What advice would you give your 18 year old self if you could go back?
Someone sent me an old picture of an uncertain looking me back then – and looking at her watchful face there are many things I’d counsel her about…but a simple piece of advice I’d love her to act on might seem slightly surprising.
I’d want her to sing more. 🎶🎤
Before you envision songs from the shows or full Maria Callas – there is no professional intent behind the advice.
I want her to sing because I know aeons later that singing (or humming or voicing or chanting) daily has given me calm, ease and confidence.
It’s so simple to do – just put some music on that you love and sing your heart out. Tuneful is good but it’s not essential, I’m very much in agreement with the soul singer principle that “God doesn’t mind a bum note”.
Two minutes a day will boost your energy and your calm. Five will get your voice warm and your tone musical. When you speak you’ll notice that your vocal engine purrs smoothly, that you have access to more range and power and that when you speak your voice engages others in a different way.
And the beautiful thing about singing is that you can do it while you make coffee, tidy up, cook, clean, drive or bathe. Probably not while you zoom – but don’t let me stop you…
And in case you need any more convincing, there are some serious scientific benefitsto singing too.
– Singing lowers your blood pressure
– Singing improves your brain function
– Singing lowers stress,relieves anxiety and releases endorphins
Whether you go the whole hog and join a choir or simply commit to singing while you hoover, I promise hand on heart you will notice a difference.
I just wish that watchful 18 year old me had known that a little light singing might have made all the difference to her ease in the world, her confidence and her comfort existing in her own skin. She’d have found her voice years earlier….
Ps: You can take this further – singing is also a really great way to rehearse content when you have to present. I know it sounds a bit out there – but try it and you will notice difference.
- Take the introductory paragraph of your presentation and just sing it to yourself. Pretty much any tune will work, though happy birthday is a good start.
- If you then go straight into speaking it, you’ll find that your voice has more music. It has more resonance, more buzz, and it feels more flowy.
I shared a short video about this earlier in the week which you can watch by clicking on the link below.
The voice is a magical instrument!
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