We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sara Correll. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sara below.

Sara, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.

I was torn between this topic and “The Story behind the Mission” as it was through my personal suffering that connected me to the Veteran and First Responder community – as there is a lot of suffering in silence. Our Protectors are not protected from all the horror they experience, and are dying by suicide at an alarming rate. There are many reasons why Veterans and First Responders are not going for help as there tends to be a stigma attached to needing mental health support. There is also concern that there will be negative consequences if they share with someone in their agency that they are not doing well. Sadly, there are still practices where those who protect us do not feel supported by their agencies and our society, which can add to the stress they already carry. The Power of Our Story is a place of safety where our Protectors can come and connect in our community. It is a judgment free zone and are with others that “get it.”

What I have always believed is that we are not meant to waste our suffering and we heal in community, especially a safe community where we can share our stories. When we share our stories, and when we listen to other people’s stories, it is scientifically shown to start a holistic healing effect for the mind, body, soul and spirit. Sharing stories in a community is powerful as people realize they are not alone, they are not crazy, and they gain insight into their own suffering and story while building connection and community. People also get to the point where they desire to help others by sharing their own story. This helps the storyteller and the listener heal, connect, and gain insight.

The Power of Our Story has weekly virtual Coffee and Conversation groups. Many participants have started facilitating their own groups with their own flavor. We have storytelling groups for all Protectors, Veterans, First Responders, connection groups, a Faith based group, a Journaling group, and a Families of the Fallen group. We continue to grow. We have a book called, Wounds to Wisdom: Healing Through Veteran and First Responder Narratives – by Sara Correll and 29 authors.

Healing through community and storytelling is so basic and yet so powerful. I have so many stories of people telling me that these groups have not only saved their life, but they end up going back to school, starting a new mission, getting a renewed vision, healing relationships in their lives, and so many other positive stories due to healing in a community of safety and connection through storytelling.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

At a time when I was a mom of three young sons, and a fourth son on the way, I lost my dad to suicide. It
blindsided me as I had absolutely no clue that this was coming. It rattled me to the core,
and I have never been the same since. This was over 20 years ago. One of the issues
that haunted me all this time is what deep suffering he must have been going through to
think that taking his own life was better than living, and that there was no solution to what
he was going through. I thought that I would end up feeling even more lonely and rejected if I shared
my grief and story openly as people tend to feel very uncomfortable with suicide and don’t know what to do
with it. I felt that many who did know me, wanted me to get back to my old
self more quickly. But that person was changed. My old life didn’t fit anymore. Through my faith, God gave me
the strength to keep taking one step at a time forward and be the best mom I could be
for my kids, but I was still unsettled. I needed to do something with my grief and
suffering in service to others and not waste it! That is when a Veteran shared his story
with me. I got very curious and wanted to know more. I was so detached to those who
protect and serve, and didn’t know so many were suffering! Then I got connected to
First Responders and the story was the same. How could this be? How could we train
people so young to win wars and face people at their very worst every day, and not take care of
their mental health like we do their physical health? So many questions I had. It seemed
wrong to me that civilians were not part of protecting those who protect us.
I wanted to create healing in community through shared stories to help the
healing process in a judgment free zone. I am so grateful to see so much healing and hope come from this. I have
seen people go back to school and the creative processes start unfolding. I have seen
people feel like they belong again and genuinely cheer one another on. This solidified and validated my WHY. I am so proud of everyone who keeps showing up for others even though they are now doing really well.

I invite new storytellers on our groups that have been to the depths of despair and are now thriving, come share their stories of recovery and what modalities they have used along the way. I then open the group up for discussion so that growth and insight happens. It is also a time where new friendships are forged.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My own resilience was a very hard road to get to. Losing my father to suicide is what I incorporate into The Power of Our Story. First off, when I was suffering in silence on this lonely journey, I knew I needed an outlet so I started a book club of healing and found other women that were also suffering. We met together weekly for 3 hours, 9 months total. I cherished that time! It was a place where I could really be open and find relief for my pain and try to make meaning of what happened with others that wouldn’t judge me. As time went on, I knew I wanted to do something with all that I experienced and learned from the suffering, and decided in 2020 when the world shut down, that I was going to go on LinkedIn and invite Veterans to have a virtual Coffee and Conversation with me and others. The first call I had two visitors, the next week I had more. Now we have over 300 recorded stories, and well over 1000 stories that haven’t been recorded for safety. It is truly a place where people are feeling safe, connecting, sharing stories, and healing. This has taken my own healing and resilience to a whole new level as I realized that I can do really difficult things. It also taught me that I have the courage to take steps into the unknown where I could potentially fail, or I could succeed in helping others!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

In the Veteran and First Responder space, I am with a culture that understandably has a tough time with trust. They have seen horrific things that no human should see, especially not over and over again. I believe that people feel cared about. I see it as an honor to hold such a sacred space for them. People know it when someone feels that their people are more important than making a name for themselves or other self serving motives. They know it. I believe that is why we have built a culture of trust on The Power of Our Story platform.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thepowerofourstory.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/thepowerofourstory
• Facebook: facebook.com/ThePowerOfOurStory
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/the-power-of-our-story
• Twitter: twitter.com/ThePowerofOurS1
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@thepowerofourstory

Image Credits
Brooke Preece Portrait