Writing as Liberation: Telling Your Own Story
Photo Credit: Eduardo Gageiro - Sophia de Mello Breyner, 1964
In a world where narratives are constantly shaped by external forces, the act of writing emerges as a powerful tool for your own liberation from the forces around you (and within you). Writing, for your own joy and healing has been something new in my life. It has been something that has sparked curiosity, self-awareness, and the creative spirit that I have been trying to tap into for a while. As I move more willingly into a writing practice, I find the hardest resistance is the unlearning of technical and ego driven words. I work in the world of business, startups, money - the fast pace that is married to hustle culture. Shedding that language both in writing but also in my internal dialogue has been a process of growth, and self awareness.
From poetry, to fiction, to blogging, to journaling, writing can be such a form of self-expression, that allows you to claim or reclaim your voice, to tell your own story. Not the one that is meant for societal approval but the one that you are authentically meant to write. Writing as liberation is not just about the creation of copy; it's about the development of identity, the reclamation of a silenced voice, and the monumental shift of capturing your own journey. This was a massive force behind capturing my thoughts and ideas in one place - liftd.
The Power of Personal Narratives
At the heart of writing is the power of personal narratives. These are the stories of our lives, the intimate experiences that shape our being, and the profound reflections of our inner worlds. Sometimes its about telling your own story, or telling the stories of others or the stories of ideas or the stories of challenges - there are so many stories to tell. But when we do tell our own stories, we assert a sense of agency over our lives. This act of narration can be profoundly liberating, especially for those whose voices have been marginalized, silenced, or misrepresented by dominant cultural narratives.
Personal narratives offer a way to navigate the complex interplay of identity, culture, and experience. Through writing, individuals can explore and affirm their identities, challenge stereotypes, and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of human experience. This exploration is not just an act of self-discovery but a declaration of existence—a way of saying, "I am here, and my story matters." And often the hardest lesson to learn is that your own story does matter.
Writing as a Form of Resistance
Writing can also be a form of resistance. It challenges the status quo, questions prevailing narratives, and offers alternative perspectives. For marginalized communities, writing is a tool to combat erasure and to insist on visibility in a world that often seeks to ignore or silence them. By telling their stories, writers can resist the narratives imposed upon them and offer counter-narratives that reflect their lived realities.
This exploration, this resistance, doesn't always come with grand gestures or loud declarations. Sometimes, it's the subtle, steadfast acknowledgment of life's intricacies, the blending of personal tales with broader societal narratives, showing how our individual paths are intertwined with the vast tapestry of history and society.
This pursuit of complexity, of deeper understanding, mirrors the storytelling of renowned authors like Octavia Butler, Margaret Atwood, Naomi Alderman, Ann Leckie, Megan Hunter, and Nalo Hopkinson. They've masterfully woven resistance into the fabric of their works, exploring dystopian futures and fantastical realms, not just as escapism but as a lens through which we can better understand our reality.
Their stories serve as an example that writing, and by extension living, is an act of resistance. It's about daring to delve into the depths of our experiences, to question, to dream, and to imagine worlds beyond the constraints of the present - for ourselves and perhaps for others. At the core writing is about yourself - in the most profound way.
The Therapeutic Dimension of Writing
The act of writing is not just political; it's also deeply personal and therapeutic. Writing allows individuals to process experiences, navigate emotions, and make sense of their world. It can be a form of self-care, a way to work through trauma, or a method for capturing moments of joy and beauty. Writing doesn’t have to be commercial. In todays world there is an immense pressure to make every hobby, every hour of the day productive from a capitlistic perspective. But true writing shouldn’t be about commercialization, it should be about the authentic capture of your ideas, emotions, experiences, stories. We have all read that book or story that has had commercial success that doesn’t quite feel deep or storied. There is a reason for that.
The therapeutic dimension of writing lies in its ability to bring the abstract into focus, to give form to the formless. It allows for reflection and introspection, offering a space to engage with one's thoughts and feelings in a deliberate and intentional way. This process can lead to greater self-awareness, healing, and growth. It can’t be pushed or pressured by a looming desire by the ego for validation in our broken world.
Empowering Others Through Shared Stories
Writing as liberation is really sharing our stories in the most authentic way, in our voice. Not in the voice the world wants us to speak in. When we share our narratives, we not only affirm our own existence but also create opportunities for connection and empathy. Our stories can resonate with others, offering them a sense of solidarity, understanding, and even inspiration. We are inspired by stories but also find belonging in stories, affirmations of our ideas and our identities. As a woman in her 40s sharing stories and searching for shared stories has been a key function of my own growth. This has led me to so much knowledge about all of us as women in our midlife and beyond, and the many conditions that we encounter - the real physical ones and the ones fabricated by the world.
Shared stories have the power to build communities. They remind us that we are not alone in our struggles or experiences. They can be a source of strength and empowerment, offering hope and guidance to those who may be navigating similar paths.
Challenges turn to Joy
But nothing comes without its challenges. Writing is an excercise in vulnerability, especially in the public eye or on social media. The potential for misinterpretation or backlash or pure trolling is quite immense. And while that can bring the emotional toll of revisiting painful experiences or our own being, amongst the negatives there are so many communities and individuals that are there to cheer us on. Ultimately writing, and sharing, is a vulnerable undertaking. Challenges of ensuring that the act of telling one's story does not become an exercise in self-exploitation or sensationalism, or even a boost to ones ego - its being true to who you are and doing it for yourself no one else.
It's also important to recognize that the opportunity to tell one's story is not equally available to everyone. Socioeconomic factors, access to education, and systemic barriers can all impact an individual's ability to write and share their narratives. Writing as liberation also involves advocating for and creating spaces where more voices can be heard.
Writing as liberation is a multifaceted concept that encompasses the personal, political, and therapeutic dimensions of storytelling. It's about more than just putting words on a page; it's about asserting one's agency, challenging dominant narratives, processing experiences, and connecting with others. Through writing, individuals can reclaim their voices, share their truths, and contribute to a more inclusive and empathetic world.
As we continue to navigate the complexities of the modern world, the act of telling our own stories becomes increasingly important. It's a reminder that each of us has a unique perspective to offer, that our experiences matter, and that there is power in the written word. Writing, then, becomes not just an act of liberation but an invitation to engage deeply with the world and with ourselves. This is a journey I, myself am on - one that I am just at the beginning of. I am learning lessons daily, failing a lot (including terrible writing), but the joy it brings and the fulfillment…..that is all worth it.
