How to access our authentic voice

Artists and writers have been gifted with talents that must be made into contributions. The big challenge seems to find our voice and express our authenticity. What’s so close to us is often so elusive.

It’s easy to imitate, and indeed that is where we begin. It’s important to our learning process. But like all great artists who break into their own style and voice, so must we all seek and express our true voice, our true selves.

How do we access that truly authentic part of ourselves? Why is this so important if we are writers, artists or business people? It’s a good idea for all of us to try to be ourselves – that’s the path to happiness. But it’s vital for creative people.

Without our authentic voice, we blend in to the chorus.
Without our unique point of view, we are mere imitators.
Without our particular moves, we are dancers to someone else’s choreography.
Without our courage, we are followers and not leaders.

I am on a quest to help us all access our authentic, powerfully creative self. I consider this core to be a marriage of our life experiences and the divine forces that guide us and have gifted us so generously.

But how? How do we find our authentic voice and words?

The practices I teach my clients and students can bring us closer to our essence. But before all these practices, the first requirement is courage. We often fear we have nothing to say, or that our truth will hurt others. We use these fears to stay shut down, to stay safe. But I believe this path to our essence is the only path worth taking. I use several approaches to make this path to the true self easier.

Some of our tools include:

Free-writing. You’ve heard me rave about how powerful this is for so many kinds of writing. It’s especially powerful as a tool of freeing the voice and the self. https://www.originalimpulse.com/devote-writing-life-now/

Visual journaling. This colorful noodling and doodling as a response to the world’s bounty brings us closer to the authentic self. The people who come to my workshops in Paris and Boulder are always surprised at what emerges on the page. The processes I use help us bypass the inner critic and the logical mind to access that playful, naive place where often the best art is made.

Walking. Being outside, moving our bodies is an act that honors our basic humanity. Our bodies, moving through space, taking in the world around us. As we walk, we open ourselves to new insight. We often encounter things that give us new associations. The name of my company, Original Impulse, came to me on a walk in early 2000.

Notice censorship. When do you censor yourself? We often speak differently according to who we’re with. I swear a lot, but chances are my students, clients and strangers don’t know this. I don’t use curse words when writing and not when working. (Most of the time!)

There may be other times when you censor yourself that aren’t really necessary. Pay attention this week to when you tamp down your true voice.

My personal and business coaching, my workshops and retreats are designed to help you access this artful, truthful core. The packaging may be different, but the result is always the same: people leave more connected to their true nature. They leave with a buoyancy and a confidence that can fuel their daring creative lives.

What helps you access your authentic self? Share below in the Comments section.