When the Struggle Becomes the Story
By Sam Miller | Speaker, Coach & Founder of Dreaming Made Simple
It may sound like wishful thinking, but I’m here to tell you from lived experience:
Your greatest challenges don’t have to keep you from where you want to go or what you’re called to do. In fact, the very “mess” you’re trying to overcome might just become the foundation of your message.
When we support individuals in day programs, disability services, or educational settings, we often focus on limitations. But what if the challenge itself is the bridge to breakthrough?
I learned this early—though not easily.
From Delayed Milestones to Lifelong Mission
Not only was my walking delayed, but I also struggled to write.
For those familiar with special education terminology, my early childhood IEP (Individualized Education Plan) included a three-year goal: simply learning to write an ‘x’ and a ‘t.’
That’s it. All the other letters would have to wait.
Despite the efforts of many professionals and a range of traditional strategies, I just couldn’t make the perceptual connection. It didn’t matter how badly I wanted to succeed—my brain wasn’t ready.
But we didn’t give up. Giving up wasn’t an option.
Unlocking Progress with the Power of Sensory Support
Eventually, my mother tried a different approach—one based in sensory integration, long before it became common language in classrooms.
She’d trace letters on my back. She’d have me use my finger to follow sandpaper cutouts of shapes and letters. Slowly, those tactile inputs helped create new neural pathways.
Something finally clicked.
Three years later, I was making pretty decent x’s and t’s. And what started as a basic developmental victory became something more: it was the first breadcrumb on a path toward discovering my future voice.
I went on to spend twelve years fulfilling my dream as a professional sportswriter.
From Breakdown to Breakthrough: Finding the Message in the Mess
That journey reminds me of something a mentor once told me that I now pass on to clients and audiences across the country:
“Out of your mess comes your message.”
It’s not just inspirational fluff—it’s a framework for transformation. For program leaders and educators working with individuals with disabilities, this mindset shift is critical.
Instead of viewing obstacles as endpoints, what if we saw them as the beginning of something deeper and more meaningful?
What if the very thing that once limited us—or those we serve—became the spark for connection, empathy, and real change?
Reflection & Application: A Tool for Staff and Clients Alike
Whether you're running a day program, facilitating IEP meetings, or leading a support team in a nonprofit, this message is one you can integrate into your own practice.
Try starting your next staff meeting or group session with one of these reflection questions:
🌀 Reflection Questions
Is there an area in your life where it feels like you’ve been stuck for a long time?
What if you were one breakthrough idea away from changing your life—or someone else's—forever? Would you try again?
Are you trying to overcome challenges alone, or could you invite others into the process? Who could support you or your clients?
How might “out of your mess comes your message” apply to the people you serve?
What stories of overcoming have you or your team been holding back that could be shared more boldly?
Why This Matters for You and the People You Serve
If you’re a leader in disability services or education, you already know the truth:
Transformation rarely comes in tidy packages.
Progress is often messy. Growth isn’t linear. But what if we reframed our approach?
What if we made room in our programming and culture for:
Processing before progress
Honoring struggle as part of the story
Celebrating small wins as catalysts for change
Giving people space to discover their own version of “x” and “t”
Your Opportunity as a Leader: Become a Messenger of Hope
Your position gives you the power to shape mindsets—for individuals and teams. You model what's possible by how you respond to resistance.
When you honor the stories of resilience in your organization—especially those that began in hardship—you create a culture that says:
"You are not broken. You are not behind. You are becoming."
Your mess doesn't disqualify you. Neither does theirs. It qualifies you to lead others through it.
And that, my friend, is a message worth sharing.
Final Word: Keep Writing the Story
The early days of tracing sandpaper letters on a kitchen table in my hometown eventually led to writing books, giving keynotes, and coaching others to find their voice in the middle of their challenges.
That might not be your path. But I can promise this:
Whatever your setting—classroom, community program, nonprofit—there’s a message inside your mess that someone needs to hear.
Let’s help each other keep writing.
📣 About the Author
This blog was adapted from a chapter in my book:
📘 I'MPOSSIBLE: Life Lessons on Thriving with a Disability
If this message resonates, I invite you to explore more of my story—and consider sharing it with someone navigating a similar path.
Sam Miller is the founder of Dreaming Made Simple. Born with cerebral palsy, he helps individuals and organizations reframe limits, find purpose, and unlock new possibilities through coaching, speaking, and workshops.
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