finding Your voice

There are those of us who find speaking up, regardless of the reason, a difficult process. We may be introverted or shy about standing out. We may be uncomfortable about being seen for who we really are for any number of reasons. It as if there is a block inside our throats stopping us from saying the truth of what we feel and think. In fact, there likely is a block inside of our chakra energetic system. Specifically, the fifth Chakra that is located in the center of our throats. This sky-blue chakra is our energetic center from whence we speak our truth about who we are, how we feel, and what we truly think and believe. An energetic block in this chakra can actually be palpable to those of us who are sensitive to energy, almost feeling like there is something stuck in our throats. What we are feeling is an inhibition of the free flow of the healthy energy of expressing our personal truth of who we really are that would normally move through this chakra. This, in turn, creates a partial disconnect to all that we are on an energetic level. Discovery of this disconnection is very helpful. Awareness of the existence of and the naming of any problem is more than halfway towards solving it. Knowing that we have to work on clearing out an energetic block gives us the ability to repair whatever created the block along with the opportunity for emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual growth. Being aware that we need to focus on learning to speak our truth gives us the path that we can follow to discover and heal whatever caused the block in our throat chakra in the first place. Healing the issues that created the lock allow it to release and restore healthy connections throughout our energetic system.

What do we gain from healing the hurts that created a block in our fifth chakra? We take a major step towards deeply knowing, loving, and expressing who we truly are which benefits ourselves and all whom we encounter with as we move through our lives. We live with greater freedom and expansion fulfilling our potential instead of blocking ourselves at every turn. We accept our real selves instead of some facsimile of what we or others want us to be. We live in the flow of the greater pattern of life with ease instead of endlessly struggling against ourselves. For, indeed, it is an exhausting struggle which requires a great deal of our energy to stop ourselves from being ourselves. When we continuously stifle our own voice, we are not truly living our lives. And this is an unhealthy way to exist and can lead to mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual illnesses that only worsen the longer we inhibit ourselves.

Releasing the blocks to speaking our truth is a growth process that leads to a healthier relationship to ourselves and with others. Much like a young child learning how to walk, this will take time and concerted effort to learn how to express ourselves after not having done so for a long time or perhaps never. We become more self-assertive and confidant both in knowing who we are and our ability to express ourselves. We value ourselves more. As we heal and release these blocks, we can concurrently learn skill sets to couch our words in compassion, both for ourselves and for others. With practice over time, we become quite skillful and mature with these tools of speech and communication. We also come to understand that being thoughtful and kind in how we address ourselves and others is not an inhibition of our freedom. It is having self-respect as well as respecting the wellbeing of others.

We learn that being self-assertive does not mean being abrasive or aggressive towards others. Being self-empowered via speaking our truth that we worked so hard to gain does not equate with destroying another’s free speech or sense of empowerment. That is a win/lose scenario that may well have been used against us and closed our voices down and created the block in the first place. To continue that old pattern is destructive of us and of others and is not the way towards new growth. What we aim towards is breaking with the old, inhibiting patterns and establishing new, healthy patterns for ourselves – even if others are still stuck in the old ones. This takes self-discipline to be sure, but it is doable and very worthy to accomplish. Even so, do not allow yourself to be the verbal punching bag of anyone. Remember to be assertive if someone is being thoughtless and cruel. Speak up for your right to be treated with respect but do your level best to rise above their ignorance and attacks as best as you can. Fighting on their level will only devolve into ugly hurtful words and emotions and no one wins in situations like these. Remember, you can protest over and over again for your right to be fairly treated by pointing out where they failed to do so. You can debate with someone without name calling. Or you can simply walk away. The choice is always yours to make because you have the right to decide how you will allow yourself to be spoken to.

So, how then do we speak out when we see injustice towards ourselves or others? As individuals, please read the last paragraph once more. As a community, we can do this with likeminded people with planned, group action. Sitting home and tsking at the latest news about yet another injustice is a powerless, fearful way to exist. Inaction in the face of injustice is both harmful to ourselves and to others. Sitting in stagnation and ignoring the need for change when your heart is calling you to action can also contribute to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Getting involved in a common cause that is significant to yourself is empowering and can easily be searched for online and/or found in your local communities. When enough people come together, the potential to create change in the situation your community is focusing its energy is empowering to all involved. With concerted strength, you will find things will begin to happen towards that change. I can tell you that there is an actual energetic tipping point or shift into the needed change that can be created when enough voices are heard, enough people are seen, and enough attention is drawn to an issue. All that remains is the courage to go the distance and change will happen. History is full of examples of large groups of people creating positive change for themselves and others. Yes, it took courage, sacrifice and holding to an ideal that had great meaning to them. It took remaining true to who they were and speaking their truth until they were heard, and changes were made.

So, wherever you land in the journey to find your voice in this vast world of ours, remember that no one else can speak with your voice, only you can. And when you do, you will have made an important step towards wholeness inside yourself, because your truth matters to your precious self. Every time we make a change for the better in ourselves, we change the world that much more as well. When we work together to create positive change in the world, we change lives for the better. We change history. Together.

Namaste,

Jean 🌱