I. The Sound Before the Words
In the early mornings of my childhood, I would lie half-awake, listening to the sound of conch shells and temple bells.
Somewhere, a bhajan would float in through the window.
Not fully formed.
Not even understood.
But it moved something ancient within me.
Before I had words, I had rhythm.
Before I wrote anything, I knew what felt true.
That was my first voice.
And like all of us—I forgot.
II. You Don’t Need to Find Your Voice
Western advice keeps telling us: “Find your voice. Build your personal brand.”
As if your truth is some hidden treasure buried beneath ten layers of SEO strategy.
But Indian wisdom teaches something else.
Your voice isn’t something to chase.
It’s something to return to.
In Sanskrit, there’s a word: smriti — remembering.
Not intellectual memory.
But the soul’s remembrance of what it always knew.
III. The Difference Between Swara and Shor
There’s a sacred sound within you.
Your swara.
It’s soft. Honest. Often inconvenient. But unmistakably yours.
Then there’s shor—the noise.
Of trends. Expectations. Endless content calendars.
The more you chase performance,
The more you lose resonance.
Like a sitar out of tune, even your best work will sound hollow if it doesn’t vibrate with truth.
IV. Returning Is the Real Creative Act
What if you stopped trying to “stand out”—
and started trying to “settle in”?
What if you paused every time you tried to reinvent yourself,
and asked instead:
What part of me have I abandoned?
Which voice did I silence to fit in, to get likes, to earn approval?
This is the beginning of the Presence Practice—
Not to become someone new, but to come home to someone old.
You don’t need more polish.
You need more permission.
To speak plainly.
To whisper when the world yells.
V. A Daily Ritual to Reconnect with Your Voice
Here’s a simple 3-minute practice. Do it every morning for a week:
- Sit quietly. Light a diya.
- Place your hand on your heart.
- Speak one true sentence aloud.
(Anything. Even: “I feel tired today.”) - Close your eyes. Listen.
- Ask softly:
“Is this my voice—or someone else’s echo?”
You’ll begin to hear the difference.
And once you hear it, you won’t unhear it.
VI. If You Want Help Listening
I offer a Clarity Call
Not to give you more strategies.
But to reflect, together, what’s already within you.
No pitch. No pressure.
Just a shared pause.
A sacred space to return to your voice.
Final Note:
The world doesn’t need another high-performing voice.
It needs your honest one.
Return to it.
We’re listening.