The Plus One Theory

Episode 29: Everyone has a story that can change lives, including yours.

• Pam Dwyer • Season 1 • Episode 29

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We explore the transformative power of storytelling and how writing about our most painful experiences can lead to profound healing, both for ourselves and others. Your unique perspective and voice matter, even if your story isn't polished or perfect.

• Start your author journey with journal notes and voice recordings
• Visualize painful memories as scenes from a movie to recall details
• Share your story through social media posts, conversations, and networking events
• Focus on momentum rather than perfection—write one scene daily without editing
• Embrace vulnerability as strength—people connect with your scars, not your perfection
• Your struggles give you purpose and unique abilities to help others
• Writing leads to unexpected opportunities in speaking, podcasting, and coaching
• Small acts of kindness create ripple effects of positive change

Support the Plus One Theory podcast by sharing episodes with friends, donating to the book campaign at PamDwyerSpeaker.com, or joining the Seeger Circle Support Group on Tuesday, July 1st at 6pm Central to hear part two of my talk on motivation for weight loss surgery.

As promised, here's the link for my bestselling book,
"From the Piney Woods"!


Be a Guest on The Plus One Theory Podcast!

Are you someone who believes in the power of kindness, resilience, and intentional growth? Do you have a story about how small, meaningful steps have made a difference in your life or career?

I’d love to invite you to share your journey on The Plus One Theory Podcast!

This podcast is all about exploring how we can apply the Plus One Theory to create ripples of positivity and purpose in our personal and professional lives. I’m especially excited to feature guests who work in heart-centered careers—nurses, teachers, counselors, nonprofit leaders, caregivers, or anyone who dedicates their energy to helping others.

Your story could inspire listeners who are navigating their own challenges and looking for ways to take that next small step forward. Whether you’ve used kindness to overcome adversity, found strength in vulnerability, or applied intentional action to make an impact in your community, I want to hear from you!

Interested? Here’s How to Reach Out:

  • Email me with a brief introduction about yourself and your story.
  • Let me know how the Plus One Theory has played a role in your life or career.

Order "From the Piney Woods" 2nd Edition today!

Speaker 1:

Welcome back to the Plus One Theory podcast. I'm your host, pam Dwyer, and today this is the second episode on the series. So you Want to Be an Author? Today we're going to talk about the power of your story. So have you ever thought about writing a book? Maybe you've been through something hard, something messy, and maybe you're still in it. But here's what I've learned People don't just want to hear the success stories, you know. People want to hear the truth. The story is power, your story and today I'm going to tell you how becoming an author started with my own pain and how telling it helped me heal and it helped others too heal and it helped others too. So just the plus one theory reminder we don't leap to the finish line. We move one small, intentional step at a time. This episode is that next step, for you and for me.

Speaker 1:

So again, let's talk about where it all began. For me, it was therapy and my journal notes. That was the start for me, writing a book. And my therapist would always say, after reading my journal notes, you should write a book, pam. It really planted a seed in my heart and soul. Am it really planted a seed in my heart and soul? Because after she said that and I started focusing on some things that I'm going to share with you in a minute, I started feeling vulnerable and the imposter syndrome set in. But then I thought if my story could help just one person, then it was worth it.

Speaker 1:

Your story doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to be yours and someone out there needs to hear it. Some people are afraid that no one will even care about their story. Or some people feel that they're not qualified to write a book or share a message and they worry. It has already been said by someone else, but let's think about this. Let's reframe that way of thinking. Okay, so you do have strengths in a lot of areas and it all comes from your story, the story of your life. So you have lived experience that's unique. That's yours. It's not like anyone else's. No one else has your voice, your lens, your heart, and the right people will resonate if you share with intention. So let's talk about strategy, strategy, offline strategy.

Speaker 1:

You don't start with a book. It doesn't magically just appear and there it is. I'm going to put it up on Amazon. I'm going to upload it now. It's not like that. You start with your voice right. So I know what I did. I recorded my voice reading my journal notes because I wanted to hear me saying what my feelings were.

Speaker 1:

And then I started thinking, wow, these are just basically my memories. You know, the memories from my childhood which, I will tell you, at first was sort of tough to remember. All the details of abuse, all the details of, you know, dysfunction, abandonment, all those terrible things that I experienced growing up. I started seeing them as scenes from a movie, right, and that helped me remember a lot more detail, which it can be painful, folks. I'm going to be honest with you. It was painful for me to relive those moments that I tried to block out. In a strange sort of way, it really helped me heal, and I didn't realize it until I started visualizing these scenes from my life. I didn't realize how much it was holding me back. You know, healing from that allowed, it opened up a whole new world for me. It allowed all my strengths to come out and I didn't realize I had so many of them. I had a lot of gifts that I needed to share with all of you.

Speaker 1:

So, anyway, so if you are having trouble or struggling remembering details, start writing out scenes like from a movie. You know from your life. Share a post or a story on social media or in a group and every chance you get, when you're with friends or when you're at an event networking for your own business or your own job, mention that you have a story to tell. You can actually talk and share your story. It's so much more authentic when you speak your story.

Speaker 1:

Writing it is important, but speaking it is more important. Keep it low pressure right. Don't pressure yourself. You don't want to get stressed out about it. The goal is momentum, not mastery.

Speaker 1:

Start by writing one scene from your life that changed. You Don't edit it, don't polish it. You just write what you're thinking and feeling and remembering, and do that at least once a day. In two weeks, three weeks, four weeks time, whatever, go back to the beginning and start reading it like you would read a book, and you'll see the story. You'll see it just unfolding before your very eyes.

Speaker 1:

Now you do have to be vulnerable to be able to reflect on some difficult times struggles, but I promise you your struggles do give you strength. So to make yourself vulnerable is your power. People connect with your scars, not your perfection. Telling your truth makes people uncomfortable sometimes, but it also created a tribe of people who finally felt seen. Storytelling is how we build bridges, and vulnerability doesn't make you weak. It gives you well, it gives your voice strength. I mean, I've experienced that myself many, many times and I've shared my story with a lot of you, but maybe this is your first time listening in and I come from a very abusive childhood Abandonment, physical abuse and mental trauma and so there's a lot.

Speaker 1:

If you are curious about it, I've written it in great detail in my book from the Piney Woods and I write my as PJ Hamilton. So if you would like the link to the book, I'm happy to put it in the notes today and you can just click on it and order your copy. To put it in the notes today and you can just click on it and order your copy. Or you can read an ebook if you're an ebook reader. And just so you all know, I am working on the Audible. Everyone's been asking for one for me to record the book, and so I had to figure that out, had to figure out how to record an Audible, and it's actually it's easier than I thought it would be and I already have the equipment here from my podcasting. So so stay tuned for that. I'll announce it when it's when it's available.

Speaker 1:

So let's talk about transformation and outcomes and making people want more once they hear your story. So after I shared my story from the Piney Woods, people reached out to say they felt like I had written their story, their own story. And that's when I knew that writing isn't about being impressive. Right, you don't have to impress people with your writing. It's all about being real, genuine. It's about showing people that they're not alone and inviting them to do the same for others.

Speaker 1:

Because that's how I healed. I didn't heal from just remembering my own story. I healed by sharing the story and helping others find their own strengths. Helping others heal with their own stories. Confidence it gave me confidence. Confidence is something you don't realize you have until you know you try something and then you succeed. It works. That's a confidence building exercise for you To succeed at something that means a lot to your heart. This story is what made me who I am today. So do I wish I didn't have to go through all that? Yeah, yeah, I do. I look at it as energy and as purpose. That's how I use that story. My story. What's purpose? My purpose is to share the story and help others realize their strengths and how they can use them to help other people too.

Speaker 1:

So you know how I feel about kindness, and I'm sure many of you have heard about paying it forward. Right Like I was in the Starbucks line getting a coffee and when I pulled up, she says the car in front of you paid for your coffee. I was like what? I don't even know them, they don't know me, but they decided they'd buy me a cup of coffee just because Now, that's kindness. And how long did it take them? Did it take them days and days and days? No, it literally took them a few seconds to make an impact on me. The rest of my day, the rest of my week was amazing because someone showed kindness to me, and I'm sure they were feeling good too. I'm sure they were feeling like huh, she didn't even know that was coming and now she has a free cup of coffee. So it made them feel good about themselves.

Speaker 1:

I just love kindness. I wish the whole world would just be kind, and a lot of people are. A lot of the world is kind, but a lot of the world is not. And so the kindness, the power of kindness, should be shared one step at a time, one kind act at a time. From sharing your story, you heal, and you heal for yourself and for others. Help others heal, the confidence you get. You didn't even know you had it.

Speaker 1:

New opportunities, like you can use it for speaking, podcasting, coaching and so much more Webinars. That's what I'm currently working on. I'm trying to develop a system and be more organized and thorough in my message and getting it out to the masses, because my goal is to help as many people as I can, but I can't do that without speaking or podcasting or coaching, so I'm really focused on coaching. Right now. I'm going to start offering some really cool deals for people to work with me one-on-one and I'm very, very excited about it. So that's an announcement. It's not I'm not quite ready to launch that idea just yet, but just know I'm working on it. And then, finally, you know, like I mentioned earlier, purpose. You activate your purpose, the reason you're on this earth.

Speaker 1:

A lot of times, people have no clue what their purpose is. They don't know what they want. They don't know who they are. A lot of women who are so busy taking care of everyone else taking care of the kids, taking care of the spouse, taking care of your co-workers or your team at work. Women, we do so much. Men do too. Don't get me wrong, but I'm just saying. It seems like a lot of women lose sight of their identity because they're just too busy taking care of everyone else, and I realized that myself. Well, that's another story. I need to save all this for you guys.

Speaker 1:

Sometimes I sit here and think what do I want this podcast episode to be about? How can I help just one person with this episode? And I sit there and think and I just go through the scenes of my life and I pick something that I learned a valuable lesson with and share it with you guys. So if this message has moved you today or you got a golden nugget from it that's going to help you in your life, I invite you to support the work I'm doing, one small step at a time. When you share this podcast with someone, it is supporting my work. It is supporting my message.

Speaker 1:

I've put several ways that you can support me. There's a book campaign that's about to end any day at the end of this month, so be sure and go to PamDwyerSpeakercom and click on the crowdfunding button and donate $5, $10, $15, $20, $200, $500, $1,000, whatever you are able to do, just to show me that you appreciate the message and that you want to help me get the Plus One Theory book published. And if you can't do that, well then, prayer is good and sharing this podcast with people is really good too. So you don't have to write the whole book today. You don't need a perfect plan. You don't need a perfect plan. You just need the courage the courage to start telling the truth To yourself first and then to others. That's where the magic is.

Speaker 1:

Stay tuned for next week, where we're going to dive into the tools and the platforms that I use as an author, from Amazon, royalties to events, marketing and building a reader community. That's my goal. It's just to grow my audience, grow the number of people that I can help by telling my story, writing my story, sharing my story. It's a testimony, people, it's a way to honor all that you've been through and all that you've learned. I mean, that's why we go through these trials is so that we can help others going through similar trials. All right, so you guys, take care. Remember to share this episode with as many people as you can, and I will talk to you next week. Thanks for listening. Hey, you just thought you got rid of me.

Speaker 1:

I have another announcement For all of you walking your own health and wellness journey. I've been invited to speak for the Seeger Circle Support Group hosted by Seeger MD Wellness and Weight Management, and I'd love for you to join me. This incredible group is a space for anyone navigating weight loss, wellness or post-bariatric life. Than Dr Mickey Seeger and Dr Jennifer Seeger, or Dr Jenny as I call her a powerhouse duo with over 40 years of combined experience. They're board-certified physicians that don't just focus on the scale. They focus on you as a whole. At SeegerMD, they provide comprehensive care that includes everything from bariatric surgery and personalized medical weight management to nutritional coaching, hormone therapy, stress management and a lot more. Whatever it takes for you to be the healthiest you.

Speaker 1:

And this Tuesday, july 1st, at 6 pm Central, I'll be joining the Seeger Circle live to show part two of my talk on the three M's of weight loss surgery, this time focusing on motivation, how to sustain it and how to keep going even when it gets very difficult. I'll be sharing stories, answering questions and bringing the Plus One Theory to life, for anyone who needs a reminder that they can finish stronger than they started, one step at a time. If you're not already on my email list, head to pamedwirespeakercom right now and sign up. That's where I'll be sharing the Zoom link and event info. Let's grow, learn and take that next plus one step together. Okay, I'm really leaving now. Talk to you next week or maybe on Tuesday, july 1st, at 6 pm.