Stories have always been my teachers. They've carried me through moves across continents, through becoming a mother in a foreign country, and through all the quiet moments when I've had to rebuild who I thought I was.

What I've learned is this: having someone really listen to your story—not to fix it or judge it, but to help you see what's already there—can change everything.

So, this is the beginning of The Narrative Trade Circle.

Here's the deal:

You share a story with me. Any story from your life—a turning point, something that's been sitting with you, a moment that shifted something inside you.

In return, I set aside a full hour of my time as a narrative coach with you. We'll sit together (virtually) and explore your story. What patterns do you see? What's it telling you about who you are now? Where might it be pointing you next?

No preparation needed. No perfect storytelling required. Just you and whatever story wants to be told.

Why am I doing this?

Because I believe our stories matter—even the messy ones, especially the buried ones. And sometimes we need another person to help us see what our own experiences are trying to teach us.

I also know that sharing stories can feel scary. Maybe you're thinking your story isn't interesting enough, or it's too painful, or what's the point of digging up the past anyway?

Here's what I've learned: the stories we hesitate to tell are often the ones we most need to explore. Not because we need to fix anything, but because when we give voice to our experiences, we often discover wisdom we didn't know we had.

How it works:

1. Share your story - Submit 200-500 words (or a 2-5 minute voice recording) through a simple form

2. Book your session - You'll get a link to schedule a 60-minute conversation with me

3. Explore together - We'll look at your story from different angles, find the threads that matter

4. Take it with you - After our session, I'll send you a summary of what we discovered together

If you're comfortable with it, I might ask to include an anonymous piece of your story in a collection I'm building. But that's completely up to you.

Not sure what story to share?

Sometimes the "right" story is obvious. Sometimes it's not. Here are some gentle ways to think about it:

• What's a moment when someone was unexpectedly kind to you?

• Tell me about a time when something ended before you were ready

• What's a conversation that's stuck with you?

• When did you choose a path that surprised people (maybe even yourself)?

• What's something that happened years ago that you're still trying to make sense of?

• Share about a dream that isn't unfolding the way you hoped

• What's a story about grief, loss, or deep disappointment?

• When did you feel completely free and joyful?

Really, any story that feels alive for you right now. Trust that instinct.

A story from me:

I was working late one day, racing against time to pick up my son from preschool. My husband was overseas for work, so it was just me juggling everything. I was stressed, feeling guilty, and frantically messaging the teachers that I'd be late.

Then a friend who was also picking up his daughter texted: "I got your son. I'll drop him at your place."

I was still in my meeting when I read it, but I nearly cried. Not because I was grateful (though I was), but because I realised how hard it had become for me to accept help. I'd gotten so used to handling everything myself that when someone stepped in, it almost felt foreign.

Looking back, that moment showed me how tightly I'd been gripping control in every area of my life. My story about being self-reliant was both my strength and my cage. Sometimes the smallest gestures crack open the biggest realisations.

What you can expect from our session:

• Space to talk through your story without judgment

• Questions that help you see familiar experiences in new ways

• Recognition of patterns you might not have noticed

• Language for things that have been hard to name

• A clearer sense of how this story connects to who you're becoming

A few important things:

• Your privacy matters. Nothing gets shared without your explicit permission, and anything that is shared will be completely anonymous.

• This isn't therapy. I'm not trying to fix anything or dig into trauma. We're simply exploring what your story might be teaching you.

• No story is too small. Sometimes the most ordinary moments hold the deepest insights.

When and how:

I open The Narrative Trade Circle every few months and work with up to 8 people each time. This ensures I can give proper attention to each story and each person.

To join, simply fill out a brief form where you can share your story and what drew you to this exchange.

The next circle will open in October 2025.

Ready to trade?

You don't need to have it all figured out. You don't need to be a good storyteller. You just need to be willing to share something real.

If you're reading this and feeling a little tug, like maybe you have a story that wants to be heard, that's probably your answer.

Share Your Story

The Narrative Trade Circle is my way of honouring the stories that shape us. In a world that often rushes past our experiences, this is an invitation to pause, to be witnessed, and to discover what you already know.

"I had to work late on this particular day and was approaching the cut-off time to fetch my son from his preschool. With my husband overseas for work, I was the sole caregiver.

A mixture of frustration and guilt was building as I contacted the preschool teachers to inform them I'd be late.

All of a sudden, a friend who was also fetching his daughter messaged that he had picked up my son and would drop him off at our place.

Still in my meeting, I couldn't explain the mix of emotions washing over me. I wasn't used to getting help. Nor accepting it.

But in that moment, I realised I needed that support — and that it was okay."

— From Weiwei, true story!

Universal Echoes

Many of us grow up learning that independence is strength. That carrying things alone is simply part of becoming capable, reliable, worthy.

But sometimes, it’s the small, quiet moments of letting go. Of saying yes to help. That opens the door to a different kind of strength.

The story we tell ourselves about self-reliance can be both empowering and limiting. In surrender, we don’t lose ourselves. We make space for connection, trust, and a renewed way of being strong.

Open Space

• Where in your life have you been carrying the weight alone, even when help was available?

• How has your story about independence shaped your relationships—with others, and with yourself?

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This story was shared as part of the Narrative Trade Circle, a space where people offer a story from their lives in exchange for a narrative coaching conversation. Stories are shared with permission, and identifying details are changed to respect privacy.

Stories we've inherited.

Stories we've learned to tell ourselves.

Stories that once protected us—but now might be quietly shaping our lives in ways we no longer choose.

Narrative coaching is a practice rooted in the belief that these stories matter. It invites us to become aware of the personal narratives that shape how we see ourselves, relate to others, and make decisions. And then, gently, it offers the possibility of rewriting them.

I'm a certified narrative coach through The Moment Institute, and I can tell you: this approach changed how I work with people, and also how I live my own life.

What Narrative Coaching Is

Developed by Dr. David Drake at The Moment Institute, narrative coaching works with the stories people tell about themselves and their lives. Unlike approaches that focus mainly on setting goals or following step-by-step plans, narrative coaching focuses on being fully present with people as they explore their stories and discover new possibilities.

Put simply, narrative coaching helps people make meaningful changes by becoming more aware of the stories that shape their lives and learning how to reshape those stories when needed.

At its heart, narrative coaching is about:

• Being present: Paying full attention to what's happening in the moment rather than following a rigid plan

• Seeing the whole picture: Looking at someone's complete story—past experiences, current situation, and future hopes

• Doing just enough: Supporting people in finding their own insights rather than telling them what to do

• Working with the now: Recognising that real change happens in the present moment, when we see our stories in a new light

What Narrative Coaching Is Not

To better understand this approach, it helps to know what narrative coaching is not:

• It's not following a cookbook of techniques or exercises

• It's not mainly about setting targets or creating action plans

• It's not just analysing stories intellectually without involving feelings or experiences

• It's not the coach directing or controlling someone's journey

• It's not something that only happens during scheduled sessions

My Personal Journey

Narrative coaching freed me from rigid structures. It gave me permission to move beyond frameworks and formulas, and instead trust what naturally emerges in conversations. It taught me to listen more deeply—to words, yes, but also to silence, body language, and the deeper meanings hidden beneath the surface.

This approach has carried me through different seasons of life: across countries, through career changes, and into those quiet moments when life doesn't offer simple answers. It's shown me that the stories I live by can change, and that I have a voice in how they unfold.

How Narrative Coaching Works

Rather than starting with an agenda, narrative coaches meet people exactly where they are. We begin with presence. We listen. We notice what's said and unsaid. And we invite curiosity about the stories that rise to the surface.

Through thoughtful conversations, people often find clarity, insight, and a new sense of possibility—not by trying to be someone else, but by reconnecting with who they already are beneath the noise.

Why It Matters

In a world that loves quick fixes, narrative coaching offers something different: a space to pause, reflect, and reimagine. It respects the richness of human experience and works with life's natural flow rather than forcing it into a box.

The stories we tell ourselves shape everything—our relationships, our work, our sense of what's possible. When we become aware of these stories and learn to work with them thoughtfully, we open doors that might otherwise remain closed.

As I bring narrative coaching into my work, I hope to offer others what it's offered me: a chance to pause, reflect, and reimagine. To notice the stories that no longer serve us. To honour the ones that do. And to create new ones that feel more true.

If this resonates with you—if you're in the middle of a life chapter that feels uncertain, challenging, or in transition—I hope this gives you a glimpse of what narrative coaching can offer.

Because your story is still being written.

And in the telling, you find yourself.