Find Your Voice

 If you are like me, confrontation is hard. Speaking up in general is challenging. You keep wondering if what you have to say matters. You wonder if you have anything to contribute. You wonder if your feelings matter. You wonder if what you have to say is important. Well, I am here to tell you have a voice! It is important! You must use it! Why? Well, God has given each of us a message only we can say. Even people who are non-verbal have a voice! They talk through adaptative technology, PEC Cards, and body language. Just because they cannot talk verbally, doesn't mean they can't talk! It only means the way they communicate is different than ours and that is alright! Since we have established that every human has voice, we can establish the fact that if we do not use the individual voice God has given us, that we are not able to be all God made us to be. 

For some of us, we may find we find a way to communicate in a way other than words that is easier and more comfortable for us! People communicate in painting and other art mediums, music, writing and many other ways. If you are more comfortable with this don't be afraid to use it! As a matter of fact, I encourage you to use it regularly. The more you communicate in the way that is most comfortable for you, the easier it will be. I prefer to communicate through writing. I remember when I was a teenager, when my mother and I would have a fight, after we calmed down, I wrote out a letter to her apologizing and what I was really feeling. These letters made things a lot better for my mother and me. I was able to communicate to her in a way that was the most comfortable for me. My therapist recommended recently that because of my anxiety, when I need to talk to my boss about something, to write it out and put in the office. I have done this sometimes and it has really helped, and I have never questioned why I put it in writing and did not say it verbally. If I am asked, I would say that because of anxiety, it is easier for me to initiate some communication through writing before it is verbally discussed. Anxiety is major mental health issue, and a lot of people deal with it so any employer would need to understand and cannot discriminate because of it. 

I hope this encourages you. I hope you feel better that you can communicate in many ways outside of words. When we do not use our "voice", the world misses out on who God made us individually to be. I know it is scary. I know it can be hard to trust people when we have been so hurt in the past!!! I have beat that drum and I know what is like! I have learned that if you don't past it, we are not giving people in our life right now a chance. It is not fair to them or to us. We need to learn our way to communicate like I stated above and when we should respond. For example, I learned I cannot talk to people in moments of anxiety, and I need to cool down first. Once I cool down, I can communicate from a less emotional state of mind. When I talk it becomes more based on facts then emotional. 

You have a voice. You are important! You have something to offer! Your feelings matter!! If you think anything less, they are from the Devil himself! Do not let him win!!!!