The sound of silence

It's hard to hear yourself in a world that gives you no time to think about what you want to do, or think, or feel. The voices of others clamour for their own attention, and family, friends, and colleagues demand your presence and that you give fully of yourself to them. In the cacaphony, do you feel you are screaming-- but not being heard?

When do you listen to your own voice, and who listens to you?

Maybe it is when you have some rare time to reflect on a life that has been, a life you imagined, dreams that came true and those that disappeared like mirages in a desert. Maybe it is when you are in trouble, when you need to make a decision or solve a problem. Maybe you listen to your own voice when you are happy, when you feel grateful or proud or loved.

Maybe someone listens to you- a friend, a partner, a family member, a colleague or mentor, a therapist. Maybe it's someone you know who shares your interests or experiences. Or maybe the someone who will listen to you is a someone you haven't met yet, but is destined to cross your path.

Who cares about what you have to say? Who respects your perspective and values your input? Who supports your choices and encourages your growth? Who challenges you and inspires you? Who loves you for who you are?

Maybe it feels like no one is listening, and you feel lonely, isolated and misunderstood. You feel ignored, rejected, silenced. You feel invisible, insignificant, worthless.

You feel you are not being heard.

May I say that in this you are not alone. You have a voice that matters and that can make a difference- most especially to yourself. A voice that can express, and therefore a voice that can and should be heard.

Don't stifle your voice in the shouting of others, or in the sound of your own silence.

Listen to yourself.

Speak to yourself.

Find someone who listens to you.

I'm hoping to create a series of posts sharing my perspectives on life and how we might approach fundamental human emotional cravings for validation, respect, understanding and love.

I'd be happy to be the someone you haven't met yet, who's path has not crossed with yours. I'm happy to continue being someone you know already, and are comfortable with because you felt I was listening to you.

If you feel the need to find someone who listens to you, I'm offering to make you feel heard.

Music credits: https://youtu.be/nkUOACGtGfA?feature=shared

? Columbia Records, Sony Music Entertainment