Finding Your Voice: Why Self-Expression Is About So Much More Than Singing
My conversation with Leslie Capps on the Powerful on Purpose podcast
Have you ever wanted to do something so badly, but convinced yourself you couldn't?
I remember being asked a simple question many years ago: "What's your dream?" My answer surprised even me.
"I want to be a singer, but I can't do that."
There it was. My dream, followed immediately by the belief that it wasn't possible.
Hearing those words come out of my own mouth was a turning point. I began to recognise that perhaps the biggest thing holding me back wasn't my ability, my circumstances or what other people thought. It was what I believed about myself.
That moment was the beginning of a journey that would eventually lead me to become a singer, songwriter and voice coach. Along the way, I discovered something that has shaped so much of the work I do today.
Finding your voice is about far more than learning to sing or speak confidently. It's about learning to trust yourself.
I recently had the pleasure of joining Leslie Capps on her Powerful on Purpose podcast to explore this very subject.
Why using your voice can feel so vulnerable
Our voices are incredibly personal. They reveal something about us that we can't always control.
Think about how you feel when you're asked to sing in front of someone, speak up in a meeting, share an idea or tell someone how you really feel. Even when we know what we want to say, something inside us can hold back.
We might worry about:
· Being judged or criticised
· Getting it wrong or sounding foolish
· Not being good enough
· Drawing attention to ourselves
· Showing a part of ourselves we've kept hidden
Sometimes we've carried those fears for so long that we don't even recognise them anymore. We simply tell ourselves, "I'm not that kind of person," or "I can't do that."
I know those thoughts well because I've had them myself.
One of the things I love about working with people's voices is watching what happens when they begin to question those old beliefs. They discover that they have more freedom, ability and courage than they previously imagined.
And that discovery rarely stays confined to singing.
How singing helps us build self-trust
You don't have to be a professional singer, or even think you have a good voice, to benefit from singing. In fact, some of the most meaningful experiences I've witnessed have come from people who were convinced they couldn't sing.
Singing asks us to be present. It invites us to breathe, listen, experiment and allow ourselves to make sounds without always knowing exactly how they'll turn out.
For someone who is used to overthinking, striving for perfection or worrying about what other people think, this can be a surprisingly powerful experience.
Through singing, we can begin to discover that:
· We don't have to get everything right to enjoy expressing ourselves.
· We can make mistakes and carry on.
· We can try something unfamiliar without knowing the outcome.
· We can allow ourselves to be heard without needing everyone else's approval.
Every time we do that, we give ourselves another opportunity to build trust in who we are and what we're capable of.
That confidence can begin to influence other areas of our lives, from relationships and communication to business, leadership and creativity.
What happens when we stop waiting to feel ready?
One of the themes Leslie and I explored was the importance of giving our dreams room to grow.
I think many of us imagine that confidence must come before action. We tell ourselves we'll do something when we're more prepared, more experienced, less busy or more certain that we'll succeed.
But what if confidence is something we develop through taking action?
Looking back on my own journey, I can see how important the small steps were. I didn't suddenly become the person I am today. I grew into her through experiences, decisions, challenges and opportunities to try something new.
Sometimes we underestimate those small steps because they don't look particularly impressive. Yet even something as simple as taking a singing lesson, sharing an idea or admitting what we really want can be the beginning of something wonderful.
You don't have to know how the whole journey will unfold to take the next step.
Music can change how we feel
Another subject close to my heart is the way music can influence our emotions and energy.
We've all experienced how a particular song can lift our spirits, bring back a memory or help us connect with feelings we haven't been able to put into words. When we use our own voices, we become active participants in that experience.
There are many simple ways to explore this connection:
· Singing a favourite song to express yourself and enjoy the moment.
· Humming gently to slow down and bring attention to your breath.
· Practising mantra meditation to create a sense of calm and connection.
· Exploring different sounds to become more comfortable using your voice.
I particularly love mantra meditation because it offers a simple opportunity to use the voice without worrying about performance or how we sound. It's not about impressing anyone; it's about experiencing the sound, the breath and the moment.
For me, that's one of the most beautiful things about singing. It can be an expression of joy, a way to explore our emotions or simply an opportunity to feel more connected to ourselves.
No one else gets to be you
Perhaps the most important message I shared with Leslie is something I often remind myself of, too.
No one else gets to be you.
Your experiences, your perspective, your creativity and the way you express yourself are uniquely yours. Yet it's so easy to diminish what we have to offer because we're comparing ourselves with someone else or imagining that we need to be different before we can make a meaningful contribution.
What if we gave ourselves permission to stop doing that?
What if, instead of asking whether we're good enough, we became curious about what might happen if we allowed more of ourselves to be seen and heard?
You don't have to become someone else to find your voice. You can begin by trusting that who you already are has value.
And perhaps that's where real confidence begins.
Listen to my conversation on Powerful on Purpose
I thoroughly enjoyed talking with Leslie Capps about singing, vulnerability, creativity, self-trust and the courage to follow our dreams.
If you've ever felt that your voice wasn't good enough, held back from expressing yourself or wondered whether it's too late to pursue something meaningful, I hope our conversation encourages you.
Listen to the episode here:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6LTIlCcrQbXQDJ1dseu8ai?si=jdDVTs5tSq6iEbWvyY8gFw
Apple Podcasts:: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-trust-your-voice-even-if-you-cant-sing-ep-81/id1868240649?i=1000793113778
A little gift to help you reconnect with your voice
If you'd like to explore using your own voice as a way to connect more deeply with yourself, I'd love to invite you to experience my 10-Day Mantra Meditation Journey.
It's a gentle introduction to mantra meditation, with guided practices that invite you to slow down, explore sound and create a little more space for yourself each day. You don't need any singing experience, just a willingness to begin.
Access your free 10-Day Mantra Meditation Journey
Use code 2026FREEACCESS to receive it free.
And remember, it's your life. Make it sing!