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Manic Times with the High Riders

There is power in your voice.

In fact, some would boldly state that your voice is the vibration of your soul.

So, considering this, is it any wonder why it hurts you physically and emotionally when you don’t express your truth? Even in the simplest of conversations – which may at the time seem banal, redundant, or ridiculous – this awareness arms you with the knowledge that what you choose to speak can change your world. In truth, what you choose to avoid speaking is just the same.

Notice how often you have to clear your throat. Notice, perhaps, how often it is sore, dry, raspy or otherwise congested. Your body is manifesting physically what it’s like to hold it in; to stifle your own personal song, and to squash your spirit, again and again.

In my experience, I know it’s easy to practice resistance of personal expression, and I know it well. But those who know me, know that I don’t often hold back an honest thought, because to do so, would do us both a disservice. Our society and culture puts an odd amount of power into the hands of this idea of “politeness”, and by extension “political correctness”. Thing is, filtering out an honest thought, based on what you believe someone else may interpret from it, is an exercise in head-against-wall-bashing, metaphorically speaking. How can you possibly know what someone will really think about what you’re about to say, especially if your intention is only to share your true thoughts? Even if you intend to humble someone with your verbal prowess, the sting may really be very short-lived, but the reverberating effect profound. (That being said, you may also realize that it was not they who needed the humbling, really…)

Let it “come out wrong” and in the same instant, laugh at how easily the tongue (read: language limitations) can betray you. Laugh at how strange the words sound, even though they were once stewing on the inside. Diffuse the bomb by negating its creation. But, instantly know as well, that the next time will be easier, as the mechanics of pure, simple and unfiltered expression refine and define themselves whenever you choose to become genuine. There is little to no effort required once you lose the need to cloak your meaning in pretty words or unripened emotions. Just say what you mean, and in the spirit of community, your listeners will understand.

Best of all, you’ll be one step closer to getting what you really wanted in the first place. –tb

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Freeing Our Inner Desires
Using Our Outside Voice

Each of us has developed an internal filtering process that helps us choose which parts of our constant inner monologues get voiced outside of our heads. Sometimes the choice is based on what we consider to be polite or appropriate, using subtlety instead of directness to try to get our point across. Other times the choice is made based on our expectations of the other person and what we feel they should know about us, our feelings, and our needs. But our best chance of getting what we need is to communicate specifically by converting our inner voice to our outside voice.

Read more…