The Power of Personal Storytelling

I am becoming more and more passionate about personal storytelling because it has been a profound force in my own healing journey. Over time, I have discovered that speaking our truths, especially the ones we’ve kept suppressed, and have a significant impact on our healing. When we give voice to our experiences, we are not just recounting memories; we are actively reshaping the narratives that have defined us.

Personal storytelling offers a way to re-program old identities we may have outgrown, to interrupt the inherited scripts that no longer fit, and to reclaim parts of ourselves that were ignored or suppressed.

It helps us break out of silences that once felt protective but ultimately kept us small. It lets us challenge taboos that were handed down without question. And with each story we tell, we slowly untangle the knots of social conditioning, those subtle, persistent messages about who we should be so that we can move closer to who we truly are.

What I have learned is that storytelling isn’t just an act of expression; it is an act of liberation. It is a gentle, powerful way of coming home to ourselves.

Returning to the Girl I Once Was

Today I wrote a message to a very old and very close friend, someone I consider a sister. I told her how Bosnia and the war are still shaping a large part of my artistic path.

Some may say that certain stories become repetitive or exhausting, but I believe something different: as long as we are healing parts of our narrative, those emotions and stories will return. They rise like waves, again and again, in their own rhythm.
There is no defined timeline for this.

Some of the most significant—and most painful—stories I have ever shared are the ones from my early years, especially my teenage years during the war.

I keep returning to that 14 year-old girl. The photo I shared in this article is one of the very few taken during the war. I was 15 when that picture was captured

I keep coming back to give my 14 year-old self the encouragement she wasn’t given at that time. To tell her how resilient she will become. To strengthen her confidence and belief in herself. To remind her that there is still so much beauty in this world waiting for her. To hold her hand—because no one held it then. To make her visible and heard, something she desperately needed at the time. To comfort her with patience, gentleness, and truth. To listen to her voice and read the beautiful poetry and diary entries she wrote every day. To whisper that the hardship she carries will one day become her greatest strength, and that her story will serve others too.

Your Story Matters—At Every Age

No matter where your personal narrative takes you, whether it reflects your current self, your teenage self, or your five-year-old self—it belongs to you. It is your personal narrative. It is a story that deserves to be told.

I believe every voice matters.
Every story matters.
No story is more important than another.

If you ever feel drawn to share your narrative, our Online Archive of Personal Stories is a space waiting for you. Whether your story arrives in a few lines or many paragraphs, I will be here, ready to listen, ready to hold your words with care.