“A calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, which is why it is very important for good health.” Dalai Lama
We are all still working through a pandemic, and to minimize stress and be present and effective with my clients, I am creating calm and balance every morning of every day.
I start each day with an hour of meditation, which creates a calm and centered mind and frees my breath, which supports my voice. I then do a daily 10-minute vocal warm-up of articulation, breathing, and projection exercises to get ready to communicate effectively and meet the vocal needs of my clients.
The human voice is a powerful instrument to communicate both professionally and personally. In these times of high stress, it’s natural and easy for anxiety to creep into our voice, causing our pitch to rise higher and causing us to speak too quickly. Both can make you lose track of what you’re saying, or worse, forget it altogether.
To be present in the moment and communicate in a calm, confident, believable and engaging voice, here are other ways to create calm and balance in your life and still sound confident, persuasive and engaging.
Daily participation in your favorite exercise, whether it’s going to the gym, playing with your kids, swimming, dancing, walking, yoga, biking, walking, any of these types of activities help wake up your breathing.
Visualization Techniques, “Visualization Techniques for Affirming Desired Results: A Step-by-Step Guide” by Jack Canfield, is a good one. Visualization activates your creative subconscious, programs your brain, generates internal motivation and activates the law of attraction.
Self-hypnosis techniques to manage stress. The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, conducts groundbreaking research on 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 one piece of advice, it would be simply learning to breathe properly.”
A calm mind can give you the “power of voice” 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 in achieving both is consulting a professional speech or voice coach. It is the best investment you will make in your professional and personal life.