People ask how I got into what I do and how I’ve managed to do it for so long (over 25 years). I’ve written five plays about my lived experience of bipolar disorder, anxiety, psychosis, and recovery. I present these theatrical keynotes, as well as workshops for conferences, galas, and corporations, virtually and in person across North America and beyond.
Recovery Should Come Before Public Sharing
But long before I could safely write and share my story, I needed to get past the acute stages of healing, otherwise I risked re-traumatizing myself. Any raw emotional wounds needed to be cared for in therapy and with a good treatment plan. If I were still in the tender phase of healing, journaling was healthy. Writing a story meant for the public and performing it for the public was not. Sharing lived experiences can be therapeutic, but should never be therapy.
Build a Speaking Business Slowly and with Strategy
I took things step by step so my financial and living situation remained stable. There was no quitting my day job to leap into speaking—a field I knew nothing about. Doing so would have put my health at risk. Any changes I made to my work life—or life, period—were made with intention. I weighed pros and cons, letting clarity—not impulse—guide me. I wasn’t about to sacrifice the peace of mind I’d gained for some fleeting stage time. If it felt like it was going to be too much too soon, I trusted that feeling. I stopped and made a different choice. It didn’t mean abandoning my goals—it meant pursuing them in a way that kept my mental health as a priority.
The Speaking Business Is a Business
I joined CAPS (the Canadian Association for Professional Speakers), which taught me the business of speaking. It taught me that speaking is a business. The association put me in contact with people who spoke for a living. Most members specialized in sales and motivation, but the rules for successful professional speaking careers were the same. Marketing, a solid website, good platform—or speaking—skills, and unique and useful keynotes were essential in building a career that lasted. This didn’t happen overnight, but it did have to happen. I relied on others to show me the way.
I didn’t want to “Tony Robbins-ize” my story, but I knew I needed to be business savvy. I found a way to create a sellable keynote while staying true to myself.
Get Mental Illness Out of the Shadows
There is a thirst for stories about mental illness and recovery, especially when they’re told with hope and laughter. When people relax, it’s easier to talk about difficult things. That’s the point, really—not just to get mental illness out of the shadows, but to help remove the shame and sense of isolation around it.
I don’t recommend that everyone share their story—it comes with risks. But for those who do—not necessarily in front of large audiences but perhaps to a friend—light will enter those darkened corners, and pride and resilience can shine instead.
The Impact of Encouragement
One of my first performances of Crazy for Life was at the KickstART Disability Arts Festival.
In the green room, I was sitting next to David Roche, a storyteller and actor who shares his experience of facial disfigurement. I fidgeted and picked my cuticles. David, wearing his signature purple dress shirt and suave necktie, kindly asked, “Are you performing?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Me too. I’m David,” he said, extending his hand. “I’ve been doing this for years, but I still get nervous. Excited, but nervous, too.”
He asked me about my piece and offered encouragement. He told me to persevere, to tell my story to an ever-widening audience. “We all have stories to tell and they are all—all of them—important. You’re going to do just great.” I guess I started to believe him.
© Victoria Maxwell
This is part three of a series on sharing my story of bipolar disorder and psychosis and becoming a mental health keynote speaker. You can read part one here and part two here.
