ATLANTA: It's not what happens to you in life that is most important. What is most important is who you become because of it according to Ria Story, author of Bridges Out of the Past: A Survivor's Lessons on Resilience
"Ria's vulnerability and larger than life attitude is magnetic. She is not just a survivor but a woman that thrives, as evidenced by her courage to live out her dreams in spite of what she endured," said Debi Markland, Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank.
Story was recently invited to deliver a powerfully inspiring TEDx talk where she shared her horrific #MeToo story and how she learned not only to survive, but also to thrive in spite of her past. On February 9th and 10th, 2018, Story will facilitate a resilience workshop for women based on Bridges Out of the Past near Atlanta, GA.
"I am using your material to empower myself and my female clients. Thanks for sharing your story and a wonderful journey of growth," said therapist Sue Quigley.
"My father began sexually abusing me when I was 12 years old. It progressed as I got older, to the point of forcing me to play the role of his wife and sharing me with others. I left home at 19 to escape, leaving without a job, car, or even a high school diploma. Yes, we are changed by what happens to us in life. But, we decide how," said Story.
This message is resonating. Story received the following review from Madeleine Black, author of "Unbroken": "Ria...is full of hope and inspiration, and she shows us that despite experiencing horrific trauma as a young adult, that if we choose to, we can get past anything with the attitude that we bring to our life."
Speaker, Author, and Survivor Ria Story's 4 Steps to Building a Bridge Out of the Past and Into the Future:
Story says, "We can learn to overcome challenges, obstacles, and adversity in life by building a bridge out of the past and into the future." Story provides her "RISE" blueprint for building that bridge:
1.Respond Proactively. We can't always control what happens in life, but we can control what we think, feel, and what we do about what happens in life. Reconcile with the past, so you can let go of it. We can't move forward toward tomorrow if we won't let go of yesterday.
2.Identify Accurately. Where are you? Where do you want to go? How will you get there? Resilient people identify where they are, where they want to go, and then identify the steps they must take in order to move forward from where they are to where they want to be.
3.Step Forward Consistently. If a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, you can't just take the first step and stop. You must step forward consistently each and every day. If you want to conquer the challenge, conquer each moment. Conquer enough moments, and you will have conquered the challenge.
4.Experience Joy. Joy isn't a product of our circumstances. It's not just an emotion we can feel. It's a choice we must make. Choosing joy is the ultimate expression of being proactive. Our happiness in life isn't dependent on external conditions. Certainly, it might be easier to be joyful when things are going well. But, it's not impossible to be joyful when they aren't.
"I get up every day and decide to be better because of my past, instead of being bitter about it. So can you," Story remarked.
