ANGELIQUE ELECTRA
Recently, I watched a biography of Maya Angelou, and what struck me was the mutism she experienced as a child. Due to a traumatic experience, her her inner decision not to speak lasted five years. When she found the right avenue for her self-expression, poetry, she began to speak again. She understood that poetry required speaking it into existence to fully experience. Once she opened her vocal portal, she splashed her self-expression across the globe and in every communication medium you could imagine. She freely expressly her many identities– as a poet, dancer, singer, writer, actor, mother, grandmother and global influencer. I remain stunned at how her self-imposed mutism led to all of that.
How many of us have put ourselves on mute? Sometimes, it has become ingrained in us not to open our mouths and let our real identities fully self-express — with abandon. How many gifts and talents are held captive by our fears and insecurities?
Muting is easy — just like the press of a button. It is an automated response when you feel disregarded, or fear being shamed, ridiculed or humiliated. Our inner child, like Maya’s, perceived the world as being relentlessly cruel when you are just being you….playful, innocent and creative. Muting allows us to keep our ideas, musing and creations to ourselves to enjoy – safely.
I had always put my own creativity on mute. As a child, expressing my creativity and love for the arts was behind my closed doors. It mortified me to play my own tunes on the piano or show off my crafts to others. I had no champion to draw me out — someone who was curiously delighted with whatever I did or said. So I hid away and immersed myself in my own world. Over time, I realized that there are deep costs to doing so.
Muting creates separation. Our gifts don’t get to be shared and appreciated. Others lose out. We all have something to say, something to show. It’s why we are here. That is the revelation. We are here to turn ourselves inside out for others to experience. That is how we grow — by turning off the mute button. Being authentically ourselves inspires others to do the same. Sharing your art can move the mountain of a stone heart. Releasing your music can unglue a stuck spirit. Imparting your wisdom can heal a despairing soul.
Muting is stifling too. Not releasing ourselves to speak, share, feel and act in this world, causes our inner selves to begin a slow process of disintegration to inertness. We start to dry up. Our essence is meant to be shared. If it’s not, there is at least one person out there whose life won’t be positively impacted by you when it could have.
We are here to grace each other with our essential identities –those bundles of thoughts, words and actions comprising who we are and why we are here. The mute button goes on only when a pause is needed — moments when speaking or sharing is not timely — moments when words don’t matter — only quiet presence.
When we are fully alive and open, our energy is all we need — unabashedly open, free and wanting to connect. When we really open ourselves and allow the spillover of our inner beauty, however, subtle, gentle or powerful, like butterfly wings flapping, it changes and contributes to everything and everyone.
Power on your Self-Expression, and grab the mike!