In my experience, finding one's voice is a precious find anywhere. It was easier for me in a group in which I was well known for a long time and felt the care and support to speak from my heart which was also me finding my voice. I still have difficulty finding my voice at times. For me, genuine caring doesn't exclude intellectual knowing, or vice versa. I can genuinely care speaking from my intellect or from my heart -- my caring is more evident when I speak from my heart. When I speak from my heart, my heart is primary and my intellectual knowing is secondary, and that is different for me and the listeners than making my intellectual knowing primary and speaking from my intellect. What helps me to fit (meaning to be accepted and enjoyed) is to be me, not try to fit or impress, not give a presentation, be present, and speak from my heart and from what I am experiencing as I am speaking.
On Feb 18, 2023 David Doane wrote :