It was often, “Sit down, and be quiet.” It was frequently, “I don’t want to hear it. Go to your room.” Many times it was, “Don’t say that.” As I got older, it was implied I had nothing worthwhile to contribute, especially since I was “just a girl.”

From a very young age, I was not allowed to speak up, speak out or encouraged to be heard. Walking to and from school with some of the older kids in the neighborhood, I was ignored or talked over. Being in relationship with a narcissist and having jobs with abrasive and demeaning men kept me quiet, frustrated and angry.

Always struggling to feel as if I had something to contribute and to express it, I made a commitment to learn how to speak up so people would be willing to listen to what I had to contribute, and I learned how to speak out without being confrontational. But where do you learn this stuff? Communication and the courage to speak up are not taught in school so we are left with trial and error, mistakes, apologies and a sense of irrelevance.

Finally, I learned how to find my voice and be heard and how to speak my truth with confidence and kindness. It has been a long and bumpy journey and here I am, helping others with their own communication challenges. It’s the old, “Wish I knew then what I know now,” regret. You do not need to wait to learn what works. If you want to learn how to speak up, speak out and be heard, contact me for a FREE coaching session. We can identify what communication challenges may be getting in the way so
you can start learning what you weren’t taught. You can do this!