inspiration

I nearly fell out of my seat when a reader told me that HEALING HANNAH’S HEART made them cry hot tears.

I say that because I cried many tears in the year before I wrote it. Like Hannah, I hit a wall in my professional life, and I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t see a way out. It seemed like every door of opportunity was getting slammed in my face.

Growing up, I was raised to view my outward achievements as a good indicator of my inner worth. If I was doing well in school or my career, then that meant that I was a valuable person somehow. I racked up good grades and awards and degrees and titles, all in the effort to feel more worthy.

When that was taken away in my writing career, I shattered me. Like Hannah, I didn’t know where to go next.

That’s when I realized that I cannot seek outside validation, I must look within. So I asked deeper questions of myself: Who am I? How do I want to show up in the world?

That when I started writing #ownvoices fiction. That’s when I found my voice.

It was (and still is) a shaky, faith-filled road, but I wouldn’t trade it for all of the accolades in the world. Going within helped me find my voice and my truth.

How about you? Have you ever faced a brick wall in your journey? What did you do to find your way out?