Find Your True Voice

Modern life hasn’t helped to reduce the old beliefs around “knowing your place.” The continuation of the effects of this toxic position can be seen on social media sites, where talking about what really matters to you can mean running the risk of being cancelled or trolled. This makes it even harder to feel confident about finding your voice, particularly in the context of an unknown public.

However, in the world of podcasting there is a very real opportunity to express yourself openly in a safe and supportive environment. You're able to have full conversations across the world, from Australia to Arkansas.

It is for this reason that, as a stand for open self-expression, podcasting ticks all the right boxes. And yet, even if you are confident your message will be well-received, there can still be a huge fear about “getting heard above the noise.”

When it comes to “the noise,” this may refer not only to the external noise of social or traditional media—"the noise” can also exist in your head. There may be big arguments raging in your mind, which mirror the lessons you have absorbed about your “right” to speak up and speak out. Stilling the negative mental chatter is fundamental to finding your voice and ensuring you are heard above the noise in the wider world.

Contributing To The Conversation

Most people have two or three things in their lives that really matter to them, such as helping others, fixing injustice, or caring for the environment. There is usually some sort of large topic that draws us forward. How this manifests itself can vary wildly—it could take the form of being a pet lover, a fashion designer, or a real estate salesperson. Ultimately, though, there is usually a force that compels people to contribute to the conversation.

It is this force that informs your voice. It is within this space that you’re looking to speak.

Your Voice Matters

What you have to say absolutely matters. This is true for every single person—including those with whom you disagree. Being heard for who you are—and contributing in a way that helps to move the conversation forward—is how we grow, as individuals and as societies. This is because when you step into that space and give yourself an authentic voice, you also give permission to other people to find their voice and speak their truth.

When people see that you're delivering an authentic message, it’s contagious. When they sense that your voice is authentic, they begin to understand not only your message but also the fact that they have a space to have their own voices heard, and to make their own contribution to the conversation.

What’s Holding You Back?

If you’re not used to having a voice, it isn’t always easy to find the confidence to speak authentically. This is born out of the fear of being ostracized or “kicked off the island.” Speaking with your true voice can feel risky, as though it might jeopardize your position in the group, and so muting yourself can feel like the safer option. However, even though you might be acting with safety in mind, your authenticity suffers. At the extreme, this can push people into voicing views or agreeing with opinions that fly in the face of their true beliefs.

The insecurities underlying this duplicitousness may have deep roots, stemming from rejection or humiliation. Part of overcoming these fears is understanding that you have the capacity to deliver your message in a way that takes into consideration even those people who don't agree with you. This matters, because the alternative is that you say things that are inconsistent with who you know you really are, in order to please or appease others. When this happens, you experience suffering.

The possibility exists that you can be self-expressive at a higher level, so that you're satisfied your message is not being lost inside of you, and so that you release yourself from suffering. The feeling that your message is lost creates a sense of being affected, afflicted, or defective. Speaking your truth creates a new level of vitality, lightness, reality, and consistency.