“Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that’s very important for good health.” Dalai Lama
We are all still working in a pandemic, and to minimize the stress and to be present and effective with my clients, I am creating calm and balance every morning of every day.
I begin each day with an hour of meditation, which creates a calm and centered mind and releases my breath, which supports my voice. Then, I do a daily 10-minute vocal warm up of articulation, breathing and projection exercises to be ready to communicate effectively and serve the vocal needs of my clients.
The human voice is a powerful instrument for communicating both professionally and personally. In these high stress times, it is natural and easy for anxiety to creep into our voice causing our pitch to climb higher and make us talk way too fast. Both of which can cause one to lose track of what one is saying or worse yet forget all together.
To stay present in the moment and to communicate with a calm, confident, credible and engaging voice, here are some other ways to create calm and balance in your life and to continue to sound confident, persuasive, and engaging.
Daily participation in your favorite exercise, be it going to the gym, playing with your children, swimming, dancing, walking, yoga, bicycling, hiking – any of these types of activities help to wake up your breath.
Visualization techniques, Jack Canfield’s “Visualization Techniques to Affirm Your Desired Outcomes: A Step-by-Step Guide,” is a good one. Visualization activates your creative subconscious, programs your brain, builds internal motivation and activates the law of attraction.
Self-hypnosis techniques to manage stress. Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, does groundbreaking research into the roots of compassion, happiness, and altruism.
Daily breathing exercises, I can recommend, “Breathing: The Master Key to Self Healing,” by Dr. Andrew Weil. In it he says, “If I had to limit my advice on healthier living to just one tip, it would be simply to learn how to breathe correctly.”
A still mind can give you the “voice power” to communicate powerfully, confidently, and persuasively in times of great stress.
Performing well in life requires outstanding communication skills, no matter the field, and excellent vocal skills are the foundation for outstanding communication, and an important first step to achieving both is to consult a professional speech or voice coach. It is the best investment you will make in your professional and personal life.