I took this picture over a month ago. On seeing the eagerness of these hatchlings to have their voices heard, and sharing this picture with my sisters, one of them suggested this title and idea for today’s blog post.
How do we make our voices heard without the adjective, “strident,” attached to our name?
The older I get, the braver I become, not concerned as much about being shut down, negated, or muffled. Instead, I’m proactively putting feet to my dreams, taking risks, thrusting my previously only fantasized about ideas out there.
Through the agar medium of creativity, I’m growing my gift of imagining. I’m no longer fearful of being “wrong,” like a child timid about coloring outside the lines. I now look forward to the challenge of hard questions, researching and pursuing feasible, applicable, relevant answers. I’m learning to recognize opportunities that touch the vulnerability in another, to use my voice to honor the depth of another’s feelings.
My voice is heard when I give my voice to someone else, when I create a pathway for another to speak their passion, to follow their curiosity, and to find their voice.
For whom have you championed voice-finding?
For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control.
Yours is an important voice in my life 🙂
Thanks so much, Sheila!!! You have hit the nail on the head and have found just the right words!! This is exactly what I have been experiencing…. After spending most of my life trying only to say nice things that please others and also trying to never “color outside the lines”, like a little girl, I woke up and realized this is actually being cowardly and is not worthy of who I am. I realized I have been brainwashed by an antiquated society that expects a woman to be just pretty and docile and soft-spoken and sweet and decorous and NEVER speak her mind, because that is “unwomanly”. I realized that I have been throwing away my God-given responsibility to raise my voice and say what I think when I feel – no, not just “feel” – when I KNOW that something is not right, or when it is necessary to make a point….. It takes a bit of practice and a lot of courage, and I have to take into account that some people won’t find me “nice” any more….but it is so wonderful to finally say what I really think!!!!
Anne, I’m so grateful that we have “woken” up! Sure wish I could go back and talk to my younger self in my first marriage and tell her to speak up for herself and not take the manipulation. We have to keep speaking up when we know something is not right, especially as it pertains to our own spheres of family and friends. We were brainwashed by an antiquated society for sure. I’m looking forward to doing better!
likewise! Let’s keep keeping on this journey of recognizing truth and speaking it.
Yes, let’s do that!!! It’s easier when we encourage each other and don’t feel we are going it alone….
agreed!
Sheila, love the picture! Love the article. Still struggling with how to apply it in my life. Thx.
Make this a repetitive daily prayer throughout all your circumstances and ask God to help you recognize specific moments of speaking your experienced truth.If we stay alert, keep asking, he will open up so many opportunities where you are needed to encourage and uplift yourself and others.
As we grow older, we usually are more true to ourself & hopefully more loving, as we speak our truth.
Let’s keep trucking on this journey. It’s so freeing, isn’t it?!
As we age, we become more authentic (maybe due to our limited energy!) & hopefully more loving as well.
This spoke directly to me, and my journey of discovering my own voice, over the past month or so. Thank you!
I’m grateful that these words encouraged you to keep discovering your amazing voice! Keep up the good work!