The Power of Voice:Speaking from the Body
Copyright 2005 Mary Desaulniers
We are all familiar with the power of intention and the energy
of thought. Just as important, if not more so, is the power of
voice--the momentum that emerges in our voice when thought is
aligned with belief and belief with the body.
How do we speak? Does our voice sound high-pitched and nasal
because it is coming from our throat and not from our belly?
When thought merges with body, the voice rings with an
authenticity that is undeniable. This kind of authenticity moves
mountains, makes believers of skeptics and inspires listeners
with passion. And it is something that can come naturally to all
of us, if we allow it because I saw it in my 4 year old
grandson, Sebastian.
This past summer, my grandson marked the far end of our backyard
as his "spot." It was an area adjacent to his tree-house,
well-protected by fence, trees and shrubs. The grass was sparse
below the trees and it was this area where the soil was rich and
thick that he had the most enjoyable moments digging for
earthworms and potato bugs which he lovingly placed in glass
jars lined with grass and soil( his mother had taught him to
love all forms of life). There they stayed for the afternoon
before they were returned to earth, as gently as children were
tucked to bed by a dutiful mother.
One Sunday in late September, when the leaves had covered up
half his spot, Sebastian decided to turn the spot into a park
for worms and birds, which to him, meant that the leaves had to
be raked to the sides, the shrubs trimmed to allow for space and
the grass dug up to make way for a larger clearing.
For a moment, my heart dipped. It seemed so much trouble--this
trimming and digging; besides, he could easily hurt himself with
shearers, rakes and shovels. The "school marm" part of me
decided this was not something we would do.
"You can play in the leaves as your dad did when he was your
age," I suggested.
"I need a park from here to here," he insisted, using his toy
shovel to mark a line from the treehouse to the large maple.
"But parks are filled with leaves and grass!"
"This park is made of dirt," he said emphatically. Then looking
directly at me, he added, "Get a shovel, Grandma, and start
digging. We have a lot of work to do!"
It was the defined momentum in the way he spoke, his voice
coming not only from the pit of his belly, but from every cell,
every pore in his little body, that make me chuckle. "Yes, Your
Majesty!" I said, surprising even myself that I did not protest
any further, but walked towards the house and retrieved the
shovel from the shed. Together we worked quietly, efficiently
under the trees, our energies now combined and focused on one
thing--carving out what has since been named, "Sebastian's
Park." A white birdhouse now hangs from the maple tree. His
dream of a park for worms and birds has come alive.
There is no doubt that our voice, like intention, can turn
thoughts into things. And this being the case, what can we all
do to increase the power of our voice? Here are a few
suggestions.
1. Make a tape recording of your speaking voice, Listen to it
objectively. Is it warm and rich? Is it high-pitched and nasal?
Is it a whining voice? Be honest in your assessment because this
is the first step in developing awareness that can lead to
change.
2. You can improve the tone of your voice by identifying the
authentic self within your body. This self usually resides in
the "pit of your stomach." We speak of "gut "feelings and these
feelings come from that part of you that is beyond conventions,
beyond ego. Honor this self and he/she will emerge in your voice.
3. Start a journal. Writing is the most effective way to release
the inner voice. In my school-teaching years, we always had a
journal writing component in the classroom--uncensored writing
from the depths of the body. Sometimes parents would question
this practice, their assumption being that uncensored writing
does not improve grammatical skills. They've missed the point.
The purpose of journal writing is to find the voice--the
authentic voice that we have buried beneath layers of
conventions.
4. Develop an awareness of the impact you make on others when
you speak. Watch for the intensity of your belief in what you
say. Use this as a gauge for your voice. Watch for your tendency
to speak too much and too quickly when you are nervous or
hedging. Cultivate a knowingness of what it is you want to say
and then, like Sebastian, speak it from every cell of your body.
Your voice, like your thoughts and intentions, is a tool to
create the reality you want. Use it to excavate the authentic
self; use it to release authentic power.