There are moments when something finds you at just the right time. A quote, a phrase, a random text from someone you love, and it lands in a way that you weren't prepared for. That happened to me this week. A loved one sent me a quote and I couldn't stop thinking about it: "Healing is when you stop telling the story that broke you, and you start telling the story that rebuilt you." Simple words, but they opened up a lot. About the stories we carry, the ones we share with others, the ones we replay in our own heads — and what those stories actually say about where we are.

Because the way we tell our story? It doesn't lie. It reflects where we genuinely are in our healing, not where we wish we were or think we should be. On today's Wise Walk, we're slowing down to explore that shift from the story that broke you to the one that rebuilt you. We're getting curious about the messages we receive and what they might be pointing us toward. Because in that curiosity, there's room for real reflection, a little more compassion for ourselves, and genuine gratitude for how far we've actually come.

• When a message or quote stops you in your tracks and connects on a deep level, do you take time to get curious about why it resonates?
• Do you reflect on why a particular word, phrase, or sentiment has an impact on you at that moment?
• Do you consider how it has shown up in your past, how it applies right now, and how it might support you moving forward?
• What are the stories you are telling right now, to yourself and to others?
• As you tell that story, do you notice an emotional charge, a sense of still feeling hurt, disappointed, or broken?
• Are you handling yourself with compassion and giving yourself grace as you acknowledge where you still are in your healing?
• Are you on the road to healing, and how can you move toward telling your story from a rebuilt perspective?
• Or are you telling a story that was once heavy, but in this moment you realize just how far you have come?
• Can you give yourself credit for rebuilding and for allowing yourself to heal from whatever that experience was?
• What is a message, quote, or phrase you heard on a podcast or radio that deeply connected with you?
• What is it about that phrase that strikes a chord and where do you see it showing up in your own life?
• Can you hold compassion for who you were in the past, who you are today, and who you hope to become?
• Can you give yourself gratitude for prioritizing your healing and for growing into the next version of yourself?

This whole community is stronger together when we can honestly acknowledge where we've been and celebrate the rebuilding that followed.

As always, I would love to hear what you took away from today's episode, so feel free to reach out. I look forward to joining you next Thursday. Until then, prioritize fun, read the signs, direct your path, and get your Stride On.

In this episode:

• [02:32] "Healing is when you stop telling the story that broke you, and you start telling the story that rebuilt you."
• [03:42] When we're in the thick of going through an emotional crisis, we think about how this could be happening to me or why is this happening or what did I do wrong? We tell the story from the emotional state and place of the victim.
• [05:05] I love how the stories we tell are a great framework for whether we've healed from our emotional crisis.
• [08:05] An emotionally charged story that always comes to mind for me is my divorce. It was a difficult, challenging, and complex experience.
• [09:02] The healing process of my divorce took a long time, because there were so many different facets.
• [10:06] When I received the quote, I realized that I have come a long way when it comes to my divorce experience. I am grateful for that.
• [11:17] When you receive a message that deeply resonates with you, take the time to reflect on why that strikes a chord within you.
• [13:23] Messages we receive are also an opportunity to have conversations with those that we love.
• [14:11] You can also discover why these quotes resonate with those you love.
• [16:40] How your loved ones reflect on the quote can tell you if they've healed. You can also see their growth through their reflections.
• [17:21] When you receive messages, get curious about how they may apply in your life or of those you love.
• [18:03] When healing occurs, the way we tell the story changes.

Memorable Quotes:

• • "Any time we have growth or a shift, we should give gratitude for just how far we've come." - Mary Tess
  • "We can't get someone to rebuild themselves. We just have to be compassionate listeners." - Mary Tess
  • "When we go through something very challenging and difficult, there could be many layers of disappointment or hurt or brokenness that need to heal. We need to give ourselves compassion in that moment to heal and rebuild." - Mary Tess

Links and Resources:

• Mary Tess Rooney
• Email
• Heart Value

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