Speaking Up! The ‘what, why and how’ of empowered voice

“The right to speak is a form of wealth. Silence and powerlessness go hand in hand.” These quotes from American author Rebecca Solnit, speak volumes about how essential it is for each one of us to embrace and use our voice.

The voice is a creator of realities – it impacts how we feel, how others feel, and how we see ourselves and the world. It is vital in creating health and wellbeing in ourselves and in our communities. What we vocalise and how we do this is of utmost importance – the choices we make can either diminish or support, weaken or strengthen, disempower or empower ourselves and others.

While we use our voice to speak and to communicate our needs and wants, the idea of ‘voice’ goes much deeper. Having a voice gives an individual agency and power, and is a way to express our beliefs and deepest truths.   Literally and metaphorically, the voice is often associated with empowerment.

And yet we know that using our voice and speaking up can often be very challenging, depending on the situation and the people involved.

If you’d like to hear more about the ‘what, why and how’ of empowered voice, you can access the video of a presentation I recently gave at Melbourne University Graduate Union here.