My story is about exploration, being resilient to changes, and always staying true to who I am.
What is yours?
Like to read?
My first book ‘The Art of Owning Your Story’ is ready for pre-order now! Click here to download a bonus chapter!
