LET YOURSELF BE HEARD!
Volume 9

This is the biggest challenge I am facing today. When I speak, people do not hear. When I write, people do not respond to me.

I am expressing myself but it seems that I just become invisible. It appears as though my thoughts don’t matter, that no one cares what I have to say or they just simply believe that my thoughts are so irrelevant that they can ignore me.

Look Inside Us

Why is this situation happening? Usually I turn outward and declare it to be their fault. I dismiss the people around me by saying, “Ahh, let them be. If they don’t want to see my point, then I don’t care.” It is so easy to blame them or believe that they are the ones who fail to understand me. That maybe they think my opinions aren’t helpful or useful.

I know that if I analyze it deeply I will find that it is merely a reflection of me.  That I believe this truth to be so, that in return people around me dismiss my opinions and choose not to listen to me.

I realize I am the one who thinks that I am irrelevant, that I am not good enough, that my thoughts and opinions don’t matter.

My Past Experience

When I was growing up, my well-meaning parents didn’t acknowledge my achievements. That made me believe that my achievements were unworthy. Instead of a loving “Well done!”, I just heard cold silence. Perhaps their generation was always too tired and they were constantly worried about making ends meet and so on.

So, I grew up lacking in self-confidence. Even today, when someone comments on how my words have touched them, I find it very hard to accept it. My tears flow as it strikes me deeply that I am heard and acknowledged.

I know that I suppress my thoughts and opinions often as I myself judge them to be not good enough. Occasionally when I do voice out my thoughts, it is met with silence. It then reinforces my feeling of lack. The cycle then repeats as I continue to choose to keep quiet to avoid the pain of rejection.

The First Steps To Being Heard

1. Let It Go

My current spiritual journey has led me to meet many people who commented on how my throat chakra is blocked and that I am suppressing myself. In order to break free, I must speak out.

As Elsa in Frozen belts out, “Let It Go!”, the thought of doing that makes my heart pound, my palms drip sweat and my mouth dry up. But you know what?

It gets easier and easier each time I practice it. I haven’t been able to stop the fear totally yet, but I know practice makes perfect. One day, the fear will simply vanish like a wisp of smoke.

2. Calm The Fear

This trick bolsters up my courage. Take deep breaths before speaking. Calm the mind and the pounding heart. Being calmer helps control the fear. Put that fear into an imaginary tiny box and store it away. Then speak out. For me, the fear is then no longer overwhelming, allowing me to focus on my message.

3. Ask For Support

Say a prayer and ask for Divine help. Pray for help to conquer your fear and  express your true self. When you believe that you aren’t alone, you will find innate strength to do the things that you normally aren’t able to. One day it will become second nature to tap into that inner strength!

4. Practise What You Need To Say

Sometimes it is easier to write it out and rehearse it repeatedly. Work on it until you can stand up and say it with calm conviction. Do it without the script but keep pointers in your hand just in case your mind suddenly empties out. This reduces that lack of self-confidence.

5. Speak The Truth

When you know that you are speaking from your true self, it carries deep conviction. When it is the truth, you will feel good about speaking out and will not doubt it. People around you will hear that and acknowledge it. I know because I have received similar acknowledgements.

6. Celebrate Letting Go

Finally, when you are able to let it go, acknowledge it to yourself ! Say out loud that you are finally expressing your voice and opinions. Let that joy spread through your body and sink in deeply so that you can continue speaking your truth! Don’t let it be hidden anymore.

Everyone has something to say and everyone’s thoughts are equally important. Believe in yourself ! We all carry our own wisdom that shouldn’t be shut away. But do it with love. Speak out in a gentle manner even when it is something harsh. That way, it will be heard and it will be easier to be accepted.

So go out there and speak your truth! Remember that tiny box? Smash it to smithereens. You owe it to yourself!