When a Woman Finds her Voice {When Pain has Purpose}

A few months ago I wrote a post on the woman without a voice. In order to heal we need to be able to have a voice in what happened to us.  We need to be able to share our story so we can put the pieces of our lives back together again and so others can benefit and be encouraged. If our stories have purpose then the pain lessens.

I recently read Jo Ann Fore's book, 

When a Woman Finds Her Voice: Overcoming Life's Hurts & Using Your Story to Make a Difference, which all the more confirmed for me that our stories should not only affect our lives but also the lives of others. Jo Ann starts out the book by encouraging you to not set aside your wounds but to deal with them head on. When we don't deal honestly with our hurt we never heal, but rather the wounds become contaminated. We become angry, bitter people who can't connect with others. We tend to wear masks to deal with the pain.  The People Pleaser, the Approval Addict, and the Perfectionist are just some of the ways we try to control our angst and protect ourselves from being hurt again.

I loved Jo Ann's discussion on what NOT to do when you are finding your voice and attempting to heal. She gives great advice like...

Don't pretend.
Don't stuff.
Don't defend.
Don't control.

Jo Ann talks about how pain can have a purpose...

"This pain that others caused? Use it as motivation to mold a voice against someone else being hurt that way. That's how God redeems pain, turns it to life purpose."

Pain turns into purpose. "The healed becomes a vessel for the Healer." You know you have come full circle when you can help others in their healing process.

Find your voice so that you can heal and check out Jo Ann's book. So worth it!