Finding Your Voice
You must find your voice or risk drowning in a sea of noise & doubt.
My daughter snuck this photograph of me at the Light Mill studio before New Year’s Eve. I was preparing to go on camera and speak about a new film I just finished directing.
I didn’t know what my real voice sounded like anymore.
Rewind six years to this time in 2014 and I was wrapping my final 8pm Warrior blog post. I felt the need to retire from writing to save my energy for our first feature-length documentary. I was excited to tackle bigger things, in a bigger way, with a bigger audience.
Somewhere along the journey, my voice became smaller.
I’m not sure if it was the constant push to stay in one lane, fear of failing our team, or the fatigue that comes with being under the microscope in a fickle world that throws people out faster than trash. I often teased the professional musicians I managed about being afraid of everything, needing 45+ approvals for every statement. I would counsel them on being authentic, “If the world knew you like I do, many would appreciate hearing from you. Just be real.”
In the moment pictured above, I needed my own advice. I needed to use my true voice, but I didn’t know what that sounded like anymore.
After years of wrestling with what to say to who, I finally understood the importance of exercising one’s voice. When you continually muzzle yourself out of fear, deference, strategic reasons, or even a sense of responsibility, something really bad happens. Something inside starts to fade. Health suffers.
I was becoming sick and weak emotionally.
We were designed to use our voices, not always to be heard, but to seek connections and verify our identities. Our ears are also vital, but our voices drive personal discussion, deep understanding, and interface with others.
When I stopped using my full voice, I began to lose part of myself. Now I‘m on a mission to recover it again.
Today I start a new blog, away from the noise, with no expectations. It will be interesting to find out if my path is a lonely one or reassure others they’re not alone. I’m excited to share thoughts, get feedback, and learn from the exchanges. As much as I love film, I need to engage with more than one topic every two years. I like the written word for its clarity and speed.
I’m not going to stick to strategic talking points and comfortable topics. That would be a waste of time and make my personal situation worse. Instead, I plan to dive into what I see, the people I meet along the way, and explore the various ideas I believe are worth exploring together. I’ll engage with your comments and seek to stay above the fray at the same time.
There is risk, no doubt. The more we say, the more people will know how stupid we can be. I can be stupid. I’m often wrong. That might mean fewer opportunities in the future if I say something wrong or my old posts are seen through a different lens decades from now. Sometimes finding your voice means losing connections. My voice will not sound pleasant to all. I’m willing to make that trade once again.
I acknowledge the risk, but the risk of not using our voices is even greater.
The world needs more strong, thoughtful voices that stir us or push us out of dangerous ruts. We need them now. Strong voices can also draw attention to the quiet voices of our muzzled neighbors. The quietest voices are oftentimes the ones we need to hear the most. They help us understand complex issues from new angles. Our world can’t afford blindspots right now.
If you enjoy writing and want to workout your voice, I encourage you to start a blog as well. Facebook feels like the wrong space for sharing different ideas. Twitter is too short. Youtube is too stressful. Instagram cuts you off. TikTok is shallow. If you do, post a link in the comments.
Let’s connect here. Let’s find our voices together.
I’ll leave you with this quote:
“How wonderful is the human voice! It is indeed the organ of the soul. The intellect of man is enthroned visibly on his forehead and in his eye, and the heart of man is written on his countenance, but the soul, the soul reveals itself in the voice only.”
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Reveal your soul tonight. That’s the only healthy way forward.
~Aaron
