February 22, 2024 • 35 mins
Have you ever considered how the twists and turns of your personal journey have led you to where you stand today? Sit down with Lyvita Brooks and her storytelling coach, Valeria Elliott, as they embark on a poignant exploration of the essence of our personal narratives and their profound impact on our lives. This episode isn't just a chat; it's a deep dive into the heart of our identities, spotlighting the significance of understanding and sharing our stories—not as exhaustive life summaries but as a tool to learning more about self and how we can help others.
This episode elevates the art of the elevator pitch to an essential skill for anyone looking to leave a lasting impression. Whether you're seeking to captivate potential collaborators or simply longing to express your journey with more clarity, our conversation offers invaluable insights. As you listen, feel the warmth of encouragement to write your own story. So, join us—pause, reflect, and be inspired to articulate your life's narrative with the same conviction and clarity shared in this soulful exchange with Lyvita Brooks and Valeria Elliott.
Resources Mentioned on the Episode and suggested reading & social media handles:
Calls to Action:
· Sign up for The Me Project Academy Newsletter for resources on decluttering your mind in order to grow in Christ, academy news and new releases of the podcast.
· Website: www.hangingoutwithjesuspodcast.com
· support@themeprojectacademy.com (for comments)
· YouTube Channel: Hanging Out With Jesus Podcast
Thanks for listening. I pray this episode was a blessing to you. Leave a comment or rate this episode . Then pass it on. Share this link: https://lyvitabrooks.com/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Lyvita (00:00):
Welcome to Hanging Out with Jesus podcast, where we
built up the broken hearted bybringing interviews, inspiration
, information and tips on how tobreak the chains of anxiety,
fear and discouragement so youcan complete the mission God's
called you to do intentionallyand daily.
(00:24):
For more resources, includingour free newsletter, visit
HangingOutWithJesusPodcastcom orclick the link in the show
notes.
Hi, I'm Labita, bible teacher,author, founder of the Me
Project Academy and your host.
(00:44):
Thank you so much for joiningme for this week's episode.
My prayer is that this messagechallenges you to get out of
whatever ruch your in and beginspending time with the Lord.
If you haven't already, I'dlove for you to go ahead and
(01:04):
subscribe to that, to thispodcast, so you can get the
latest updates from me and youdon't ever have to miss a new
episode.
This is episode 95.
I will be discussing with mystorytelling coach, valeria
Elliott why should we write ourstory Interesting, huh?
(01:28):
That discussion and more iscoming up after updates in the
Me Project Academy.
You may need your calendar forthis.
There are three things I'd liketo invite you to join me.
The first I'm going to teach aBible class for five weeks in
(01:48):
March called Facing the Unknown.
Now I've talked to you a littlebit about this last month.
This is going to begin March1st to the 29th.
It's going to be from 6.30 to8.00 pm on Friday night.
You got to register, so thisway I know how many people will
(02:08):
be attending and it's free.
So register atTheMeProjectAcademycom or click
on the link in the show notes.
Number two now for my booklovers, writers and Creatives,
february is Library Lovers'Month.
February 7th that was WorldRead-Allow Day.
(02:32):
Well, we probably missed it,unless you listen to the last
episode, but on the 12th I toldyou that I'm going to be putting
up a picture of books on ashelf and then I'm going to post
it on hashtag library shelfyday.
(02:52):
That's library S-H-E-L-F-I-Eday, so I hope to see some of
your pictures up there.
Valeria (03:01):
So let me know.
Lyvita (03:02):
You can contact me at support at
TheMeProjectAcademycom.
Third, the book I wrote with mymother's poems and reflections
Y'all guess what?
The one that's called Nuggetsfor Thought your Mother and
Daughters Collection of Poems,reflections and Flash Fictions
of the Life they See it has wonanother award.
(03:26):
We are finalists in the CanExcellence and Marketing Award,
y'all.
So pick it up If you get thechance.
It's also on the ebook so youcan find out more about that.
And when you do, make sure youwrite that review.
If you are new to this podcast,welcome.
(03:46):
If you want more informationabout what we do in the Academy,
make sure you subscribe to ouremail community.
The link is in the show notes.
Now come walk with me where weintentionally and daily hang out
with Jesus.
Lord, thank you for allowing usto be in your presence once
(04:09):
again and together for such atime as this, to talk about
developing our story, which hasbeen especially designed by you.
I have invited Valeria Elliott.
How you doing.
Valeria (04:28):
I am great, I am so good.
Some of you may know me as Ms Vthe Storyteller, so if you see
me and you'll see oh wait, aminute, that's really I'm the
same person.
Ms V the Storyteller.
Podcast.
Ms V the Storyteller, or mybirth given name Valeria.
Lyvita (04:46):
Now, saints, we're going to be talking about our story.
We're going to talk about theday, the importance of it.
We're going to talk about howto even get started in writing
your story.
And I'm not talking about yourbiography.
I'm talking about a story whereyou can say, in less than two
(05:07):
minutes, you can say in lessthan seven minutes, valeria, why
is it important that writers,even musicians and artists, why
is it important that we be ableto tell our story quickly?
Valeria (05:24):
Well, the main reason is when you know your story, it
helps you to understand whyyou're wired or the way you are.
Most people, when you saysomething about their story,
immediately they think abouttheir job or what they do as an
artist, a writer or a doctorallawyer or whatever.
That's a benefit of your story.
(05:46):
Your story is things thathappen to you in the past that
made you make decisions, thinkcertain ways.
All those things crafted youinto the amazing person you are
today.
If you were not to be a lawyeror a writer or actress or
anything, you would still bethat person.
(06:07):
So that is your story knowingwho you really are.
For instance, my story is losingmy voice early, at the age of
six.
That shaped my life.
It literally shaped thedecisions that I made in my life
, my self-esteem.
It shaped a lot, but then Iovercame those things and now
(06:31):
before you, you see the amazingwoman that I am.
Because if you roll the filmback or if you go back to
chapter one, you will see awhole different person.
So that's why I take peopleback and I'm like, okay, there
are some things that happenedback then that made you the way
you are.
If you are a first child andyou have siblings.
(06:54):
That made you a leader becauseyou had to help your parents
raise those little ones.
If you are abused, that made youthink a certain way about
yourself and the world.
Because of what someone did toyou, you have a different way of
seeing other people.
So going back and for somepeople it's kind of hard,
(07:16):
especially if it is somethingdifficult, like abuse or
something difficult but it alsohelps you to understand who you
are.
So that is why it's importantthat you know your story, not
just for other people but foryourself.
I'm telling you I understand mea lot better Because I thought
(07:39):
something was wrong with me.
I felt something when I wentback and God said I want your
story.
I was like so I thought thatway.
That's why I was that way.
But if I had never gone back, Iwouldn't have realized that
there's nothing wrong with you,you're all right girl, you are
(07:59):
fine.
So it is so important that youknow your story and that's what
I try to do is help people tofind and I call it your
fingerprint story because it'suniquely yours, it's only yours,
you're the only one with thatfingerprint, you're the only one
with that story you may havegone through the same thing as
somebody else, but yourexperience is totally different
(08:21):
than the other person because ofthe characters in your story,
because of the people, the wayyou thought is different, so it
makes it your fingerprint story.
Lyvita (08:32):
I like how you say your fingerprint story, because there
are things in our past that mayhave broken our heart or may
have caused us to fear where,when it comes down to doing our
writings or even being a goodartist, those things can hold us
(08:54):
back.
So if we know our stories, thenwe can take those particular
things and use it to our benefit, because God takes all of us,
every piece of us, and uses itfor his glory.
So we shouldn't be allowingwhat we consider to be the
(09:17):
negative things of our lives tohold us back.
Valeria (09:21):
Right, we use them as stepping tools.
Right, we use them as steppingtools.
For instance and this is agreat example for me as being
someone who lost a voice, whostopped talking at the age of
six, for 18 years not talkingAlthough there was a negative
experience for me because I wentthrough a lot when you don't
talk and you are fluffy, shy andan introvert and all that
(09:45):
people are mean.
However, I've overcome that,but I'm drawn to those people,
those quiet people.
They need me because I can goto them.
I know what they're feeling.
I know what they're thinking.
So that negative is now positive, because I know I can spot them
a mile away.
Oh, I'm going right over to her.
(10:05):
Hey, how you doing.
You know you're not going tosit in this corner by yourself.
I'm going to be your friendtoday and that's what I do,
because I know how it feels.
I know, to be somewhere and notto feel like you are part of
anything.
You're just there becausesomebody made you come and you
don't want to be there becauseyou don't feel good about
(10:26):
yourself.
So I be lying to those people.
I will go to them and I will betheir friend.
I will talk to them just sothat they can feel good about
themselves.
So that's something that I'velearned and I've turned it into
a positive where it was anegative for so many years.
Lyvita (10:42):
Oh wow.
Can your story change, like indifferent seasons?
Valeria (10:48):
Yes, your story will change, because the more you get
to know about yourself andunderstand who you are, your
decision making will definitelychange, the decisions that you
make, the way that you think.
It's going to change, becauseyou understand why, for me,
losing my voice is.
Now I'm better at making achoice, meaning I don't always
(11:15):
lose my voice.
It's a choice, meaningsometimes you just don't need to
say anything, like God fightyour battles.
So that's a choice, whereasbefore I never talk, so I wasn't
going to say anything anyway.
But now if I choose not to talk,it's because it's not even
worth my breath.
That person is not worth myenergy.
(11:35):
God will fight my battle andI'm making a choice not to talk.
Now there are times when I needto speak up and I'll say what I
need to say, because I nolonger have lost my voice.
But I have to do it in a waythat is, they can receive it
without me attacking them,without me coming at them in a
(11:57):
negative way, and I want to cometo them in a way that they will
receive what I have to say.
So just making sure that youknow I know the reason why I'm
making that choice, because if Ididn't know myself, then I
would be still not talking.
Lyvita (12:18):
Oh right right right and I like how you said that
because of your experience,you're not able to help others,
and that's one of the things Iknow as Christian writers and
musicians and artists.
We do want to help others.
We know that God has given usthese gifts and talents to be
(12:42):
used not just for us but alsofor others, and I like how you,
how you, how you if you seesomeone in the corner.
Valeria (12:51):
Yeah, I'd be lying to you.
But the thing about that is, ifI hadn't done the hard work and
forgave people and went backand did some things that I
needed to do to get some help tounderstand meaning, you know, I
had no self-esteem becausepeople were always mean to me.
You know, I turned it to acusser out.
(13:12):
I was cussing people out.
When God gave me my voice backand I prayed and I asked the
Lord to give me my voice back.
I was cussing people out in thename of the Lord and so I had
to go back and ask the Lord togive me a medium, because I
didn't want to walk around beingso angry, but I had to go back
and do some forgiveness.
I had to go back and forgivepeople that mistreated me, the
(13:34):
bully who kept ramming me into alocker and physically bullying
me.
I had to forgive him.
I had to forgive my parents forcertain things that happened to
me.
And once I was able to, youknow, do that work and get my
heart.
Right now, when I go to somebodywho feels that way, I can
authentically help them becauseI've done the work, because if,
(13:55):
let's say, you're a musician andyou see someone and they are
like, just like you, but ifyou're still broken broke people
can't help broke people.
So you are drawn to them andthey're gonna be just as broke
as you.
They're gonna be a greatmusician, you can teach them the
technical part and all thosethings, but they're gonna be a
broke up hat mess, just like you.
(14:15):
But if you are healed and youare, you've done the work and
you see that thing in them like,oh my God, they're going in the
same road that I went through.
But I went down that road but Igot myself together, then you
would be a great mentor to themand you would be able to go and
help them.
You're just like I was at thatage.
I know what you're goingthrough, I know how you feel.
(14:37):
I don't want you to make themistakes that I've made and let
me share with you my story ofhow I overcame those things and
then you'll be able to help them.
But you gotta do the work, yougotta go back, you gotta find
your story and you have to dowhere.
If it's healing that needs tobe done, heal.
If it's forgiveness, forgiveWhatever those things you need
to do so that you're healthy inhelping other people and not
(15:01):
gonna broke their hat mess.
Trying to help somebody andturning them into a broken hat
mess.
Lyvita (15:08):
So how do we start developing our story?
Valeria (15:13):
Well, one of the major things you do is you have to go
back and you have to think thereis something significant in my
life that happened.
There are some things thathappened to me when I was
growing up.
Usually it's about six, sevenor eight.
Things start to happen, like,for instance, for me, my dad was
a yeller.
He yelled all the time and bythe time I turned six years old
(15:36):
it started to really affect mein a way where I just didn't
want to be yelled at anymore.
So I was like just don't talk,don't say anything.
I mean he could just be yelling, but you just.
But I learned how.
I taught myself how to takewhat people are mean to me just
don't say anything.
And that taught them how totreat me, because now I can say
(15:56):
anything I want to her.
She ain't gonna say nothing.
I can lie on her like mysiblings did, because I wasn't
gonna say anything, I wasn'tgonna fend for myself, I'm just
gonna be quiet.
I taught myself that.
So it's a lot of things thathappened because of that.
I had no self-esteem.
People mistreated me, bulliedme and all of those things
because of that.
But I went back and I was likethat's why.
(16:19):
Now you can understand, whenyou lose your voice, how many
negative things can happen toyou by one choice.
If you are a older, if you'rethe oldest like my sister, is
the oldest her experiencesbecause to this day she still
thinks she's in control andshe's the boss of us.
Because my mom, when my parentsdivorced and my mom had to work
(16:44):
, she was the oldest, so she wasput in charge over us.
So because of that, the waythat she thinks she still likes
to tell people what to do, shestill likes that.
But that started back then whenshe was a little girl and my
mom put her in charge over us.
Now my brother I have a youngerbrother because I'm number
(17:06):
three is four of us.
He hated that.
He absolutely hated.
So when he had children, nobodywas in charge, nobody told
anybody what to do and see, hisdecision came from back there
because of her actions.
It made him make a decisionthat when he became an adult he
(17:27):
was not everybody's in controlof themselves.
You know what you're supposedto do and what you're not
supposed to do.
That his oldest son.
No, you don't tell my kids whatto do.
I'm their father.
You are not their father.
So because of that now you seewhat I'm talking about.
When you go back and things thataffect you when you're younger,
it makes you set up in yourmind and you make those other
(17:52):
decisions based on what happened.
So you got to go back and thinkabout those things.
Was it a divorce?
Was it, you know?
Or maybe because you was raisedin a loving home?
You had a mother and a fatherwho loved you, so now you just
love on other people.
But because your heart is sonourishing and loving, people
(18:13):
have a tendency to takeadvantage of you, because you
see the good in everything, evenbad people.
You see the good.
Oh no, she and you make excusesfor people's bad behavior
because you were raised with somuch love and all that, and it's
nothing wrong with that.
However, people will mistreatyou or people will use you
(18:34):
because of your heart, becauseyou have such a kind and loving
heart, but it's because of yourparents, and so that means that
you have to do a little bit ofwork and say, yes, I want to
keep my kind and loving heart,but I don't want people to walk
all over me.
I don't want to make excusesfor bad behaviors when somebody
is, you know, acting a certainway, I need to say, okay, well,
(18:57):
what they doing is not right.
God, you need to help them, andthere are people that you
shouldn't be around because ofthe way that they are.
But you have that loving, kindheart and you're just like, oh,
they'll be okay and they'll beall right.
Nope, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Right, so now you see what Imean.
You go back and you startthinking about those things and
(19:17):
you'll get it.
You're like, because I wasteaching one of my class and
when people get it like you didwhen I was, when we were doing
our session.
You got it.
You was like I know what it is.
I know exactly what it is andwhen you start your journey, god
would give it to you.
And one of my classes, one ofmy students well, quite a few of
(19:42):
them.
They were struggling with thisand I call it finding your why.
And she was struggling.
I mean, she was reallystruggling and I gave them an
example and I gave them myexample.
When I gave them my example,she said I know exactly what it
was.
She was the oldest of sixchildren and she said I know
(20:05):
exactly why I'm the way that Iam Because my mom put me in
charge of all those kids andeverybody came to me.
She has multiple businesses.
Yes, she has more than onebusiness.
Yes, everybody comes to her andshe's a leader because of back
(20:29):
then, wow.
And then she started to thinkabout it and she was like that's
why when I was in high schoolthat happened, or that's why
when I was in college, the samething, because my mind is always
I'm in charge, I have to fix it, I have to take care of
(20:50):
everybody, because back then sothat is when you start you go
back and it really does help you.
Lyvita (20:58):
So it can, it can help you also find your call oh yeah,
it really does.
Valeria (21:05):
It helps you to go back and, oh and God, he'll reveal
it to me.
To you, because the God had totell me that I was going to be a
storyteller and that he wantedme to help people find their
stories, and all that.
God revealed that to me.
However, when I look at my past, I see that I was already doing
this, because when I taughtschool, I used to make up
(21:26):
stories all the time.
I remember one day a parentcame to me and asked me where
she could buy the book, becausethe kids like the story that I
made up so much.
Every time we had story timebecause I had the little ones I
had.
I went from kindergarten up tothe second grade.
Every time, you know, they werealways asked for this
particular story and I was likewhat story are you talking about
(21:48):
?
And she started doing and I putaction to it, so the kids come
home and things like their mouthand their ears or whatever.
And she said you know the storywith that.
And I was like oh, ma'am,that's not a book.
I made that up.
She said what?
Every night, he wants me toread the book.
And I was like and then God waslike okay, that's what you used
to do.
But then when you moved on,whenever someone came to you for
(22:10):
advice, you always shared apersonal story with them to give
them examples, and I was likeyou know what I used to do?
I did that all the time.
It's like my office was alwaysthat door, that when somebody
had an issue or a problem, theywould come to my door and they
would tell me their problem andI will always give them a story,
(22:31):
not facts, and you know youneed to do this, this, this and
this.
I was like girl when thathappened to me, because it
happened to me.
Let me tell you what I did andthey remember and they learn
from it.
So I understood how powerfulsharing stories is.
But God had to show me thatyou've always been doing that.
Baby, that's a part of your lifeyour great grandfather
(22:52):
instilled in you because he usedto tell us stories, riddles,
rhymes all the time as littlekids.
He put that in you and youloved it.
You started to love it becauseevery time you saw him, you
would ask him can you tell me astory, or can you tell me a
riddle, or can you do this everytime you saw him.
That's what you did.
(23:13):
You always wanted to hear itand so and then he all got also
showed me he was like you alwayslike to hang around older
people, because older peopletell you stories.
You would sit with your grandma, you would sit with your
aunties, your great grandfather,and they would just tell you
stories and you just absorbed it.
(23:34):
So God showed me this is whoyou've always been.
You just didn't know that thisis the direction that I wanted
to take you.
You can see how, when you goback, it's like oh my God, I've
been doing this my whole lifeand not knowing so.
Even when I was a cosmetologist, I graduated fast I was still a
(23:55):
storyteller.
When I worked in the schoolsystem, I became a teacher I was
still a storyteller, All ofthose things.
And that's why I say yourprofession is not really who you
are.
It's a benefit, because Godshowed me all the way through
you.
If you're a leader, you alwaysgoing to be a leader, yeah, no
matter where you work.
(24:16):
So that's who you are.
That's the part of yourfingerprint story.
Lyvita (24:21):
So, so, so creative.
We've learned here three thingsKnowing your story is a
reminder of who God's made youto be and that it is powerful.
Your story is powerful andknowing your story can lead to
your calling.
And knowing your story meansyou also have to hang out with
(24:43):
Jesus in order to get the truth,because perspective is
everything, it is everything.
So do you have anything youwant to add to that?
Valeria (24:55):
Well, one of the things I want to make sure that you
understand when you write yourstory.
If you're someone who, everytime you sit down to write your
story, you start talking aboutyour profession, it is something
that you really need to go toGod and ask God, because what
you've done is you've lost youridentity as who you are, as a
(25:16):
person, and not your profession.
This weekend, I had a meetingwith a potential guest.
She's going to be on my podcastand we were talking, and so I
asked her.
I said well, she has somethingpersonal about yourself.
She had the hardest time.
She couldn't do everythingcircle back to, around to her
(25:37):
profession, which she did and Isaid to her I said you have a
hard time separating the personfrom the profession.
She's a doctor, not a physician, but her, you know, she's a
doctor of, I can't remember whatit is, but anyway and she
started to cry because shedidn't.
(26:00):
She was like, oh my God, youare so right, because every time
, the whole conversation alwaysled back to her work, her job,
and I said you need to be ableto separate the two, because if
you were no longer working whereyou worked indeed, what you do,
you do you would still be theperson that you are.
So you got to make sure thatyou can separate the two and say
(26:25):
to yourself like LaVita, youknow your story, you understand
why you are the way that you are, because we got there.
We got there and she understoodit.
She was like that's, that'sright.
That is why and you can, that'syour fingerprint story.
That is who you are, but itdidn't have anything to do with
(26:48):
what you do for a professionuntil later when you became the
educator and all that that camelater.
But all your decision makingskills and all that was driven
by your fingerprint story.
So you got to be able toseparate the two.
So I'm going to try.
Lyvita (27:06):
I'm going to try my elevator.
Valeria (27:09):
Your elevator pitch.
Elevator pitch is when, let'ssay, you're on an elevator with
a potential investor, you have abusiness and you need to sell
that person something.
You don't want to get up thereand tell them all your letters
behind your name and all thatstuff.
What you want to do is you wantto give them a lot of a
sentence to a person personallyabout yourself, to make an
(27:31):
impression so they'll rememberyou.
Because 900 people come at themall at one time telling them,
oh, I got this great investor orI got this and whatever.
They don't make an impressionbecause they're used to hearing
it.
But when you share your a littlebit of your fingerprint story
and you go on there and you saywhen I start out, why I can talk
from the age of six until I was23.
(27:51):
That's left an impression onsomebody.
Immediately they're like what?
And you're talking to me now?
Yes, that's why I'm talking toyou.
So you share a little bit ofyourself and then at the end,
like that last sentence or yourlast two sentences, is what you
share, what you really need.
So elevator pitch is like twominutes tops from the floor to I
(28:13):
don't know the eighth floor andyou need to be able to get in
and quick and out.
So that's what she's talkingabout.
An elevator pitch is somethingyou just you got to be able to
pitch it, but you want them toknow something personal about
you, to leave an impression andto make a connection.
Lyvita (28:28):
I'm going to read mine.
Okay, mine is still workingprogress.
Valeria (28:33):
When you read your, did I do mine right after, so they
can see this.
Okay, okay, okay.
Lyvita (28:37):
Okay, I'm an only child, birth from the love of college
sweetheart.
I grew up surrounded byeducator, social workers,
entrepreneurs and church boys,brought up by my mom, a creative
, peak PE teacher, who was myinspiration and competition.
(29:00):
There lies the complexity of.
Hawaii.
Valeria (29:06):
That's good, oh, that's good.
But because in her hook Ialways say a hook, her hook,
like my hook, would be me losingmy voice at the age of six.
Her hook is when she said Icame in competition with my mom.
If you were, if somebody toldyou that, that that's a hook,
(29:27):
because you're, like you're good, hooked on that one sentence.
She was in competition with hermother.
I want to know more.
That is your hope.
So when I say I lost my voiceat the age of six and didn't get
it back until I 23.
That's a hook, because now youwant to know.
But you standing in front ofall of us talking, you teaching
(29:47):
us a class, you doing all that,what?
That's a hook.
People wanna know more.
So I'll do my elevator pitch.
I'm like, listen, when I was sixyears old I stopped talking and
I did not get my voice backuntil I was 23.
And let me tell you, I wentthrough some stuff physically
bully.
People talked about me.
They would talk up down to meat like I didn't exist.
(30:10):
I had no self esteem.
But when I became 23, I becamea Christian and God gave me my
voice back.
Now it wasn't all way in a goodway, because I went from not
talking to custom people out andI realized that that wasn't
good.
Even because of all those yearsthat I was not talking, all I
(30:32):
encountered was negative stuff,people mistreating me and
talking to me in a kind of way.
So I became those people.
But I went back on my knees andGod gave me a medium.
Now it ain't always 50-50,because you catch me on a bad
day like anybody else, because Imight come up, but without cuss
words.
But the non-talker, I don't lether out unless it's by choice.
(30:57):
And then God said I want you tobe a storyteller.
And now I'm a storyteller and Ihelp people and I need you to
help me to be able to help otherpeople.
So that's my elevator pitch.
Wow wow, I'm with you.
I want to know more.
And my story it depends on myaudience.
Who I'm in front of I may sharemore or less.
It just depends on where I amLike.
(31:20):
I may share the completebullying story or I may breeze
over it, depending on myaudience.
How can people get in contactwith you?
So my podcast is Ms Vila'sStoryteller Podcast and on my
podcast what I do is I havewomen entrepreneurs who come on
to share their stories and whatthat does is it helps us to.
(31:42):
It encourages us when we seethat other people have been
through some of the things thatwe've gone through and that
we've come out.
But if somebody is goingthrough something that we went
through, it encouraged them andinspires them to move forward
and they can learn tips andtools, how we overcame whatever
we went through.
So it's a great platform forwomen to come on and just share
(32:04):
stories and tell people theirhardship, things that they've
been through.
But also it helps them to beable to share, to get it out,
because we may know our storybut if you don't tell your story
, what's the point?
So that I also coach and doone-on-one coaching.
I have one online classes andall of that is on my website is
(32:29):
MsVTheStorytellerco.
Is that simple?
You can follow me on Instagram,facebook, also on TikTok and on
LinkedIn, and all of that isMsVTheStoryteller podcast.
I mean MsVTheStoryteller.
Lyvita (32:48):
Okay, so, saints, take some time to carve out time to
write your story today, and ifyou need help, you know who to
contact.
I'm gonna put Valeria'sinformation in the show notes.
So, valeria, can you pray usout?
Valeria (33:05):
I'm sure, father God, please bow your heads or close
your eyes.
Listen.
If you're all driving, don'tfollow that instruction.
You're looking at the video.
Why are you driving?
Don't do that, okay, just dowhatever you need to do.
But anyway, father God, we justthank you, lord God, for LaVita
, for sharing her gifts andtalents with us.
(33:26):
We thank you, lord God, forgiving her this platform to
utilize to help people, toencourage people, to lift people
up.
We thank you for her listeners.
To help her listeners tounderstand the creativity is so
important and knowing ourstories is so important.
So, father God, I pray forthose anyone who's out there
(33:50):
that's gonna start their storythat you will drop those things
on them, bring memories to themso that they can understand who
they are.
We pray these and all blessingsthrough your son Jesus Christ's
name.
We pray amen.
Lyvita (34:04):
Amen, amen, amen.
Thanks for listening.
If you enjoyed this episode,then please consider subscribing
to the podcast, Rating andRevealing it.
This helps in moving it forwardto being heard by more
believers.
Also, if you haven't done so,get your free Twice in Month
(34:25):
newsletter to keep up with newreleases of the podcast and the
Me Project Academy activitiesthat we discussed earlier All
focus on helping you decoloryour mind, make sense of your
heartaches and improve yourself.
Talk so you can go and do whatGod's called you to do.
All this and more can be found,including my contact
(34:49):
information on hanging out withJesus podcast or the show notes.
So until we meet again on theairway, intentionally and damn,
hang out with Jesus, Shalom,jesusfloodcom.
Welcome to Hanging Out with Jesus podcast, where we
built up the broken hearted bybringing interviews, inspiration
, information and tips on how tobreak the chains of anxiety,
fear and discouragement so youcan complete the mission God's
called you to do intentionallyand daily.
(00:24):
For more resources, includingour free newsletter, visit
HangingOutWithJesusPodcastcom orclick the link in the show
notes.
Hi, I'm Labita, bible teacher,author, founder of the Me
Project Academy and your host.
(00:44):
Thank you so much for joiningme for this week's episode.
My prayer is that this messagechallenges you to get out of
whatever ruch your in and beginspending time with the Lord.
If you haven't already, I'dlove for you to go ahead and
(01:04):
subscribe to that, to thispodcast, so you can get the
latest updates from me and youdon't ever have to miss a new
episode.
This is episode 95.
I will be discussing with mystorytelling coach, valeria
Elliott why should we write ourstory Interesting, huh?
(01:28):
That discussion and more iscoming up after updates in the
Me Project Academy.
You may need your calendar forthis.
There are three things I'd liketo invite you to join me.
The first I'm going to teach aBible class for five weeks in
(01:48):
March called Facing the Unknown.
Now I've talked to you a littlebit about this last month.
This is going to begin March1st to the 29th.
It's going to be from 6.30 to8.00 pm on Friday night.
You got to register, so thisway I know how many people will
(02:08):
be attending and it's free.
So register atTheMeProjectAcademycom or click
on the link in the show notes.
Number two now for my booklovers, writers and Creatives,
february is Library Lovers'Month.
February 7th that was WorldRead-Allow Day.
(02:32):
Well, we probably missed it,unless you listen to the last
episode, but on the 12th I toldyou that I'm going to be putting
up a picture of books on ashelf and then I'm going to post
it on hashtag library shelfyday.
(02:52):
That's library S-H-E-L-F-I-Eday, so I hope to see some of
your pictures up there.
Valeria (03:01):
So let me know.
Lyvita (03:02):
You can contact me at support at
TheMeProjectAcademycom.
Third, the book I wrote with mymother's poems and reflections
Y'all guess what?
The one that's called Nuggetsfor Thought your Mother and
Daughters Collection of Poems,reflections and Flash Fictions
of the Life they See it has wonanother award.
(03:26):
We are finalists in the CanExcellence and Marketing Award,
y'all.
So pick it up If you get thechance.
It's also on the ebook so youcan find out more about that.
And when you do, make sure youwrite that review.
If you are new to this podcast,welcome.
(03:46):
If you want more informationabout what we do in the Academy,
make sure you subscribe to ouremail community.
The link is in the show notes.
Now come walk with me where weintentionally and daily hang out
with Jesus.
Lord, thank you for allowing usto be in your presence once
(04:09):
again and together for such atime as this, to talk about
developing our story, which hasbeen especially designed by you.
I have invited Valeria Elliott.
How you doing.
Valeria (04:28):
I am great, I am so good.
Some of you may know me as Ms Vthe Storyteller, so if you see
me and you'll see oh wait, aminute, that's really I'm the
same person.
Ms V the Storyteller.
Podcast.
Ms V the Storyteller, or mybirth given name Valeria.
Lyvita (04:46):
Now, saints, we're going to be talking about our story.
We're going to talk about theday, the importance of it.
We're going to talk about howto even get started in writing
your story.
And I'm not talking about yourbiography.
I'm talking about a story whereyou can say, in less than two
(05:07):
minutes, you can say in lessthan seven minutes, valeria, why
is it important that writers,even musicians and artists, why
is it important that we be ableto tell our story quickly?
Valeria (05:24):
Well, the main reason is when you know your story, it
helps you to understand whyyou're wired or the way you are.
Most people, when you saysomething about their story,
immediately they think abouttheir job or what they do as an
artist, a writer or a doctorallawyer or whatever.
That's a benefit of your story.
(05:46):
Your story is things thathappen to you in the past that
made you make decisions, thinkcertain ways.
All those things crafted youinto the amazing person you are
today.
If you were not to be a lawyeror a writer or actress or
anything, you would still bethat person.
(06:07):
So that is your story knowingwho you really are.
For instance, my story is losingmy voice early, at the age of
six.
That shaped my life.
It literally shaped thedecisions that I made in my life
, my self-esteem.
It shaped a lot, but then Iovercame those things and now
(06:31):
before you, you see the amazingwoman that I am.
Because if you roll the filmback or if you go back to
chapter one, you will see awhole different person.
So that's why I take peopleback and I'm like, okay, there
are some things that happenedback then that made you the way
you are.
If you are a first child andyou have siblings.
(06:54):
That made you a leader becauseyou had to help your parents
raise those little ones.
If you are abused, that made youthink a certain way about
yourself and the world.
Because of what someone did toyou, you have a different way of
seeing other people.
So going back and for somepeople it's kind of hard,
(07:16):
especially if it is somethingdifficult, like abuse or
something difficult but it alsohelps you to understand who you
are.
So that is why it's importantthat you know your story, not
just for other people but foryourself.
I'm telling you I understand mea lot better Because I thought
(07:39):
something was wrong with me.
I felt something when I wentback and God said I want your
story.
I was like so I thought thatway.
That's why I was that way.
But if I had never gone back, Iwouldn't have realized that
there's nothing wrong with you,you're all right girl, you are
(07:59):
fine.
So it is so important that youknow your story and that's what
I try to do is help people tofind and I call it your
fingerprint story because it'suniquely yours, it's only yours,
you're the only one with thatfingerprint, you're the only one
with that story you may havegone through the same thing as
somebody else, but yourexperience is totally different
(08:21):
than the other person because ofthe characters in your story,
because of the people, the wayyou thought is different, so it
makes it your fingerprint story.
Lyvita (08:32):
I like how you say your fingerprint story, because there
are things in our past that mayhave broken our heart or may
have caused us to fear where,when it comes down to doing our
writings or even being a goodartist, those things can hold us
(08:54):
back.
So if we know our stories, thenwe can take those particular
things and use it to our benefit, because God takes all of us,
every piece of us, and uses itfor his glory.
So we shouldn't be allowingwhat we consider to be the
(09:17):
negative things of our lives tohold us back.
Valeria (09:21):
Right, we use them as stepping tools.
Right, we use them as steppingtools.
For instance and this is agreat example for me as being
someone who lost a voice, whostopped talking at the age of
six, for 18 years not talkingAlthough there was a negative
experience for me because I wentthrough a lot when you don't
talk and you are fluffy, shy andan introvert and all that
(09:45):
people are mean.
However, I've overcome that,but I'm drawn to those people,
those quiet people.
They need me because I can goto them.
I know what they're feeling.
I know what they're thinking.
So that negative is now positive, because I know I can spot them
a mile away.
Oh, I'm going right over to her.
(10:05):
Hey, how you doing.
You know you're not going tosit in this corner by yourself.
I'm going to be your friendtoday and that's what I do,
because I know how it feels.
I know, to be somewhere and notto feel like you are part of
anything.
You're just there becausesomebody made you come and you
don't want to be there becauseyou don't feel good about
(10:26):
yourself.
So I be lying to those people.
I will go to them and I will betheir friend.
I will talk to them just sothat they can feel good about
themselves.
So that's something that I'velearned and I've turned it into
a positive where it was anegative for so many years.
Lyvita (10:42):
Oh wow.
Can your story change, like indifferent seasons?
Valeria (10:48):
Yes, your story will change, because the more you get
to know about yourself andunderstand who you are, your
decision making will definitelychange, the decisions that you
make, the way that you think.
It's going to change, becauseyou understand why, for me,
losing my voice is.
Now I'm better at making achoice, meaning I don't always
(11:15):
lose my voice.
It's a choice, meaningsometimes you just don't need to
say anything, like God fightyour battles.
So that's a choice, whereasbefore I never talk, so I wasn't
going to say anything anyway.
But now if I choose not to talk,it's because it's not even
worth my breath.
That person is not worth myenergy.
(11:35):
God will fight my battle andI'm making a choice not to talk.
Now there are times when I needto speak up and I'll say what I
need to say, because I nolonger have lost my voice.
But I have to do it in a waythat is, they can receive it
without me attacking them,without me coming at them in a
(11:57):
negative way, and I want to cometo them in a way that they will
receive what I have to say.
So just making sure that youknow I know the reason why I'm
making that choice, because if Ididn't know myself, then I
would be still not talking.
Lyvita (12:18):
Oh right right right and I like how you said that
because of your experience,you're not able to help others,
and that's one of the things Iknow as Christian writers and
musicians and artists.
We do want to help others.
We know that God has given usthese gifts and talents to be
(12:42):
used not just for us but alsofor others, and I like how you,
how you, how you if you seesomeone in the corner.
Valeria (12:51):
Yeah, I'd be lying to you.
But the thing about that is, ifI hadn't done the hard work and
forgave people and went backand did some things that I
needed to do to get some help tounderstand meaning, you know, I
had no self-esteem becausepeople were always mean to me.
You know, I turned it to acusser out.
(13:12):
I was cussing people out.
When God gave me my voice backand I prayed and I asked the
Lord to give me my voice back.
I was cussing people out in thename of the Lord and so I had
to go back and ask the Lord togive me a medium, because I
didn't want to walk around beingso angry, but I had to go back
and do some forgiveness.
I had to go back and forgivepeople that mistreated me, the
(13:34):
bully who kept ramming me into alocker and physically bullying
me.
I had to forgive him.
I had to forgive my parents forcertain things that happened to
me.
And once I was able to, youknow, do that work and get my
heart.
Right now, when I go to somebodywho feels that way, I can
authentically help them becauseI've done the work, because if,
(13:55):
let's say, you're a musician andyou see someone and they are
like, just like you, but ifyou're still broken broke people
can't help broke people.
So you are drawn to them andthey're gonna be just as broke
as you.
They're gonna be a greatmusician, you can teach them the
technical part and all thosethings, but they're gonna be a
broke up hat mess, just like you.
(14:15):
But if you are healed and youare, you've done the work and
you see that thing in them like,oh my God, they're going in the
same road that I went through.
But I went down that road but Igot myself together, then you
would be a great mentor to themand you would be able to go and
help them.
You're just like I was at thatage.
I know what you're goingthrough, I know how you feel.
(14:37):
I don't want you to make themistakes that I've made and let
me share with you my story ofhow I overcame those things and
then you'll be able to help them.
But you gotta do the work, yougotta go back, you gotta find
your story and you have to dowhere.
If it's healing that needs tobe done, heal.
If it's forgiveness, forgiveWhatever those things you need
to do so that you're healthy inhelping other people and not
(15:01):
gonna broke their hat mess.
Trying to help somebody andturning them into a broken hat
mess.
Lyvita (15:08):
So how do we start developing our story?
Valeria (15:13):
Well, one of the major things you do is you have to go
back and you have to think thereis something significant in my
life that happened.
There are some things thathappened to me when I was
growing up.
Usually it's about six, sevenor eight.
Things start to happen, like,for instance, for me, my dad was
a yeller.
He yelled all the time and bythe time I turned six years old
(15:36):
it started to really affect mein a way where I just didn't
want to be yelled at anymore.
So I was like just don't talk,don't say anything.
I mean he could just be yelling, but you just.
But I learned how.
I taught myself how to takewhat people are mean to me just
don't say anything.
And that taught them how totreat me, because now I can say
(15:56):
anything I want to her.
She ain't gonna say nothing.
I can lie on her like mysiblings did, because I wasn't
gonna say anything, I wasn'tgonna fend for myself, I'm just
gonna be quiet.
I taught myself that.
So it's a lot of things thathappened because of that.
I had no self-esteem.
People mistreated me, bulliedme and all of those things
because of that.
But I went back and I was likethat's why.
(16:19):
Now you can understand, whenyou lose your voice, how many
negative things can happen toyou by one choice.
If you are a older, if you'rethe oldest like my sister, is
the oldest her experiencesbecause to this day she still
thinks she's in control andshe's the boss of us.
Because my mom, when my parentsdivorced and my mom had to work
(16:44):
, she was the oldest, so she wasput in charge over us.
So because of that, the waythat she thinks she still likes
to tell people what to do, shestill likes that.
But that started back then whenshe was a little girl and my
mom put her in charge over us.
Now my brother I have a youngerbrother because I'm number
(17:06):
three is four of us.
He hated that.
He absolutely hated.
So when he had children, nobodywas in charge, nobody told
anybody what to do and see, hisdecision came from back there
because of her actions.
It made him make a decisionthat when he became an adult he
(17:27):
was not everybody's in controlof themselves.
You know what you're supposedto do and what you're not
supposed to do.
That his oldest son.
No, you don't tell my kids whatto do.
I'm their father.
You are not their father.
So because of that now you seewhat I'm talking about.
When you go back and things thataffect you when you're younger,
it makes you set up in yourmind and you make those other
(17:52):
decisions based on what happened.
So you got to go back and thinkabout those things.
Was it a divorce?
Was it, you know?
Or maybe because you was raisedin a loving home?
You had a mother and a fatherwho loved you, so now you just
love on other people.
But because your heart is sonourishing and loving, people
(18:13):
have a tendency to takeadvantage of you, because you
see the good in everything, evenbad people.
You see the good.
Oh no, she and you make excusesfor people's bad behavior
because you were raised with somuch love and all that, and it's
nothing wrong with that.
However, people will mistreatyou or people will use you
(18:34):
because of your heart, becauseyou have such a kind and loving
heart, but it's because of yourparents, and so that means that
you have to do a little bit ofwork and say, yes, I want to
keep my kind and loving heart,but I don't want people to walk
all over me.
I don't want to make excusesfor bad behaviors when somebody
is, you know, acting a certainway, I need to say, okay, well,
(18:57):
what they doing is not right.
God, you need to help them, andthere are people that you
shouldn't be around because ofthe way that they are.
But you have that loving, kindheart and you're just like, oh,
they'll be okay and they'll beall right.
Nope, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Right, so now you see what Imean.
You go back and you startthinking about those things and
(19:17):
you'll get it.
You're like, because I wasteaching one of my class and
when people get it like you didwhen I was, when we were doing
our session.
You got it.
You was like I know what it is.
I know exactly what it is andwhen you start your journey, god
would give it to you.
And one of my classes, one ofmy students well, quite a few of
(19:42):
them.
They were struggling with thisand I call it finding your why.
And she was struggling.
I mean, she was reallystruggling and I gave them an
example and I gave them myexample.
When I gave them my example,she said I know exactly what it
was.
She was the oldest of sixchildren and she said I know
(20:05):
exactly why I'm the way that Iam Because my mom put me in
charge of all those kids andeverybody came to me.
She has multiple businesses.
Yes, she has more than onebusiness.
Yes, everybody comes to her andshe's a leader because of back
(20:29):
then, wow.
And then she started to thinkabout it and she was like that's
why when I was in high schoolthat happened, or that's why
when I was in college, the samething, because my mind is always
I'm in charge, I have to fix it, I have to take care of
(20:50):
everybody, because back then sothat is when you start you go
back and it really does help you.
Lyvita (20:58):
So it can, it can help you also find your call oh yeah,
it really does.
Valeria (21:05):
It helps you to go back and, oh and God, he'll reveal
it to me.
To you, because the God had totell me that I was going to be a
storyteller and that he wantedme to help people find their
stories, and all that.
God revealed that to me.
However, when I look at my past, I see that I was already doing
this, because when I taughtschool, I used to make up
(21:26):
stories all the time.
I remember one day a parentcame to me and asked me where
she could buy the book, becausethe kids like the story that I
made up so much.
Every time we had story timebecause I had the little ones I
had.
I went from kindergarten up tothe second grade.
Every time, you know, they werealways asked for this
particular story and I was likewhat story are you talking about
(21:48):
?
And she started doing and I putaction to it, so the kids come
home and things like their mouthand their ears or whatever.
And she said you know the storywith that.
And I was like oh, ma'am,that's not a book.
I made that up.
She said what?
Every night, he wants me toread the book.
And I was like and then God waslike okay, that's what you used
to do.
But then when you moved on,whenever someone came to you for
(22:10):
advice, you always shared apersonal story with them to give
them examples, and I was likeyou know what I used to do?
I did that all the time.
It's like my office was alwaysthat door, that when somebody
had an issue or a problem, theywould come to my door and they
would tell me their problem andI will always give them a story,
(22:31):
not facts, and you know youneed to do this, this, this and
this.
I was like girl when thathappened to me, because it
happened to me.
Let me tell you what I did andthey remember and they learn
from it.
So I understood how powerfulsharing stories is.
But God had to show me thatyou've always been doing that.
Baby, that's a part of your lifeyour great grandfather
(22:52):
instilled in you because he usedto tell us stories, riddles,
rhymes all the time as littlekids.
He put that in you and youloved it.
You started to love it becauseevery time you saw him, you
would ask him can you tell me astory, or can you tell me a
riddle, or can you do this everytime you saw him.
That's what you did.
(23:13):
You always wanted to hear itand so and then he all got also
showed me he was like you alwayslike to hang around older
people, because older peopletell you stories.
You would sit with your grandma, you would sit with your
aunties, your great grandfather,and they would just tell you
stories and you just absorbed it.
(23:34):
So God showed me this is whoyou've always been.
You just didn't know that thisis the direction that I wanted
to take you.
You can see how, when you goback, it's like oh my God, I've
been doing this my whole lifeand not knowing so.
Even when I was a cosmetologist, I graduated fast I was still a
(23:55):
storyteller.
When I worked in the schoolsystem, I became a teacher I was
still a storyteller, All ofthose things.
And that's why I say yourprofession is not really who you
are.
It's a benefit, because Godshowed me all the way through
you.
If you're a leader, you alwaysgoing to be a leader, yeah, no
matter where you work.
(24:16):
So that's who you are.
That's the part of yourfingerprint story.
Lyvita (24:21):
So, so, so creative.
We've learned here three thingsKnowing your story is a
reminder of who God's made youto be and that it is powerful.
Your story is powerful andknowing your story can lead to
your calling.
And knowing your story meansyou also have to hang out with
(24:43):
Jesus in order to get the truth,because perspective is
everything, it is everything.
So do you have anything youwant to add to that?
Valeria (24:55):
Well, one of the things I want to make sure that you
understand when you write yourstory.
If you're someone who, everytime you sit down to write your
story, you start talking aboutyour profession, it is something
that you really need to go toGod and ask God, because what
you've done is you've lost youridentity as who you are, as a
(25:16):
person, and not your profession.
This weekend, I had a meetingwith a potential guest.
She's going to be on my podcastand we were talking, and so I
asked her.
I said well, she has somethingpersonal about yourself.
She had the hardest time.
She couldn't do everythingcircle back to, around to her
(25:37):
profession, which she did and Isaid to her I said you have a
hard time separating the personfrom the profession.
She's a doctor, not a physician, but her, you know, she's a
doctor of, I can't remember whatit is, but anyway and she
started to cry because shedidn't.
(26:00):
She was like, oh my God, youare so right, because every time
, the whole conversation alwaysled back to her work, her job,
and I said you need to be ableto separate the two, because if
you were no longer working whereyou worked indeed, what you do,
you do you would still be theperson that you are.
So you got to make sure thatyou can separate the two and say
(26:25):
to yourself like LaVita, youknow your story, you understand
why you are the way that you are, because we got there.
We got there and she understoodit.
She was like that's, that'sright.
That is why and you can, that'syour fingerprint story.
That is who you are, but itdidn't have anything to do with
(26:48):
what you do for a professionuntil later when you became the
educator and all that that camelater.
But all your decision makingskills and all that was driven
by your fingerprint story.
So you got to be able toseparate the two.
So I'm going to try.
Lyvita (27:06):
I'm going to try my elevator.
Valeria (27:09):
Your elevator pitch.
Elevator pitch is when, let'ssay, you're on an elevator with
a potential investor, you have abusiness and you need to sell
that person something.
You don't want to get up thereand tell them all your letters
behind your name and all thatstuff.
What you want to do is you wantto give them a lot of a
sentence to a person personallyabout yourself, to make an
(27:31):
impression so they'll rememberyou.
Because 900 people come at themall at one time telling them,
oh, I got this great investor orI got this and whatever.
They don't make an impressionbecause they're used to hearing
it.
But when you share your a littlebit of your fingerprint story
and you go on there and you saywhen I start out, why I can talk
from the age of six until I was23.
(27:51):
That's left an impression onsomebody.
Immediately they're like what?
And you're talking to me now?
Yes, that's why I'm talking toyou.
So you share a little bit ofyourself and then at the end,
like that last sentence or yourlast two sentences, is what you
share, what you really need.
So elevator pitch is like twominutes tops from the floor to I
(28:13):
don't know the eighth floor andyou need to be able to get in
and quick and out.
So that's what she's talkingabout.
An elevator pitch is somethingyou just you got to be able to
pitch it, but you want them toknow something personal about
you, to leave an impression andto make a connection.
Lyvita (28:28):
I'm going to read mine.
Okay, mine is still workingprogress.
Valeria (28:33):
When you read your, did I do mine right after, so they
can see this.
Okay, okay, okay.
Lyvita (28:37):
Okay, I'm an only child, birth from the love of college
sweetheart.
I grew up surrounded byeducator, social workers,
entrepreneurs and church boys,brought up by my mom, a creative
, peak PE teacher, who was myinspiration and competition.
(29:00):
There lies the complexity of.
Hawaii.
Valeria (29:06):
That's good, oh, that's good.
But because in her hook Ialways say a hook, her hook,
like my hook, would be me losingmy voice at the age of six.
Her hook is when she said Icame in competition with my mom.
If you were, if somebody toldyou that, that that's a hook,
(29:27):
because you're, like you're good, hooked on that one sentence.
She was in competition with hermother.
I want to know more.
That is your hope.
So when I say I lost my voiceat the age of six and didn't get
it back until I 23.
That's a hook, because now youwant to know.
But you standing in front ofall of us talking, you teaching
(29:47):
us a class, you doing all that,what?
That's a hook.
People wanna know more.
So I'll do my elevator pitch.
I'm like, listen, when I was sixyears old I stopped talking and
I did not get my voice backuntil I was 23.
And let me tell you, I wentthrough some stuff physically
bully.
People talked about me.
They would talk up down to meat like I didn't exist.
(30:10):
I had no self esteem.
But when I became 23, I becamea Christian and God gave me my
voice back.
Now it wasn't all way in a goodway, because I went from not
talking to custom people out andI realized that that wasn't
good.
Even because of all those yearsthat I was not talking, all I
(30:32):
encountered was negative stuff,people mistreating me and
talking to me in a kind of way.
So I became those people.
But I went back on my knees andGod gave me a medium.
Now it ain't always 50-50,because you catch me on a bad
day like anybody else, because Imight come up, but without cuss
words.
But the non-talker, I don't lether out unless it's by choice.
(30:57):
And then God said I want you tobe a storyteller.
And now I'm a storyteller and Ihelp people and I need you to
help me to be able to help otherpeople.
So that's my elevator pitch.
Wow wow, I'm with you.
I want to know more.
And my story it depends on myaudience.
Who I'm in front of I may sharemore or less.
It just depends on where I amLike.
(31:20):
I may share the completebullying story or I may breeze
over it, depending on myaudience.
How can people get in contactwith you?
So my podcast is Ms Vila'sStoryteller Podcast and on my
podcast what I do is I havewomen entrepreneurs who come on
to share their stories and whatthat does is it helps us to.
(31:42):
It encourages us when we seethat other people have been
through some of the things thatwe've gone through and that
we've come out.
But if somebody is goingthrough something that we went
through, it encouraged them andinspires them to move forward
and they can learn tips andtools, how we overcame whatever
we went through.
So it's a great platform forwomen to come on and just share
(32:04):
stories and tell people theirhardship, things that they've
been through.
But also it helps them to beable to share, to get it out,
because we may know our storybut if you don't tell your story
, what's the point?
So that I also coach and doone-on-one coaching.
I have one online classes andall of that is on my website is
(32:29):
MsVTheStorytellerco.
Is that simple?
You can follow me on Instagram,facebook, also on TikTok and on
LinkedIn, and all of that isMsVTheStoryteller podcast.
I mean MsVTheStoryteller.
Lyvita (32:48):
Okay, so, saints, take some time to carve out time to
write your story today, and ifyou need help, you know who to
contact.
I'm gonna put Valeria'sinformation in the show notes.
So, valeria, can you pray usout?
Valeria (33:05):
I'm sure, father God, please bow your heads or close
your eyes.
Listen.
If you're all driving, don'tfollow that instruction.
You're looking at the video.
Why are you driving?
Don't do that, okay, just dowhatever you need to do.
But anyway, father God, we justthank you, lord God, for LaVita
, for sharing her gifts andtalents with us.
(33:26):
We thank you, lord God, forgiving her this platform to
utilize to help people, toencourage people, to lift people
up.
We thank you for her listeners.
To help her listeners tounderstand the creativity is so
important and knowing ourstories is so important.
So, father God, I pray forthose anyone who's out there
(33:50):
that's gonna start their storythat you will drop those things
on them, bring memories to themso that they can understand who
they are.
We pray these and all blessingsthrough your son Jesus Christ's
name.
We pray amen.
Lyvita (34:04):
Amen, amen, amen.
Thanks for listening.
If you enjoyed this episode,then please consider subscribing
to the podcast, Rating andRevealing it.
This helps in moving it forwardto being heard by more
believers.
Also, if you haven't done so,get your free Twice in Month
(34:25):
newsletter to keep up with newreleases of the podcast and the
Me Project Academy activitiesthat we discussed earlier All
focus on helping you decoloryour mind, make sense of your
heartaches and improve yourself.
Talk so you can go and do whatGod's called you to do.
All this and more can be found,including my contact
(34:49):
information on hanging out withJesus podcast or the show notes.
So until we meet again on theairway, intentionally and damn,
hang out with Jesus, Shalom,jesusfloodcom.
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