Using Our Voice

I am often asked by my husband, “You know that was your out loud voice, right?” I have tried to learn over the years to put my brain into gear before putting my mouth into motion, but every so often I just get the order confused.

Using our out loud voice for our inside thoughts happens when we tell the truth without a filter or at least our truth at that time. What would it be like if we all told the truth consistently? Children and very old persons are the best examples of simply “telling it like it is.” Both groups often speak with no filter, ignoring social norms and acceptable behavior. The truth of their sayings can be jarring, but the essence is pure.

Common courtesy and decorum are two reasons most cited as to why we do not speak our minds. A more honest reason would be that we do not want to deal with the consequences of telling the truth. It is easy to soft pedal the answer, skirt around the issue, or refuse to commit one way or the other.

Speaking our mind and making a decision is the only way to move forward in life. The Rev. Dr. Raymond Charles Barker once wrote about people “who do not know what to do or do not know what they want.” His opinion was that what they were really saying is that they “are too lazy to determine [their] own experience or think another person is better equipped to determine [their] good.” Dr. Barker used his out loud voice a lot.

Using our voice for making a decision and telling the truth is a way for us to free ourselves from the shackles of indecision and frustration. If there is an ongoing issue in your life, take some time to decide what you want to do about it. If you do not know what to do, remember the words of Dr. Barker and give me a call to talk…

In Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,

Terry