“Shame dies when stories are told in safe places.” ~ Ann Voskamp, author
Lately, in my ballet classes, I’ve been asking students to verbalize their personal narratives around a movement phrase in ballet. It’s a powerful exercise. Ballet carries so much history, emotion, beauty and discipline. By speaking what was going on in their heads, students begin to release old stories that no longer serve them: beliefs about perfection, comparison, or not being “enough.” Some of these stories have been held onto for years, stemming from their early training when they did not have the life experience or emotional awareness they have today.
When we put words to our experiences, we invite awareness, and awareness is the first step toward healing and change. I’ve watched students’ posture shift, breath deepen, and eyes soften after simply saying out loud what they were experiencing.
We often think strength means keeping quiet, holding it all together, or pushing through discomfort. But silence can become a roadblock. What we don’t talk about- stress, self-doubt, fear- doesn’t vanish; it settles into our bodies. It shows up as tension, fatigue, or that subtle sense of disconnection.
Saying it out loud is not about complaining or fixing everything at once. It’s about creating space for honesty, for curiosity, and for compassion. In movement and in life, naming what we are thinking allows us to move forward with greater ease and authenticity.
So this week, I invite you to reflect on your own story. What is your relationship with your body, your work, your art, or your wellness journey? Speak it, all of it, write it, bring it to light.
Does your story, your words, support you today, or does it hinder your growth? If it is the latter, what words and emotions do you need to release to support your well-being and move forward?
Stretching alongside you,
Amy
