Have you found your voice yet? Not the voice you use at work, or the one you use at home, or the one that you use with different people. Have you found your authentic voice? The voice that is consistent through all you do. The voice that allows people to see you and know you.
The voice that integrates work, family, relationships.
If you are thinking what … ??? I don’t even know what that would look like, or nope, I have not, you are not alone. Finding your authentic voice is not for the faint of heart. It’s for people who really want a free and exceptional life. It’s for you!
Finding your voice is an ongoing process. It’s part of who you are becoming.
My journey of finding my voice really started when I was very young. I was extraordinarily shy and had no idea how to talk to people. In high school, I would sit on a bench that surrounded an area that a lot of students gathered and talked. I would listen and try to understand how they talked to each other. One thing I learned was they really were just talking about themselves (it was high school, after all). I learned that if I could get someone talking about themselves, I could have a conversation without really having to talk much.
I mastered the art of asking questions and getting people to talk about themselves. This served me for years, until it didn’t. It stopped serving me when I needed to come out of hiding. I was building a business and really needed to be seen and heard. I still hadn’t found my voice. I gained several really valuable skills. I developed the skill of active listening and asking powerful questions, but I still didn’t have a voice.
It wasn’t until about 20 years ago, when my life completely fell apart. It was then that I started on the journey to find more Joy and bring Joyful Play into my life, and I really began to find my voice. It was through the process of discovering what Joyful Play was for me and breaking through old beliefs and patterns, that I started giving myself the freedom to have an authentic voice.
The messy and sticky part of finding what Joyful Play is to you, is moving through old beliefs and subconscious patterns that no longer serve you. It’s allowing yourself to be a priority in your life. Which as women can be a little stickier than you might think. It’s moving through your old beliefs and patterns and finding what Joyful Play uniquely is to you, that your voice begins to come out. Your authentic voice.
This voice integrates through your entire life. It is consistent whether you are at work, with friends, family, or complete strangers. It’s the voice that gives you freedom. It’s the voice that, along with Joyful Play, helps you create Ease, Grace and Flow in your life. Your authentic voice allows people to see you, know you, and feel good with you.
“Be Fearlessly Authentic”
When you look up the word “authentic,” one definition is, “Of undisputed origin; genuine.” It is your unique and genuine voice.
When you define what brings you Joyful Play, you also allow yourself to be a priority, to redefine what you believe and what really serves you now. You are finding a rhythm and aligning with your priorities and boundaries. You are happier, healthier, more at ease and in flow. You have brought grace into your life and into your voice. Your authentic voice almost automatically begins showing up.
You’ll know it when you hear it. There is a recognition when you start to hear your own authentic voice. It feels really good.
Here are a few steps to get you started finding your Authentic voice:
- Pay attention. Is there an inconsistency with how you speak to people at work, at home, at a party etc. Sometimes we find a voice that we can hide behind and not be seen. A voice that is nice and conforms to who we are talking to. The problem with this, is no one really gets to know who you are.
- What do you stand for? Give yourself some space and time to really think about what is it you stand for. What do you want to bring to everything you say? I stand for love, grace, and integrity. I try to bring the essence of these three things into my voice. I’m not always successful (I am human) but it is always my intention.
- Allow people to see and know you: Sure, this may sound easy but it can feel really vulnerable and brings up lots of stuff. You know that little thought deep down that if they really knew who you were, they wouldn’t like you. This is a thought I think most of us have had at one time or another. Remember, we are more alike than we are different. We all want to be loved, accepted, heard, and seen for who we really are.
There is great freedom in the journey/process to Joyful Play and your Authentic Voice. It’s so worth the inner discovery to find it!
Free resource: Playbook: https://www.laurirubinstein.com Get started finding what Joyful Play is for you.
As always would love to hear your thoughts, questions and comments.