What conversations or situations have you had this week that showed you how your voice matters, and helped you value your own wisdom? For me, bumping up against an (IMO) arrogant leader and speaking with a friend who works with a command and control leader has brought me back to the perspective I had in writing my leadership phrase book. I’m not a master, but I do know some things about leading to empower others to their greatness – and how diminishing it can be when leaders pull rank. 

How about you? Click on the header and comment.

Last night I dreamt (without going into too many details) that I was receiving unwanted sexual attention from someone I know. It felt creepy and wrong, but I didn’t let on. I scanned my thoughts and memories to decide if this was something appropriately expected of me – a role I was committed to, or if it was something I had a right to object to. I thought, “there’s a word for this.” Finally I thought of the word, and knew immediately that ithis man’s advances were very inappropriate. Armed with the work, I prepared to speak up, but woke before I did.

I didn’t feel the creepiness after I woke, but I sure wondered what it all meant. The offender has never shown any inappropriateness toward me in life, so I don’t think the dream was about that. But I wonder – why did I need a word for what was happening to object? My body and emotions were screaming their objections – why did I need to know what he was dong is considered wrong by the culture? Haven’t I evolved past that by now?

Learning to vocalize is one part of honoring the importance of my voice. But so is hearing and honoring my non-verbal objections. Do I need a word to honor my voice in general?

I’m sure reflecting right now, but one thing I know. By the end of the 52 SpeakStrong Empowerments, I won’t wait until I can explain myself to trust myself. My voice matters – even when I can’t give the logic behind the conviction.

This is my homeplay from the first Empowerment. I named my inner voice Grace and this is my letter to her.

My travelng companions note that it’s an excellent example of how different our approaches are. This is me – this is how I apply the first Empowerment. Their applications are perfect and different. And yours will be too.

Grace, I believe all you ever wanted was to talk soul to soul. To share yourself and embrace others’ truths. How did it all get so twisted? Why would anyone ignore you, doubt you, displace you or disclaim your? When you shine through – when I see you in your radiance, hear you in your clarity, you are all that matters.

So I invite you. It’s an invitation – not a demand. You won’t come out if you feel commanded. Who would blame you. You know better than to let yourself be judged by a standard that has no true meaning for you.

…

Giving Grace Her DueRead More »

Cassia and I just got off the phone with Angela. We discovered how differently we all experience the same thing! They come at the Empowerments from very different angles.

Angela is a verbal processor. I knew that. I’ve always known that. I got it at a much deeper level today. 

Angela and I had two very inspiring conversations about the first Empowerment. Cassia wrote responses. Two different people, two different approaches. I called Angela with my doubts last night. She brought me into my center in two seconds with her embrace of the power of the Empowerments. Cassia sent me very specific and concrete feedback.

Cassia would start with the styles and communication history. Angela was surprised with how I started, but thought it was perfect. Like me, she got the message that her voice didn’t matter. Like me, she believed that lie. She felt her voice affirmed in the first Empowerment.

Me? Well, I really worked with the first Empowerment. My biggest surprise was realizing my tendency to be so serious about authentic voicing. I reveled in the idea that my authentic voice can be serious, can be fun, can be all kinds of things.

I’m looking forward to a rollicking good time.

I love my traveling companions. They’re so different from each other, and that is perfect.