Your voice is the channel that conveys your inner thoughts to the outer world – the bridge between you and other people. Connecting with others is at the core of human desires. We want to be heard and we want to be understood. But to be heard you must have a voice that others will listen to. To communicate with clarity and power, you must truly believe that what you want to say is worthy of expression – that your views are as legitimate and valuable as anybody else’s.
Expressing your thoughts may sometimes appear a risky option – but so is silence. By failing to share what is important to us we detach ourselves from others and lose our opportunity to influence their views.
Why not make 2020 the year when you let your voice out, use it to strengthen relationships, get more of what you want out of life, and make a difference in this world? Here are some ideas for finding and exercising your voice:
Sing in the shower. Hum in the car. Speak up in meetings at work. Have conversations that matter with friends and family. Volunteer to make more presentations. Speak up for a community cause. Ask questions. Read stories to your children or poems to your partner. Join a voice or drama workshop.
Finding your full voice and speaking so others will listen takes focused attention, courage, and practice – but the rewards are great!