“Having the ability to express yourself with ease is, without question, one of the most significant factors in developing emotional strength, unwavering confidence, living authentically, and an overall sense of well-being.”
I know we are continuing to live in the midst of much uncertainty.
Given where we are at this time, my strongest recommendation for making your way through this time includes staying well connected to those with whom you are close. Emotional support from others can make a big difference in helping lift you up or helping you feel less alone. My encouragement is also to have you think about the highest values you hold (e.g., gratitude, kindness, generosity, love, compassion, etc.) and to consciously think about living into these values on a daily basis. My own efforts will be directed at understanding, and bridging differences to build connection.
Going forward, I’ll be delving into the idea of assertiveness or speaking up, or what some might call speaking your truth.
Think about how often are you told to speak up, whether in situations of conflict or appreciation. You may sense that it’s important to do so, but, really, what is so imperative about us speaking your mind? What difference does it really make?
Having the ability to express yourself with ease is, without question, one of the most significant factors in developing emotional strength, unwavering confidence, living authentically, and an overall sense of well-being. You tend to feel less vulnerable and be less emotionally reactive to challenging life events when you are able to speak your mind in the moment.
Your voice is a link to your mind. It enables your internal world—thoughts, feelings, ideas, beliefs, memories, perceptions, needs, desires, and sensations—to be communicated.
Your words, or language, generally considered tied to the brain’s left hemisphere, allows you to put words to your experience, which, in turn, is tied to the right hemisphere. As this linking and crossover takes place, the brain becomes more integrated. Putting words to your experiences and feelings – whether in the privacy of your own thoughts, through words splashed on a page in your journal, or through speech expressed to others – helps you to handle your feelings more effectively.
The great news is that an “integrated brain” leads to greater emotional health and well-being, the outcome of which is a greater sense of harmony, emotional flexibility, kindness, and compassion.
That’s what I want you to be able to do – think about and then comfortably express your words, though, ideally, not just to yourself. The people who you care about will benefit, too.
Perhaps it’s already easy for you to express yourself. If so, that’s great.
Or maybe you are reluctant to talk because you were told:
- You’ve got nothing to offer.
- Don’t open your mouth and make yourself look stupid.
- Just sit there and look pretty.
You could be someone who wonders . . . “Why would anyone want to listen to me? What do I have of value? What could I possibly add to the conversation?”
Ironically, you may not know the answers to these questions because you haven’t yet shared with others much about your life. You might not have a good read on what’s significant about you because no one, or only a few people, ever had a chance to learn about and respond to your experiences. Maybe it seems like it doesn’t matter if you don’t share because it’s “only” your life, so what’s the big deal?
Yet when you think this way, you minimize the importance and effect your experiences have had on you.
Here’s the point: If it’s important to you, it will be important to others.
You have no idea what will touch and impact other people until you open up.
This weeks focus:
Take the time to notice how comfortably and easily you speak with others and speak your mind.
Notice also how you approach others when you speak . . . consider especially your intentions when you speak.
Wishing you the best,
Dr. Joan Rosenberg
Join my group on Facebook LOVE MY LIFE and let me know. Feel free to share my series with your friends or colleagues as well.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.