Why do we work on changing our voice? Why not just accept our “actual” voice?

I got a comment on YouTube the other day that I’m certain meant to troll my account, but I want to answer this person’s question in good faith.

They said:

“Why aren’t we teaching people to accept their own actual voice? Why do we need to augment ourselves to conform to others’ expectations and prejudices?”

Lots to unpack here, but I want to take a second to highlight this very succinct and pithy reply: “It’s okay to want things”

We could stop there, but let's unpack this, shall we? The journey of voice transformation, especially within the trans and nonbinary communities, isn't about conforming to external pressures or losing our authenticity. It's the opposite. It's about aligning our external selves with our internal truth. It's about voice affirmation.

For many of us, our voice is a powerful tool for expressing who we are. But sometimes, there's a disconnect between how we feel inside and how we sound to the world. This disconnect can be a source of dysphoria, anxiety, and even isolation.

Teaching someone to accept their 'actual' voice without addressing the deep, personal reasons they might want to change it, is like telling someone to just "be happy" with a piece of them that doesn't fit. It's not about changing to fit into a box; it's about breaking free from a box that never fit us in the first place.

And here's the thing—our voices are naturally versatile. They can express a wide range of emotions, identities, and states of being. Voice training is about unlocking this potential, exploring the breadth of our expression, and finding a voice that resonates with our truest self.

To the question of why we don't just teach acceptance—well, we do. Part of this journey is learning to love and accept ourselves at every stage. But acceptance doesn't mean standing still. It means moving forward, growing, and sometimes, transforming in ways that bring us euphoria and authenticity.

Every voice lesson, every exercise, every moment of exploration is a step toward self-love, self-acceptance, and self-expression. It's not about changing who we are; it's about becoming more ourselves.

So, to anyone feeling the pressure to conform or feeling lost in the journey of self-discovery, know this: Your voice is yours, and how you choose to use it, change it, or celebrate it is up to you. You're not alone, and in this space, we're all about embracing the journey together, with all its ups, downs, and discoveries.

If you've got thoughts, experiences, or questions, leave them in the comments.

Remember, your voice matters, and so do you. And I hope this helps