Oregon Coast
An awakening! We can intellectualize who we are, or hope we are, with rational thoughts and ideas; but only by really listening will we hear the truth that our honest-to-goodness self is shouting out to us.
For some time now I have been writing about the authentic self, the authentic voice. I have defined authentic voice as not only the physical speaking voice, but as also the voice that is our own truth, the truth that comes from the depth of our souls. I mean that gut feeling we have of who each of us is. There are many stages of knowing who that self is. We discern what voice is truth, what voice is wanna-be, what voice is denial. The hard part, I think, becomes actually owning the truth once it has become clear.
Ah! Owning our gifts! For some of us, why is that so hard? Time and again I have read books expounding the necessity of taking ownership of one’s truth. That takes action and often overcoming that big, hairy, fear-of-failure piece! Truth! I get frustrated when these questions come calling again and again! Have you really taken ownership of your voice, it asks? Have you heard it and embraced it or have you heard it and denied it, out of fear?
We keep evolving and hopefully keep growing. That’s a big smiley face HOPE! I have noticed that every so often an awakening occurs. It occurs when some circumstance forces me to stop in my tracks. It is not a pause; it is a forced and abrupt STOP! Life explodes with an awakening. Do I welcome it? Do I choose to listen to the lesson? Horrror of horrors, listening and hearing is too scary. BUT, the door has cracked open. In the abruptness of this explosion, I have a choice to listen or not. To act or to not!
On the other hand, I do not have a choice really. If I am true to myself, I must exhale in the silence of the stop sign and bravely adventure forth into the unknown. Am I courageous enough to accept the challenge? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for the next reel! Can and will this voice sing forth?