The recent elections in South Africa were a powerful reminder of the importance of making our voices heard. Across the nation, people stood for hours in lines to proudly cast their votes, knowing that every single mark on the ballot made a difference… and the obligatory thumb-fie posts quickly started flooding in on social media. It was a day that highlighted both our collective power and the value of our individual voices.
It got me thinking about the significance of standing up for what we believe in, not just politically, but in all aspects of our lives. Yet, many of us hold back, afraid of offending someone, being judged, stumbling over our words, or saying the “wrong thing”. But the reality is that having an opinion shows passion, knowledge, and strength of character. And I’ve come to realise that people respect others with opinions infinitely more than those who simply always nod their head in agreement.
But the reasons why so many of us keep our opinions to ourselves? In most cases, a fear of public speaking – also known as glossophobia – and caring about how others perceive us. Glossophobia affects approximately 75% of the world’s population! That’s a lot of us feeling the jitters about voicing our thoughts in front of others.
As someone who prefers to speak to my animals rather than people, I recently did some research into how to speak my mind more confidently (your partner, relatives, colleagues – and even your dog, cat, or chicken – will certainly all perk up their ears when you put these nuggets to use!)
- Know your stuff: Confidence comes from preparation.
- Start small: Share your thoughts with close friends or family before taking on larger audiences. As with most things, practice makes progress (never aim for perfection – it’s unattainable and will leave you feeling like a failure every time).
- Embrace your unique perspective: Your viewpoint is valuable because it’s uniquely yours.
- Adjust your expectations: Shift your mindset from seeking approval to delivering a valuable message.
- Be respectful, but firm: It’s possible to disagree without being disagreeable. Express your opinions respectfully, but don’t be afraid to stand your ground.
Every day is an opportunity for us to speak up, share our ideas, and be heard – life’s too short to stay silent. Let’s make our mark, one vote and one conversation at a time.
Mindful Musings
What the world was musing over this week
2024 Election results a “victory for democracy”
President Ramaphosa has weighed in on the election results, noting that South Africans expect their leaders to work together to meet their needs.
KZN has a new rural tourism route
The Emalangeni Experience, starting in Pennington and extending into the rural Emalangeni area, includes historic site tours, nature hikes, beach outings, brewery visits, and accommodation at countryside lodges.
Mount Fuji anti-photo fail
A Japanese town spent a lot of money to put up a large black screen to deter tourists from taking photos of Mount Fuji, but (literal) holes have been found in the solution, allowing people to snap pictures anyway.
Madiba mural in France
A fresco of Nelson Mandela has gone up in France, and the masterpiece by French street artist Artiste RAST is considered the world’s largest mural of Mandela!
