“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” ~Maya Angelou Whether I’m writing my own life stories or helping others write theirs, I’m amazed at how often we allow our experiences to define us. We might label ourselves as “survivors” who had the courage to overcome a personal challenge or tragedy. Or we might see our bad fortune as an excuse to throw a pity party. Writing about our lives (in a private journal or a workshop) motivates us to take a closer look at how far we’ve come. We can view negative experiences from a fresh…