Why is it important to find your voice?
In life we search for purpose; a reason to exist and the motivation to do what we do and be happy doing it. One thing I’ve been asking myself this past year is not just what I want to do; but why do I want to do it. What is driving me to pursue this “dream”? Something that has been plaguing my mind while in the process of pursuing many forms of art is authenticity and consistency. While searching through the black hole of thoughts to try and conjure up a way to stay consistently authentic, not just for my audience but more specifically for myself, I began to ask myself what am I trying to even say to people. What am I trying to show? What is my voice?
It’s important to also understand that this does not just go for those pursuing an art related career. This also is important for many different career backgrounds. Finding your voice helps you to feel motivated to do what you need to do and be happy doing it.
What is the process of finding your voice?
Okay, you’ve acknowledged that you need to find your voice but where do you find it. Well you begin by looking at what you genuinely do, see or experience that makes you feel a sense of joy or fulfillment. Look at your past and try to assess why these moments have impacted your life. If we look closely we will see that a lot of the things we pursue in life is a direct reflection of our life. Here’s a small example: I spent a lot of my time as a child on the road, outside and alone in my thoughts. Therefore, I enjoy nature and alone time in nature hence why I strive to surround myself with earth tones and plants in my room; the place where I spend a lot of my alone time.
It's important first to understand yourself; to be honest and vulnerable with one's self. You cannot find your voice and expect others to listen if you can't even listen to yourself. The process is very eye opening and may cause you to find set backs that lead to growth and discovery. That is exactly what you want in the long run your voice will be so loud that even when you're silent everyone can hear you.
When do you know you've found your voice?
Many of my friends who I have talked to about this topic say that the reason they feel they have found or are close in the process of finding their voice was that they gained the ability to be humble yet confident about who they are and what they stand for. They expressed to me that their process of finding their voice came with a lot of experiences and trouble where they had to learn to trust in their voice.
A voice, it can be what you believe in, what you stand for, how you see the world or your mantra. What ever you call it. Find it, understand it, be it.
