We often read about the wins of those who have made it. The signed deals. The finished project. The healed relationship. The breakthrough. The fun. And all the stage moments.
But the truth is, people need more than just the outcome. They need the story. They need to know what it really took.
So you’re in the spotlight, as a parent, a leader, a mentor, an influencer, sharing your behind-the-scenes is as important as sharing the success.
Share the journey as well, the nights you stayed up questioning everything. The times you felt stuck, scared, or completely unsure of yourself. The mistakes you made, the times you had to apologise, the doors that closed in your face.
We forget how much strength lives in the in-between moments, the quiet battles no one sees. And when we only share the “after”, it can make people feel like they’re failing just because they’re still in the “during.”
The people who look up to you don’t need a perfect picture. They need to know it’s normal to struggle. That growth can be uncomfortable. That patience hurts. That change is slow. But also, that it’s worth it.
When you only share the outcome, it can seem unattainable. It can feel like magic. But when you share the story, your real story, you give them a path. You hand them a lantern for their own dark roads. You let them know it’s okay to stumble, to cry, to wonder if it’s worth it, and still keep going.
Your story is a roadmap. Don’t just be their inspiration, be their example.
So be real. Be honest. Let them know you’ve been there too. Because your story, in all its messiness, might be exactly what they need to keep going.
The outcome inspires, yes. But the story teaches.
And to the children and youth out there.
Don’t be fooled by how perfect someone’s life may look on the outside. Everyone has struggles, even the people you admire or watch on social space. The difference is, some talk about them and some don’t.
And remember, when adults or older people share the whole story, the doubts, the wrong turns, the things they wish they knew, they’re not just telling you about the past. They’re handing you tools for your present. Use them wisely!
✍️ Amara Ann Unachukwu
