When the Story You’ve Always Known Isn’t the Whole Story

Hey friends,

I’ve been thinking about this one ever since we finished recording. Lisa Sugarman and I connected on a level that felt strangely familiar – not just because we both lost a parent young, but because we both carried a version of our story for years before learning it wasn’t the whole truth.

In Lisa’s case, the shift came 35 years after her father passed away. One question. One moment. And suddenly, the narrative she had built her life around collapsed. What followed was a second wave of grief, a new identity, and eventually, a mission.

There’s something so human about this kind of unraveling. The way we protect ourselves from pain until we’re ready. The way silence can shape an entire lifetime. And the strange relief that can come from finally speaking the truth out loud.

Here are a few things I’m still sitting with after our conversation:

• The story you’ve told yourself isn’t always the full story – and that’s okay.

• Grief doesn’t run out. It just changes shape.

• Sometimes you find your purpose through the very thing that once broke you.

• Sharing your story might just be the thing that saves someone else.

Lisa is now doing powerful work as an advocate, counselor, and founder of The HelpHUB. But what stuck with me most was her honesty.

The way she let herself feel it all. The anger. The guilt. The love.

And then chose to show up anyway.

You can hear the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts or at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com.

If it resonates, send it to someone who needs it. Or just hit reply. I’d love to know what it brought up for you.

Matt

PS: During a long weekend trip in May, I created a short-form podcast, “It’s Okay If…” Each episode is under three minutes long and provides a permission slip to simply be human. I’d be honored if you subscribed to the show. New episodes are released every Wednesday at noon ET.

Subscribe to “It’s Okay If…”