Shifting Sands in the Dunes of Thought

I know, I know I said previously that I was going to talk about creativity, but I had one of those morning "epiphanies" that I have quite often (I don't know why I have these constantly "racing" philosophical thoughts about things.....) and it suddenly occurred to me that ALL of us are on this rolling journey to "find our voice"!! whether we realize it or not.....

Normally the term "find your voice" is limited to writing or to singing. In these areas, it means that you have found YOUR UNIQUE niche in writing or singing--it flows, it is easy, you own it, it is original. In our experiences, we have met those who attempt to imitate or model someone else's style--whether in singing, writing, lifestyle, physical appearance, or thought--it doesn't mean that we can't be influenced by others--it is just that we don't clone ourselves in that model.


Every profession has a term for "finding your voice"--marketing--your niche--art--finding your style, business--finding your specialty. To borrow a phrase from literature--a rose by any other name.....etc. But make no mistake, all of these expressions have the same meaning. "Finding your voice" is life, isn't easy. Discovering your "life voice" is a series of two steps forward, four steps back, trial and error, try-on/take off...much the same way that we look for clothes, test drive a car, or browse in a book store.

We have to realize that "finding our voice" is ultimately discovered by reflecting on our experiences. In order to reflect on our experiences, we have to HAVE SOME EXPERIENCES in the first place. You have to live as much as possible, try new experiences everyday, try to learn something new everyday, don't worry about the details, don't stress over every word, don't worry about doing it perfectly....

Then when we come to that "perfect voice"--it will flow, it will be easy, it will feel good, it will feel like you have returned home.

If you are interested in the concept of "flow"--read the book FLOW--the psychology of optimal experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. (that's a mouthful...)This is not some New Age philosophy--the author is a psychologist that has studied (for almost 30 years) optimal experiences. He contends that flow is a state of concentration so focused that it amounts to absolute absorption in a activity. People who experience "flow" feel strong, alert, in effortless control, unselfconscious, and at the peak of their abilities. It is a great reading experience and I know that if you read the book, you will realize that you, yourself, have experienced "flow"--it is a real brain function--that really happens and for many different reasons!!

Those of us who work with young people, especially need to remember this concept of "finding voice" --for it is only by trying on different personalities, roles, and behavior that adolescents and teens will find their true identities. It is only by this role play of "trial and error" that can discover the true path of their future.