Finding your voice.

I am inspired by activists that speak up for issues and world views that are close to my heart. I often sit in awe scrolling on instagram through the many accounts of strong leaders in their field speaking their message, crystal clear on what it is they feel called to say.

Speaking up can feel like a scary thing for many people. I know it is something I have felt, and still do feel when it comes to certain issues or topics of conversation. And I’m not talking about speaking up just in terms of an instagram page. Speaking up references speaking up when something in your circle, in your world, is doing something that is wrong in your eyes. It means speaking up to your mother, father, family members about what’s important to you. It means fighting for any topic/conversation that you feel called to claim. It means allowing people to disagree, to unsubscribe, to not understand you or your view points. Speaking up means hearing another's perspective when it’s difficult, when you don’t agree, and speaking truth to what you feel in your heart anyway.

Speaking up does not have to be confrontational though we have for some reason given it this lens. Speaking up can feel confronting for many because if you feel called to speak up, then it’s likely because you feel passionately about something. And if you feel passionately about something, it’s likely that someone else also feels passionately on the other side of your perspective. The essence of speaking up does not need to be about anything other than an opinion or perspective being put into the world. 

When I am speaking up, it feels fulfilling because I’m giving space to something that though it might be uncomfortable, I believe should have space in the world. I feel a release, a sense of duty, importance in allowing my voice to be heard. I also believe that when using our voices, we must allow ourselves to feel clear. When I spoke up recently in a way I had not ever done before, I felt the channels in my body clear. I felt the power of the message come through my body clearly, and it’s because of this that the importance of the message, the way it wanted to come out into the world was able to be delivered in a natural expression of my words. 

I also believe that you can speak up strongly, beautifully, and respectfully. I believe it can be done with strength and with kindness, and that in fact, when done from this place, the message tends to be more impactful. Speaking up for me, using your voice is not about scoldingly, blaming or shaming. It’s about doing what you feel is right for you, your body, your family and what you stand for. It’s about allowing yourself to be one of the many voices that make our world go round. 

Words have power, and you cannot take them back. Be conscious, be kind with your expressions, and find the voice that wants to take up space.Speaking up means finding your voice, understanding where you want to use it and then claiming your voice.

Image from Artist :: Paper Moon Print Art

If speaking up has ever been difficult, or uncomfortable for you, if you’re not sure what your voice is, or you have some idea, but you don’t know how to begin allowing the words to take up space, here are some subtle, but powerful ways you can move the energy that is your voice. 

:: find where the topics that you care about are on instagram and join the conversation. Start by observing if that feels best, and then move into saying something soft, simple or easy. Let your words find themselves for you. 

:: bring up something you’ve been feeling called to say but have not yet, to a dear and trusted friend. Talk with them about all that you’re holding on this subject or issue and share what you’re feeling called to say or do. Tell them you’re vulnerable, nervous, and let them hold you with compassion.

:: write out exactly what you’ve been wanting to speak up about in a journal, writing as though you are having the difficult conversation, asking for the thing, in real time. 

:: write about the topic/issue that you’re feeling most triggered by lately. Write everything that you feel, and think about this topic. And if that feels like enough, beautiful. If something more feels right, edit what you wrote, and submit your thought piece to some online publications that the piece might work with. Who knows who might see it, or who it might help?

Be sure to love yourself through each and every one of these. Depending on where you are, each one will feel different, maybe easier and harder than others at times, which is why extreme kindness and self-compassion will be important.