It was George Bernard Shaw, famous playwright, who penned this keeper:
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself!”
When we create ourselves, we bring something into existence, we manifest. We cause a part of us to come into being – intentionally, deliberately. Our hidden voice wants to be heard . . . yet where and why is it hidden?
There comes a time in each person’s life, and during your self-discovery quest, that you realize, like Michelangelo’s angel in the marble, that “your voice” has been there all the time – you just have to carve until you set “it” free! Indeed, the voice we’ve been trying to find has been there all along.
One time, Caruso, the great operatic tenor, was struck with stage fright. He said his throat was paralyzed due to spasms caused by intense fear, which constricted the muscles of his throat. Perspiration poured copiously down his face. He was ashamed because in a few minutes he had to go out on the stage, yet he was shaking with fear and trepidation. He said, “They will laugh at me. I can’t sing.” Then he shouted out, in desperation in the presence of all those behind the stage, “The little ‘me’ inside me wants to strangle the big “me” inside me who’s binding me back. He continued as he commanded of himself, “Release ‘me’ . . . my voice needs to sing . . . now!” Caruso’s mind responded, releasing the vital forces within him. When the call came, he walked out on the stage and sang gloriously and majestically, enthralling the audience. Afterwards, he shared that sometimes we let irrational emotions enter our deeper mind and we must overcome that if we are to become who we are meant to be. For Caruso, this was an often-experienced struggle, yet he knew how he must deliberately talk to his own self and overcome his inner resistance to “be.”
So what does finding your own voice mean? It means that you come to recognize your unique-ness. Each of us has unique passions and gifts, unique experiences, strengths and weaknesses, talents to share with the world. Our collective goal as New York State Women, Inc. is to help each other to purposefully draw out from each one of us – that special uniqueness, to help each other find the resonating voice that releases the powerful woman within. Why? So you and I can move forward as one’s best – personally, professionally, and politically. We say YES! and we take that step for-ward, despite our fears, or like Caruso, commanding the release of any chains that bind us.
What keeps us from our “Yes?” In a word: FEAR. Fear of failure; Fear of vulnerability; Fear of rejection; Fear of not getting it right or wanting to make it so right that you get stuck in perfection-ism; Fear of being judged. Fears that are stuck in our inner marble cage. The list goes on – but we know we can “release” that fear and overcome.
How? By building our confidence – carving out inner confidence and dis-playing outer confidence. (Fake it ‘til you make it!) Mel Robbins is a modern day guru for teaching confidence. She’s an American television host, author, and motivational speak-er. Here are a few noteworthy Mel Robbins teachable quotes to get you going and help you to put your voice in the room:
• Confidence is created by the small things you do every single day, that build trust in yourself.
• Start before you are ready. Stop worrying about enough preparation – Begin!
• Confidence is a skill that you build through action.
• Your doubts create mountains. Your actions move them. Do.
• Confidence is the willingness to try. (Try . . . go forward . . . take action!) Confidence comes when we try . . . first we try, then we gain confidence for the next . . . it is the action that comes first, that builds the confidence. Try again.
• In order to do all those things you know you want to do with your life, you have to do things that are difficult, uncertain or scary. (Step in, Try).
• Don’t miss out on your life just because you’re too busy scrolling through someone else’s. Know who you are, what you believe, and speak your truth.
• Go the extra mile. It’s never crowded.
• Your life comes down to your decision. If you change your decisions, you’ll change everything. (I can’t do this versus I can do this! Watch me!) Deliberate decision/intentional action.
BNC member Claire Knowles is a 2-time Amazon best-selling author, including the book, Can You See Them Now? Elephants in our Midst. A speaker and business leadership consultant, she helps leaders and their teams become the most effective they can be at accomplishing goals (together). Contact her at www.ClaireEKnowles.com at 716- 622-7753.