Do you have a secret that you’re ashamed to share with others? It might be something that happened in your childhood or something you’ve done or something that you’ve been through. You keep this secret to yourself because you’re afraid of other people finding out about it. You’re scared that if people find out, they will look down on you or realize that you don’t really have it all together. You’re terrified they will discover you’re not perfect.

But sharing your story is truly one of the most powerful (and empowering) things you can ever do.

Have you noticed that when someone shares something with you that makes them vulnerable, you suddenly feel closer to that person? It’s a classic finding in research on romantic relationships: vulnerability builds closeness and trust. When you put yourself out there and someone reciprocates by supporting you and perhaps even sharing something from their own experiences, you feel closer to that person.

Yet so many of us feel far away from each other. We’re disconnected. We put up walls and facades; we wear masks to keep people from seeing our imperfections.

But it’s your imperfections that make you special. Your faults provide you with an avenue to connect with others.

It took me five years to get up the courage to write my book, The Antidepressant Antidote. Why? I was terrified of people finding out that I had taken antidepressants for six years. What would my colleagues think? What would my extended family think? What would my friends think? For years, I suffered in silence because I didn’t want people to think I was crazy.

But guess what?

I finally summoned up the courage to share my story, and not one person has told me they think I’m crazy. Instead, people are thanking me from the bottom of their hearts for sharing what I went through, because my story helps them feel less alone.

Think about it. What were ancient humans doing when they weren’t hunting, eating, or mating? They sat around a fire and shared stories. It’s our stories that help us connect. People don’t love you for being perfect. They love you for being you.

During an interview about my book, the radio show host started out by saying how happy he was that I was so open about my experiences. He said, “Many people out there say they’re an expert in something when all they’ve really done is study a topic. You are truly an expert. Not only have you researched this topic, but you’ve lived it.”

Know that you, too, are an expert at what you’ve been through. Don’t be afraid to share your expertise with others. You don’t need a Ph.D. to tell your story.

In his book Monetize Your Passion, Rich German talks about how the old model of the perfect guru who sits up on a pedestal and teaches his disciples is dead. A new type of guru (a “nuru,” if you will) is emerging. This nuru is open, raw, and not afraid to admit she has faults. She shares her experiences and helps others who are going through what she’s been through. She might not heal you overnight, but her story helps you feel less alone on your journey. This vulnerability makes her real and relatable.

So, please, drop the facade, take off the mask, and share your story below. You never know whom you might heal.

Bethany Butzer, Ph.D. is an author, speaker, researcher, and yoga teacher who helps people create a life they love. Check out her book, The Antidepressant Antidote, follow her on Facebook and Twitter, and join her whole-self health revolution.

If you’d like tips on the topic of manifesting your dream job, plus some personal instruction from Bethany, check out her online course, Creating A Life You Love: Find Your Passion, Live Your Purpose and Create Financial Freedom.

*Photo Credit: nancypeske