I find the voice to be an extraordinary instrument and tool. Viewed holistically, your voice can speak to the state of your health and well-being without your even being consciously aware of it. You can hear all of this if you listen to your holistic voice closely enough.
It can be heard in the tone and timbre of your voice and sometimes you may find that you’re not fully in control of it because you may be subconsciously responding to a past hurt that got triggered. Your state of health and well-being can also be heard in the vibrancy of your voice. Does it sound fully supported or does it sound wispy and weak?
And then there are the things that we consciously say with our voices. The things we say that we like or don’t like. The things we say that we want or the things that we say we need. Is anyone listening to what you’re saying?
How others respond to what you say is dependent upon a variety of other factors personal to them. They may have some sort of hearing impairment that makes it difficult for them to hear, or neurological impairment that affects their ability to process information. Like yourself, they also come from their own unique backgrounds and experiences which affects their understanding or perception of what they hear. Just like you, they may be hearing and/or responding from their own triggered place of hurt.
How Your Voice Reflects Your Health and Holistic State of Being
But I digress. What I want to talk about right now is your voice as a whole and how you use your voice holistically. Take a moment to reflect upon the state of your voice and your relationship to it. Do you hear your voice as confident and strong? Is it easy for you to speak?
Some people have health conditions that make it difficult for them to speak clearly. These conditions can be respiratory-related, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), or cardiac-related, such as heart failure. You can hear this in a person’s voice because it may sound weak or wheezy. There may be pronounced shortness of breath that makes it difficult for them to articulate words.
Still, for others, their voice may sound weak and timid. They may feel scared or nervous about speaking (or singing) because of an inner critic who keeps them doing so. They may feel ashamed for making themselves seen or heard because of past messages they received over the course of their lives.
Your Holistic Voice as a Tool for Healing and Transformation
In past posts, I’ve spoken a bit about different ways that music and the voice can be used to manage stress and something I like to call “spiritual self-care.” In this video, I talk a little bit more about the relationship between health and the voice. I also share ways that singing, whether alone or with a group, can enhance a person’s health and sense of well-being.
After watching this, take some time with your voice and see what it’s saying. You may realize that both you and your voice could benefit from singing or some other form of voicework. If that’s the case, contact me to see about scheduling a time to start working together.
