Finding Our Spoken Voice
Using our voice for communication and connection through the spoken word
At this festive time of the year our voices become an instrument through which we can sing festive songs, speak festive words, laugh at festive jokes and shout out our dreams with enough passion to make them reach the stars. Yuletide is a time that brings people together to express love and joy, and to play their melodical voices in a symphony of reciprocal sound.
Knowing your voice
Sometimes, however, you may wonder why you don't like the sound of your own voice. You might wonder why sometimes it seems strange. You might hear your voice unexpectedly and wonder why you didn't like the sound you heard.
I think we have all had such moments and I have come to believe it's because we don't take the time to get to know our voice very well. Or, in certain situations, we are simply too afraid to use it.
When I started writing poems about Nature, I was at first unable to speak them out loud without spoiling them. I felt no life spark in my words, no rhythm, no lyricism, no passion. It was as if I was afraid to bring my words out and off the page. This in turn wasn't very helpful when I wanted to share my poems with people in different ways. It was then that I realised I needed some professional help. I needed a voice coach.
Coaching your voice
This is where my dear friend, Lizzie Leigh came to mind in an instant. Lizzie is an eloquent poet who speaks with exquisite articulation, timing, rhythm and flow. As an advocate for all things tea, Lizzie's course: Pouring Pearls Vocal Workshop is a brilliant blend of enlightenment, fun and life-changing PEARLS of wisdom about the magical spoken word.
I travelled to Salisbury to enjoy the one-to-one aspect of the course and came home with lots to practice. With Lizzie's ongoing support it turned out to be a magical introduction to my own voice - and no affiliations here, I simply loved every moment.
Lizzie uses a simple and memorable framework to help you: hold undivided attention, feel really heard, be undistracted when listening in a sequence of highly memorable and palatable exercises and techniques, receive a personal poem written for you as a gift through which you can speak all you have learned in your own unique voice.
There is no doubt that our spoken word has a powerful impact on our lives. Thinking about what we have to say and practising speaking words out loud, not only plays an important role in communicating beneficial information to our subconscious self, it also serves to enhance our communication skills and relationships as a whole.
Speaking your voice
Learning how to craft our voice by involving every part of our heart, mind and body is highly enjoyable, practical and transformational. This is why voice coaching is such a worthwhile investment. It helped me to use my voice more confidently, speak my words more effectively and to enjoy how my voice sounds.
My latest audio video demonstrates this very well. I feel I have come a long way as this is the first time I really like the sounds I am making. My poetry is improving too as I put more of my whole-being into creating my videos.
In A Hare's Tale (below) it sounds like I am enjoying myself and accentuating certain points without losing flow or harmony. It's still me and you can tell I am speaking from my heart and telling a story in a way that I hope has an enjoyable effect on you too!
Developing your voice
A Harvard Business Press article says that our vocal imprint contributes much more than we think to our success: Both personally and professionally, even contributing to perceived attractiveness and charisma. Through our voices, we create nuances of meaning, convey our emotions, and find the secret to communicating.
So how do we do this without over-doing it and somehow losing our authenticity? How do we enhance our natural voice without creating a false, unauthentic one?
Tuning into your voice
Even if you do not want to speak in public or broadcast your voice in other ways, it's fun to practise talking when you are on your own. If you have written a poem or a short story, or any other kind of words, speaking them out load to practice their delivery and articulate their meaning is an enlightening and enjoyable experience.
Here are some of the ways I work with my whole-being as an instrument to bring out my best vocal tones. Try them for yourself to bring your spoken voice into the light.
Harmonious awareness - calm mind and body, breathe slow and be still before speaking, tune into your surroundings
Healthy vitality - take in the energy of the air and atmosphere, connect with your inner creative flow
Playful curiosity - set the scene, share what you have gleaned in an interesting way, ask questions to answer
Rhythmic tone - keep to a flow, bright to slow, lyrical to low with pauses ... impart knowledge, tell a story, shhhhhh
Heartfelt intention - speak with love, listen, reply, talk for the good of all, be confident, sing your song
Know that your beautiful and unique voice is waiting for you - go and play!
Thank you for sharing!
for you, for me and for Mother Nature
Latest Posts
All Posts
