“Maybe stories are just data with a soul.”

“Courage is telling our story, not being immune to criticism.”

“If you own this story you get to write the ending.”

“If we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can't survive.”

“I now see how owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do.”

“If we share our shame story with the wrong person, they can easily become one more piece of flying debris in an already dangerous storm.”

“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”