How To Speak Up If You Struggle Finding Your Voice

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Everyone wants to be accepted. You have your beliefs and values that you would not consider surrendering to anyone. Even so, isn’t it nice to know there are others just like you out there? 

This is your tribe. These people are easy to speak to. You’re all in the same proverbial boat regarding some topic, goal, or belief system.

Unfortunately, you can’t spend your entire life with these people. That means sometimes you have to speak up when unsure if the people around you share your beliefs. They might not have the same values, and that’s okay. Our differences are what make the world a wonderful place.

In this situation, you might speak up when you think you have something important to offer. This could lead to an overreaction from your audience. They let you know in no uncertain terms that your views are not agreed-upon. If this occurs frequently enough, you might be fearful of speaking your mind.

This happens to a lot of people. It’s a common reason why some people reluctantly stand on the sidelines. Does this sound like you? If so, don’t worry. There’s an easy fix. 

Just listen to what former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt had to say: “You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.” Mrs. Roosevelt was a well-known political diplomat and activist. Her sensible quips and quotes about living a better life are legendary. What she says here can help if you struggle to speak up when you know you should.

We Often Paint a Terrible Picture in Our Minds That Never Materialises

Humans do something pretty funny when you think about it. It seems we are always expecting the worst possible result. We have a big exam coming up, and all we can think about is what happens if we fail. You’re building up the courage to ask that special someone out on a date, and all your self-talk is negative and fatalistic.

What happens most of the time? The outcome is rarely anywhere close to as bad as we expect. In many cases, we are a great success where we expect failure instead.

Don’t Assume That Everyone’s Watching Because Most People Just Don’t Care

If you have a message to get out, then do it. Speak your mind. Speak up when you need to. Boldly and confidently offer your opinion. You’re not going to be met with agreement all of the time. But when you think about it, does that matter?

You have to be true to yourself. You are representing your own beliefs and values when you speak with confidence. You shouldn’t worry that others may think less of you. In reality, even though they might disagree with your opinion, they don’t hold it against you in any important way.

Don’t let negative anticipation of a future outcome keep you from speaking up. When you start embracing this practice, it can silence you altogether. That leads to a world where you can never create your best life experience because people don’t know your needs.

To speak more confidently and instil trust and respect in your listeners, don’t worry about anyone but yourself. Get your message out there. Give it a voice. Let it be heard. Then move on, knowing that you served yourself properly and that you said what needed to be said.

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