My teenage daughter has embraced the usual angst that comes along with trying to find her place in the world. Like so many of us, she sees clearly the gifts that others seem to have found but struggles to recognize her own.
 

This past weekend while I watched her sing in a local talent contest, something happened. As I listened to her pure, crystal-clear and pitch- perfect performance I was keenly aware that I was witnessing something more profound.

Through her voice in those three and a half minutes of singing 'On My Own' from Les Miserables, the true essence of my daughter became evident as an emerging young woman stepped out from behind the mask of confused teenager. I was not alone in what I felt. The energy in the room shifted (validated by others I spoke with) and the body language of the judges reflected full-on engagement.   It was evident to anyone paying attention that she connected with something inside of herself in a compelling and magnetic way.
 

The coach in me was moved to be sure she was aware of what happened in those moments which was less about the vocal performance (which, of course, was flawless), and more about her connection to self (which, in my opinion, was profound). My level of pride, which was scraping the ceiling already, shot through the roof when she shared with me that she felt it as well...without me having to bring it to her attention.

My advice to her was this: 'Remember this moment and what you did to make it happen. Don't ever forget it or doubt your ability to manifest it again, and again, and again.'
 

I work with a lot of mid-career executives who struggle to articulate what they do that brings forth their 'voice'. When clients tell me they don't know what they want or aren't sure of what they do to bring out their voice, I gently but firmly push back on them like this:

You DO know, it's time to remember your voice.