By Rosie Battista
I believe that your God given voice is your gift, and it’s meant to be shared.
It wasn’t always this way as I spent a lot of years silencing myself because of the beliefs I stacked up around speaking out.
If you’re of a certain age (and even if you’re not), you remember being told to shut up. Was that in a loud yell, a soft tone, a look, or a rule you had to follow?
However it was delivered to you, the end result was the same. You complied. You learned to follow along with what was “acceptable.”
As the first of five children, I learned “children should be seen and not heard.” Once in Catholic school, those “belief bricks” were further cemented on and on until it built a brick wall around my voice.
Are you with me?
I’m sure you have your own unique journey, situations, circumstances, and people who showed up to shut you up.
But that was then.
And this is now.
Even if no one is explicitly “telling” you to shut up, we’ve all been subconsciously conditioned to shhh! We all are “wired” from birth to be “connection addicts” for people to love us, or at least like us. It’s “in our blood” as oxytocin. The fear of losing that can be paralyzing. Do you NOT say what you mean for fear of hurting someone’s feelings? Do you NOT mean what you say because you want people to like you? Do you wonder why even when you do this, you still feel distant from them? It’s because you’re not speaking your truth or just not speaking at all.
Are you burning with the desire to uncover/remember your true authentic voice and share the true you?
I recognized this myself, as holding in and keeping back my voice became painful. It showed up in my life & health-clearing your throat, frustration, annoyance, body tension, shallow breathing, slumping shoulders, poor posture, and on and on. We’re born to be our authentic selves and to authentically share our unique selves with others.
Are you with me?
That’s the grand thing about aging-you develop wisdom. It brings the opportunity to make mature choices because you know being authentic and having integrity is the only way to fully live.
Here are 5 ways to remember your authentic voice:
1) Pay Attention
Notice the times when you feel shut down, and ask yourself why you’re not speaking up. What is your fear? What would happen if you did speak up?
2) Stay Present
Don’t dwell on the past and times when you did not show integrity. Your past is valuable only to learn where you want to show up differently.
3) Get Very Clear
Say what you mean and mean what you say. If you meet someone in a grocery store and they say “Let’s get together”, don’t say yes, unless you really mean it.
4) Embody Affirmations
Practice saying “I hear and speak my truth” out loud or write in your journal as a daily spiritual practice. The more of your body you engage, the more it will get “wired” into you, and show up when you need it.
5) Turn On Your 5th Chakra
Learn to love your voice by singing your favorite songs out loud, in the car and in the kitchen. Enjoy neck rolls when you awake, rolling your head gently in big circles in both directions while breathing into any tight areas.
Being the authentic you and using your voice for good can positively affect not only your neurology and alter your physiology – but also, the ones around you. As you pay attention, you may notice them relaxing around you, standing a little straighter, breathing more fully, spending more time with you, and being more genuine themselves.
Rosie Battista is a Cheerleader for your Creativity and Advocate for your Authentic Voice, helping women over 50 remember who they truly are. If you’re ready to embrace your authentic voice and show up fully in life, schedule a session and allow her to help you unleash the real you. Find out more on her website: rosiebattista.com/mytime