Review: Pain is Potential: Finding Purpose Through Your Story

Pain is Potential: Finding Purpose Through Your Story by Sophie Pham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you're looking for an inspiring story about overcoming the obstacles that life throws at you
and then turning that into fulfillment - look no further.

This is such an honest, open account from a person who has faced some incredible trials. Rape, addiction, prostitution, mental illnesses (TRIGGER WARNING, btw) - this girl has faced down some pretty fierce demons and come out victoriously on top.

Full disclosure: I know Sophie personally. But WOW. I had no idea that the woman I know had so much darkness in her past. She is a brave, kind individual and I feel so grateful to her for baring her soul to me. I never suspected just how much she's been through.

I guess that's a pretty big part of why I appreciated this story so much - you never know the stories of others, unless they are willing to share. Sophie has shared her story with the intention of helping others understand their own pain and trauma, and how it can be used to create a life of fulfillment and content.

Yes, she tells her story, but each aspect of her story is connected to the point she's trying to make - how to identify childhood pain that may have impacted you, how a person's pain can manifest, and the extent of control past pain can have on present thoughts and actions. It is structurally sound and sensible in its approach to harnessing pain to create potential.

There are a modest amount of self-help activities (something I'm notoriously bad at completing) but they involve a lot of consideration so I found that, even though I didn't write anything down, I was still developing a better sense of my own behaviours. I see a lot of sense in the ideas she proposes, so I'll likely go back and do the exercises properly when I'm a little more open.

It was also such a fast read for me - less than 24 hours - because I just latched on to everything she was saying. I know this book and its methods won't work for everyone, but this is going to be a game changer for people who want to give; people who feel like they have a greater purpose but aren't sure how to realise it. It'll be tough work, facing your truth so unconditionally, but it seems like the reward is worth it.

Sophie is now encouraging people to share their own stories and become empowered through The Introvert Project and if you're interested, you can order this book off her website.

Highly recommend for the self-help readers who need something a little grittier and more tangible. Also a fascinating and inspiring read for anyone interested in an honest account of how one girl overcame immense obstacles to become a successful businesswoman changing the world one story at a time.



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