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I usually
spoke in a low voice and almost always I was asked to repeat what I had said, forcing me to get out of my comfort zone. I also had developed a sensitivity to
people who raised their voices in any situation or under any circumstances. I
was really surprised when I learned from a coach that my childhood experiences
had something to do with this.
As a child I felt dominated by the people around
me so talking in a low voice became my way of not dominating others. In fact, this
was a payoff for me at the cost of my own self-expression. A real eye opener!
One day as
part of a communication training program we were asked to go out in the street
and interact with complete strangers by establishing a conversation about the
topic of our choice.
For me that was the hardest part of my training and I was
feeling extremely inhibited to do the assignment. However, the assignment was
successfully carried out and I faced no rejection from the strangers and no
difficulties to open a conversation with people whom I did not know at all.
Most of all I learned that my fears had no basis and most of the limitations
and anxieties I felt were self-imposed.
The training
was in relation to self-expression in the context of communication, and I
learned that self-expression is an intention and it involves speaking and
acting together. The coach told us:
- Express yourself in a way that frees the best in others
- Speak clearly and loudly
- Do not seek anyone’s approval
- Be unafraid of being judged by others
- Show your emotions and allow yourself to be vulnerable
- Don’t care to be always right
- Dare to say no, and accept no for an answer
At the end
of the training we were asked by the coach to make a new declaration about who
we are and he wanted us to be loud and clear and talk with conviction. It was
truly an empowering and emotional experience to stand together with others and
declare that – we are part of the grand design of life!
#communication
#self-expression
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