"My voice makes me cringe"

How you do you feel about the sound of your own voice?
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When you notice what words come up for you, are they kind or critical?  Many folks are surprised by how their voice sounds on recording because that is the least frequent mode they hear it.  In a recording, we are hearing our the sound waves from our voice filtered only through the air.   In our heads, we hear the sound waves of our voice filtered through the bones in our skull and also the air. 
My friend Jessie recently posted in her FB stories that she was excited to be recording money manifestation meditations for her membership.  Yet, the moment she shared the progress, she diluted that excitement by critizing her own instrument, the source of communication.   While editing software is necessary to bring a certain finesse to a finished production, do we do ourselves a disservice by editing our voices so much until they are acceptable or pleasing to us? 

On the other hand, what becomes possible when we accept and appreciate the sound of our voices in their most natural, resonant and optimal state?

Biologically speaking, our perception of our own voice varies because of how the 2 different modes to filter the sound are designed in human communication.  We spend 99% of the time hearing ourselves, inside ourselves.  So, it can understandably be somewhat jarring when you first hear your voice on playback. 

Sound waves are powerful, they can travel short (if higher frequency) or long (if lower frequencies) distances.  Yet we all understand that the output of sound that our auditory perception detects is dependent on the filter through which those sound waves travel.    For example, we know when we speak and plug our ears, we perceive our voice as "louder" in our head.   If we are in a room with significant echo, the sound of our voices reverberating and reflecting back to us is distinct from a sound-proof booth.   This is all about perception, and what we have acclimated our auditory senses to experience.  If we are only used to hearing ourselves within our skull, and never think twice about it, are we truly accepting all facets of how our voice shows up in the world?    If you listen back to a recording of yourself, is there a possibility of shifting the narrative that you'd label the sound as 'cringy, too deep, too high, like a young girl, like a boy going through puberty, like a man, too feminine, too soft, dull, flat...etc' to something more compassionate and kind?   Perhaps that is too big of a leap at this moment.  And that is completely okay.  I see you.  I honor where you are on your voice journey.   

In an effort to better understand people's experiences and thoughts on this topic, I would love to hear your honest, vulnerable and real-life examples.   I created a qualitative voice survey to determine what people think about their voice.  My goal is to receive as many honest responses by World Voice Day (April 16th!).   You can submit your answer anonymously.  You also have the option to join my Empower Your Voice email community by including your email at the end of the survey.  
Would you take 3-5 minutes in your day and share your experience?  Access the survey here!

If there is anyone you know who would love to learn about this topic and participate in the survey, please share this blog out!    I appreciate you so much!

You and your voice are worthy.

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