If you have ever felt the shame, disappointment or self-judgement in being unable to use your voice, then you know it’s not pretty. And it certainly isn’t something that we would make a conscious choice to experience.
Yet, even though we get up and try every day to strengthen our own voices, we can easily forget about the power we have to help strengthen someone else’s.
We all deserve to be heard, but we can’t listen to someone else’s words when our heads are too busy with our own. Sometimes it’s the to-do list. Sometimes it’s the schedule. And sometimes it’s not realizing that simply by our behaviour, we might in some tiny way help change another woman’s life.
It’s about presence. I get that we’re all busy people and that sometimes we may be so deep in our heads that we don’t even want to engage with other people. Get those groceries and get out. But stepping out of that head space and into our hearts will benefit you and that other person.
When someone is speaking to us, let’s make eye contact to tell them that we are listening. To them, that means they are being heard and that their words are worth sharing,
Even if it’s not something that you feel is important to you, consider what IS important to you. What do your deep core values tell you? Is respect important to you? Is compassion important to you? Is contributing to another woman using her voice important to you?
Stop and actually listen. Be attentive. Hold space for them, or in other words, give them the time and opportunity to express themselves in voice or in feeling.
When you do, take the time to savour how it makes you feel.
And then you can imagine how you have made them feel.
Dianna xo
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