Monday Musings
Does Your Voice Need Refinement or Simply the Space to Unfold?
There are many aspects within ourselves, often in opposition to one another. Polarity and balance exist in constant relationship; one revealing the need for the other. Personally, I experience this most vividly when it comes to self-expression. Call it the 5/2 profile in Human Design—the Martyr/Hermit duality—that I, a social, spotlight-savoring Leo sun, would equally thrive in solitude. After socializing, I crave quiet and alone time to process and clear space. Often, I need this both before and after deep conversations.
Yet, I notice this duality even more prominently in my relationship with my voice. Growing up, I was often told to "speak up," so frequently that being soft-spoken became an identity I never truly resonated with or appreciated. I vividly recall my dad poking fun at me when I decided to become a cheerleader, joking that I would perpetually need a megaphone as I whispered cheers. The deeper truth behind this memory is that my softness emerged as a response to a parent who constantly interrupted and spoke over me. For many years, this led me to simply give up trying to speak in their presence. Recognizing and overcoming this imposed identity has been a significant part of my journey toward accepting the full breadth of my voice. There are moments when a thought, sensation, or feeling bubbles up, and I need time and space to find the right words.
Because I speak publicly fairly regularly, especially within my community, clarity and conciseness become necessary. I can easily draw upon that structured side of myself when needed. Hosting a podcast has further highlighted this dynamic—needing to articulate messages clearly while allowing conversations to flow freely. It’s a constant dance between structure and stream of consciousness. Yet, in my most at-home spaces, where I'm not performing or tailoring my message, it's quite the opposite. My words meander, becoming reflections of my inner landscape—ever-receptive, ever-evolving.
It’s about becoming lovingly familiar with how my voice naturally shows up, even when it defies polish or structure.
Everywhere I turn, I see workshops and masterclasses on public speaking—on refining your words to suit an audience. Occasionally, I practice this myself, picking a random topic and recording myself speaking off the cuff. Part of this practice is about sharpening recall and articulation. But I'm realizing the deeper, perhaps more important, aspect isn't correction or critique—it's observation and acceptance. It’s about becoming lovingly familiar with how my voice naturally shows up, even when it defies polish or structure—or, more commonly, the fear that it's "too much" or doesn’t "make sense." Pssh.
I am a cyclical woman. Some days, I speak with effortless clarity, other days, my words wander. There are moments when I feel so grounded in myself that I don't care about conciseness or perfect structure. And maybe that’s not only okay but necessary. Lately, I've been questioning whether the practice of perfecting public speaking is truly the point (for me anyway), or if the real work is becoming more open and accepting of my own stream of consciousness—standing by my voice even when it doesn't fit neatly into tidy, well-formed sentences.
This tension between the structured and free flowing aspects of expression also extends into my spiritual life. For all their power, words often fall short, and yet we are conditioned to label, explain, and articulate everything we feel. I’m beginning to see this more clearly in my journaling and meditation practices.
Growing up, I learned many names for God—Lord, Father, Holy Spirit. As my understanding expanded into young adulthood, so did the words I used: God became Universe, Source, Infinite Being. Yet even now, in prayer, I sometimes catch myself cycling through mental lists of names, anxious to "get it right" before coming into stillness. Perhaps this is a remnant of religious conditioning or societal pressure to articulate something inherently beyond words.
Ultimately, though, it leads me back to the same truth—the duality within self-expression mirrors a deeper truth within all of life: words are powerful yet limited. Clarity is essential, yet imperfection is inevitable and so divinely beautiful. It's the feeling, the presence within, that speaks volumes. Allowing for this duality, I find freedom—freedom to let my words wander, to allow silence, and to trust the authenticity of my voice in all its forms.
Words are powerful yet limited. Clarity is essential, yet imperfection is inevitable—and even beautiful.
Another theme I’ve been reflecting on lately is how often I find myself drawn to people who challenge or expand my thinking in unexpected ways, people whom, in the past, I might have simply avoided altogether. I've noticed that initial moments of discomfort or uncertainty rarely have anything to do with the other person; rather, they're invitations to explore my own growth edges. These connections gently push me out of my comfort zone and often become deeply expansive and rich friendships. They're built on authenticity, trust, laughter, and the mutual understanding that disagreements and differences aren't personal but opportunities to grow and perhaps squeeze even more juice out of life.
Rather than quickly labeling or judging someone's perspective, I’m learning to pause and recognize what it reveals about myself.
In our latest episode of Karmic Mirror, this reflection deepens through our conversation with Sarah Duncan—soul guide, hypnotherapist, and human design expert. Sarah specializes in helping clients break free from conditioning to expand their self-love, abundance, and creativity. In this sweet and tender space, we discuss personal evolution, the impact of human design, and how understanding our energy patterns opens the way for transformative growth.
Sarah shares her journey from corporate life to spiritual awakening, highlighting the power of honoring emotions and using hypnotherapy to uncover and heal subconscious patterns. We dive into how relationships act as mirrors, revealing areas ripe for healing, and discuss how human design can provide clarity and compassion in partnerships.
What to Look Forward to:
✨ Sarah’s path from corporate to soul-guided work
✨ Human Design in relationships
✨ Hypnotherapy and subconscious healing
✨ Authenticity and breaking cycles
✨ Navigating emotional highs and lows
As you listen or move through your own reflections this week, I invite you to sit with these questions—not for answers necessarily, but as gentle doorways inward:
How would your expression change if you trusted that your natural voice is already enough?
In what ways are your interactions showing you opportunities for deeper self-awareness or compassion?
Where can you soften your expectation of perfection to make more room for authenticity?
Thank you, as always, for reading and reflecting with me. May you offer your voice the space it needs, just as it is—imperfect, evolving, and entirely yours.
Until next time, Michelle ♡
Duality ...... love the imagery and the pulled out points xoxo