Beautiful

Amen and I can relate.

I speak up easily. It is authentic. I may not be for everyone—and everyone is not for me. God orders my connections.

I would first ask what is the challenge or what is preventing them from finding their voice? A lot of people who struggle to speak up learned, somewhere along the way, that their truth caused discomfort, conflict, or dismissal. So silence became a form of protection. That doesn’t mean you lack a voice; it means you’re trying to find your way , be respectful and figuring out if you are ok if others won’t like you anymore or include you going forward. Finding your voice isn’t about suddenly becoming loud or fearless. If needed start out giving yourself permission to be real in small, safe ways. Start where the stakes are low. One honest sentence. One boundary. One “Actually, this is how I feel.” When I was in the 7th grade I attended a private school. My father used to drive me to a different city to attend this school. When his work schedule changed and the school did not offer transportation I was placed in public school. I only knew a hand full of of people at this school. I was quiet and reserved and then the girls in my gym class started to bully me. So I had a decision to make. Fight or Run. I was not raised to run away and stood my ground and decided if I was going to be beat up I was going down fighting and putting a whooping on whomever dared to hit me. When I spoke up the bully backed away. It was then I found my voice and realized they took my kindness for weakness. Ever since that time 40+ years I have been in ready mode, not backing down, speaking up, creating my own seat at the table. People have said 😮 you seem so quiet and easy going. I am but behind that smile is a warrior with a voice. Don’t start nothing won’t be nothing. We all have a voice and never allow others to dim your light. My voice is gentle, grounded, and steady. I lead with compassion, lived experience, and calm strength. I learned something about myself that not speaking up was causing me health problems: stress, anxiety, headaches, acid reflux. I would venture to say the longer you hold in your voice there is a possibility one day you will erupt because you are full and can’t contain it.