Nate’s Notes 260: From Felon to Bestseller: Lara Love Hardin on Why What We Hide Connects Us

What incredible insight from Lara. What’s most interesting to me is how wrong we can be about how people will respond to us sharing our truths.

Lara spent years trying to outrun her past—building a résumé of goodness, hiding the worst parts of her story, convinced that if people really knew her, they’d walk away. And then she did the one thing she feared most: she told the truth.

And everything flipped.

Instead of rejection, she got connection. Instead of judgment, she got empathy. Instead of isolation, she found community.

Interestingly, the very things we hide to protect ourselves are often what would most connect us to others.

Her story also teaches us about struggle. At the time, her lowest moments felt like the end. In retrospect, they became the new foundation—making her a better mother, writer, and human being.

And then I especially loved Lara’s closing thought:

When we’re in a hard season, sometimes all we can do is look forward to looking back.

Such powerful ideas from Lara. Please take them seriously.

Lara Love Hardin Bio:

Lara Love Hardin is a New York Times bestselling author, literary agent, and founder of True Literary, known for her memoir The Many Lives of Mama Love. Her story details her journey from suburban soccer mom to opioid-addicted felon, eventually becoming a successful, award-winning ghostwriter with four New York Times Bestsellers, including The Sun Does Shine.