Your
Voice
“Courage
doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end
of the day that says, 'I will try again tomorrow.'”
Mary Anne
Radmacher
Everyone has a voice.
Everyone has something to say, whether they utter the words, or not.
Some of us do roar—we protest injustice, we march, we demonstrate,
we petition our representatives to do our will. Some of us write
letters to the editor, post protestations and testimonies on social
media, and some of us just talk among our friends. Albert Einstein
once wrote: “Nothing that I can do will change the structure of
the universe. But maybe, by raising my voice I can help the greatest
of all causes—good will among men and peace on earth.”
Sometimes a small voice
is called for. On a personal level, when a boundary needs to be set
with a co-worker, a family member, or a friend, one is wise to use a
small, non-threatening, and yet crystal-clear voice. Sometimes,
“Please don't do that again,” is sufficient. We do more harm than
good when we take our personal displeasure to the very public pages
of Facebook. Our voices should not be stifled, but public humiliation
is something else altogether.
It is also good to think
about what you want to express before you open your mouth and speak
it. Sometimes we just say whatever thought drops onto our tongues,
and then spend the next twenty minutes, or the next twenty years,
trying to undo or explain what we meant. That is doubly true when it
comes to social media. When you put out a rant, the repercussions may
surprise you. Reputations and opportunities have been erased by one
swipe of a twitter feed.
Your authentic voice is
important. But, just as important is speaking in ways that others can
hear and understand. When we roar, sometimes people just plug their
ears and run for cover. If we truly want to be heard, clarity,
authenticity, non-blaming, non-threatening, non-sarcastic words work
best. Courage is demonstrated, not by volume, but by clear language
backed up by honest action.
In the Spirit,
Jane
No comments:
Post a Comment