Posted by Katheen Pooler/@kathypooler with Dawn Herring/@journalchat
“The authentic self is the soul made visible.” Sarah Ban Breathnach
I am very happy to feature writer ,artist and host of #JournalChat Dawn Herring in this guest post. Dawn and I met on Twitter when she invited me to her weekly #journalchat on Twitter (Thursday 2 pm PDT), a delightful and enlightening weekly exchange about all things journaling. If you are interested in journaling, you will enjoy this Twitter chat.
Welcome, Dawn!
Authentic Voice
“I knew it was you! I recognized your voice.”
Whether we’re talking on the phone, leaving a message or calling out to a friend we’re meeting for lunch, people often know us by our voice.
Certain vocalists or talk show hosts or teachers we hear are often recognized by voice because their voices have a distinct quality that sets them apart.
Voice through text has the same possibilities especially if we’ve read something an author has written before. The tone, the word choice, the style of writing speaks to their natural, authentic voice.
And in some ways, when we hear or read an authentic voice, recognizing the value and elements that resonate, it speaks directly to our own.
But how do you know when you have found yours?
Whether you’re writing a memoir, poem or essay, or talking to a friend, speaking to an audience, or even singing a song, you know when you’ve discovered the voice that is authentic to you, your personality, your preferences and your purpose.
It carries a certain timber; it reflects your values; it speaks your heart with honesty and candor.
And all of this comes with practice.
A suggested practice approach is journal writing; if you journal every day, it will help you hone your voice, whether written or spoken.
The following ideas may resonate and feel relevant to discovering your authentic voice:
- Practice lines of poetry or song lyrics or borrow from a song that resonates with your heart. Then speak or sing them.
- Write dialogue from a conversation you had with a friend that held great meaning for you. Apply what you’ve written to a scene for memoir.
- Describe an unexpected conflict or challenge in detail, whether yours or someone else’s; determine the possible trigger of this conflict and what changes should be made in reference toward resolution. Pay close attention to any intuitive senses you pick up which will speak to your authenticity.
- Express your opinion on a topic that resonates with you either because it makes you laugh, cry or even rage.
- Use an image you’re drawn to as a prompt for written or emotional exploration to dig deeper into the soul; ask yourself its meaning for you right now, what it reminds you of and why.
- Ask yourself a question that has been nagging at you and determine an answer that reflects your authentic values.
You may be surprised with your journal writing discoveries as you tap into the Real You. Give yourself the time, space, and approach that opens your understanding and enables you to validate your emotions and feelings and nurture your soul in the process.
When you’re getting started with finding your authentic voice, you can learn by noting written or vocal voices of others and determine what sets their song, speech, essay or memoir apart from the rest.
This will help you determine, with contrast, what makes your voice authentic to you no matter how you exercise it.
Whether in word, image, or song, Your Authentic Voice will shine as you gain a fresh perspective on your story and point of view and give space for expression that comes from the heart.
Thank you Dawn for showing us how journal writing can help us to find our authentic voices. It is an important reminder that we need to keep practicing through writing prose, poetry or song to be able to hear our own voices and know they are true.
Author’s Bio
Yes, I’ve found my voice. It’s not just the notes, not even the music or the song, nor even a quartet. It’s the whole orchestra.
How did I find my voice? Years of practice, stalls, detours, books written that will never escape my numerous trunks and stash-holes. And then . . . deciding. I either embrace and accept that this surly-sometimes humorous-sweet but acidic person is the sum of her experience good and bad, and that she’s easily defined by a phrase (“fairytale romance, Grimm suspense), a logo, and an audience . . . or she’s an actor and all the world’s a stage.
Hi Mary, I’m so happy to see you here! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your story of how you have found and embraced authentic voice. I love how you characterize that your voice “is the whole orchestra.” And I agree, it takes years of practice and many detours. Congratulations!
Mary,
You have hit on a key here (and it’s quite musical!): embracing your voice in the process of discovering what and how it is. Sincerity and expressing who you really are is the very best place to be once you’ve found it.
Congratulations.
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your authentic voice story.
Be refreshed,
Dawn Herring
Voice is so important. I try to always add a little humor to my voice. And I love the suggestion that voice is found in “word, image or song.”
Dear Mary Beth, It’s so nice to “meet” you. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. I visited your lovely website at
http://mbcoudal.com and enjoyed reading your “7 Rules”..embrace uncertainty is my favorite. Clearly, you have found your voice and you are using it to help others. Very powerful.
Mary Beth,
Ah, yes, humor! I love it when I run across an hilarious line I wasn’t expecting because it just came naturally. Yes, voice can be used in many dimensions, which makes it all the more lovely.
My favorite from your list is also “embrace uncertainty.” That can be the most challenging and yet the most liberating.
Thanks so much for your comment.
Be refreshed,
Dawn Herring
I found my voice earlier this year. Some life changing experiences within the last few years had my voice begging to be heard. I had shut my voice off. I had ignored it for so long. Then, I was introduced to my “Authentic Refreshment”. I began #journaling again, for the first time in almost ten years. I discovered my voice through it, and my “Authentic Reshement”. I found out so much about myself I’d hidden away through years, due to bullying,and trying to fit in with people who didn’t accept me for who I am really am. But, my voice’s silence had gone on long enough. I started to listen to it and through my refreshment, my #journaling, and my writing ,came a flood of withheld, authentic inspiration I hadn’t had in years and I realized that I had finally found myself. My voice changed my life.
Hi Sarah, Welcome and thank you so much for sharing your powerful testimony about how journaling has helped you to find your voice. I can sense the freedom you must feel from unleashing your pent-up feelings. I am looking forward to hearing more about your story. I appreciate you stopping by and I hope to “see” you again.We are all enlightened, inspired and enriched when we share our stories!
Hi Kathy! Thank you so much for inviting me!! I loved this blog the moment I typed in into my URL. I knew that I could be honest and share my feelings without any judgement on here and that’s what I’ve been needing for so long. Yes, I have a definitely sense of freedom now that I’ve come out with just a little bit of my story. I have the freedom to be who I am without resistance and it is the most amazing feeling I have ever felt. My voice has enabled me to confidently share my story. And it is undoubtably a story of hope that shines through despair. I can’t wait to share it all with you and those who wish to listen. You will definitely “see” me with my authentic voice as much as possible!
I appreciate your heartfelt testimony about finding your voice, Sarah. I’m so happy to hear you feel comfortable here and plan to return. We all learn so much from each other when we share our stories. Thank you for our comments and I look forward to seeing you again.
Hi, Kathy! Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog! It’s so refreshing to talk to those who will listen to me authentically. Yes, I discovered a freedom I’ve never known before when I picked up my first journal in ten years. I found myself starting to write again, when my inspiration had been dead for years. I also found myself opening up to the blank pages inviting me to pour my heart out, no strings attached, no judgement , no lectures , or a feeling of insecurity. My journal was there to listen , to be talked to, you enlighten and strengthen me and allow me to put all my pain and grievances right there on the page. With my journal, there’s no limit. I can never talk too much. I never run out of time when I have my daily sessions with it. I can pick up where I left off without reminding it of where I was. I can vent, I can be emotional, I can be anything I feel at that moment, because its my own personal friend, listener, counseler and as I believe I’ve mentioned, therapy. You will definitely “see” me quite frequently and I look forward to sharing more of my story with you and those are interested.
Typo: I started hanging out with people who didn’t accept me for who I really am.
Sarah, It is amazing how important it is to surround ourselves with people who nurture our souls, not drain us of positive energy. I call them “energy vampires” and I have learned to avoid them at all cost.
Kathy, I love your term “energy vampires”! It used to be difficult for me to understand the difference between sincerity and “energy vampires”. For me, “energy vampires” are the negative people who thrive on drama and gossip. Sincere people are those who genuinely care. They want to help, and not just listen for something else to talk about. Those are the ones who rob sincerity, authentic refreshment and hope. I do my best now to surround myself with positive , life enhancing energy. It’s taken me far too long to reach that place.
Sarah, the important thing is you did reach a point of identifying your “energy vampires” and have learned to surround yourself with positive energy!
Very true, Kathy! And you are apart of that positive energy! And those like you..
Thank you, Sarah!
Sarah,
It is amazing how journaling can help us find our voice, and when you find your voice, it’s as if you’re discovering a gift, a part of yourself that holds great value. I’m glad it has been so life changing for you.
Stay with it and keep writing and growing into who you really are. So glad you are refreshed now!
Be refreshed,
Dawn Herring
Dawn, yes! I always wondered why my inspiration was gone and where it went. I didn’t realize I had to refresh myself every day to get to a place where I know who I am. Journaling revealed a part of me I had no idea existed. An essential part of me. I have a gift, the gift of a writer and journaling is helping me towards my destiny. I know who I am, therefore I know what to do. Authentic refreshment is just the beginning for me. Thank you! Refreshment is a vital, essential part of my day and my life.