I love Music and singing. For me they are as essential and as natural as breathing.
As with breathing, the quality of my music, and the quality of my relationship with Music, has been subject to constant change and evolution.
As a child I would often sing and hum quietly to myself simply as a form of gentle expression when I was feeling content. This was a perfectly natural and uninhibited thing for me to accompany any playful activity in which I was engaged.
I merely sang with my own, unaffected, innate voice. It was simply a part of who I was and I never questioned it.
Later I learned that singing was also to be used to praise God in church, as well as to perform for others and receive their adulation and accolades or, if the performance did not meet their expectations, to receive their censure.
With this new reason for singing there also arose the issues of how to mould my voice to fit in with a choral group, a musical genre and the intended audience. My ‘church’ voice had different qualities to my ‘I want to be a singer when I grow up’ voice. My body moved differently in each context, my clothing was different and my persona varied. I was a trainee angel of compliance in church, an aspiring pop star with my friends, and when trialling for various choral groups, I would do whatever was required to pass the audition.
This pattern became the fixed singing template for my life as a vocalist and I have had several decades singing many musical genres in a variety of configurations, from soloist to choral group, harmony ensembles, a rock band and a classical quartet.
What each had in common, however, was the need to receive an accolade from my listeners that my singing voice sounded lovely, beautiful, pleasing and that my voice fitted in with what that genre or group expected.
This was a far cry from the little girl who sang because singing was simply part of her. So, I stopped performing and waited to see what would unfold. Three or so years ago I felt inspired to start singing again after hearing Michael Benhayon’s Glorious Music albums.
This time, however, I was singing just for me, only when I felt to sing, and whatever glorious song I felt to sing.
What occurred during this time was truly delight-full. People responded to me with great wonder when they chanced to hear me singing gently to, and for, myself in many everyday situations.
- Singing while shopping at my local supermarket, a lady approached me saying: “Thank you for your singing. Why does no one ever just sing anymore?” I could hear in her voice that she was puzzled by this and had missed hearing people just singing as they go about their day.
- While singing in the bulkfood section of my local healthfood shop, I saw a lady wandering around, staring up at the ceiling. She saw me and explained that she was trying to locate the source of the heavenly sound and had then realised it was me. She took me to the storeowner and asked them to record my voice and play it all day long in their shop.
- While getting out of my car in a basement car park under a prestigious Gold Coast resort hotel, I was stopped by two ladies who were similarly looking around in wonderment for the “beautiful sound echoing through the car park.”
- Stepping out of my car in front of the beauty therapist’s on the Sunshine Coast, a lady stopped her purposeful walk to work and stood perfectly still exclaiming, “Wow! That sound is incredibly beautiful. Why aren’t you on the stage?”
- A favourite comment from a work colleague during a singing dry spell: “Please start singing again. It doesn’t feel right here when you don’t sing.”
I did not respond to these confirmations as accolades because my voice already felt lovely… to me! I simply thanked them and shared with them whatever I had been singing about.
I share this not to show that I have a beautiful voice that people love. It is to share how, my singing glorious music for myself as a natural expression of how I am feeling at that time, has a deeply profound effect on so many people. And yet I sing because I sing – because it is part of who I am. It is the same quality I used to have as a child that I feel people are hearing in my voice. They are hearing a woman connected with herself: lovely, gorgeous, content.
No need for accolade, no need for a stage, no moulding, no applause. I am simply just being me, singing about who we are and where we are from.
Is it possible that this is what singing is in its most natural form?
So, I have learned to detach my singing from performance and the effects have been exquisite.
Will I ever sing on stage again? Yes, I will take this natural quality of self connection to my ‘performance’… which won’t be a performance, but rather a sharing of who I am and who we all are.
Music and singing have become for me, once again, as natural and lovely as breathing.
Inspired by my connection to me and by Michael Benhayon’s Glorious Music albums.
Dedicated to my Dad, who made sure my childhood home was filled with music, song and dance.
By Coleen
Further Reading:
My Relationship with Music: It’s about Connection not Perfection
Exploring, and Singing with, my True Voice
Words on Serge Benhayon 
I’m more of a ‘singing in the car alone’ kind of person, however that doesn’t mean that it sounds horrible. It may be off key but it feels lovely.
‘What each had in common, however, was the need to receive an accolade from my listeners that my singing voice sounded lovely, beautiful, pleasing and that my voice fitted in with what that genre or group expected.’ As a child I felt my voice had none of the qualities you mention above. As someone who developed insecurities being laughed at or ridiculed was something I avoided at all costs and so for my singing (quite often out of tune), this was a joy I denied myself. As a mature adult I have worked on my voice, not so much for the singing aspect but from a claiming, open aspect and to my joy I have found an utter power in this expression. My voice may never have the vocal range of a professional singer, but I can definitely say that my voice is awesome because when I express through song there is an emerging power that can’t be denied.
“They are hearing a woman connected with herself: lovely, gorgeous, content.” Such beautiful words and they very simply convey the difference between being ourselves and performing.
When we are in tune with the rhythm and the tone of what is holding us all, it feels like our movement is a dance and our words like a song. There’s no audience to applaud but everything is felt and shared by everyone, and it is gorgeous.
We’re all performing, performing constantly. We’re all being who we are not in a massive production here on Earth entitled ‘The Lie of Creation’. We are the eternal consciousness of God playing small bit parts in a very shonky earthly production. How tragic is that? We’re quite literally making the whole thing up as we go along.
“Music and singing have become for me, once again, as natural and lovely as breathing.” Love this Coleen. It seems when young ones are discovered to have a talent for music or singing they are thrust into some sort of limelight which they have no control over. great you have found your natural expression once again with your voice.
There is music that takes from you or leaves a layer upon you and then there is music that allows you to be. I know which one I would rather listen to.
Sadly it is quite common for us to hold back on our natural expressions when others are around, for fear of judgement or criticism perhaps, or because of jealousy etc. However, there is a saying that says to sing like no one is listening, to dance like no one is watching etc and what this really means is that it is for us to return to how we once were as children when it mattered not what others thought of you, but it was about allowing our natural expression to flow.
Feeling the leave you alone qualities of Glorious Music and the many esoteric musicians creates a uniqueness in todays society, which is totally different from the many tunes that crush us and leave us feeling empty or in emotional term-oil.
Greg, this is so true what you have shared. And I recall many years ago, when I was growing up, I often would prefer to not listen to any music than listen to music as I would feel exhausted after listening to certain types of music. In fact the sound of silence was music to my ears a lot of the time. Now I understand the effects of different qualities of music and how the living ways of the artist affect that quality, no different to any other form of expression.
Absolutely Henrietta, our expression and inner harmony is a potent team and should always be a part of our reflection, as reflection is our greatest form of communication.
It is very awesome you have found your song and true expression again.
I have recently started learning to play the piano, and have discovered that much of the teaching techniques that are available on line or through the shops feel quite constricting and in fact I have felt put off by this. But now I have discovered a different way of learning and one where I am more free to explore and have fun whilst still learning the basics so to speak – this is thanks to some wonderful teachers who each have amazing and inspiring qualities.
A teacher asked me recently if my son, who has an innate musicality, has begun formal instruction in the subject.. That phrase contains the whole consciousness of constriction you talk of Henrietta – it can certainly take the spontaneity and joy out of it! Awesome that you have found some teachers who can remain connected to what it feels like it is all about rather than making it an academic process.
Coleen – a gorgeous sharing that highlights how performing is not a natural thing for us and takes its toll on the body, but presenting what is already within is a different story for it is a form of true expression that is deeply healing.
I would love to hear you sing Coleen and this was incredibly cute ‘I was a trainee angel of compliance in church, an aspiring pop star with my friends’ but shows how with anything in life if we have not got that innate connection with ourselves and stay true to who we are in any given environment just how much we ‘adapt’ to fit in, hence not being who we truly are but instead being what we feel is needed by others.
How wonderful is that Coleen. I would love to hear your voice! For me it is always magical if people are who they are naturally as this is for me very inspirational.
When someone sings or plays music without a need for accolade, recognition or self gratification there is a depth to their voice that is felt by the whole body and not just the ears, and is a joy to behold.
Alison this is spot on, and when we drop the performance our true qualities get to shine through and bless others in the process.
It is very beautiful when we are ourselves and singing and speaking is a natural expression of who we are. I am finding this with my voice, being open and simply delivering what is there to be delivered with no reservations and at the same time letting go of any need for recognition from another because what is being said is not from me but from God.
There is nothing more beautiful than to hear someone sing from their essence, there is no intrusion while listening, just the harmony of one soul to another.
When you cannot use God´s given voice to sing to God, it is clear that you have entered the wrong door.
When we mould ourselves to sing in a certain way to preform, and it becomes exactly that a performance because we lose the beautiful connection we have within.
Today I listened to someone sing who did not have a particularly great singing voice but she sang from her heart and it was absolutely exquisite what she delivered.
Yes its fascinating that a great voice isn’t a necessity to deliver beauty and grace. Coming form the heart however is – cos technique alone can leave me cold.
We live within the song of God but whether we allow ourselves to move in tune with this or not will depend on how we have positioned ourselves energetically to hear this tune or remain deaf to it.
When we allow our body to sing from who we are we are in tune with the Universe.
“I merely sang with my own, unaffected, innate voice. It was simply a part of who I was and I never questioned it.” There is something extrememly beautiful and deeply profound about singing in this way. It brings the whole body alive and reminds us of who we truly are and where we are from.
‘Yes, I will take this natural quality of self connection to my ‘performance’… which won’t be a performance, but rather a sharing of who I am and who we all are.’ I can get caught up in thinking I have to perform in many areas of my life and yet what if it really was as simple as sharing who I am and who we all are? Many years ago I thought I had to perform at being good at sex but sharing who I am in all my transparency is intimacy. What about exams? I have some counselling exams in a few months, I have placement clients now. What if this too is about sharing who I am and all we are too. Interesting to ponder because whatever I do I can share all of me and tick the boxes knowing the purpose behind them is grander.
There is this constant pressure to perform, and to be good at what we do, both from outside as well as ourselves, as we are so desperate to be recognized and validated. It really takes joy out of simple expression.
We are all performing constantly because pretty much none of us are being the Livingness of God on Earth and as that is who we all are then we must be putting on an act in order to not be that which we are. Ridiculous when you think about it, to put so much effort into not being the gloriously majestic beings that we all are.
I often watch my 5 year old daughter sing quietly to herself while she goes about her play and I marvel at the way her movements are in tune to a song that many of us have forgotten sings deep within us all.
To be around someone who is singing to express their qualities within and then to be around someone who is trying to show you what they can do is a dead give away. The more subtle nature of someone who is connected to their inner essence and feel the joy in this and want to express is truly beautiful to be around and appreciate what they are singing.
It makes so much sense to start with connecting with and breathing our own natural breath, and then extend that to what we sing.
This could be applied to anything we do, we either do it from a true impulse of joy and true expression or we do it to belong or to get recognition, the former heals us and others, the latter harms us and others.
Why do we put so much force upon that what naturally is in us to make its expression to match other’s expectations when we grow older – while we where totally free in this expression when we where young? A beautiful question to ponder on today.
When we express ourselves in full from the glory that we are, we not only bless ourselves but also everybody that are around and the space we are in.
How powerful is it when we are just us, totally sure of who we are and what we bring and then express and share this with others. The complete opposite when we are needing something from others and how imposing that really is.
When we love ourselves no accolade is needed, when we know who we are we don’t need to do anything to feel accepted.
We only need to be accepted when we did not accept ourselves for the beautiful person that we are to start with.
The quality of our singing is crucial. We can easily sing as a distraction or for numbness or it can be an expression of our fullness.
Everything in life is either an extension of the truth of who we are or a bi-product of who we are not and that’s our world in a nutshell really.
This was beautiful to read how you’ve claimed your voice back for you, not performing or needing to be recognised, but just the pure enjoyment of singing and sound, and the way it changes the flow of energy through us and around us.
This need for accolade is huge, and I can see how it plays itself out in many areas of life, such as in completing a work task and seeking praise from the boss for doing it, cleaning our rooms and seeking praise from our parents for doing it, everything with the focus on what we have done or what we can do and not so much attention paid to the being inside. This way of living is perhaps far more insidious than is often thought because it gives so much by way of praise and recognition, when in fact it is leaving behind the delicate and sensitive being inside who seeks to feel loved above all else – a love that can not be done as it is only really found through the quality of our living ways – quality of tone, touch, movement, relationship – everything has the potential to be given with love, leaving no one feeling less or needing more.
As I read you Coleen I can see how singing can supports us to confirm that there is an inner place within of joy, harmony, stillness and love to connect with. Could it be possible that the purpose of singing would be in its origins connecting with our inner-most? When we connect with that we can feel free to express, with an authority and state of empowerment that is beyond achievements or accolades so, could it be this the reason why all these pictures and images about singing exists? To suppress these state of contentment within that comes from our sacredness. Wherever we look at – music, art, business, mothering, friendship…- there will be always a ‘perfect picture’ to fit in that prevent us to see and feel how truly unique and amazing we all are. So there is no make sense anymore to follow these rules but to feel within what’s our true way of being in all areas of our life.
Music and singing are full of images based on the famous musicians through history and the big amount of technics such as depth of voices, tones, refinement…all of that conditioned my natural way of singing and prevented me from connecting with my precious voice. Since recently I’m singing and it feels amazing even though it never fits with the ideas of what ‘good music’ is about. I’m finding that it is part of me and how beautiful it is just feeling the vibration of my voice in my chest or a quality that comes from a new acceptance of myself. There is a delicatness inside that I can feel by singing but also joy, playfullness and a deep celebration for being here so alive and radiant.
Incredible how we measure ourselves over and over again until we have created something so far away from who we truly are, even more incredible that underneath we never change – the true, pure essence of who we are remains waiting for us to claim it back.
There is an irony to trying to measure ourselves in order to define who we are and know who we are because the intention and act of measuring removes us from simply being who we are. Measurement requires judgement and keeps us rooted to past acts that can become invaluable lessons if we didn’t judge ourselves for them. It can be as simple as labelling ourselves, like I am an angry person – look, here are all the examples which ‘prove’ this. Whilst we judge ourselves we keep recreating an image, a way of being that is false. In this we never allow ourselves to be who we truly are, a potential that is always there for us to choose and live.
When we do anything in oder to get recognition then it is not true. We have to know our own worth regardless of what we do.
Offering another our all without an ounce of investment is truly a gift for all to appreciate.
Yes, if we are able to act without needing recognition our actions take on a whole new quality.
And recognised by who? Basically we’re seeking recognition from others who have also lost sight of who they are. How crazy is that, seeking recognition from people who are no longer living the truth of who they are. We’re all one directionless mob together!
“Will I ever sing on stage again? Yes, I will take this natural quality of self connection to my ‘performance’… which won’t be a performance, but rather a sharing of who I am and who we all are.” I love this Coleen. When we take self out of the equation with regard to performing the result can be exquisite – and not a ‘performance’..
I doubt I will ever be one for singing in public but I do love a good sing around the house alongside my favorite cd’s.
Take away the walls and you are singing in a space that cannot ever truly be defined or contained. Our every move and breath affects the All we are a part of so we should never underestimate how profoundly a movement made it connection with ourselves greatly affects all others, regardless of the nature of the space it takes place in, be this ‘public’ or ‘private’. The beauty of a song sung in and with this connection is not dependant on whether there is an audience around to hear it.
Just about everywhere that we go these days there is music playing. It is as if we are afraid of silence because when it is silent we have an opportunity to deeply feel what is going on within us.
My voice is growing into a beautiful voice, when I speak and sing, I used to be tight, constricted, small, and thin in my communication, as I claim who I am and heal, this is expressed. Amazing to appreciate.
We could also bring into the conversation those that need performers and to view a performance, and the relationship we have with performers – is it critical, judgemental, do we need performers to fill a void, to offer distraction, or are we there to share in the joy and to honour the essence of the person? What’s in our relationship to performers?
There has been such a focus on talent and vocal skill with singing, particularly with TV shows making people stars, it’s perhaps detracted away from the simple joy of singing which is so natural for us. We measure and evaluate singing as being good or not, when it’s really more about the joy of expression.
Sometimes I find that a person singing for the desire to be heard or for the need to be liked, can actually feel abrasive to my senses, even if they have a lovely voice and can hit each note, the intent or the quality behind their song can feel very imposing.
I was with a group of people recently who were all ‘trained’ singers. I am not a trained singer but I have come to love singing through connecting to my body and letting my voice be an expression of who I am when I sing. It was interesting to observe each person, and the difference in our voices and our bodies when we sang. The tightness and control in those that were ‘trained’ singers was striking compared to the lightness, joy and freedom of my own expression.
I was just considering the phase ‘singing your praises’. Recently I had a birthday and a whole group of people sang to me and in their singing expressed their love for me and it was the most beautiful experience. When we sing from our heart it opens up the hearts of others.
Interesting how we learn to adapt our voices and movements based on what people want to hear – rather than singing based on what is there to express.
Serge Benhayon once shared with me, if you hold back, I am less. It took me a while to wrap my head around that, and I still am in a way. But this blog reminds me of that, if you hold back your singing, these people in shops, car parks etc…do not get to experience you and feel the love of your singing in their bodies, less joy for them in that particular moment.
I used to love singing songs with my dad in the car, we used to do duets, come up with our own words and just have fun – how insane is it that we have turned something so innocent such as singing into the porn industry which it is today…
There is a friend of mine at work who regularly bursts into song out of nowhere as he is listening to something on the radio, and there is a real joy and playfulness to it that is impossible to miss. I could feel myself being uncomfortable when I first heard his voice echoing through the airplane hangar I work in, but that was coming from my own protection of holding back my expression and joy in other ways, I feel, and he has been inspiring to open up more and more.
There is such a child like innocence to such singing, and joy that cannot be contained!
I recently had a singing with soul session with Carola Woods. I didn’t think I had any traumatic experiences with singing, but I realised that the little exposure I had had to ‘proper’ singing as I grew up had interfered with the freedom and joyful connection to the divine I felt as a little girl singing by myself. I was fine while I was toning or free to make up my own words or sounds but as soon as there was a known song, I contracted and went into my head about getting it right.
Thanks Fiona, I appreciated reading your experiences. It’s given me insight into how I too may hold a restricted or set way to sing a song, instead of allowing freedom of my own expression.
When we confirm ourselves first, feedback from others is not sought as validation rather a further confirmation of what we have already felt for ourselves.
Heaven cannot be held back, or shared with only one, it does not need accolades, but it allows us to remember who we are.
Wow Coleen, I smile as I read this beautiful blog – thank you.
Singing is such a natural fun and enjoyable thing to do yet one so many of us shy away from. In my case it was because I was told I was out of pitch and could not join the choir when I was about 8 or 9 which was devastating at the time.
It is becoming clearer and clearer to me when we do things such as singing purely for recognition or attention, which has become such an accepted way of being. I have to pinch myself time and time again, as it doesn’t come anywhere near to the love that we are. Our behaviours have become so ingrained that it takes an absolute commitment to oneself and to the all to let them go and live the knowing of who we are.
I just love the responses you were getting Colleen, just another confirmation for when we are connected and not seeking anything what comes through us is naturally beautiful for all.
A sound of a voice that is detached by any recognition and just vibrating in the flow of someones essence, is like medicine for the receiver.
A powerful exposure of the lengths we will go to conform and be accepted by others – a false set up that keeps our natural and true expression hidden (locked) away – very detrimental to our true health and wellbeing.
“I was a trainee angel of compliance in church, an aspiring pop star with my friends, and when trialling for various choral groups, I would do whatever was required to pass the audition”.
Not only do we need to detach singing from performance but we need to detach most things that we do in life from performing. Our life is not a performance in order to impress others, our life is for us to live the love and truth that we are.
Absolutely! In fact we are not here to make friends, but to reflect love and truth. Which can be very confronting for people. Needing them to applaude will always let you compromise yourself.
If every note, quaver and phrase that we let out carries energy, of what we think and believe, imagine what we truly receive. Consider all the musicians consumed by self-loathing, melancholy, anger, sadness, vitriol, ambition, revenge and you will see so often in life it is not just the sound we hear. For if life is a sea of energy how can we take in one part but not the next? Thanks Coleen for this science lesson.
“My body moved differently in each context, my clothing was different and my persona varied”. I am sure this is recognisable for many people as it relates to how most of us operate in the world. We adjust to the situation simply to fit in and fit the picture. It is very freeing to discover those ways of being and learn to be who we are from the inside out.
Singing is not something that I do but I appreciate it when I hear others sing and they are fully connected to themselves and not trying to perform or get recognition. There is a difference in the sound and quality of the voice when it comes from their Soul, you can feel that it is natural and not for them but for everyone.
What a glorious gift to share with everyone regardless of where you are Coleen, a song from the heaven sung from the heart – what greater blessing is there?
One goes through quite an extraction period as one detaches singing from performance. I have recently been having singing lessons with a gorgeous teacher, not so much because of the singing part of it (though that in itself is a joy), but that I want to break through certain consciousnesses that my generation were strongly imbued with. I had a lesson recently when my voice was having a clearing time and was getting really croaky and froggy and would crack on certain key notes. I felt quite embarrassed about it but am learning to sing through it all and back myself, and not go into the consciousness of acceptable and unacceptable (cringe being the operative word here) I have not quite broken through it yet but am on the way.
Lyndy thank you for your comment about learning to value the healing that’s happening in your voice, and not the ideal of hitting perfect notes.
We all have so much to offer in many different ways. Performance unfortunately just gets in the way.
The moment we make it about us, the magic is gone. It is never about what we do, but from which place in us we do. The heart unites and never needs to stick out or wants to be better than another.
‘I am simply just being me, singing about who we are and where we are from.’Such a beautiful simplicity in this. We are incredible beings.
Singing is such a great way to express and also to deeply connect with our body. I noticed that yesterday when I was singing my lungs were getting a great clearing.
Whenever I here my 9 year old daughter sing in the same joyful and uninhibited way that Coleen described it just lights up my day and helps me to reconnect to that same feeling. When we here people expressing in a way that is them totally being themselves without any need for recognition our bodies align to that and it feels wonderful because that is our natural way and we know it deep down.
Thank you Michael, your comment shows how the quality with which we express with can be healing, and that it’s the quality behind the expression that matters, not the skill or talent. This applies to every form of expression, walking, talking, singing, etc. It is a really great example, delivered so beautifully by your daughter.
To be so natural with singing and allowing others to appreciate it, is touching…taking away the forced pressure of performing and simply being you in expression, must make it easy on the ears.
Our natural expression is beautiful, no matter how it sounds to the ears.
What a lovely story to feel the beauty and strength of a true expression and to appreciate that it is always there but we sometimes make life about other things inside of the truth.
How much do we focus on the end result? On whether others like what we have done? Your words here Colleen remind me true joy lives in savouring every beat of the way that I am. If I enjoy singing my song, it’s not important to me if it’s a hit or not – just knowing it’s composed by God.
It is wonderful to realise that there is no energetic difference between performing on stage to singing in your lounge room.
Once when I was very young my class went to see the film ‘The Sound of Music’ I was so taken by the music that coming home in a bus, full of kids,with the music going around in my head I unknowingly burst into song. This was devastating as I was very shy and thought I was singing in the my head when everyone started to laugh I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me up.You see I used to sing everywhere without even realizing I was singing but after that I became very self conscious. I love how you can freely burst into song Coleen. Very inspiring.
Singing is part of our natural expression, and the more we let go of individuality and the need for recognition the more the volume we can access from heaven through the power of sound.
Coleen, this is gorgeous, ‘So, I have learned to detach my singing from performance and the effects have been exquisite. ‘I can really feel the difference between singing and performance, performance coming with a push and a trying and not the natural loveliness of us simply expressing ourselves. I love it when I hear children singing naturally when they are playing, it feels and sounds exquisite.
It seems like it’s not just singing this process occurs for but for our whole life. We focus on end goals, on achieving something tough, but we had it all right at step one, when we enjoy ourselves and just have fun and know we are enough. Without imposing bigger objectives our life can flow in a natural way. Many thanks to you Coleen for sharing your sweet song and how simple it can be to have fun each day.
I never used to sing because I thought I had a bad singing voice. I had a picture around singing and that only singers and those with good voices could sing. But I’ve discovered that we all have an amazing singing voice. That voice can often be hidden underneath hurts and ideals and pictures but it is there within and it feels glorious to let it out.
I furthered this recently in a singing session with Carola Woods. I got to feel the movement of sound in my body and that movement can be the movement of God if that is what I choose. That movement expressed in our voice, is heavenly 🙂
When we express ourselves, true to our essence, it feels complete and it matters not how others would respond or react. What gets expressed is not for anyone to own.
This is very cool to read -the fact that we can offer so much if we take need out of it. There is a lot of pressure on ourselves when we have an expectation or investment – such as here with you wanting people to ‘praise your singing’ – but you have made a huge transformation in letting go of recognition – that is so inspiring.
How awesome it is to go to a concert and feel the open heartedness of the performers who are actually not really performing as such but sharing their love truth and joy and expressing all of that in harmony.
I am totally a public singer too! People love it because it breaks a lot of social unsaid rules, rules that silently demand that we are to keep our heads down and avoid eye contact, rules that are designed to keep us apart, instead of in harmony together (pun intended). Deep down we all want to bust out in song on the street or in a line or in our car, only difference is, that people like me and you actually do it! And people love it as they can feel true freedom in expressing like that.
You show how easy it is to allow ourselves to express what we deep down feel and how very heartwarming and tangible it is to receive.
.As Adam commented recently on this article simplicity itself is, or can be, the essence of beauty. And in singing this is especially so… To drop all artifice and performance, and then be who we truly are is simply beautiful.
As we grow from childhood it is so easy to suppress our true nature to fit the into the demands from society – it is ‘heavenly’ for ourselves and others when we break free of those bonds and return to express with and from our true nature, our essence.
My mother used to say that that when I stopped singing she would know that I was not well and when I started singing again that she knew that that I was feeling better.
We learn to perform but what you describe here shows that true beauty lies in the natural everyday livingness and not in the perfected many times auditioned staged show.
And this applies to all aspects of living, not just singing.
Absolutely. And because our ears and eyes have been so trained to aim and look for perfection we have made beauty an abstract that is very limited and is void of our inner riches.
This is a gorgeous testimony to the joy of being ourselves in full without holding back but rather returning to our natural expression as a child.
Taking away any need or attachments we make space for us to simply be and enjoy the process no matter what unfolds.
A great article for me to read to day Coleen, I loved singing but as a child I was told I couldn’t sing as result when I sang in choirs or at church as an adult I was always trying to get it right which made me anxious, there was such a difference when i sang on my own at home just gently hearing my voice with no judgment but if some one came in I would stop singing, now I am in a choir where we are encouraged to sing from our bodies from our joy, when I can do this there is a joyful feeling in my body with no thoughts of getting it right.
It interesting to hear how as a child you were with you and content and sung/hummed when you wanted to and how life, social groups, beliefs then changed this. Great to hear you have returned back to the love you are, know and are content again with you just being you and feel at ease being this wherever you go . The other day my flatmate said ‘how are you?’ and I said ‘yep really good” and she said “you must be because I heard you singing!’ … I couldn’t even remember doing this! So I guess when we do do this it shows the oneness, contentment, ease and love we feel within ourselves.
This is one of many beautiful testimonies proving that each time we think we take a step to evolve out or through something, we are actually just deepening inward and retuning, thus your relationship with singing is now mirroring what you had as a child.
I enjoyed reading this again Coleen, I know that feeling quite well to simply sing as an expression of the natural joy I feel. “Yes, I will take this natural quality of self connection to my ‘performance’… which won’t be a performance, but rather a sharing of who I am and who we all are.” This is a great line, for any kind of presentation or activity seen as a performance it can simply instead be a sharing by reflection of who we all are. Performing is usually such a lot of pressure to deliver something people enjoy, and it’s often an emptiness the audience needs temporarily filled, and a sense of being recognised for talents by the performer. We could instead be connected to our essence and all equally be sharing the love we are, no matter who is on stage.
Lately I have been singing more as the more joyful I am the more I want to express in that way. There is a tenderness and preciousness that can come through singing that is very beautiful and it has nothing to do with whether we have a lovely voice or not.
There is a reason it is said that the angels sing in Heaven. Their ‘lungs’ are full of the breath of Thy Father – a movement that sounds in accord with the All that is. And as it is in Heaven, so too shall it be on Earth. This does not mean we will turn into a race of singing beings, that could potentially be quite odd and a tad distracting…(!) it simply means that we allow ourselves to move and be moved in accordance with God and his Will. This is the Divine symphony of Us All, a tune we each know deeply within and are returning to.
Singing is such a beautiful way to express what we feel and allow the joy in our hearts to be shared.
With everything it touches, the need to perform is a true killer.
What I love about this is your willingness here to share and express the sense of loveliness you were feeling with others. In Australian culture it is more common to share complaints about life etc than not.. this is what I love about sharing our qualities with each other – it allows for a much deeper connection than many other commonalities.
I’ve never really been much of a singer. But the last few years I’ve come to love singing and how it feels in my body. At work last week I was content to be singing while alone but as soon as another person showed up I stopped or drastically reduced the volume. This felt very disturbing in my whole body and I felt a sadness of not being heard. However I can appreciate having this experience and feeling this distress, for I have remained silent for a long time and never felt it’s impact until now.
I remember Chris James shared that we all have a beautiful voice in a course I did many years ago and since then I have heard some wonderful amateur group singing where there is a focus on a collective sound rather than a need to stand out. It inspires me to let go of individuality in favour of service for the common goal.
The difference it makes when we don’t do things for recognition is huge….the opportunity it offers everyone around us to feel that we’re already enough is a massive gift, and all from the simple choice to simply accept ourselves.
The title says it all – detached from the expectations and the voice of an angel resides within.
It’s beautiful to come back to this blog. Like hearing a song that you love, suddenly come on the radio, your words Coleen remind me there’s a standard of how I move, express, talk and sing, that always deserves to be sweet. The shut down, abrupt, nice and angry tones I have used in the past have no place in my life – it’s just up to me to make my everyday tune one of harmony not bum notes.
Reading this I can feel the freedom of you expressing who you are as you sing in harmony with your body.
It’s very freeing to not feel the need to receive an accolade, return or recognition from another but just be open to expressing what you feel is true, and with that hold another in the grace of your love, without imposing on them to respond in a set way…
Recently we had a team of guys putting up a couple of marquees in the garden, and they worked really well as a team together, they each knew their part and moved effortlessly to the next stage, what I found most interesting was not only their team work, but how they were all singing together, and really enjoying it having fun, they didn’t have great musical voices but the fact that they were just being themselves made it all the easier to feel the joy they were expressing and feeling too.
I can feel reading this that your singing is a confirmation of the connection you have with yourself, nothing more, nothing less. That’s beautifull.
‘They are hearing a woman connected with herself: lovely, gorgeous, content.’ And that sums it up when there’s no demand or accolades required, when it’s just that beautiful natural expression, it’s just amazing to feel someone singing or even just being themselves in any way, for that’s what comes first the being themselves and everything that flows from there is just magic. Gorgeous sharing Coleen, thank you.
Thank you for sharing Coleen, I have noticed that we don’t sing any more as we work. When I was growing up I would hear the window cleaner sing to him self or the postman. People seemed to be more engaged in life, something has happened because now everyone seems too busy and the natural sparkle that I remember growing up has left us.
I agree Mary, I remember the milkman used to whistle or sing as he went about his morning – a couple of years ago I read a news article which said that there had been complaints about a singing milkman, and that he was requested to stop because he was bothering people too early in the morning. When I was younger listening to the milkman go about his business was part of our day, and a welcomed one, but these days it is a rarity to hear people singing, whistling or even humming (unless they have headphones on).
It is a beautiful thing, to allow ourselves to sing from a true connection to who we are and to then share it with others simply because it is such a joy to do so. It takes away any ‘need of perfection or performance’ which is so often associated with singing and music.
I never sung because I thought I couldn’t sing. Lately I’ve noticed that I sing regularly and how joyful it feels. The focus shifted from what I sounded like to what it felt like. And interestingly, I think I sound pretty good 🙂
Goodness I smiled as I read the response you had when you sang for yourself in public. Our expression is many and varied, yet when we express without needing anything in return we express the love of God. No attachment, simply to express ourselves in full. We will each have an expression that is offering a slightly different angle, even if 4 of us were singers the expression would be slightly different. It is not necessary to be on stage or get comments or adulation, but it is necessary to express it, because without each expression in its fullness, the world misses out.
The more I allow myself to sing from the connection to my body first, the more singing becomes innately something that I just do. I was at a wedding recently, and someone was on stage singing to the guests. I was just singing quietly along, with a few harmonies here and there that were just coming from my body with no thought about what I would sing. Just a natural expression of me and how I love to share that with others, that was also appreciated by those around me in that moment.
When we sing in connection to our bodies, the sound that flows is naturally a reflection from heaven, deeply healing for those receiving it and at the same time regenerative for our soul.
I am currently having singing lessons and the teacher shared the other day that she would like everyone to perform a song to the other students. Just hearing the word ‘perform’ I felt myself step aside for a moment internally as if to fully comprehend what she had said. I realised that that word held a lot of mixed feelings, nuances and the potential for anxiety within me. It was great to catch it and I repeated the word quizzically. The teacher then said that that was what it was all about. I realised in that instant that it was about me continuing to be me regardless and to bring all of me to the moment, as in every moment. I realised the responsibility I held to be a reflection for others but that that was no more or less than the reflection I bring every day. It was lovely to feel so much at home with myself and the commitment within to live allowing this unfolding of my true nature moment by moment.
It’s crazy how we have got to thinking of singing as such a big deal, like we are a performer on stage in front of millions. The truth is we all play our part and contribute to the symphony of life with our every thought and move. It’s down to us as you show Coleen to just let what we have out without worrying that we might hit a bum note.
Without awareness there is frequently an arrogance that accompanies the movements of someone who sings on stage, it is like wearing a protective armour. Wearing anything hard like this I could only imagine it is so vulnerable that it does not allow any true feelings or expressions to enter or be received. So it is like a self-created prison in an ivory tower.
‘Music and singing have become for me, once again, as natural and lovely as breathing.’ Beautiful Colleen, just as anything else we do in life, music and singing is simply another expression.
It’s interesting how we can push and pull ourselves into so many different identities to fit in and yet none of them share the true authenticity of who we are and also leave us struggling to feel and appreciate the true joy and flow of our natural way of being. Re-connecting to the playfulness and flow of our movements reminds us of how we were when we were children and takes the stress and hardness from trying to fit into all the identities we have accumulated over the years. Returning to our inner heart connection, reminds us of the flow and rhythm of life and the harmony and vitality we always knew returns with ease.
This pattern of molding and squeezing ourselves to suit the situation is so harmful to our body and wellbeing. We are so constantly reshaping our natural way to fit into the square, oval, hexagonal etc. holes, that we lose sight of our original shape. To move and express yourself in your natural way is one of the loveliest things to feel. We miss this deeply as it is something we have been denying ourselves since we learnt to conform.
How perfectly put Fiona, the Chris James workshops have really helped me to see the tension that can live in our bodies without us even knowing when it comes to singing and music. So many of us squooshing ourselves into odd shapes!!
‘I was a trainee angel of compliance in church, an aspiring pop star with my friends, and when trialling for various choral groups, I would do whatever was required to pass the audition’ Sounds like you had a lot of aliases Coleen but sadly in none of them you were able to be fully yourself.
That’s beautifully said Collen, ‘I will take this natural quality of self connection to my ‘performance’… which won’t be a performance, but rather a sharing of who I am and who we all are’, all is a sharing of our connection within.
I am blessed to live with someone who sings a lot – in the shower, when putting away the vacuuming or playing with lego…any occasion is worthy of song. The singing has such a joy in it and that joy fills the house. If I were to try and direct the singing, control it or make it this or that, I have no doubt that joy would slowly disappear. It’s a pure expression of what is felt in the singer’s body and it is expressed freely – that is what is so joyful about it.
True music comes from our soul and the soul is not interested in performance, only truth and love.
I can remember singing when I was a child and then joining a chapel choir in my teens which after a few years I gave up due to an illness. The last couple of years I have been asked to join a couple of choirs but said ‘No’ because they didn’t feel right. Out of nowhere usually in my kitchen I can come up with a tune and some words and for now I am happy with that… we don’t have to perform to enjoy the natural, beautiful voice that we have.
Coleen what an amazing article as from my observation most people sing/perform to get a reaction and get the adoration from fans, yet as you said, perhaps it didn’t always start out this way – when we are kids we sing and play just for the joy of it. I agree lets bring this back.
It is an absolute joy to observe a child sing with a joy of who they are and express this with every inch of their body not waiting for recognition.
‘Music and singing have become for me, once again, as natural and lovely as breathing.’ I was very much like you as a child Coleen and would chatter away with no reserve and sing to myself and not be shy about sharing my song with another, until I went to school. I have not regained that feeling of total freedom around singing but it is definitely coming back and I love how it feels. I am currently having sessions with Robbie Boyd which are not so much about ‘singing’ but allowing my own expression to come forth with music, deepening the qualities that I am presently most in touch with in myself. This is very supportive and nurtures that naturalness where harmony is found and the joy comes in to our expression and our song.
Performance robs music of its true beauty and simplicity. The most beautiful tune is often the simplest.
How many books do we have in this world? Into how many complex subjects do we delve? How many PHD thesis are there out there? And yet it seems there are some very basic parts where our learning is bare. It’s embarrassing to admit, but it’s a fact isn’t it, that so many of us could do with a refresher course on moving, or reading ‘breathing for dummies’. How crazy is this?! But beautiful too, for as you show here Colleen that when we choose true movement it comes out again with a natural ease that is like music to our ears.
Its crazy how most people get caught in the ideals, rewards and recognition for singing and dancing, and lose the true fun of just exploring one’s own voice through singing.
Coleen, this is really lovely; ‘Music and singing have become for me, once again, as natural and lovely as breathing.’ I can feel how I stopped singing because it became about singing for others, I had some harsh comments as a child about my singing and so I became critical of my voice and stopped singing for about 30 years, I recently realised that there is nothing wrong with my voice, that my voice is actually beautiful and a natural part of me.
What a glorious feeling Coleen; a beautiful sharing very much appreciated;
“This time, however, I was singing just for me, only when I felt to sing, and whatever glorious song I felt to sing”.
‘Music and singing have become for me, once again, as natural and lovely as breathing.’ Beautifully said Colleen, completely the same as everything we do.
“My ‘church’ voice had different qualities to my ‘I want to be a singer when I grow up’ voice.”
Love this Coleen as it shows us on a micro cosmic level how we approach life, compartmentalising; only recently I attended a presentation by Serge Benhayon and he talked about how our bodies are made to express as a unified whole, yet because we have made life about parts we over do some parts and under do others; resulting in dis- ease like a frozen shoulder or arthritic hands etc. There is only one voice and that is our true voice.
I have experienced listening to people that have been singing for recognition of singing and those that are singing for the pure joy and harmony that this expression offers us all and the two are very different in how they leave you. The later leaves you to just simply be and have the space to enjoy what is being shared. Sometimes it is offering opportunities to let go of things we are holding in the body, I can vividly connect to times when I feel energetic shifts in my body. Glorious Music and Miranda Benhayon are extremely powerful in what they share and it is an absolute joy to listen to them.
I love my voice! This has always been the case but I lost sight of this and couldn’t feel it anymore when I was singing to be recognised for it. Working with Chris James over the past few years, I have reconnected to the pure joy of expressing with my voice and from my whole body. Its been a gift that I cherish and deepen and to coin a cheesey phrase, ‘just keeps on giving’!.
From what I’ve observed it’s massively challenging to detach from the recognition and the artistic license that music provides you, so it’s super cool to know you just love singing and the feel of your voice.
There is a big difference in singing for the love of it versus being made to sing in a particular way. And this can be applied to any other aspects of life too…How freeing to realise this, and then to live for the love of it and not to live because of a certain way one is expected to live.
When we open our mouth to speak do we go into a performance or do we stay with our body and speak only what needs to be said? This is worth pondering on.
Hearing another sing, particularly as we go about our day to day activities, and they just naturally express who they are, is a beautiful thing to behold. When we allow ourselves to just be – to move, express and sing in a way that is totally us, it inspires others to do the same.
It is interesting how we learn to make our voice an instrument that we modulate accordingly to the point that we do not know anymore which one is our natural voice.
A beautiful example of how we are all blessed when we allow ourselves to simply be (ourselves).
When we allow ourselves to sing from our bodies, there is a real beauty in expressing the sounds of the soul within us.
The speed at which we take on various roles is truly breath-taking; it seems we will do whatever it takes to mould ourselves into what is expected of us, how we interpret those expectations and make them fit evermore tighter and better. Unless, of course, we see through it and drop this bundle.
I love how you have brought back the joy into your singing. Rather than seeing it as a skill or something to get recognised by. If singing is a natural expression, then why hold back on this – and as you see here – what a joy it brings to everyone.
It is interesting how we never hear people singing anymore, even though many have headphones in and you can hear the music. When I was a child people used to sing and whistle all the time whilst going about their working day. Both my father and grandfather had good singing voices and would burst into song, and the milkman or postman would be whistling along, these day they get told off if they are whistling because it wakes the customers up. Now with music everywhere you go maybe it has gone out of fashion to spontaneously burst into song.
Coleen, this article is so beautiful to read, I love how you now sing as you go about your day, what a joy for the people that you meet. I also really enjoy this in young children as they contentedly hum or sing a song, this feels so joyful and heavenly, the quality is very different to when someone sings to please others or for recognition.
I really notice the difference in the young children at my work when I sing from me. They really sit up and take notice and they are actually very still and quiet. And when I finish the song, they say, more.
There are some moments where it is singing that can change a mood, or appreciate a shared moment of tenderness or imperfection that anything else would struggle to do.
If something is an innate quality… a part of you in your essence, thats true expression brings joy to you and others, then this is something that should never be tainted or suppressed.
Singing is an expression , just as anything else we do, and first and foremost is the quality that we sing is which is important. Everything else comes from that quality. Over the years singing has been put on a pedestal of ‘performance, which has taken it a way from the beautiful natural expression that we all have and can enjoy.
There is such joy when singing is simply how we choose to express – listen to anyone sing in the shower and you’ll be reminded of this. When the performance element comes into it, things can change quite quickly. But in recent years I have seen singers perform whilst staying with that joy in their body and it is a blessing to be showered with a voice from heaven.
Thank you Coleen, there is nothing like the unbridled freedom of self expression and the joy of simply singing for oneself. It warms my heart every time I read this blog. I notice when I’m in public I often do feel to sing but hold it back because of my environment. We have placed so many expectations on how we should sound that the natural act of singing for the joy of it is fairly absent in the world.
I love the final line ‘inspired by my connection to me and the music of Michael Benhayon’. Without a relationship with ourselves we miss the magic in life.
When I think of shows such as X Factor which promote and glorify someone talents I see them as very harming, to build someone up like that is for sure a road to disaster. When we sing true with no recognition needed heaven rejoices, when we sing to be better than someone else or sing to prove something the quality goes down the pan and the harm we then cause to ourselves or another becomes apparent.
Gorgeous Colleen, this is exactly how my young daughter sings and how I feel when I hear her. Our song has the ability to sound Heaven if sung in connection with our true self and in accordance to the tune of the Universe we are so held in. The thing is, we as humans have created our own song that is in complete discordance to such a vibration and as such moulds and shapes us in a way that sees us attune ourselves to a vibration that is not of the love and truth we are. Therefore we need to be very discerning as to the energy in which a song is sung. If it is sung from who we truly are, then there is great healing in the sound and likewise if it is sung from who we are not, we only add to the harm in the world no matter how pitch perfect our voice may sound.
“…It was simply a part of who I was and I never questioned it.” This is beautiful and if truly felt deepens our relationship with our voice unfathomably.
Beautiful Coleen, just reading your blog makes me smile and I feel as though I can hear you sing already… looking forward to hearing it in person some day.
Wow is it possible then that we all know the energetic quality of sound? That we can all actually feel when someone is singing from an emptiness or a lack or a need for recognition? And that we can all equally feel when someone is singing simply from who they are and this resonates deeply with us because it reminds us of who we are too.
Coleen that is so beautiful you are singing from your essence and touching many others. Like you say “No need for accolade, no need for a stage, no moulding, no applause. I am simply just being me, singing about who we are and where we are from.” this is a great reminder that all we need to be is who we are.
When I listen to people singing who are singing from their essence and therefore not trying to impress people or seduce them in any way it is so beautiful as their music does not impose on you but just allows you to be. It is so joyful to sit and listen to it.
We are so natural in how we express and then we get caught in the praise and how others react and we loose our naturalness, and suddenly it’s a performance and we are lost. This applies to so many areas of our lives and none of us are immune, in fact we’ve created whole lives, careers and structures to commend those performances and yet when we meet that naturalness again, that innocence we are awe struck as we know and feel that this is what it is to truly express and we remember we are more than our performances, we are innately lovely and when we express that, it is magic just in itself, no accolades needed.
It’s fascinating to see and acknowledge the extent to which we so willingly bastardise that which is innate within us for recognition and reward outside of us. Instead of singing quietly and naturally to ourselves and those around us we seek an aggrandisement that takes us away from who we are – only to eventually discover how far from home we’ve strayed… and how lost we truly are.
What you describe about how you are in different contexts, I think many of us do this in different parts of our lives. We take on and mould ourselves to what we think we need to be and in this we let go of and lose connection to who we are. It is inspiring when you see someone walk to their own rhythm and not that of the mob.
‘I will take this natural quality of self connection to my ‘performance’… which won’t be a performance, but rather a sharing of who I am and who we all are.’
I’m inspired by the quality of what you speak of here and how it relates to all we do from the quality of our essence.
I love that your father inspired you in your younger years Coleen, and that song and dance was a natural part of your home life and growing up so it did not feel special or different. When we put expectations on our natural abilities we put pressure on ourselves to perform or to seek recognition rather than enjoying what is naturally in us to express.
To simply appreciate our innate qualities and share them with others openly, without reservations for any reason are heavens gifts for ourselves to appreciate with joy in full. When we do there is not one part of us that seeks any confirmation from another source, heaven’s confirmation brings all the joy and love to who we are.
It’s not just singing per se people miss, but more the love, joy and playfulness in our words, speech, sound and song. These days even talking to another can be so loaded with emotion and seriousness that it is no wonder so many find hearing such emotion-free sound a great blessing.
Like singing, all of life is a stage so to speak, all parts are an important part.
I could feel your joy through your words Coleen and the sense of freedom singing from ourselves, for ourselves brings.
It is such an important point you raise here Colleen, the difference between performing and sharing ourselves in different expressions such as singing. Performance for me means seeking needs to be fulfilled by either the performer or the audience and yet sharing ourselves goes so much wider and connects each other in our equall-ness of nature.
Thank you, Coleen, as you share, I can feel the joy of people singing and how we often have closed it down , from the belief ‘that you can sing’ or the fear of being judged. But what I sensed from this blog is how we are free to do so and that what we sing and how our voice is heard is that which we live. So there is nothing to shy away from if we want to be honest. It is a matter of feeling who we are and acknowledging that our voice is a representation of how we live – either in connection or the absence of that. Nothing to be ashamed, just simply a learning.
Beautiful Coleen. Recently I have started a self experiment of singing to myself once a day, I’ve never been big into singing but what I am finding is that the less I compare myself to the singer and just stay with and accept my voice for however it is, I feel lighter in myself and feel more in rhythm with who is singing the song on my phone. Never having any formal training sometimes I am surprised at myself for reaching certain pitches or singing a very long note without gasping for air! Singing in connection also doesn’t hurt my throat whereas in the past if I tried to sing to please or sound ‘right’ my throat would tire quickly and soon hurt.
It’s amazing how we have taken the things that are so simple, natural and vital and made them into hard to achieve things. The idea that one day you could ‘be’ a musician, when today you can make cool sounds with your pots and pans is quite absurd to me. What you make clear here Coleen, is that joy is not something we need to study and learn but is right here, right now waiting for us to become free. Now this truly is music to my ears.
When we share the joy of that movement that we we feel in our bodies it spreads and touches all around.
Letting go of our need to be someone or to receive something from what we do, takes the natural joy and playfulness out of life. We are configuring our bodies to move in a certain way that holds us back from our natural flow and rhythm and this stifles our true expression from inspiring and illuminating the world.
How lovely to go back to the simplicity of singing just for you. And in that it is also for everyone.
I agree the simplicity is where the beauty is, and that is what is felt by others, not trying, no wanting be anything, just sharing from the heart.
There’s something revealing about the fact that 80,000 of us will que up to see somebody on stage, or millions will watch ‘live’ on TV, yet us playing and singing songs can seem frowned upon in everyday life. We have let this idea of having to be a ‘professional performer’ kill and curb our natural joy and playful way of simply making sounds. And I’m feeling having read your words Coleen, how this is in itself a bigger metaphor for how we are in life. Wow, enough of this – lets sing our song loud and strong and harmonise along the way.
I feel inspired to sing a bit more again. It is delicious to do so but it can get lost when I do not care about it in my busy life!
Connecting back with our own true voice what ever form that may take is the only way humanity will defeat the withdrawal and anxiousness that comes from waiting for others’ approval.
When we do not need the recognition, that is what we truly have to express. We have generally mistaken that if someone does not need the fame and recognition, then they are not equipped to be a performer. I would say the opposite is true, and that is precisely the reason why we actually have to be out there and on stage.
That is adorable what people shared with you and also how you wrote the experiences and I love the dedication to your Dad he sounds like a really lovely man. Can’t wait to hear you sing because from what you have expressed I know this is coming from you just being not trying or want of recognition. And when we allow ourselves to be we allow others to just be as well ✨
We cannot but feel deep joy of another expressing in connection with their soul.
I have always loved singing but have had periods of more or less inhibition as far as singing ‘in front of people’. The fear in this has definitely been tied up with how what I produce will be received, how lovely then to go to workshops with Chris James and be supported in letting all of what gets in the way go and to feel so much joy in singing and being myself that any fears simply don’t exist and instead it is fun to share myself and what comes through me with others.
It is very beautiful to reconnect with our ‘true voice’ and to not hold back from expressing from it, whether it is with singing or speaking. I have rediscoverd for myself that I have always had a beautiful voice thanks to the inspirational support of Chris James and the work he does in this field, and now love to sing and share it with other people simply because it is there to be shared, wherever I am.
Thank you Colleen, I agree the quality we have with our childhood voice is amazing. I got a confirmation of how staying with our first impress of how to sing and how amazing it sounds if we do not sell out to some sort of recognition. This happened while I was working at the markets yesterday a man was whistling and I commented on how amazing he was and he shared how he just kept his integrity and never sold out to any type of recognition. This man whistled and it was simply a part of who he was and he has never questioned it. Everyone at the market could feel the joy that he got from his whistling.
I guess you could apply this principle to not only music but every aspect of life, life is not about performing or our performance, it’s about our quality first and foremost and being naturally who we are without any pretence or show or need for people to look at us and what we’re doing.
Yes Meg, I totally agree. If we take it back to every interaction we have, no matter who it is with, whether it is with one person or 100 people, we are always in effect ‘on stage’. Why should we be different in any one situation to another? As you say, it is the quality we bring to every sitiuation, and being ourselves that is key here.
If you really think about it, it doesn’t make any sense that we are different in different situations, why would we not want to be us? It really exposes the dishonesty that we accept and perpetuate in the world.
There is a powerful Swedish film called ‘As it is in Heaven’ (Gabriellas Sang) that captures the essence of this blog. How a young boy, a gifted pianist, drilled to become concert performer, became burnt out and lost the true person that he was. The film explores his journey back to healing and himself. We see the constant tension between singing for the love of it and the restless need by some to miss the true purpose of singing by making it about performance and competition.
Reading your blog revealed to me how rare it is for me to sing to myself. When I do, its usually in the car listening and singing to music by Michael Benhayon, Rachel Kane or Andrea Leonhardi. Listening to their songs opens my heart, does not impose or make me emotional. Learning to sing again just for me and unaccompanied is work in progress.
It is not just our singing voice that often ends up not being true, tarnished as it is by ideals we hold around who and what we should be for the world.
I love the examples you gave, so cool to have those confirmations when you choose to sing for you. As others have felt, when you’re connected and singing, it is for them too.
Music can convey much about the writer, and can have profound effects on the listeners.
It is interesting that in established religions people sing to praise God. Yet, do they really praise Him? Are these songs really aimed at Him? Do these songs reflect a deep connection with Him? Do these songs help us in any way to deepen the connection with ourselves?
Singing is interesting as I know for me how much I have been judged or criticised by others for not being in perfect tune etc.. but who cares if you are enjoying yourself? Something I was staggered by is when I actually listened to the lyrics of many of the pop songs and realised quite what they were about. Since then I was a lot more discerning what I listen to. I have found that with music it can either make me emotional, whether it be sad, angry etc. or it can allow me to simply be me. Michael Benhayon and Glorious Music have been great for showing me the power music can truly have when it simply allows you to be you.
I absolutely concur James; the most important thing is to enjoy the process of singing and joining in with the group.
As well to simply be ourselves – I know when I take the focus away from me and my voice and make it about the whole the sound I produce is completely different and somehow in tone, at least to my ears.
We go around the world to find the rarest jewel, yet life has a way of bringing us home to see that the simplest, innate quality is actually the most stunning and precious thing. It may take some of us lifetimes to return to this discovery but it is still so worth learning. Thank you Coleen for this hymn to our natural beauty.
Why not sing for the sake of singing? After all, the birds never apologise for waking us up in the morning to the sounds of their calls.
It’s a rare person who chooses to set aside the accolades and acclaim they have conditioned themselves to receive in order to explore the truth of their profession or calling. Shining a light on what we do and why we do it is key if we are to eliminate any modicum of self-interest.
It is really lovely to read about the heavenly feedback Coleen received. We tend to think of it as showing off and I would not have appreciated it a few years ago but I am coming to accept what I feel and say ‘Why not?’ Why not share what others are saying otherwise I find myself holding back and contracting.
A great blog on voice, singing and expression. I can relate to having a natural impulse to sing but thinking my voice isn’t good enough or that it’s doesn’t sound like others and so I would keep quiet until I was alone, in the car or shower. The way the world currently views voice, tone etc when it comes to music seems controlling to me. Who is anyone to judge how or where or when people sing, if you feel it no matter how you think you sound let it out and feel what it is for you. A lot of the time I hold back things based on something outside and like this blog presents it’s inside that counts.
Yes Ray I too can relate to feeling controlled and allowing the outside to have influence over me. There is no such thing as perfect pitch and I do find myself being a little hard on myself when I sing and I can’t get the note to how I would like it instead of simply singing without having an expectation. I also have to watch how I can be judgemental on others when they’re off key.
The relationship on us “being a little hard on myself” and the “can be judgemental on others” is an interesting one and is it one and the same? In other words how you are with yourself goes out into the world onto others. At times it may look different or have another heading but like here we can see how this simple relationship goes further then we would think. I realise Caroline you would know this but it’s a great example for me and us all in the fact that no relationship is exclusive in energy, it’s all related and hence “everything is energy”. If you and I truly want to support the world then this is a relationship that starts from the inside, the inside of us.
I find this with presenting… when I am up in front of people it can become about a performance and I lose myself. It is no longer just a natural expression of what I feel and who I am and so no wonder my heart pounds in my chest, I get nervous, and can’t think clearly. Yet why is it different to any other conversation? What is there to be presented is there inside me as it always was, and I just need to get out of the way so it can all come out.
Having heard you present on stage Coleen, I could listen to your lovely delicious voice all day!
I have recently been listening to my own voice in every day communication and conversation more closely and have been shocked to discover just how often I do not speak or express or sing with my own lovely deep voice. Like any habit there are very familiar habitual ways that I use my voice which are so ingrained that they appear normal. When I do consciously express with my own voice, I can feel it holds me and everyone around me with its resonance and vibration.
When we feel the absolute deliciousness of our true voice resonating throughout our bodies we have no need for any recognition or approval from outside.
There seems to be a real difference between performance and just purely singing for joy. I love to listen to children when they just decide to sing while they play a game, it seems to take them into themselves and the world they are creating. Peaceful and harmonious. Thank you Coleen.
“Detaching Singing from Performance”, the title of your blog, says it all – how we so easily think it is about excelling at something, getting the attention and recognition we crave and somehow making it in the world. And last but not least, how that spoils everything and robs us of the joy of just expressing what is there to express.
It’s lovely to read about the difference between performance and connecting to oneself. How different things would be if we were not always set up to compare and compete with others but instead value and respect everyone’s individual expression.
‘I did not respond to these confirmations as accolades because my voice already felt lovely… to me!’
A great key to understanding appreciation and that there is no need to look for recognition or accolades from the outside world when we are enjoying the expression pf who we are – the accolades are merely a confirmation.
“I was a trainee angel of compliance”
I love this line Coleen because it speaks so well of the evils of compliance, the angelic, tick all the boxes picture hand in hand with an underlying drain that sucks dry the sweet spark of our self expression.
I love this blog Colleen as it reminds me of just how unaffected I was as a child and is inspiring us all to go there again as you have.. You have an exquisite voice that would be wasted if not heard by all or if you hid it away from the world. I look forward to seeing you on stage.
“I was singing just for me, only when I felt to sing, and whatever glorious song I felt to sing.” Beautiful Coleen – so often in life we look to others for acknowledgement and approval. How great that you are now singing for you and maybe to share, but not for the outcome or applause.
What a great blog to read. How often do we hear and watch people perform their singing items on stage or TV and there is so much investment in how the audience will react. It is interesting to note here that letting go of this is what allows the true joy of singing to come through and any compliments are just an opportunity to appreciate what you already know is true.
I love the way that you’ve reconnected with how you used to sing as a little girl – unhindered nor attached to anyone’s praise or recognition just from the connection you feel inside and joy of expressing it. There is much here we all can learn from I’m sure even if we don’t sing – to consider how we move and talk and engage with others – if we are waiting for approval or acceptance or expressing first from our connection and then letting that out without any conditions of receipt..
Singing like this makes a lot of difference and if we have this ability others should not be deprived of that just as others might have their own divine flavour to bring to the world.
The word ‘performance’ itself already suggests that we are to be different to how we normally are and that a lot of moulding and compliance will be required, from the clothes to the posture to the voice – it actually feels very contrived and forceful.
They say sing as though no-one is listening, whereas what we should say is sing as though everyone is listening, not as you say because we require the feedback, but why should we not share our inner joy with the world. I am sure a bird never pauses to give thought to whether it should sing or not depending on who is there to listen.
Absolutely we should sing to share our inner joy and not hold back, the beauty when we sing like this is felt by others and touches many other hearts. The more hearts we touch through our joyous expression the more lighter we all feel in our body.
I have always sung freely, since I was a young child. The songs were not always the best, it the 80’s after all and Madonna was dancing on stage with a pointy bra as a top. I remember dancing around the back yard with the hose on pretending I was a pop star; the rose garden was my audience. In this, there was still an innocence, as my love for music grew, I was asked to do many things with choir’s, bands, albums, lessons, studying music at conservatoriums but I was always unable to commit to any of these offers. At the time I thought I was a failure but I now realize that apart of me could feel the lack of clarity in it all. For now that I have been introduced people producing music in a way that is energetically responsible, that cares deeply for those that are listening, I have no problem committing whenever it is needed.
Join the club Sarah. I would grace my backyard growing up with a selection of musical songs that I loved and used the trusted garden hose like it was an extension of my arm. My mother would watch from the kitchen window and just grin from ear to ear. The innocence was radiating from within and I vividly remembering enjoying being with me.
I used to make up songs al the time as a child, especially in the back of the car on journeys, looking at the horizon slide past…..I have always physically felt like I want to sing, for the sake of singing, a natural call, so much as come in between me and my natural voice, but it is returning, unveiling and reawakening and it feels amazing. It also feels like a long forgotten engine getting started again.
I enjoyed so much reading this again Coleen. A lot of the music and singing these days has a very prescribed sound, a sound that does have to be performed rather than naturally uttered. It is amazing what can be done with the human voice but does it still carry the essence of the person singing or is it no longer them but the essence of another telling them how it must be?
This is true – music has become ‘prescribed’ and contrived, an offensive medium in which to impose your emotions upon another and an invitation for them to join you in such indulgence.
To hear the clarity and grace of true sound is a reminder of heaven, a calling of us to the magnificence we are and as such a limitless joy of love in expression.
I don’t often hear people sing without wanting recognition these days and it is a shame really. Music has become a business and a performance rather than a simple joy to do simply because we feel like singing, so it is lovely to read how you sing now no matter the environment.
Is it possible that when we sing with conditions that we also ‘hear’ those conditions through the way the music is sung and felt? And if so, is it possible that what others really loved in your singing was actually your freedom of expression without those conditions and beliefs?
Love it Colleen . . . “Music and singing have become for me, once again, as natural and lovely as breathing” . . . what a joy!
Even the term “to sing for myself” is something that might feel quite foreign because so much in life seems to now be geared towards accolades, recognition, and what we can get out of our talents and skills (career, fame etc). We have lost the enjoyment of the simple things in life, to just enjoy singing for ourselves for example, with no push or drive to do anything more with it, but to just feel the contentment, self nurturing, and joy of being our natural selves.
Yes Colleen, imagine if we judged and critiqued our breathing this way? ‘Hmmm that wasn’t a very good one I should give it a rest’. Well if I am honest I feel that this harshness does actually happen to me. I often take breathe for granted and forget to enjoy each in and out and depress of the chest. I settle sometimes for a shallow and quick version instead of fully enjoying and savoring being me. So of course, then this attitude flows on to singing, work and relationships too. Today you’ve inspired me to drink it all in, to enjoy everything to the max beginning with this simple act – breath in, breath out – relax. Really it is the music of our body, so may we let a symphony through the instrument of God that is you.
We all have our “own, unaffected, innate voice”. How beautiful it is to hear a young girl sing from her joyous connection to herself. Why is it that we then train our voices to sound a certain way? The rock star, the opera singer are a far cry from this natural expression of love and yet we pay hundreds of dollars to go and hear this music which is fraught with emotion.
Thank you for your great sharing and the simplicity in which you are able to share your voice by just singing for yourself. This is beautiful to feel.
I heard someone sing yesterday in an unexpected moment, not to be heard or admired, but just because she couldn’t contain the joy she was feeling. It was like being touched by an angel the sound was so sweet and pure… nothing to do with sophisticated sounds, instruments, lyrics or showmanship, just the simplicity and purity of joy being expressed. Hearing that was definitely one of life’s great pleasures I have to say.
It is wonderful, full of wonder indeed, that you have returned to the innocence of vocal expression of your childhood, away from the need to perform and be a certain way, interestingly enough a way that was never truly yours but adapted to what was expected at the time and under the circumstances.
Being able to fully express ourselves in a way that feels natural and wonderful is something we should all aspire to. The fact that you were able to express yourself by singing as a young girl, but then return and find your voice again was really great to read about.
This is true of all forms of expression and I can feel how often when I am speaking I am actually performing rather than just expressing whatever is there to be said because I am invested in how the other person/people will receive it. The more I stay with me and share from my heart the less others react to me and the quality of my communication has improved in all areas of my life.
Thank you for sharing how singing is once again a part of your natural expression. This is what the other people are feeling – you expressing the joy of being you. What a beautiful reflection for others when so many are totally caught up in projecting an image of what they think others expect.
‘No need for accolade, no need for a stage, no moulding, no applause. I am simply just being me, singing about who we are and where we are from.’ Beautifully said Coleen and very true, how healing it is for others to hear you sing with this level of joy and connection.
I always admire people who can stand up and let their voices be heard. The sweet tones of a beautiful voice are a joy. What is especially gorgeous too, is when that voice is coming from the expression of a life lived with love. Love for oneself and all others unconditionally. This makes singing have a whole other purpose.
‘As with breathing’ – I love the way you make it clear Colleen how we are born so uncomplicated and in tune with our systems, like we know every word of life’s song by heart. And yet we can find ourselves today unsure of the melody and living out of sync completely. Just reading your words reminds me how I can return to my natural harmony, by coming back to the simplicity of my breath. This is the first part of the song I am here to sing.
Thank you for reminding me that I used to sing all the time too as a little girl, I had totally forgotten about that, I have often thought that singing was not for me, but now I realise that is not true. It became ‘not for me’ when I thought that I was not good at it. Wow, talk about culling our expression!
I’ve always admired people who can express themselves in singing naturally without trying to be something else in doing so – there is such a heavenly quality in this that needs to be shared.
Singing from the connection of our heart and body is a match made in heaven and one that is a real joy to not only share but to embrace wholeheartedly so. Thank you Coleen.
Often times our natural ability to move leads us to learn and perfect a way of moving that kills what is natural in us. We still move but in a totally different quality.
Sound travels straight through us in waves. So if that sound carries heaven, we feel a wash through us that reminds us of our home.
It’s a whole body experience, watching and hearing a performance that is done from connection and inner joy.
Absolutely gorgeous Coleen. Through your blog I can see how singing with our joy where ever we are, can be very healing and supportive for others to receive. It can break the seriousness and the stress and tension of daily life.
Even you writing about your singing is music to my ears! It is so gorgeous to hear someone sing for themselves and out of pure joy.
This is something that I can take with me to consider in the way that I express myself through the spoken word as well – am I trying to ‘perform’ and put out a facade or am I simply connected and sharing from that…
Simply gorgeous blog Coleen. These days we seem to be too busy with earplugs attached to ‘manufactured’ music rather than opening our hearts and singing as part of our daily activities. My elderly mother talks about the singalongs around the piano that were part of family life in her youth.
“I was singing just for me, only when I felt to sing, and whatever glorious song I felt to sing.” It struck me that this touches on the essence of true expression in all that we do.
We love something (e.g., singing). It is natural to us so we do it. Music is part of our movements. We sing as we move. We move as we sing. Then suddenly, this gift is put to work in a context that does not honour our movements any more. We keep singing, but singing does not represent our true movements any longer. And because we invest in singing this way, our movements change as well. Now, we are gone. There is no way to know what is true… until a new true reflection comes along (Glorious Music) and gives us back the opportunity to move back to a way of singing and moving that is close to our hearts. We have to be aware of journeys like this one because we get totally lost in them even if it we are not aware of this fact.
It’s lovely to hear children playing and singing without wanting recognition, but enjoying the sound and feel of their own voice.
Reading this it dawned on me that we rarely these days hear anyone singing or whistling in the streets just because they feel to, unless they are busking that is.
You clearly love to sing Coleen, I cannot but wonder with what you know now how you would feel if you held or were forced to hold all this natural expression in?
‘What each had in common, however, was the need to receive an accolade from my listeners that my singing voice sounded lovely, beautiful, pleasing and that my voice fitted in with what that genre or group expected.’ This form of sound reminds me of a spell… casting something out onto people (in playing to their emotions) in order to receive back the desired response. Unfortunately, this is the way most music is (mis) – used.
We can sing and make it a performance expressing what we think people want to hear, or we can naturally express from the heart which has no performance just a naturalness to it that doesn’t come dressed as something that it is not.
A sign of joy for me is when I catch myself singing while moving about, it’s a expression that my whole body enjoys.
Just beautiful Coleen, you remind me that we used to sing as kids with my mum, who was a primary school teacher who also loved to sing. I recall it being very enjoyable and feeling very un-self-conscious. I don’t know exactly what happened between then and my adult years, but I have never managed to feel that way again when it comes to singing in public. Unreserved expression is vital to our health and wellbeing, as well as our evolution it seems, I certainly know how great it feels when I do…
What you write here Coleen about singing is also a beautiful metaphor that can be used in many aspects of expression in our lives. Here you talk about singing, being the beautiful you, singing as you go about your daily lives, blessing people as you do this – and not in seeking anything from anyone. But we can apply this to much more as well….in many ways of expression – fashion, just being you in full, talking, dancing.
The voice of an angel cannot be mistaken.
I have noticed over the years that I love to sing in front of others, which was not the case for a long time, not since when I was young and I used to sing to relatives all the time with my siblings. Letting go of my own self judgements around my singing and my voice, and just letting myself sing the song from my whole body, is so very enjoyable.
Beautiful Coleen and I love singing, it feels so natural and joyful but when I read your blog I have to admit I am not doing it often. Most of the times I sing in the car or at workshops of Chris James and that’s it. Letting my singing voice out more will be glorious.
What a healing you are offering to the community Coleen. Such a blessing for all when one is singing from the heart and not their head. The difference is monumental.
Thank you for sharing the joy of singing from being you and the impact this has on those around.
Coleen as someone that is not a natural singer I do appreciate those that are. One point stood out in your blog this morning and that was “I have learned to detach my singing from performance”, its quite interesting to look at this as I’d not really considered the two connected – yet they absolutely are in society today. I then feel the same goes for many other activities such as exercise, work, etc.. what are we doing them for?
The word performance with singing is the expectations that stop us from singing from the heart and is often detected by others. David Nicholson thank you so much for raising this point as it is this element that is judged by the masses. It is the sweet voice of Coleen that has brought so much joy to her peers which celebrates the true joy of this form of expression.
Great sharing Coleen.
What you share here Coleen about singing is also applicable on a much broader scale…when we are just being with ourselves and doing what feels right and natural, it is just that, right and natural and comes with its own flow and rhythm. Once we place something on top of that – be it an expectation or something else – we change the course of it and can often restrict it at the same time. A beaut reminder to keep it pretty simple.
This is great, it is so beautiful when we do what comes natural to us, just because it is natural. Not because of any need for accolades, but just doing it for our self for the amazing thing that we express through any activity.
Wow, the world needs people who simply sing for the joy of it. I would love it if more people walked around singing. For me it feels like singing was linked to being good enough and performance very early in my life, and I had the strong idea that my singing wasn’t good enough to be shared. So sad as I have discovered the joy of simply opening my mouth and allowing the sound when Chris James holds his community choir sessions.
Will you sing on stage again? I feel you already do Coleen, everyday you are out amongst people and they are getting to enjoy hearing your singing voice, what a beautiful stage that is to grace.
I love the simplicity you describe the naturalness of your voice. All our natural qualities are simply there to be shared with everyone, with no agenda or particular recognition required, but to serve when and where we are called. Singing or any other skill matters not, we all have equal worth in whatever we bring and a responsibility to offer the all that we are, our qualities aren’t just our personal trophies.
It is such a joy to reread your blog Coleen; singing wherever you go what a wonderful blessing for all who hear you;
“No need for accolade, no need for a stage, no moulding, no applause. I am simply just being me, singing about who we are and where we are from”.
Singing, like any expression, comes through us. The result depends on what energy we choose first and there are just two types of energy. There can be a natural flow OR the trying to control, make it fitting in, right, perfect, better or what ever. But in fact there is no control. Never. The only choice we have is what energy we let come through and so – delivering heaven…or not.
I have always sung, every where I go, it just comes out but especially in the bathrooms. My learning has been filtering what it is that comes out, what it is I am singing. Songs sometimes just come into my head and then before I realise, I am singing them aloud. What Glorious music continues supporting with is discovering what the quality of those songs I am singing hold. When I sing, people notice, like you Coleen they comment and are touched and so its important to choose carefully what music I am endorsing.
Singing is an expression, the same as anything we do, and the quality of that expression depends on how we are, how we live. When we take on singing as a ‘performance’ (on or off stage) we have instantly gone into our head, and lost our connection to the pure joy of expressing from our heart and body.
We individualise, and it ultimately becomes all about us, how we look, sound, did we get it right, not good enough, better than another, etc… and list goes on. In fact we are at the mercy of any errant, sabotaging, separating thought that may pass through our mind.
Even if you take music out of the equation – most of us are performing through our whole lives, I think we’re even taught in school to perform through life. If we drop the performance and just be real and true life is so much sweeter and more joyful and more simple.
I love what you have expressed in this blog Colleen, especially you joyfully singing because it is part of who you are. Great that you have returned to the voice and intention of your younger self, never to be questioned;
“I merely sang with my own, unaffected, innate voice. It was simply a part of who I was and I never questioned it”.
‘And yet I sing because I sing – because it is part of who I am.’ Coleen I love this blog. It is beautiful to hear people simply singing, and sometimes I naturally start singing (in private). Singing has become a performance rather than a part of life these days, which is a shame. I have fond memories of hearing my grandmother whistle with joy as she tended to her daily ritual of sweeping the paths around her house.
Quite often, when I am connected, and in the simple rhythm of things, I will catch myself singing or humming along, and in that moment there is no sound quite so magnificent.
I am very glad you started to sing again Coleen, thank you for sharing how you came back to your true natural voice. Singing from the heart is a real blessing for ourselves and for those around us.
Its great to read that your singing is now coming from a natural source and your not doing it for any other reason. This example should be set for everything that we do
Gorgeous Coleen. As a child I remember being a part of a choir and how much I loved singing with a group. It wasn’t long before I figured out that the adults around me wanted us to ‘perform’ to confirm their leadership abilities etc. I soon worked out that singing in the choir wasn’t the ‘cool’ thing to do (as far as the other kids were concerned) and I hightailed it out of there. Recently I have rediscovered the joy of singing my heart out and it has been a great blessing. Singing is a natural part of our expression.
Through Glorious music it certainly sounds like you have found your true voice again and it does feel like this can only be achieved when done out of joy and without the need to be recognised or anything else in return. To be able to sing from this purity is a real gift to humanity and I would love to hear and see you on stage one day Colleen.
Coleen,
Thank you for sharing your letting go of singing to perform and returning to singing for you. To be a person in the audience when those on stage sing to simply share themselves is exquisite. Each and every person is held in the intimacy of this sharing.
How very beautiful and divine your singing sounds Coleen; although I have never heard you sing I feel the joy and appreciation, thank you.
“my singing glorious music for myself as a natural expression of how I am feeling at that time, has a deeply profound effect on so many people”
How truly beautiful Coleen that you have been able to come back to your true self and your natural expression, allowing you to share the beautiful quality of your singing voice with out need or expectation, thereby expressing a purity that people feel and love.
“my singing glorious music for myself as a natural expression of how I am feeling at that time, has a deeply profound effect on so many people” So true a whole room can be moved and given a chance to feel what is on offer.
I love the freedom you feel to express and the reflection you are sharing with others……that they too can allow themselves this freedom to truly be themselves and express openly without need for recognition, but instead for the sheer joy of expressing.
Coleen – perhaps when we do anything without the attachment or expectation of recognition, it is much more healing for others. You describe here how many people stopped you because of your beautiful voice, but what if they also felt the non-imposing quality behind your voice of you really claiming yourself with no need for anyone else to confirm it. There is a lot to say about appreciating ourselves and others feeling the lightness of this.
Singing is such a natural expression for a lot of people and needs to be enjoyed as that instead of being judged as being “good or “bad”. There is an incredible beauty is hearing another sing.
Coleen for me to sing for no need for an accolade is such a powerful way to sing as you are free to let your voice be how your voice needs to be and not to change it in what you think it has to be. Listening to your voice than is an invitation to all to not change but be themselves as well.
“This was a far cry from the little girl who sang because singing was simply part of her.” This article shows so clearly that when we sing, or speak to conform to the expectations of others or for recognition and applause we lose the natural flow of who we are.
Serge Benhayon once said to me – Sarah when you hold back, I am less – and I kinda got it but not really. And it has taken me a few years to start wrapping my head around it. But when I read this blog, if you hold back your singing we are less because we don’t get to experience this beauty. Your singing connected people to the beauty within themselves and built an appreciation for others. When we don’t have that, we are less.
Gorgeous sharing Sarah. When any single one of us holds back we all lose out. We are not reflecting truth and love back out and neither do we get to see or hear all that the other has to offer and share with this world. A great way to get our selves out of the way.
I just love these words Coleen: “Music and singing have become for me, once again, as natural and lovely as breathing”, as I love the lightness and the joy that you have infused every other word in your delightful blog with. I could feel myself wanting to start singing with you as you recounted the many places you have sung and the beautiful responses you had. All I can say is, don’t stop singing , the world needs the joy that you bring.
It is totally liberating when we give ourselves permission to express from our bodies without any attachment that creates heaviness in the body but a lightness within that celebrates the love that we are.
Singing is such a beautiful and unique expression of our voice, and we all can do it. Our voices have often been layered with the expectations of what a ‘good voice’ is and the comparison that goes along with that. But I have found that the real secret to learning how to sing and sing well, is to sing together with others. It brings an amazing connection with others and allows the space to really hear and feel what it is like to be a part of one expression.
Who would have thought that singing from our hearts would be so healing and another way to express who we innately are inside, but in the most enjoyable and fun way? Not me until I met Chris James, and started letting go of all those tensions around expression, and could truly feel how true expression in all of its forms, is literally, music to our body and soul.
There is a part of this blog that reminds us how there is a natural part of ourselves, of our expression, that has always been there since we were children. It is in the essence of who we are that is unashamedly present when we are young but somehow gets hidden as we ‘grow up’. This part may be expressed through singing, drawing, writing, dance. It may be through hugs and smiles. Whatever the form our expression takes as children, we can always re-connect to it when it has seemingly been lost.
Michael Benhayon from Glorious Music has inspired me also Colleen. Like you my experience of singing when growing up started off very innocent and natural and then became forced and pressured under the weight of pressures others placed on me (and I placed on myself). Michael Benhayon has re-introduced me to what it is like to express naturally and truly in music and sound
Singing, dancing, the way we write by hand, do our work…all of it gets moulded subtly to fill the expectations of..well you name it – school, parents, peers….
So here we all are in this world, each with a beautiful innate quality, untapped, because we are doing things in accordance with sets of rules. Joy stripping really. And very tiring.
All along we miss our most natural talent – being ourselves, whole heartedly in all we do. Sing ‘off key’ we may, but when we sing free of inhibition and compliances we always make a beautiful noise.
This blog is so touching, and the appreciation of your father at the end gave me goosebumps. Yes, singing is as natural as breathing, and it need not be to please anyone which is where most of us get caught. It is simply a way of expressing who we are, and if we are connected to our divinity it is a way of expressing God’s love. Pure and simple.
Thankyou for sharing your journey back to true expression……your dedication to your father who made sure your childhood home was filled with music, song and dance touched me deeply as it was he who lovingly allowed and encouraged you to freely express,so that in time, even though you ventured away, you would have that quality and knowing to return to.
Singing is an important part of our daily rhythm and it is a lovely experience of appreciation to feel another expressing their beauty within.
I have really enjoyed reading your blog again Coleen. This line is a standout for me today “They are hearing a woman connected with herself: lovely, gorgeous, content.” I feel that any woman truly content with herself is such a glorious gift to the world. The word content is not used too often nowadays but it means so much, and it has a really beautiful meaning when someone is content with themselves and who they are. Today I am going to appreciate how content I am to just be me.
I really enjoyed reading this. I am not someone who has ever sung in my life and am only just discovering my voice now, it feels amazing to start to express myself in this way. Over the past few months I had forgotten about singing but your blog reminded me of the joy I get from singing.
So lovely Coleen that you have found your true expression and that joyful singing and music is part of that expression. I can feel the absolute joy and appreciation for you whilst reading this blog, it is very inspirational.
Love this Coleen – how to be ‘on stage’ without putting on a performance as such but rather sharing the natural beauty and expression from inside.
Coleen I loved re reading your blog and imagining I am hearing your beautiful voice. Singing is such a beautiful way to show we are in harmony with the world and have joy in our hearts.
Music and Singing are natural to us all, and when we return to the simplicity of our inner hearts we can re-discover the innate joy within these activities.
I wholeheartedly agree with that cjames2012!
Singing purely from the depth of joy within brings a resonance inside my body that allows me to know that I am part of something so much grander, it connects me to that.
When we sing we can open up our body to a dimension where it is not about us but expressing through us the love and joy that we all are.
Well said Brendan. When we get preoccupied with ‘putting on an act’ or ‘putting on a show’ to impress or otherwise distract others we get caught up in the drama and emotion of life and miss out on the true simplicity that allows the seemingly mundane to become truly vibrant and joyful.
I feel joyful as I read these comments this morning and am reminded of the natural expression of singing – something I could allow in myself so much more. Thank you for the inspiration.
Reading your blog again Coleen reminds me of how joyful it is to sing and to hear someone singing from their natural voice, singing without any attachments to accolades or recognition but singing from their body expressing joy.
Beautiful Coleen, the more we let go of the images we hold about ourselves of how we need to be when we do something the more space we create for our true wisdom and beauty to come through in anything we do.
Singing was never my thing up until I met Chris James and through that experience I learnt the healing power of singing
Yes Joe, there is such a deep healing power in singing from your connection to your true self, that it is not until you give it go, that you become aware of the powerful nature of this form of expression. When I sing in this way, my whole body comes alive, and the sound reaches parts of me that are not always so vibrant. Since meeting Chris James I too have discovered the true healing power of sound.
“And yet I sing because I sing – because it is part of who I am.” Beautiful Coleen and an innately gorgeous quality of our expression that is so enjoyable for all.
Singing is an innate quality of our essence that we are all born with. Expressing this quality with all is a gift from heaven and its heaven to my ears too.
Yes Kelly, I also feel singing is an important part of our rhythm in expressing the essence of who we are.
I agree Kelly, we are all born with this quality. Singing and expressing ourselves with joy is a gift from heaven in deed.
“They are hearing a woman connected with herself: lovely, gorgeous, content.” – and we are reading an article with this same quality, thank you Coleen! It is beautiful to experience others doing all that they do throughout the day in connection with themselves, rather than trying to fit in or gain recognition.
Singing to perform is very different from singing to simply express the truth of God on earth. It is wonderful to connect with our divine essence and then allow our voices to be heard.
Singing can be so powerful, our voice is very powerful when we express from our essence delivering love and truth for all to hear.
During the amazing retreat held by Serge Benhayon in Vietnam i naturally started singing without planning when and what to sing. I also starting singing when people were around me and felt i wasnt singing to enjoy myself or to train my voice or to get recognition but to bring heaven on earth so other peole can feel this qualiy when they hear my singing.
Gorgeous Janina, singing is one of our natural forms of expression. Expressing joy and sharing this without holding back is a blessing for anyone around you.
Yes Chan, singing and dancing is a way of expressing joy and to share it with others. In my singing groups I often sang slow songs so I offer the space to feel your body and so on. But it was in a way a bit serious. Now I sing partly more joyful songs and the group and I love it, to move and be playful and light.
Awesome Janina, what a gorgeous way to share your playfulness, joyfulness and beauty by expressing it without any reservation.
The quality of not holding back and equally bringing joy is a unique combination and definitely not something we grow up with. But something we can claim back into our lives. And singing is a great way to practice this.
This is beautiful Janina. I too know this, “to bring heaven on earth so other peole can feel this qualiy when they hear my singing.” It is truly joyful to express through singing when it is done in this way, to simply share with others what we are feeling.
The other day i went to the sea in the evening there were strong waves which sound and felt amazingly powerful. I sang a song and became equally powerful, my whole body became alive. What a joy to sing and allow our body to be an instrument for God to express through.
How very beautiful Janina!
Coleen- how awesome that you no longer need any accolades or recognition for singing, and now you sing with joy of being yourself.
I agree lorettarapp as long as we want recognition with what we do like singing we shape it into a form we think is great. So we will be singing in a way which will be liked, but do not express what there is to be expressed through our voice.
My partner was a helpful reflection during the last years of me singing at home. When he said to me now your sing with your nice voice, than I knew I lost it and wanted to get recognition.
Needing recognition, for whatever art-form, or sport, is cultivated in our schools and society today. Thus only a few make it to the top and those left behind, if they have low self-worth, may forever feel they are not good enough. Time to change the emphasis and do what we do for the love and the joy of it.
I love this Coleen, how you have removed the need for applause and accolades from your singing, and how you can now just be yourself, singing for the joy of it.
‘I merely sang with my own, unaffected, innate voice. It was simply a part of who I was and I never questioned it.’ Thank you Coleen for sharing your experience with finding back your true voice. It brought tears to my eyes as I felt how I too had lost this innocence. Singing has been so natural to me until I started to compare myself and making it about recognition and applause. It is such a joy to come back to me, to my own voice and to let me out in singing, your blog is a wonderful inspiration to not hold back my beautiful voice where ever I am.
Great to come back and get inspired again by this blog, There are really only a few artists that I listen to these days, Glorious music being one of them so I am always up for hearing new sounds done in the right energy so If you haven’t already maybe you need to record that voice Coleen.
It is interesting how in our modern times the singer has become the one who is most famous. Looking back over time and we can see the trends for what every body wants to admire changes with different modalities being celebrated – such as the painter, the writer, etc. What this shows me is how much it is a part of the human journey to want to give our power away to someone who we see as being more talented or special than ourselves. So, the medium for this talent may change, but the intent and the drive behind it has not changed for centuries.
Yes the three most celebrated professions are singing, acting and playing sport. To me this shows how expressing ourselves in our voice, acting, as in how we behave and what or who for, and the way that we move and inhabit a competitive arena are likely to be the most important areas of our lives to look at and be aware of.
Singing for many is so often done to be seen, and avoided by others so that they are not seen. Either way, it is rarely used as just a simple tool of joyous expression. The fact that so many people struggle to sing in front of other people shows just how much we hold ourselves back from revealing ourselves to the world.
Just having done another inspiring week end with Chris James about the healing power of sound. I have experienced to sing in a way that was free of trying and controlling, getting self out of the way, simply allowing the fullness of my sound to flow through my whole body. When i did my whole body became alive. What a joy to let go of control and perfection.
Coleen this so inspiring to read. We don’t need recognition for the talents we may have just an acceptance that it is for sharing in any way we may choose.
It’s so refreshing to feel your deep appreciation of self Coleen – thank you for this great sharing it’s immensely inspiring.
Collen – such inspiring words that you have written. “No need for accolade, no need for a stage, no moulding, no applause. I am simply just being me, singing about who we are and where we are from.”
This is great to read indeed lorettarapp. Once we allow our expression through singing we can feel how amazing we are. There is not need for recognition because we can feel it in our own body how great this feels.
How we lived is how we touch people in our singing. It’s not about finding the right key or about perfection in technique. Living beyond right/wrong patterns is so freeing and this is heard in my voice. It brings equality rather than admiration.
‘Living beyond right/wrong patterns is so freeing and this is heard in my voice. It brings equality rather than admiration.’ We are all on the same stage Felix from the day we were born with a beautiful voice to express all that we are naturally so.
I simply love returning to this blog Coleen and the joy expressed through your singing echoes the bodies appreciation. Thank you.
Coleen, I love what you share here, there is something magical about hearing someone sing, that one solitary voice echo out from what appears to be nowhere. We have been given these vocal chords that for some of us produce quite magical tone and give out a wonderful feeling, I could really feel the delight there was for many in hearing you sing.
What I experience in my singing groups is how easy it it to connect as a group once you sing together so this is a great tool to learn to trust and feel a true sense of brotherhood.
I have recently started singing at home again and also supporting my children to sing too. It’s very joyful. We all love Andrea Leonhardi’s songs too.
Andrea Leonhardi´s´Band “Heavens Joy” just released their first album “Love is who we are”. Simply a gift from heaven for the world.
I agree Brendan i have been to a chrismas concert and reading recently and the presenter how he used his voice was not very pleasant because he did put a show on to present this event in a certain style. Many people got bored because there was not connection between the presenter and the audience. At times it felt very imposing to me.
Today in the clinic I work I sang in my room loudly in my break and knew people will hear it but it was too joyful to hold back, even my mind wanted to stop me, I didn’t stop. I was singing one of Andrea Leonhardi´s songs: Wir sind da in unserer volle Fülle in unserer vollen Pracht… We are here in our full fullness we are here in our full glory….
I have never really sang myself. In fact I rarely play music or listen to the radio etc. However lately I have started to take more interest in music thanks to attending a workshop by Chris James and Universal Medicine presentations etc where I have seen and heard various students share their musical talents. Who knows – I may even soon start to find my deeply buried singing voice because I have found myself singing a line of a song here and there after attending such presentations!
The first sentence has it really… Singing is as natural as breathing ☺.
I agree cjames2012, however I would not have said this a few years ago. It is only since I have attended Universal Medicine presentations by Serge Benhayon and workshops presented by Chris James about expressing with your true voice that I am now able to sing as naturally as I breathe. I had put so many restrictions on myself as to why I couldn’t or wouldn’t sing, particualrly in front of people, that I had totally shut down a part of me that I didn’t even know existed., and that was my voice. That has now changed and it is an absolute joy to sing for and with others, but not as a performance “rather a sharing of who I am and who we all are.”
So true cjames2012 “Singing is as natural as breathing”!!
I love reading your blog Coleen and how gorgeous to have the general public appreciate your angelic voice. I can understand why that lady was wondering why people don’t sing anymore, it’s wonderful to see and hear people being themselves and confirms whenever we are in our full expression we bring love and healing to others. I love listening to your speaking voice too, it is very gentle and harmonious.
For the love of singing…singing from the heart comes from an inner connection “I will take this natural quality of self connection to my ‘performance’…” I love to sing. I can feel the intention that we sing in makes all the difference to how it feels and so is received. Our intention in everything in life makes all the difference.
“Our intention in everything in life makes all the difference.” Great reminder Samantha!
I love the feeling of unreserved freedom in your expression through singing Coleen. It is indeed something that is rare to hear in everyday situations now. My partner also sings as she does many things and often as she is coming back to our flat I can hear her singing as she walks through the car park below – beautiful.
‘Music and singing have become for me, once again, as natural and lovely as breathing.’ How gorgeous when we begin to pay attention to the quality of our breath, how gorgeous to naturally express our feelings through song and what joy we bring to others in doing so.
Thank you for sharing how singing from who we are is bringing such a quality to it, that it can’t be compared to how you chose to sing before.
“No need for accolade, no need for a stage, no moulding, no applause. I am simply just being me, singing about who we are and where we are from.”- so Heavenly felt whilst reading your beautiful experiences of singing on a daily basis amongst the general public. Very inspiring.
Beautiful how you are sharing yourself singing, with people in every all day situations, Coleen. How amazing to not hold back this impulse to sing. You have inspired me to sing more as well in public, why shouldn’t I? I love singing too, and have used it in the past to escape from life, now I can re-imprint this.
You raise a good point monika2808. How we manipulate our expression to check out, rather than check in is really interesting. It’s like we go out of our way to go against what feels natural to us, whilst desperately wanting to be our natural selves.
I know this too Monika2808 at time singing just flows out of me naturally and joyfully. At times I start singing not to feel what is going on and to cheer myself up to distract myself from feeling uncomfortable….which I realize now does not feel right to do.
I have started to practise more sacred movement and had a group class just recently with Natalie Benhayon. A week after during the recording of a song with our band, one of our female members had her hands rest on her cervix. So I was inspired to also do that. The moment I did I had a connection, trust and steadiness in my singing like never before. We are so powerful as women once we hold our connection to our sacredness and with that a deep natural stillness.
“And yet I sing because I sing – because it is part of who I am.” Beautiful Coleen I sing because I sing too and it has been a part of my life ever since I was little. I used to use singing as a form of being seen but now I sing for the enjoyment and feel in my body. Simply awesome.
I agree singing is a natural way to express the love and joy that we are and to share that with others. Once we understand that it is not about having a great voice or to get recognition for our singing we can use singing to bring heaven on earth reminding others of their equal divine origin.
I agree Janina, singing is such a joy when we express from our hearts, it is a joy to bring and also a joy to receive, there is no us and them, just heaven on earth.
I agree Annelies when we sing together from our hearts we can experience the natural feeling of union, brotherhood and trust, something most of us have missed for a long time, but it is possible to reclaim this quality in our whole life and not accept less.
Living connected to the truth of who we are, whatever form that takes, is like a healing balm for self and all others. The joy and purity of the essence of singing can be felt just by reading this blog – Thank you Coleen for the healing this brings.
It is very inspiring how Coleen is just going for it and not holding back her beautiful angelic voice.
There is nothing better than just singing for the pure joy of it and nothing else, not needing to be heard or seen. Singing when I am home alone when no one is around to hear is what I like to do the most, but one day who knows I may take to the stage again and be able to sing as I do in the house. This has been a very inspiring read thanks Coleen.
I would love to hear you singing on stage for us Kevin!
Yes Kevin, you have so much to share, and I am sure you have a beautiful tender but powerful voice, as you are that. The world needs this so much, and we would love to hear you singing. What about you record a song.
Looking forward to that day kevmchardy!
I took some singing lessons when I was younger, and was even in a couple of musicals in university. I could hold a tune, but while I wanted to be singing lead vocals, my voice is naturally too low for that.
Recently, I started singing again, but with a completely different purpose: as the supporting vocals in a band. I am absolutely loving it, and my voice has developed and become richer than I think it ever has before. The main reason for this, I feel is because of the fact that I have accepted me and my voice, and truly enjoy singing from that joy!
Beautiful shared Naren. Reading your comment I can feel the pure joy. The quality to sing with absolute joy and no holding back is exquisite and brings an expansion within the body amazing to feel equally for the singer and listener.
Absolutely, Janina. Listening to someone sing from joyfulness is a completely different experience to listening to someone sing to perform, no matter how well trained they may be. And to sing from joyfulness, that is something else all together!
Just being at the the Lighthouse in England, near Frome, Somerset again, participation at the amazing Healing workshops and presentations by Serge Benhayon/Universal Medicine. The other day I went to the toilet and started singing with so much joy and power, no way of holding that back. When I left the toilet a friend who just walked by smiled at me deeply and saying she is feeling joyful again after hearing my singing. We can inspire each other so much if we don’t hold back our natural expression. That’s what we are here for.
Singing is such a beautiful way to express – we should do it more!
That is very beautiful Naren, what you are sharing is so true, our voice is the reflection of our own acceptance. When I feel amazing I do want to sing and it comes so natural. Singing is another form expressing my joy.
“our voice is the reflection of our own acceptance”…beautifully said Monika2808.
That is so very true, monika2808. Singing from the place of acceptance is so joyful.
Agree monika2808, singing is a true reflection of the joy within me and there absolutely no reason to hold it back and share it with others, this has been a very inspiring blog to read.
It is very inspiring to read, to truly feel your expression and that you just sing from your own enjoyment of you.
‘Detaching singing from performance’. Wonderful blog and wonderful inspiration to everyone who likes to sing. A voice is a powerful tool so I believe we should be aware of the responsibility we have to use it wisely.
Indeed Iljakleintjes, our voice is a powerful tool and can wield great harm and scar another, or it can heal and clear with beautiful words from heaven that invoke the soul. It is our choice which one we express with, and a responsibility we should not take lightly.
Thank you for the important reminder Iljakleintjes:
“A voice is a powerful tool so I believe we should be aware of the responsibility we have to use it wisely.”
I have had singing lessons, I went because I wanted to express and feel the joy of that expression, the scales,songs and drive to get it right did not suit me and my voice was often strained and thin….and then step in Michael Benhayon, Miranda Benhayon and Chris James, singing along with their albums and attending Chris James’ workshops have been revelation. I now am learning to express great depth, warmth, range and steadiness in voice and it feels joyful. I had never planned to sing for performance in the past, but maybe with how things are going it may happen, and it would be for the joy of sharing what I feel to express. It interesting to look at how we approach the choice to sing. Thank you.
I love what you say here davidsonsamantha, that you would be singing ‘for the joy of sharing what I feel to express’, rather than a performance in order to get some sort of recognition. I know this too, and love to sing for this same reason – it is so joyful to share singing in this way.
Reading how you were as a child Coleen it feels so simple, and that these sounds were just a natural expression of the harmony in you. What a contrast with how we come to think that there is something wrong with our voices. How powerful it is when we see past this as you have done, and return to our natural tune.
Detaching singing from performance is a wonderful subject to be aware of and to openly discuss. Why has singing become so much about being judged by others and ourselves as being worthy enough? It can only be like this if it is about us as individuals seeking recognition. This does not feel like this is what music as a form of expression is about. Glorious Music is presenting something to us that is very profound. It is delivered in a way that seeks no recognition and is inspiring many to come back to music and feel the truth of what it is here to bring to humanity. It is a presentation for us to choose to be a part of equally so and does not hold itself above and beyond anything that we are not already!
Keep singing Coleen and spread the joy
Singing is as natural as breathing and when we feel this again one of the very wonderful experiences that we can have in a human body is restored to us as we realize that we are all born with a beautiful voice
Absolutely cjames2012. By understanding that singing is as natural as breathing and allowing the body to feel that this is a possibility, we can begin to accept that we all have beautiful voices, despite anything we may have been told in the past.
I am looking forward to hearing you sing Coleen.
Singing, naturally from deep within is now part of my day, it is expression, healing, joy and it supports me to stay connected to my source.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful rediscovery of your natural voice Coleen. I can feel the simple, pure joy of signing without the need for recognition or applause. It feels so light and free, as you sang as a child.
Yes I felt that too Lee.
When we sing from the purity of our hearts, when the words are beautiful and true, when singing is simply a natural extension of the love and joy within us, it is light, glorious and deeply touching, it feels up lifting, connecting and healing. Little wonder people were impulsed to comment Coleen, it was like a little touch of magic in their day.
Coleen, this is a beautiful sharing, it brought a smile to me to feel the lightness in your singing that touched the hearts of the people who heard you sing. It is amazing to consider there is such a beautiful sound that can be expressed and it makes sense that we share this love for singing if we feel it. Singing is something that was much more prominent before the advent of technology and it feels like there can be a real healing quality to songs expressed with a clear intention and pure love of sharing.
I agree Stephen once we become aware to sing with our whole body and our divine connection and not from emotions it can bring “a real healing quality”.
I agree too Janina and Stephen. To sing from a true connection to our whole body without any need for ‘a stage’ on which to perform, we can bring a beautiful quality of healing to those that are listening. Singing in this way with elderly people or those who have dementia is a wonderful way for them to feel this quality and to offer an opportunity for them to reconnect with themselves.
“So, I have learned to detach my singing from performance and the effects have been exquisite.” Coleen this is huge and inspiring to allow ourselves to sing naturally from our bodies without any attachments as to what our voice needs to sound like.
Yes this is what caught my eye Francisco, learning that we do not have to perform or sing in a certain way is huge because everything in life is telling us we need to conform so that we can fit in and be accepted. When we do this, we loose our essence and natural way of being. Listen to a child sing who has not been taught to perform and there is angelic quality about them that is lost the moment we ask them to sing in a certain way.
I agree Francisco to sing and to let go of any outcome and recognition is very inspiring.
So wonderfully inspiring Coleen. When I read the comment from the lady about how you should be on stage – I thought – you already are! The world is your stage and everywhere you go singing your angelic love for the world, it is there to be felt and appreciated, reminding the anyone who hears you of their wonderful light as well.
Jo, so true, the world is our stage and we all have the opportunity to be our own leading lady or man on that stage. To sing, or just be all of who we are.
How beautiful to see the world as our stage, we can sing and express with our voice of just be who we are and just express. It is our choice on what ever we choose.
You are right Jo, the world is our stage – we can sing out the love everywhere.
And so we should monika2808 – from the rooftops!!
Beautifully shared Jo. “The world is your stage and everywhere you go singing your angelic love for the world, it is there to be felt and appreciated, reminding anyone who hears you of their wonderful light as well.” This is where our own responsibility comes in – we cannot go about our lives simply singing anymore. If we do this we are aligning to something that is not true. However if we align to our hearts, and to true love, and then sing from this place, this will be a game changer.
I love this line from Jo too, Sandra!
That is beautiful and true Jo, we are on stage 24/7 whether we sing speak, walk, sit or sleep, we can express our love for humanity, for the world all of the time.
I agree Annelies that we are on stage 24/7 where ever we are or who ever we meet and the responsibility that brings to see everything as important and not just certain parts of our life.
Yes Janina and Annelies, this is the key to life, stay open-hearted all the time and don’t live our lives in fragments. This brings such a harmony of rhythm.
Yes I agree Jo, the world is our stage and the more we express from our true divine essence no matter what we do the more powerful is the reflection we offer to others to ignite that within themselves so no holding back at all !
What you share here is so true Francisco, beautifully said.
I have been inspired to sing as I read the comments about singing and expression here in this thread. It feels so beautiful and joyful.
Lisa, that is really wonderful that you have been inspired to sing after reading these comments. To sing from your heart is indeed a very beautiful and absolutely joyful way to express, and is very embracing of other people. I have been singing for some years now in this way and I never cease to be amazed at the depth of connection that is offered to the body and everyone else, when the vocal chords get warmed up ; )
Just reading about your singing is music Colleen. I could feel how constricting it is for us to put on the mask of wanting accolades from what we do and how we try to mold ourselves into what we think is the perfect way to get that recognition. Thank you for bringing that to my awareness today.
Yes, this is so true Lisa. We hold ourselves back so much for the need of recognition. Always leaving it up to someone else to help us feel good about ourselves, rather than learning to appreciate ourselves for simply being us – in all our glory.
That is great Elodie, we forget to appreciate ourselves and we forget to behave in the knowing we are amazing.
When we hide behind the mask of recognition it suppresses the expression of our true qualities for we are constantly calibrating and wanting to be identified by others outside of ourselves to create a sense of worth.
Most of us talk and speak from our minds, the things we have been shown and taught, but not often from our bodies, which is the facts of what we live all the time. The most empowering way to be is to express from our bodies, a natural truth we know and can deeply enjoy. I have found that singing from our minds is always confirming to what we have been taught outside but never what we know inside to be true. It almost has to form the body in a certain way in order for us to express it and it does not feel as free and natural as simply expressing from our bodies.
I agree Joshua. Expressing from the body has a knowing and lived quality to it that is absent when we communicate from the mind. This lived expression comes in many forms, from the way we talk, sing and write to the way we dance and move. When I am connected to my body, I express from my body and this feels true.
Communicating just from our minds is almost like communicating from a theory but not from a livingness. People can relate to a livingness but not usually very well to a theory as it is something we are not yet living.
I like what you write here Lee. When from our body there is a living truth and when from our mind it is different – it comes from one part and not the whole.
Great point Joshua – expressing from the truth lived in our bodies can be felt by others and will bear truth for them also as we are, at our centre, all the same. Expressions from purely mental knowledge have to be remembered by another in the same way – meaning they stay just that, mental knowledge.
True Michael, it is easier to connect with what another is saying when we communicate from our whole body.
Well said Michael. There is a huge differnece between mental knowledge and expressing from the truth of what is known in the body. And it is felt by everyone, whether they realise it or not.
Well said Michael. When we express from as you say ‘mental knowledge’ we are in essence just regurgutating something that someone else has told us. Whereas expressing from what we have learned from our lived experience, this comes directly from our bodies as something that is known within and therefore cannot be disputed.
It’s no coincidence that after reading this blog I come across this comment. I pondered on what is there to be read from the fact that very regularly I have songs playing in my head, mainly Glorious Music songs. But they remain in my head and not in the body – it’s like settling for songs that don’t disturb (as what I used to listen to put my body into all sorts of disturbances and stimulation) but not expressing that joy, celebration and love myself from myself as Coleen has shared. It does make me wonder – what if I said yes – I can equally express in this way that the songs share? rather than relying on them to bring that expression to me.
That’s interesting you mention this Leigh as I have had similar experiences before with Glorious Music tracks being in my head. I know when I have had music in my head it is usually a sign that I am not in my body and even though they are GM tracks in my head it is in-truth no different to any other tracks of other artists.
After taking notice of this yesterday I would say that there is definitely a distraction from my own love (the very love that is being expressed through others in the songs) in accepting having GM songs in my head. The louder the songs the more hard my jaw feels, thus the body is hard and certainly not loving. Does make me wonder about my relationship with my own expression, being attached to anothers’ (the songs) or appreciating my own?
Well said Joshua, we think of our mind as a separate part to our being when in fact our mind is our whole body so when we understand this and express from it, it becomes a totally different experience as we feel the movement and flow in our bodies to be in harmony with the whole universe and it is heavenly to listen to.
Well said Francisco. This turns everything on its head, pun intended, as the smartest minds are actually those that think from their whole being and not just from one part of it.
It is Katie, and for Coleen not to be searching for any recognition in that – it just simply is her and beautifully so.
Coleen you have talked here about how you changed your natural and beautiful singing voice to match the needs of the genre and I wonder just how often we do that in life? Not just with singing but with everything, changing who we are just to ‘fit in’. What is so wrong with just being who we are, why the need to be something else? I know I have done this with different groups of friends, I changed to be what is expected of this or that group. Until I learned to re-connect to who I am, having attended Universal Medicine workshops, there is nothing more beautiful than feeling the love that I am and learning to live that love, no more chameleon.
Until the last few years I refused to sing on any occasion and would even get away with miming happy birthday for family and friends. Discovering that I could sing in a Chris James workshop has been a revelation and one of the most amazing discoveries of my life. Just as in your blog – not because I wanted to be able to do this for anyone else or meet any expectations – but because I always felt the inhibition of holding back. Singing with no force and in full connection to me meant I could feel the flow of energy and my whole body vibrating as a single instrument in harmony with everyone around me – such a beautiful feeling. If we were all encouraged to sing together like this from an early age it would be so supportive for children in holding their natural expression and not becoming what they feel is expected or accepted by the world around them.
Thank you Coleen for sharing the rediscovery of your innate voice. Very precious and inspiring blog.
And as I read your comment iljakleintjes I cannot but realise we all have hidden qualities that we can rediscover and that we are actually all equally and potentially precious and inspiring. Why hide them any longer….
How beautiful Coleen and what a loving and truthful expression of your work colleague; “A favourite comment from a work colleague during a singing dry spell: “Please start singing again. It doesn’t feel right here when you don’t sing.” I have not heard you sing however I felt the love in that expression, very awesome.
The expression of Coleen’s colleague touched me as well. When Coleen sings the difference in energy becomes obvious and people pick up on the fact that there is another way.
I can´t wait to hear you sing one day 🙂
It is so subtle the way we are ‘educated’ out of the sublime and exquisite naturally amazing beings that we are. Welcome back Coleen – your re-claiming of your light blows me away. You are Beauty – Full.
Very inspiring Coleen. Your sharing reminds me on how it is important to celebrate us every day and singing can be a big part of that. I sing, because I feel the joy and harmony in my body and it is wonderful to express.
“No need for accolade, no need for a stage, no moulding, no applause. I am simply just being me, singing about who we are and where we are from.” This is powerful Coleen. So often we do things for recognition, because we haven’t healed our past hurts, that to sing for the pure joy of it feels wonderful. That’s why I so love Chris James’ voice workshops as we sing gathered together in a big group – for the joy of singing and expressing how we feel.
Thank you Coleen, for sharing, and so lovely that your father encouraged you to sing and joyfully express. I can remember singing as a child but being told that I could not sing in tune, this of course shut me down, and left me with an internal critic whenever I did try to sing. I am exploring my natural beautiful voice when attending Chris’s singing groups, and have felt at times, how lovely my voice sounds when I connect to my body and just feel my voice singing with freedom from my internal critic.
It is so liberating and refreshing to sing with nothing attached to it. No need to sound a certain way, to reach a certain note, just a natural feel to express, much like how I used to feel as a small child. Seeing the toddlers in my room at work just start singing when they feel to, is so lovely to hear and inspires me to join them.
I always enjoyed music and song and had a strong impulse to sing, but when I had a go nothing really came out, it was thin and tight and tense. I found this frustrating because I felt to share something…I have found through learning to express myself throughout my day, in every way that this has actually altered the quality of my speaking voice. It has increased depth, I can feel a vibration in my chest which resonates out to to other parts of my body. I am finding my true voice and music and song are now becoming part of my day and they are very natural to express and gone is the tension and thin restricted expression. When I sing, I sing from my heart with the knowing that we are all equal, it is a celebration of that connection.
The gift of a natural sweet voice is one to cherish. When I hear my kids sing to themselves it is really very beautiful. I’ve learned not to engage with them or encourage more, but to let it just be exactly what it needs to be, if it is only a few lines or a few minutes. I just allow it to be there and fill the space and cherish the moment.
Glorious Music has brought the joy and the spunk back into me and back into my love of music. For a while I felt disillusioned by some of my favourite singers as I began to feel how unhealing their music was. With Glorious music it is different and I can so relate to what you write Coleen as very often these days I sing just for the joy of singing and it brings so much joy to other people’s day too that it is a very healing experience all round.
I love singing and would love to do it more often. I love your blog Coleen, just very inspiring.
Coleen, I enjoyed reading your blog and how your relationship to singing has changed over the years. As you say, singing should not be performing on stage to entertain other people, but rather part of our expression – to express our joy and divinity.
I love your stories of people commenting about your beautiful sound you make when you sing. It truly is a gift to everyone if you sing with purity and love. This quality just magnifies and people can feel it.
What a divine blessing for those people who hear you sing Coleen.
I miss the joy of singing; your expression and inspirational words have reminded me to reconnect to that joy and love for singing.
Singing is for me such a great marker, of how much do I really live the full me. Do I hold back or do I let out my divine voice and this is a gift for everybody in the world.
Singing is such a Joy, I’ve always loved it! I’ve even found that if I’m troubled and spontaneously sing, my whole state of being changes and I can often forget what was troubling me and feel so re-energised. Today on the bus there was a really sweet lady sitting behind me on the bus, singing to her daughter. I had to turn around and tell her what a beautiful voice she had as hearing her sing really brought a smile to my face and was so sweet!
I love the lightness in this blog. Yesterday I was in a Women’s Group where we did some exercises in threes, sharing on certain themes. What I initially noticed was that, in our three, we all contracted to a certain degree in order to present our statements. When we were asked to reflect on what and how we had shared, our group became more open and natural and visibly relaxed. It was as if we had, in the first instance wanted to meet some expectations, we had wanted to fulfill our assignment, and there was a tension in performing that. It was lovely to feel when we let go of this energetic limitation we had previously placed ourselves in, and were able to just be ourselves and expand into the fullness and lightness we naturally are.
“I was a trainee angel of compliance” great expression Coleen, the youthful willingness with which we pursue a mold and wave goodbye to the purity of what we are here to bring.
I find myself singing a lot these days Gill, and yes it is very joyful to just break out into songs by Chris James or Glorious music whenever I feel the impulse. It’s not something I ever used to do, but since doing workshops with Chris James and learning to express in this way I have found so much inner confidence in myself it is remarkable. There was a time when I wouldn’t even open my mouth and let out a sound that was tuneful because of the fear that I had about being heard, whereas now I have no hesitation about singing in front of lots of people. It is with deep appreciation for the work of Serge Benhayon and Chris that has inspired me to develop my joy of singing and to share it with others in a way that I never imagined possible.
Coleen, it’s funny that singing just naturally as expression is something that is rare, and missed – I love that you’re singing in your everyday life without an need for a stage or an accolade. It reminds me of birds who sing just because it is such a part of them and a joy, and I feel this reading your piece today, thank you.
‘Music and singing have become for me, once again, as natural and lovely as breathing.’ Thank you for sharing your beautiful self with us all Coleen. You have inspired me to take the joy of singing into my day.
A great testimony to the power and inspiration that words bring to us when we connect to their true meaning and might.
“A sharing of who I am and who we all are.” Yes Coleen and by sharing with everyone it opens the path for others to do the same in their own unique way. Thank you for sharing your joy.
It has been my experience in the past of liking the sound of someone else’s voice and trying to then sing like them, instead of singing the song using my own natural voice.
My life of singing is confined to me whilst driving and listening to Michael Benhayon’s Glorious Music, sometimes I sound OK, other times I give it up pretty quickly; I’m sure everybody was born with a beautiful voice as Chris James claims, but I can’t help but wonder what happens as we get older……
Hello Mark Payne, it’s morning and I am scrolling through reading comments and yours pops in and I’m laughing and smiling. You have a unique but subtle sense of humour that I find really warm. I will laugh about this for a while, thanks Mark for lightening up the morning.
I remember my mother singing to herself as she went about her housework and always thought it was lovely. My regret is that I never said anything to her. Yet, I have always held back with singing, feeling that I can’t hold a tune and that my voice feels strained and unnatural. Your blog is now encouraging me to give singing a go and just see what happens.
Gilesch, I also remember my mother singing around the house and it always sounded very lovely but like you I never said anything at the time. For the last few years I have been ‘giving singing a go’ and am starting to enjoy it immensely although I am not yet ready to sing in a public space – well, at least not alone! The key is to sing as our natural expression and not to try to copy another.
A beautiful confirmation of the difference between singing with an attachment to the outcome, and singing as a natural expression and coming from true connection to self. This difference was clearly felt by you as well as those around you.
There is so much joy when we allow ourselves to express and sing from the depth of our bodies and we let go of any attachment or need to be recognised or identified with how our voice sounds like, singing to me is becoming more and more a part of my daily routine and my body loves every bit of it.
This is a lovely blog and beyond the joy of feeling you sign without care for who is listening was the statement you made “This pattern became the fixed singing template for my life” – it got me thinking about how many ‘fixed templates’ we have in life.
Opening our hearts and bodies and letting all that love flow through – resonating in every fibre of our being is a pure joy. When the restrictions start to drop away and we open again, heaven’s sound is magic and powerful. Clear, light and warm.
It is amazing once we allow to bring the joy that we are. When I sing now I can feel such a deep divine connection and Joy is pouring out of my body. People can not help but feel this too who are around me. Some people choose to come back to the singing groups others avoid my reflection.
‘It was simply a part of who I was and I never questioned it.’ I love the innocence of this. It asks me to ask myself, actually why should I second guess myself when I feel what I know to be true with how I express. Like worrying about how people will react around me isn’t even a thought. There’s something so beautiful in expressing who we are without even a consideration of holding back. How cool would that be?
This innocence that you speak of Karin feels like the innocence of childhood, where we naturally are expression without self consciousness. The joy is just expressed, not for anyone, but just for the joy of it.
Once self consciousness enters we start to lose our natural expression and joy. We learn to perform for attention, or we stop expressing altogether in answer to what has been felt or heard from the adults around us. It is beautiful to hear you express as you have, that “Music and singing have become for me, once again, as natural and lovely as breathing”. As you have found Coleen, we can reconnect to, and live that joy that is naturally within us all.
That would be pretty cool Karin…I am inspired to give it a go.
It’s beautiful to find one’s true expression in something that feels so natural. The joy and lightness with your singing was being enjoyed by others who could evidently feel the loving quality in your life.
I agree Zofia. And we can all feel the difference of a voice which comes with joy and love or with the need for recognition.
As you write in your blog Coleen, when we are full of ourselves we do not need any accolades or words for recognition and in the same time we are providing heavenly moments for people around us. Moments that give them the opportunity to connect to the same source we are connected to when being full with ourselves. Life is so beautiful when I fully appreciate and value the true worth of it and give expression to it by me being with myself in full.
It’s such a marked difference when singing is infused from the way the singer lives their life with a true love and an honouring of oneself, living as ‘the real-them’ without any hooking need as you share Coleen. There is a direct correlation between how we live, and the quality of our voice that is then heard – for our healing and enjoyment (or not).
Very true Zofia. Everything about us can be heard through the sound of our voice. If we are living with anger or disregard this will be heard in the sound we produce – how can it not?!
Such a beautiful appreciation of yourself Coleen. Thank you for making the space to share this and inspire me to claim and just be me!
It is true that singing is as natural as breathing. Why then do we make such a song and dance about it! It is a natural expression that does not need to be a performance.
Yes Rebecca, as soon as we get into performance we loose ourselves. I can observe that so strongly with children they want to dance and be watched by adults but they are not really with their bodies a lot of the times.
Love it Rebecca, getting caught up in the theatrics and emotions of life can definitely make a song and dance about something that does not have to be nearly so dramatic nor difficult.
Coleen, on re-reading your beautiful blog, I suddenly had a recollection of my father who was a builder, being up on a ladder singing away to himself. The men who worked with him also sang. They had no inhibitions. How different it is nowadays where most of the tradesmen now work with a transistor radio blaring out to all and sundry. What a shame that these (mainly) men, no longer can entertain themselves and belt out a song as they feel to. It used to be lovely to hear them singing away.
You know Beverley, it was only a few short years ago, maybe 3 or 4, that when on board the cruise ships you would hear the young men from other parts of the world, the wait staff, naturally singing while doing the decks, painting, or inside, wiping tables, sweeping, cleaning up the plates etc.- their voices were naturally beautiful, no inhibitions, they sang quietly and as naturally as it was to breathe. But now it would seem that the pressure put upon them is far greater, and maybe a pressure to ‘not sing’ I must imagine, otherwise, why is this so suddenly now. What could be the cause behind preventing ones who so naturally and gently express joy from within, to suddenly be suppressed. I wonder if there could there actually be a determination from some aspect of life on earth that is hell-bent on suppressing expression. I thank God that we have the opportunity to remember that expression is paramount, indeed I have heard it said by a very wise man, Serge Benhayon that “Expression is Everything”.
Yesterday i had my weekly singing group in the clinic i work. The longer we sang the more joy i felt in my body it was amazing. When i walked after the group through the clinic i not could help but to continue singing. It is a clinic for people with depression and burn out. In the corridor i passed singing there was a new client. I entered my room left the door open and sang some more. Than i went in the toilet and sang full power, i could just not hold back.
When i came back the client walked around and whistled to himself.
Great comment, Janina. I love how the new client whistled to himself after he had heard you singing for a while. What an enormous lift in himself he must have felt through you to then feel to make a little music himself.
Yes, Beverley, like Coleen shared with us to express with our divine and joyful voice has such an huge impact people they just feel it! This is amazing and powerful.
You being inspired to express has given permission for others to do the same – gorgeous Janina!
Great comment Janina, we do hold back our singing when in the community. It is like we can’t make a noise for either being seen or disrupting others. The clients response is confirmation it is time to bring back the song and allow ourselves to express the joy we feel when we feel it. We love to hear it.
I agree Lisa, there is so much holding back in our community in general not to express freely and joyfully in regards to speaking but more so singing. Especially between adults but even among children already.
Ah joy is contagious Janina, and very uplifting. What a beautiful healing it is just to sing joyfully and not hold it back – confirmed with ‘a little whistle honey’.
I loved hearing you sing while walking towards the rocks at Convery’s Lane the other day Coleen. It was really beautiful, natural and a pleasure to hear, even if only for a brief moment.
I was made aware from a young age that I should not sing, so when I saw a Chris James flyer ‘Everyone is born with a Beautiful voice’ I was sceptical. Now having heard my true voice for the first time in 60 years I realise yes indeed when we are in harmony the voice is also and wow is it beautiful!
How wonderful Merrilee that after 60 years you have been able to hear your true voice! It is a wonderous thing to discover, that we do all have a beautiful voice, and when we sing together from this place of connection, it is about supporting each other as one and not to compete with another to be louder or higher or even better. The sound that we make together then is truly heavenly as we are working in harmony with one another. A great reflection for us to live our daily lives in this way, from our true expression.
I love it Merrilee and how when we find our voice, there is that natural harmony with others.
Nice one Merrilee, ‘when we are in harmony then the voice is also’. That’s deep and makes a lot of sense.
Haha, I used to feel the same way Merrilee – everyone might have a beautiful voice…EXCEPT ME! Thanks also to Chris James I no longer feel quite this way and can appreciate my true voice when I hear it. You are unlikely to hear me going solo nonetheless… perhaps next life for that 🙂
It is amazing how many people get told that they should not sing! Talk about shutting down ones connection and expression! For me joy is something that is often expressed in song – little ditties that just come tinkling out! Wonderful that Chris James has offered so many the magical opportunity to connect to their true voice and let it all shine out I say – it is glorious to feel and hear.
I have also heard you going about singing Coleen and its another form of connection we hold back from sharing, so keep on expressing that Joy!
I agree merrileepettinato, If we allow to express our own natural voice there is so much joy to experience and to share with others it is amazing!
This is such a great confirmation of the fact that we don’t need to perform but be who we truly are, tender, truthful and sweet. Everything else takes care of itself, as your examples so clearly show.
I agree Gabriele, these examples Coleen has shared also show the inspiration that opened people up to express to a total stranger their appreciation of her natural expression. We can so easily inspire others when we are just naturally ourselves, just as Michael Benhayon inspired Coleen to sing from herself again.
I agree Gabriele, for many, life itself is a performance, as that tender truthful sweet self is buried by the desire to conform and please.
It is true Catherine, ‘for many life itself is a performance’. I have noticed over time how so many of the choices I made were in some attempt to get recognized or accepted. From big decision to seemingly insignificant decisions, it was all to try and make up for the lack that I felt, and it just perpetuated that lack. Since taking notice and living the teachings of Serge Benhayon and Universal medicine, I now more and more make decisions and choices based on what feels right for me and where I know I can be. It has completely changed my life to one of richness and amazingness.
Yes – my wish is for all expression to be like that. Especially around the arts – be it painting, sculpture, singing, performing…that it is done as a natural part of us and not something that is forced upon ourselves or others.
Gabriele, that’s exactly it, just be who we truly are, tender, truthful and sweet, no need to perform, everything takes care of itself.
That feels awesome – just be, no performance. The being is really more important than the doing. And within the beingness we can celebrate ourselves and confirm each other in our glory – wonderful.
I Love attending Chris James’ workshops to which I was introduced by a story in the Ode. The title of the story was and is still relevant today: Everyone is born with a Beautiful voice. That resonated deeply within me, it touched a desire to bring my natural voice out. Allthough it was very scary at first, which I didn’t want to admit, I have to say that after 5 or more years attending the workshops I can share that I’ve experienced feeling my own voice resonating through my whole body while singing and even talking. True singing or communicating comes from the connection with Our bodies. I found that the Preciousness of me is found within. Living that the whole day all days is still work in progress, but the wonders that I’ve experienced and are still experiencing are precious gifts of Life that no one will and can take away. I might even record my own cd one day…
I remember being puzzled at that Chris James’ flyer that exclaims so strongly that ‘Everyone is born with a Beautiful voice’. It is amazing that music, singing had become such a part of my life – it felt almost chore like on somedays. This is very different to now and knowing that singing with me is about letting loose and having fun. We are amazing and it is so lovely to hear someone truly sing – to celebrate that is what it’s all about.
From quite early on I was told I could not sing in tune and asked to stop singing when with other people. So it was with disbelief I read Chris James’ flyer that exclaims so strongly that ‘Everyone is born with a Beautiful voice’. However, having attended some of Chris’ one day workshops I now have a completely different relationship with my voice, one which I am increasingly becoming to love and appreciate. I find your journey back to your true voice, Coleen, and your comments Floris and Lee very inspiring.
I had the same experience, but having attended Chris James workshops, I too can claim that when I connect with me, I too have a beautiful voice. This is something that I had always felt from a child was there but through trying I wasn’t able to connect with it. What I have learnt from Chris’s workshops is that as we connect with our inner-most and sing from there without any pushing, that yes it is true, we do all have a beautiful voice as it comes from the same source, that being love.
I like that statement too Lee – it proclaims that everyone has something to share.
For me to truly sing is to bring heaven on earth, to express my divine joyful and tender essence and to share it with others.
I had the same experience. I never really bothered my (singing) voice as I always heard from others that I sang false. Then one evening I sang with Chris and I, and with me the whole group, opened up in just a few minutes and we were all singing with such joy. I knew then: this is it and…there is more to open up to e.g.me. Since then I have been attending many of Chris’ workshops. It has just been a deepening in the connection with me, my body and my whole expression. Where I was once hard in speech, I speak now far more from my body. Yes, still work in progress, but I can just feel when I speak with gentleness or hardness. And then I can just stop, feel, connect and….express again.
I had a similar experience also Caroline. I did enjoy singing when I was younger, but in a choir, or to myself, and the idea of singing on my own in front of other people would send me into a cold sweat. But like you, I attended a workshop with Chris James and knew instantly that there was so much more to me and my expression than I had realised. I had been holding back my true voice and could feel the impact of that in my body through the connection I was able to make by singing in the way that Chris introduces. I now am continually deepening my connection in this way, and frequently sing in front of people and feel the absolute joy of it in myself and in those listening. My voice is a great reminder of how I am living in each moment, so I am able to stop and reconnect to my body when I become aware of these changes.
What you are sharing Caroline, I can relate to this very well. For me it is also an ongoing process to deepen my connection to me, to my voice and to humanity. And I feel very blessed to go this journey with all of you together.
That is beautiful Floris – go for it! I agree completely and can resonate with what you said about feeling that beautiful expression through our whole body – very true. The connection and Joy that I feel when I sing is amazing.
Let me know when your ready for your CD we can sing a duet.:)
Singing is something I always wished I was good at, I would hear all these people that could ‘actually’ sing, or in my opinion could sing so much better than I could, even though as a child I would love to sing out loud when playing. But because we are conditioned to wanting only to hear those how can sing properly, I always shut down that part of myself. I loved hearing Coleen how you just sing in the supermarket, getting out of your car and everywhere you are going. Very inspiring for me to find my inner voice and sing, even if it is just when I am with me.
Since I’ve noticed the difference between music from a Truly open heart and from emotions, I’ve decided to only listen to music that allows me to connect to myself. This is very profound and very dear to me. Your blog made me realize this even more. I’d love to get to know your voice Coleen.
I love how you describe the different singing personas which you adopted to play a role, fit expectations so that you received the positive reinforcement that the attention brought. To play these roles we in fact shut down our natural expression and our body configures so that when we sing and move in the way we ‘think’ we should, we are further burying our natural voice and impulses.
Thanks Colleen,I found this blog very inspiring having dabbled with music all my life its time I found my true voice and expressed it. I’d love to hear your voice, it sounds divine.
Music is a powerful expression. As Colleen expresses here, it can be a powerful tool for seeking recognition and accolade and even making money, but as Colleen also illustrates it can also be used as a more true expression.
Exactly Katemaroney1, What Coleen shares does illustrate it can be used as a more true expression. One that is both healing and confirming.
The music industry is geared up for profit and accolades. There is no room for true expression. I know of musicians that only perform to an audience, it’s a job not an innate part of themselves that they are expressing. They have lost the connection to the joy of just singing. That’s so beautiful to read Coleen that you are connected to your voice and sing from you in joy, now that’s a song I’d rather hear.
I felt similarly Natalie about the education ‘industry’ yet it has been so important for me with the support of Universal Medicine to understand that true expressions is in the simple everyday moments at work as a teacher and the space is there providing I do not invest in the recognition called for.
Hi Coleen, I have just re-read your beautiful blog, love it. How blessed are those who have heard your beautiful natural voice as you have shared “what occurred during this time was truly delight-full. People responded to me with great wonder when they chanced to hear me singing gently to, and for, myself in many everyday situations”. I hope you keep singing as you feel to, wherever you are, thus sharing the joy that you so obviously feel. I too look forward to hearing you sing, hopefully before too long.
It is so lovely to hear someone singing as they go about their day, simply enjoying the natural expression of singing and the pure joy of doing it. I recently thought my guest was out and I began singing loudly and really enjoying myself. Singing this way, with music, feels very joyful and playful, it’s a beautiful time when I’m simply enjoying me, and how it feels to express from my heart. Well, my guest was home and came out of her room to tell me it was lovely to hear me singing! My singing is now out in the open and being and enjoying me in song around others is a true expression of me, and I’ve realised that is to be shared as well.
Hahaha – you were ‘out-ed,’ Melinda and how glorious that you were! I love how you describe how you were simply playful, enjoying being with, and expressing, you. And yes, it is so, so natural to share when we feel this way. Beautiful, Melinda. (I’m still chuckling that you were out-ed.)
I love to watch little birds in the trees in the spring before the leaves come, and seeing them sing a gorgeous song from their little hearts. Their whole little bodies seem to vibrate when they open their beaks. They all have a different tune but are one and the same with their connection to their beautiful voices .
Ohhhh Gill – you describe this so exquisitely. I am always amazed at how much volume comes from such tiny bodies and even tinier throats: how much joy must they be feeling to express in this way? The way they tilt their heads upwards and just let the sound flow from out of them It’s a confirmation of how much joy we have within ourselves, if we choose to connect with it.
This is gorgeous Coleen and Gill. It is a pure delight and joy to hear the birds singing – I love the early spring when you hear the first blackbird or song thrush, and the gentle cooing of the wood pigeons calling to each other. I have often had fun with blackbirds, answering their song and then have them answering back. Such simple songs, but such joy. We can learn so much about our own innate expression from the natural world around us if we choose to really listen.
There is nothing lovelier than hearing someone express from their inner heart, whether singing or talking.
Although I never had any popstar ambitions I recognize the ‘putting up a popstar voice’. As a child I sang a lot and it was one of the few things I got complimented on. Funny enough I none the less changed my voice through the years and without really being aware of it tried to match the way of singing of the songs I was listening to. To me this is indicative of my adaptation to the world around me and the letting go of who I was to fit in. These days when I sing I am learning to sing from me, for me. Playing around to let my natural voice return and be heard.
We all have beautiful voices… We were actually born with beautiful voices, and it is a wonderful and liberating experience to feel the innocence, power, and connection, that comes with the reconnection to such a joyful and natural experience.
Awesome Coleen you bring a fruitful way to singing. Where is the audio link to hear you sing? It’s amazing how people stopped or actually came to you looking for that heavenly sound! I know that glorious feeling when you hear babies making sounds or young children singing. It ignites something in us. It is a divine vibration that touches our essence that you cannot ignore. Singing and music has that vibration to celebrate and to celebrate innately. It is confirming who we are, so it is very important what music we wish to confirm ourselves in! That why I love to celebrate with Glorious Music !!
Awesome, Rik: that is so true – glorious music does allow us to express in the same way and with the same energy as that expressed in the sounds made by infants as they enjoy the beautiful vibrations in their own voices.
Your claim has me realising how dismissively we have referred to this as “babbling,” as an immature warm up or practice prior to beginning to utter what we consider to be the mature articulations of language.
Rik, what if we honoured, cherished and confirmed the quality of those initial sounds made by infants? What if we were to able to incorporate the energetic quality of those sounds into an infant’s expressive language as their language itself developed?
Wow…..we are onto something here Rik….
The voice of your heart comes through in your singing Coleen, and everyone innately knows where that beautiful sound is coming from, as they too can feel it when you sing. It is literally, music to their ears and hearts.
Just about every thing we do, whether that be cook a meal, sing, clean the house etc. we either do for recognition and/or acceptance or we do it because it is our natural expression and with no need for accolade. When I started attending Universal Medicine presentations I realized that just about every thing I did was from a need for recognition and acceptance, now 10 years on this has changed considerably.
Yes, indeed, marylouisemyers. The trap of needing to have an audience to validate that what you are doing is worthy or is good, is a very tricky one, and I find takes consistent watchfulness.
Absolutely beautiful to read how you have returned to your singing Coleen, which is natural expression of who you are. You are a testament to how incredibly powerful it is when we share the fullness of who we are. ‘They are hearing a woman connected with herself: lovely, gorgeous, content.’ How exquisite.
Wow Coleen, as I read this article I could feel myself connecting to the stillness and love within my body. Beautifully expressed. Through attending Chris James’s workshops I have found a singing voice I never realised I had. When singing from the body instead of from the voice box I find there is a deeper connection to the love that I am and a freedom to express this love.
This is a great look in at how much we twist and turn ourselves into whatever we need to be for everyone else. To have let that go and just be yourself, enjoy yourself is very powerful.
What I have realised is that with any expression we make – be it singing or any form of music, speaking, or even the way we walk – is affected by us needing to get any recognition from, or be noticed by, or we have any hint of a specific response – then we have missed the opportunity to let our full selves be shown to the world. And as such we are being less than who we are really here to be. Awesome blog! Thanks.
Yes Anne and Colleen, that would be wonderful. I feel that this drive for an ideal voice or sound is dividing us into performers and audience more and more, rather than music being a natural form of expression lived by everyone in their daily lives. Children often are singing as they play, naturally so.
I agree, hartanne60, that there is definitely an arrangement, a great divide, between those who perform and those who listen as music is currently in the world. What if Music is simply an expression from within us, reflecting to others who we are, appreciated within them and then expressed by any, or all of us, as a further expansion of who we all are? How beautiful is that?
Maybe Coleen, it is because ‘you sing because you sing’ – “because it is part of who I am”, that your singing has such a profound on those who hear you. As you say, you are not looking for recognition or expecting any outcome; you sing for the pure joy of singing and that unadulterated joy is what people connect to, as it is so rare in the world today. Please keep singing and may others join you in also breaking out in song whenever they feel to!
Thank you, Anne: I look forward to many of us adopting this as part of our way of living and being.
Coleen, so wonderful to hear that you are now expressing more of who you are in your voice, and sharing that with us all.
This is a great example of true and natural expression and not holding back. Just simply being you offers others who hear this sound, a moment to be graced by the exquisiteness of harmony.
That is beautiful to read & feel. I can feel in your sharing the degree of acceptance you have of your inner-voice and how you let this out! That is very profound. I love to listen to you already. It is like the words you write, is your song already. Your writing on singing is singing itself. Very beautifully so. I am looking forward to seeing you on stage!
I felt this as well Danna. Coleen, it was like you were singing to us with your words and I can feel how heavenly this would have sounded to others.
It’s strange how as a society in general we have gotten so caught up in ideals and beliefs about how things should sound that we often don’t appreciate it when someone just delivers something straight from their heart.
This is such a gorgeous blog Coleen thank you for sharing your connected joyful voice with humanity again.
Singing is such a natural expression but we have placed so many expectations on it about how it should sound and appear, hence we tend to hold back this natural expression for fear of getting it wrong. We can’t get it wrong. Singing is purely an expression of who we are.
So true, Rebecca. I belonged to two choirs at school and whilst initially I enjoyed singing, I grew to dislike it intensely. Partly as we only sang hymns and music from some very well known composers which all felt incredibly heavy and hard. The other reason being, it was never good enough. We kept repeating and repeating and were told to be more. I’ve not really sung again, until discovering the glorious music of Michael Benhayon at the retreats. At first I was very tentative, not really wanting anyone to hear my voice, but there is always so much love and joy in the room, it’s clear it’s about enjoying ourselves with the music. Allowing ourselves to connect deeply with our inner hearts and sing from there. I wish it had been this way in the school choir.
When I was young I would sing to my hearts content. When I went to school the nun told me to mime when I was in the choir, this devastated me and from that moment on I held back from singing and played up in every choir or singing lessons at school.. Since singing along to the Glorious Music songs I have re-connected with my natural voice and am again loving singing.
I experienced something very similar in school. I was told I couldn’t sing and was asked to leave the choir and play sports instead. I was devastated by this as I loved singing. I am beginning to re-connect with my voice again but I have held it back for many many years.
So true Rebecca. Singing is simply a natural expression of who we are. Like so many things in life it has become categorised and identification placed upon it when it is simply our voice expressing the quality that we hold.
This blog has stayed with me as a reminder of what I have always known to be true Colleen and it is so inspiring to read it again, and again.
This is a great and inspiring sharing of allowing ourselves to sing for ourself from our body with no attachments or expectations of any accolades but just the pure joy of expressing .
Absolutely Franciso, and this blog not only inspires us to” to sing for ourself from our body with no attachments or expectations of any accolades”, but to bring this same pure joy of expressing to all that we say and do in every moment of our day.
Hear Hear Francisco and Anne. Singing from the body is a beautiful way to reconnect us to the joy and love that we all are which in turn reconnects others who hear the singing to their inner heart.
An interesting thing that I’m getting is how I thought it was very difficult to make music that did not impose and came from the innermost. Music has long been deeply ingrained as an emotive form of expression. If sound was originally a divine way of expressing, how did it become so imposing and separate from its original impulse? Did it change because we changed – from knowing ourselves as sons of God to living a much lesser life? If so, if we take the responsibility to know ourselves by who we truly are, then may be true music will flow, without trying.
This is a great point Jinya, music has come so far that we only see it as an emotive form of expression, if we look around then virtually all songs available now are laced with various emotions, it is even often praised, for being able to get an emotional reaction from the audience. Doesn’t this show how little responsibility and awareness we have towards the quality of another, that as a humanity we have come so far that we praise others when they are able to play a sound emotionally and change the quality of one’s being.
Another awesome point, Oliver. If you watch footage of a concert quite often they will show the front row of people, who are usually completely lost in whatever song is being performed. They could be yelling, reaching out for the band, crying, you name it. Think of the Beatles and girls screaming and crying uncontrollably. Take a step back from it and you have to ask, what is going on here? What is going on when people desire so strongly to lose themselves in someone else’s performance of a song? It even can go so far as people levelling criticism at a performer who does not whip up the crowd or does not perform with enough emotion for their audience to have the desired affect. What is it that we are actually looking for in music?
Coleen it is beautiful to hear how you have transformed your relationship with music, recognising what felt true and what did not. As you connected to the truth in your voice, you experience your amazing true voice, which is beautiful and will inspire others.
Thank you Coleen for sharing your singing voice via your blog. I can hear and feel the sweetness of you. Beautiful.
I find this blog very inspiring having never felt the freedom to express this way even as a child.
Thank you for sharing this blog with us Coleen. I could feel the level of discomfort in my throat as I read this knowing how much I hold back my naturally joy-full expression and have completely silenced the urge to sing to myself on occasions.
Lately I’ve been really enjoying hearing other people express, especially when they are truly expressing from an experience that they have truly lived. That alive and rich sharing that comes forth is such a joy to hear and feel in my body, as it literally lights you up inside. Maybe that is where the saying came from, to warm the cockles of your heart, as that is exactly what expressing a living way from your body feels like, to do and to receive.
I feel you’re absolutely right, Julie; that is a beautiful saying with a beautiful feel to it – to warm the cockles of your heart – gorgeous.
Your writing has reminded me of the joy and natural exuberance of expressing as a child, in which ever form that may take, thank you Coleen
This is very precious to share “I merely sang with my own, unaffected, innate voice.” So often people try to force a special kind of voice out, to sound good, or right, professional. The truth is our own voice in its true quality spoken or sung is unique, gorgeous and a pleasure to behold.
Just reading this, you can feel the truth, and the warmth of what you are expressing. “…our own voice in its true quality spoken or sung is unique, gorgeous and a pleasure to behold.” To hear anyone speak from all that they are, in that moment, is glorious.
That is so very true, Samantha. I have recently been finding that when I use my voice, be it singing or speaking, in a way that is trying to be something that I think someone else wants it to be, whether that is louder or with some kind of inflection, that my throat starts to close up or I go off key! When I allow myself to speak or sing with my natural quality, my entire body vibrates with the words I am expressing. The gorgeousness of true expression is felt and known by the body that expresses it.
As a child I found reading and writing really hard and soon became labelled with being dyslexic, I was teased a lot and felt ashamed, from here my voice became increasingly withheld….it wasn’t until I attended a singing workshop with Chris James in my late 30’s that I became aware of how locked up my true voice, my expression had been for all this time.
I loved singing as a child too, and was encouraged to sing in the house. I realise now how my dad always enjoyed it because it was not to perform but to show all the joy in my day.
“Dedicated to my Dad, William Hensey, who made sure my childhood home was filled with music, song and dance.”
Your dedication to your father is beautiful, full of love and deep appreciation for him … it feels like you can see him as a person (separate from your relationship with him) and can see and acknowledge his light, very lovely to see a father-daughter relating like this.
Thank you for observing this, Marian. My intent is to honour my Dad, yes, and the huge role he played in my love of music. In my childhood, he used to “just sing” all of the time, and “just whistle” too. Music is definitely part of his light. It’s a remarkable and unusual imprint to have experienced from a young age and one I do appreciate deeply.
At my great niece’s school assembly recently, one of the classes was asked to sing a song that they had performed in a recent school event. I was stunned at the choice of song. They sang a song I didn’t know and although I don’t remember the lyrics, I do remember thinking they were very adult lyrics (these kids were 6-7 yrs old). It was dry, drab and lifeless. The kids didn’t move and there was no joy in their singing – why would there be, they were singing something that probably felt awful to them and they were simply ‘performing’ because they’d been told too. So these kids may grow up to say that they don’t enjoy singing, when they haven’t even been given the opportunity to feel how joyful and natural it is.
There is such a difference when we sing for the joy of it and not simply for performance sake, for approval or recognition.
Yes Jenny, and singing is an expression of the joy we feel.
Yes so true Jenny, I used to sing with the children in the car all the time, they learnt English and German songs and we sang with joy just for the joy and fun of it, so much laughter and freedom in expressing in this way. I remember these times fondly, and, as they now have grown up, I guess I could start singing in the car for me again …
This is fascinating Sandra, the students’ bodies and I suspect their faces showed that there was no joy in the experience. It reminds me of singing national anthems and the like, where you as a child just shut down and sing, not even knowing what the words meant. I suppose this is one way we learn a sense of duty and it replaces a sense of purpose.
Absolutely Simon. Their faces and lack of movement in their bodies showed that they were singing out of duty. Singing is an expression from our body and it feels so very joyful … and it is natural in kids to express through singing, so to sing something out of duty would be harming in the same way eating something not right for our body is – same/same.
Absolutely Sandra and Simon. In relation to what you say Sandra about :’Singing is an expression from our body and it feels so very joyful’, it clearly shows that all the singing of national anthems etc. is an imposition from the outside. From some authority it is deemed essential that we become embedded with nationalism and it is done very subtly through such things as training kids to sing the anthem. Later on in life you see Olympic champions bursting into tears when they hear their national anthem. What happens in between the time when children did not respond to these anthems and often did not know what they are singing, and the time when they are emotionally attached to their country and the sound of this music??
Powerful observations, Simon, Sandra and Lyndy: from direct experience, I can say there is a lot of “singing from a false sense of duty” and singing to please the adults” in a school setting. Oftentimes, this type of singing feels empty and drab – completely disconnected from the body, a heavy expectation brought in from the outside. Moreover, any movement whatsoever is severely frowned upon, in spite of music and movement so often being natural twins.
What a sign of the times, Sandra! The fact of the dry, adult song chosen for the children reveals to me that the teacher had also had no experience of the joy of singing themselves. Like breeds like. So, let a few ‘free birds’ sing as they go about everyday activities with no fear of anyone hearing, so that children can hear and feel the natural joy, grow up knowing it, and help the next generation to enjoy singing too!
That’s a whole other story Dianne, about the Head Teacher leading the assembly and the singing. She seemed as if she was performing a role in the way she spoke to the children, like a pantomime with very exaggerated mannerisms and her voice dramatic. I watched as the children went up to get their awards in the assembly and they were all unsure of themselves and although they received praise for their achievements, none of them shone or looked joyful at receiving it. And the singing was the finale of the assembly. It’s only through writing about it here that I’ve really allowed myself to see and feel how empty the whole experience was for the children.
Yes Sandra – the song and what we’re singing plays a part in this too. The lyrics to a lot of the pop/chart hits at the moment are absolutely awful… I wasn’t around in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s but I’m pretty sure the music around that time (although sometimes quite cheesy) didn’t mention sex, rape, slut etc. as much as it does now! Kids are listening and singing along to these songs from as young as 6 or 7 – shocking.
Susie and Sandra, what you’ve shared resonates. I also remember the ‘going up for academic achievement awards’ days at school and the whole affair being so ‘dead’ and mechanical, devoid of love and sensitivity. I felt no connection whatsoever with achieving, striving, recognition, and could feel the heaviness among the children, most of them expecting to not be called up to receive a prize. Awful. For me, ‘achievement’ was a very private, non-competitive affair between me and myself, meeting my own standards without reference to anyone else’s. They just happened to be high. The only thing I could connect to in the whole situation was the Aesop’s Fables books of wisdom stories that I was awarded. And when given them, I realized a teacher had asked me what were my favourite books on a table in some room a week before and I’d chosen them. I’d had no idea why I’d been asked to point out the books, but it dawned that they were letting the kids pick their own prizes without knowing what was going on. That same deadness and imposed recognition of ‘excellent’ students was strong in the school choir too. Being singled out and forced to get on stage and sing a song I did not know or relate to in any way, had the effect of me freezing up, feeling abused, and losing my voice. That was the end of the joy of singing for me, only recently being rediscovered. Such harm done to children with heartlessness and soullessness!
“Why does no one ever just sing anymore?” Wow – that hit me like a thunderclap! It’s true, in past generations, people sang a lot in day to day life. We read about it in books, heard about it in family stories, and the elders among us may have even witnessed it among our grandparents who are gone. But now most everyone cringes from singing publicly because they think they’re not ‘good enough’, ‘got a terrible voice’, etc. Too much TV and internet creating standards of ‘brilliance’ that only some stars can shine to. So, Coleen, keep on ‘singing because you sing’, just like the birds, because it comes from who you are and is thus joy for all, and will open up more throats than we can imagine!
Dianne, love your observation and how true, people do not sing anymore just as an expression of the joy they are feeling – except maybe in the car when no one else is listening. I certainly used to do that but not in recent years. Lets bring back singing anywhere, any time – not as flash mobs but just as a spontaneous expression whenever we feel joy just in going about our daily activities – especially so when the birds are very noisy and inviting us to join them!
Hear Hear Anne, without all the technical garb and infotainment people 50 – 60 years ago would would think nothing of joining in a singalong. Lets join nature and share our voices in song – funny some kookaburras just started – awesome!
Love those kookaburras Andrew!
Your comment about singing has reminded me of the times I spent in Greece when I was younger. After dinner at night at the local restaurant the customers and the cooks would join and sing and sometimes dance traditional dances together. The men from their fishing boats would dance so gracefully while everyone sang and someone would pick up an instrument. It used to make me yearn for the days when this was a natural thing to do – the days before singing got compartmentalised into ‘those who could sing ‘(who you paid to see at a concert) and ‘those who couldn’t’ – who sang only in the shower. There is nothing like a good sing while truly connected to bring on the deepest sense of well-being and joy.
Yes, daily activities are the perfect place to sing freely from oneself. Lyndy your Greek experience mirrors my Irish experience of people singing in harmony at work. Some of the songs are traditional and match the rhythm of the very work the people are doing, like raking hay. The singing seems to settle everyone together into the rhythm of the work, giving it a feel of harmony, ease and rightness.
Indeed, Dianne. We can romanticise it from our vantage point of history, but singing is a huge part of our expression as a human race. It says quite a lot about us that we have chosen to take something that is so natural to us and, what is more, something that brings us together, and make singing about an individual or small group people who are there to entertain the masses.
To get to a point where you have this relationship with singing and you have let go of all acknowledgement, recognition and what this brings you. To be free from this and sing is not just enjoyable for you as a singer but also of the people that are listening. That need is not imposing anymore and you are free to be you and feel complete at ease. Instead of being laced with expectations from the singer. All in all it is clearer and can be embraced by all.
I too used to sing with my sisters when we were young, when we went out to visit relatives, but I can’t remember when or why we stopped doing that. After that I didn’t choose to sing for a very long time, until meeting Chris James and doing one of his workshops. Then I felt the power of letting go and truly expressing through song.
Your response Julie has brought up an old memory of singing as a child with my friend, making up our own words – so joyful. In that moment there was never a comment from my friend – ‘you can’t sing’ but somewhere along the line it is has happened because I chose not to sing. I have this belief around myself that I can’t sing. This has opened another door to the false beliefs that still carry power over me. Great Blog Coleen, another opportunity to go deeper and discard untruths.
I notice this with young children, that they sing so sweetly and it is to express themselves rather than singing to anyone or for anyone and that there is no need for recognition or acceptance, I can see that this changes as we get older, ‘As a child I would often sing and hum quietly to myself simply as a form of gentle expression when I was feeling content.’
This is true rebeccawingrave. As a child, singing was no big deal. It was like walking. As I got older and I noticed how people reacted to it, it became a source of identity. I sang to be shown who I was by the adulation. Now I am learning to sing from who I am.
There are photos of me as a very young child/baby while I am singing and dancing (while sitting) in pure joy. I look like a joy-bomb. Totally pure and innocent. Why I did give up on that?
Anyway – I am claiming it back with the support of Serge Benhayon, Universal Medicine and the Student Body!
Not to get attention – but to share this joy of love again with all of you.
With very few exceptions I find that most music today is so heavy with the desire for the artist to be loved or recognised in some way that there is actually not much joy in it at all. Some may find this statement hard to believe as music means so much to them… but i know it’s the truth.
It is super precious and inspiring to hear of the transformation of your relationship with singing, Coleen, and I realise that this can be applied to all areas of our lives. The honouring and expressing of our natural qualities without the need for accolade or recognition is a powerful and supportive way to live as a human being amongst our fellows. Thank you.
That’s so true Matilda, it can be applied to all areas of our life.
Wow! What a powerful statement, Oliver. I love the truth you express in , “What is being complimented is just a false veil. I guess this is similar to the way that photo shopped are equally being complimented for an image that they aren’t, we gather accolade for a voice that isn’t our own. And hence all the applause isn’t truthfully for our voices.” Beautifully exposing of how we applaud others’ emptiness!
Coleen, you express so clearly on what Oliver has said, when you say ‘Beautifully exposing of how we applaud others’ emptiness!’. That makes it honest and pretty stark and we could say this is what we do with most if not all of those in the entertainment industry really. Very exposing.
So true Josephine. The entertainment industry is based on falsities, emptiness and a ‘machine’ behind an artist, so that little is left of the original being, who is then thrown to the wolves, who are hungry for the perfect product! Most artists are unable to sing their song as nature intended. Listen to the birds, they don’t need all those sound effects and produce a perfect chorus most mornings!
Love your pragmatism Lorraine, listen to the birds indeed, except we also need to hear unimposing heavenly music from humans as well . . .
I feel that that it is the colossal expectations that everyone has around singing and the need to sound a particular way that can hold us back so strongly from just singing from our expression. And from that point we are left with only two choices, either be silent, or mould our voices to garner applause and compliments. But really that isn’t our voice? What is being complemented is just a false veil. I guess this is similar to the way that photo shopped are equally being complimented for an image that they aren’t, we gather accolade for a voice that isn’t our own. And hence all the applause isn’t truthfully for our voices. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could just present our voice in the naturalness that it is, with confidence that there is no need for applause or recognition, instead it is merely a true confirmation of what we already feel in ourselves and the singing is just an extension of that.
I agree Oliver. These days, music can be easily be manipulated to sound good, but does it feel good? Perhaps it does for the many that seek solace or relief in emotional music. Either way – being silent or playing ball with performing – we would be coming from our hurts, and music that is infused with that energy will always be imposing.
Oliver you make a great point here. It seems that we have as a society spent time and energy in fostering an ideal rather than appreciating the reality. In that the chase begins for something not truly attainable and the hamster wheel of self depreciation and falling short begins.
Brilliantly said Jenny. Setting oneself up to feel rubbish because we’re not living up to an unrealistic ideal.
I now listen to voices and feel their quality. It’s beautiful to hear a person’s voice unemcumbered by having to live up to any ideals or trying to impress. Our natural voices are so sweet.
Absolutely, Oliver. These days popular music has become a huge effort of not only musicians and singers, but engineers, software producers, voice coaches, songwriters, marketing companies etc. etc. all focusing their energy into a group of 4-5 people or very often a single individual who are expected to deliver a product. All of this energy is going into crafting the sound being produced to deliver something that is very specific, but not the person’s or band’s natural expression. Imagine the weight the performer must carry to deliver not only what they are singing, but the expectations of all of those other people as well.
In these cases I can understand why so many musicians crack under the strain, or simply stop enjoying what they do.
Very powerfully expressed Naren. As I read your words I could feel the ‘product’ of the CD (or whatever) being formed and sculpted by ideals, beliefs, emotion, into a shiny, impervious icon sent forth to ‘make its mark’, to stand alone, to be the best – nothing of truth, nothing of brotherhood, nothing of true expression. Yes, no wonder singers can crack under the strain and look to drugs to numb themselves.
What a contrast it is to all the usual ‘effort’ to simply open one’s mouth and sing! To sing naturally and effortlessly without all the need to perform or perfect is purely a joy.
Naren when you say it like that, it makes total sense that we see musicians and even actors, who are burdened with a similar level of expectations, cracking under the strain of it all. Their love of music and acting is lost under a sea of pressure and then the relief is found through drugs, alcohol or anything that can be used to not feel how much they have had to compromise who they are to ‘sell a product’.
Its true Oliver. All too often we apologise for our voice, which is really an apology we are making for ourselves. This comes from the fact that we are not letting it out freely but stopped by consideration for how it will be received by others. How inhibiting, but worse still we are making an indictment against our own nature expressing itself.
This is so true Rachel. So many people apologise for their voice, or say “I can’t sing”, but in actual fact, anyone can sing, just maybe not the same notes at the same time. By allowing ourselves to open our mouths and let out a sound, we are allowing our true expression to come out. How amazing it would be if as children we were encouraged to sing, regardless of what we sounded like? This would be transformational in the world of music.
This is gorgeous Oliver. How amazing schools would become if your comment was applied to how children were encouraged to express in class and in choirs.
I agree Jane, it seems that schools encourage students to do their best as singers and musicians by putting in endless hours of training and rehearsal. Not for the pure joy of expression but rather for competition and accolades. To win points for their house and to be the BEST. How this is meant to teach unity, equality and the joy of expression is beyond me.
Jane, yes, how amazing schools would become if children were encouraged to sing without judgement. Unfortunately, I grew up with being told both by my Primary School Teachers (even the Kindergarten teacher) and Secondary School teachers – ‘Please don’t sing, you are flat….’ and this shut down, completely, my singing expression — even in the shower! Coleen, your blog has resonated with me to begin, once again singing just for me, to enjoy the heavenly sound of music being true expression. Not that my singing sound is heavenly. . . but I am working on it!
Great point Oliver – when I listen to a song recorded from earlier times even that sounds odd to me – If we have a generation growing up with such synthesized music is that all they will ever know and what will the impact be of listening to distorted music?
Very wise Oliver, your command is absolutely powerful and fantastic. I can only agree to every word you wrote. It is so sad that we as intelligent species live like this – lying to ourselves. Our bodies don’t like it if we do not speak the truth. Pinocchio got a long nose when he lied – imagine we would get a long nose as well if we lie – that could be funny.
Absolutely Oliver and how amazing to have you expressing the way that you are at the young age you are, it is something I have been becoming more and more aware of recently, our voices and how we so often are not expressing with our natural voice very interesting and something to play with and develop.
I agree too Oliver. An in addition to not having to worry about accolades, also not have to worry about being put down or told off. Just as our human images are photoshopped ~ our human voices have been moulded and altered to give us a false impression of what a ‘good’ voice is, and who should be accoladed. It is the quality of the performer, and never what they sound like that should be the ultimate gauge. True beauty and power of voice comes naturally when it is a loving being expressing it.
Well said Oliver and I definitely know which kind of music I want to listen to. I have had the opportunity to realise that there is a difference and to feel the two expressions with music. It is very clear how the imposing the music that has all the emotion, need and desire from it pouring out is far from enjoyable. I find it awkward, uncomfortable and annoying to listen to. Whereas the expression of music that comes from the celebration of the person and knowing that they have nothing to prove yet so much to celebrate is simply joyfull to listen to and leaves you to be you.
This is indeed true Oliver. I remember singing in choirs at school always working towards and trying to have the perfect voice. I was adapting my voice to sound sweet, to fit in, to be part of the group. All of this was done in a disconnection to me. A few years ago at a workshop with Chris James, I felt the beauty of the sound that came out of my mouth, that came as a result of first of all connecting with my body, connecting with me, feeling me and then allowing the sound to come from there. Wow, what a difference. It not only sounded amazing, but felt amazing in my body. This was my natural voice and it felt so freeing. Imagine if every child was taught that they could sing like this, what freedom of expression.
Wow it is so lovely to read how you have come back to your natural expression through singing and the beautiful comments from the people who have heard you sharing this. Having grown up being told I couldn’t sing in tune I have only recently started expressing myself through singing and still tend to reserve it for when no-one else is present but I also love to join in when others are singing in brotherhood and feel part of a group expressing from their essence.
Stunning article.
It was great to feel how your expression has changed and grown as you have connected more with the gorgeous you.
A learning for me too (:
This is a great article.
And it begs a greater question: What is the real purpose of music?
Is music simply there for us to pour all of our happy, sad, angry or blissful emotions into and have people recognise us for how well can do it?
Or does music have a higher calling… one that can present a sound or a melody telling more than just a story, but offering a vibe or an energy that inspires the listener out of their emotions into something much higher…
I love that question, Dean, and would also love to engage with others in discussing precisely that topic – what IS the real purpose of music?
Any takers?
“No need for accolade, no need for a stage, no moulding, no applause. I am simply just being me, singing about who we are and where we are from.” I loved this line Coleen, what better reason to sing.
Reading this has truly inspired me to sing for me and to make this an important part of my daily rhythm in expressing who I am. Thank you.
When I am joyful I naturally want to sing, I sing to myself in the car, around the house, at work, in the shower, holding back this natural form of expression would be like asking a bird not to sing, impossible! The only thing I have to work on now is not being shy about letting any one else hear me…!
In the cafe I work at I notice how open children are with their expression – for them it feels natural and effortless. They will sing and talk to themselves whilst they play, they are uninhibited by those around and it is lovely to see. I notice that somewhere in life this changes and this natural expression is stifled and there is a point where it is classed as ’embarrassing’ to express this way anymore.
So true susanG. You’d think by becoming adults we would be more confident, but it seems to be the opposite. I do know that if we allow ourselves to connect to the same essence that we were as children, and live from it, that confidence will come naturally.
I agree Jinya, as adults most of us shy away from being who truly are and instead try to fit in with everyone else rather than just stay as we are.
Coleen I loved reading your blog, I had goosebumps as I read your truth that you ‘are singing about who we are and where we are from’. I felt this way because when you do sing, just for you and with your beauty and grace of knowing us all, you sing for all of us and my body could feel the joy and beholding love. I feel that the particles in my own body can hear your natural song and I very much look forward to hearing you with my ears one day too! 😉
Thank you Coleen for sharing your experience on singing. When we sing (or draw or do anything really), it is a completely different experience when done to perform and get attention as opposed to just because we feel like singing and just being joyful in our connection with self and sharing who we are with others. I am one of those ‘closet singers’ – my voice is not of ‘professional quality’ (or what most would classify as performance quality) but I enjoy singing or humming especially when I am driving or by myself or at home. But this makes me realise that I need to come out of the closet…this does not mean I should be on stage or recording a CD, but what I am talking about here is letting myself be more free with expressing it no matter where I am, or who is around.
Singing to celebrate and confirm ourselves is vastly different from singing to look good or have an audience. It is easy as an audience member to know which one allows you to just be yourself without feeling imposed upon.
Yes that’s true, Elizabeth the listeners will always confirm what state of being a singer, or any artist or person expressing, is in, because they feel where the singer (or other artist) is coming from at that moment in time. It’s awesome how we can reflect this too, and for, each other.
Yes, I find when I’m just me with no trying and sing from that then no matter where I am and sing it’s beautiful. As part of my job working with the elderly I sing constantly, up the corridors, in the lounges, diningrooms where ever I go and the response from all is so beautiul. When I sing to larger groups of the elderly I include Glorious Music or Chris James songs and the silence and stillness that they drop into is so gorgeous, they sit right back, shut their eyes and absorb what is offered. I had a great experience a week or so ago with a group of 30 in a lounge area, I sang From Heaven, (no backing track – just my voice) and the room went so still, at the end one lady in her 90’s turned to me and said, “you know I haven’t heard that before but I know it!” And others around her acknowledged the same feeling.
Wow! brbrhrn9. That is so beautiful – I’m also being pulled to sing in aged care facilities even though that’s not my profession….perhaps you were the inspiration behind that! I also had the same response from others to the song “From Heaven.” Beautiful confirmations of how we ALL know these truths and recognise them when we hear them expressed by another. Just gorgeous. Thank you!
I love this blog it feels light and joyful. Its lovely that you once felt free to express and have now returned to that connection.
This is such an exquisite blog Coleen. It brings joy to my heart and soul. Thank you for the inspiration!
Coleen, what you are sharing here goes far beyond just singing. It makes me consider all the different ways I have moulded myself to fit into the way the world handed out accolades and how differently people respond when you are present and comfortable in your own skin/voice… because you are not pushing them, they respond so freely, it’s a joy to be part of.
Agreed Joel I feel so much of my life has been a performance of one sort or another and since recognising that all I need to do is bring me to a situation, for example my work has flowed so much more naturally.
Coleen, I can feel the beauty of what you’re singing would sound like, through your expression of it and I would love to hear you sing. Thank you for sharing your love of your own expression through song, it feels like such a divine blessing for us all.
It is true that we rarely, if ever, hear people singing as they go about their day – enjoying themselves and enjoying whatever they are doing.
Thank you Coleen for sharing the beauty and sweetness of who you truly are with everyone.
It’s crazy too that anyone would want to hold their own enjoying of themselves back from being heard too! This has been my experience, hidden in a belief that I would be somehow ridiculed or judged when actually I felt their jealousy, of the enjoyment in me that I was having. But, when we appreciate the power of our own joy with ourselves, we get to remind others that they too have a joy within them and their own way of expressing it.
What you wrote Coleen and the way you expressed is very beautiful indeed. My eyes welled up as I felt you singing from the heart so naturally. I love singing and music also, however I have not yet learnt to truly sing from my heart.
Your blog is an inspiration to let it flow, thank you Coleen.
This is such a beautiful claiming of oneself Colleen, it feels so true. I have struggled a lot with music over recent years and have only started to play more truly recently. I used to sing in a rock band years ago and never went on stage without first getting a bit of courage out of a bottle. I now listen to a lot of Glorious Music myself and my favourite thing at the moment is to get out of the car and go into shopping malls or petrol stations or whatever and whistle the last tune I have heard tunefully but loud as I walk around for all to hear.
Thank you Coleen, maybe you could record a cover of Michael’s music and take it back to the shop for them to play.
Thank you Coleen, reading this blog has been perfect timing as I have been feeling to sing for a long time but I always find an excuse or judgement not to. It has only been the last few weeks that I have allowed myself to express in this way without any attachments of what I sound like but to sing how I feel in my body and this is now part of my daily rhythm.
This was gorgeous to read Coleen as I could really get a taste for what your singing would sound and feel like from what you have described. What a beautiful gift for yourself and all those who get to hear you. I’ve always loved to sing and express how I’m feeling through singing. Thank you for sharing.
I find my self more and more singing in the car as I play songs from Glorious Music, the music is so welcoming and non imposing, allowing me to sing and bring my own expression. This reminds me of when I was a child and I would make up songs and sing along, this where beautiful joyful moments.
I am also a “car singer” Amita and have enjoyed the opportunity to sing out loud supported by Michael Benhayons music and use this time to connect to the playful, free childlike me just for my pleasure and believe me it’s not about the sound but the joy I feel.
It is really lovely when we hear a child sing and having read this blog I can see now how it is largely not just the sound, but the intention to just express the joy they feel, as you say no need for accolade. Really lovely.
I loved singing but didn’t use to like ‘performing’, until I realised that when I am present with myself, comfortable in my own body, walking on stage is no different from walking room to room in my own home. When Serge Benhayon presented – ‘confidence equals presence ‘ it changed everything for me. All the pressure was off, there was nothing else to do, but to enjoy simply being me.
Beautiful Jenny, there is no difference between when I am being present in my body or the stage. I had the opportunity on the weekend to be up on stage to sing a song with a group of people and it felt so natural and simple, I could feel how present I was in my body and the joy of singing.
Your experiences with singing could be applied to many things that we have a natural gift for and love of. When we express from the heart without trying, there is a flow to it that is not there if we are ‘trying’ to fit in, perform or please. Thanks for sharing Coleen.
This is just gorgeous, Coleen. In so many places around the world and in so many different times throughout our history, singing has been a natural part of our daily lives. It did not require you to go learn how to do it ‘properly’, it did not require an audience, it was and still is, one of the most beautiful expressions of our voice. Singing is something that brings us together on a very deep level. To me it is one of the greatest connectors between humanity and our soul.
In reading Coleen’s blog and your comment Naren it is as though I can recall ancient times past,,,people singing in the fields they were tending, as they laid stones and cared for their children. I wonder if our perverted relationship with singing is related to religion? At various points in the history of the Christian church it was blasphemy to sing non religious songs, and blasphemy to sing at all except on sunday at worship. Singing was completely controlled and dictated in such a way that it was denied to us and turned into something ‘special’ for ‘special occasions only’. It really is like taking away our right to breathe our own breath.
Your contribution about singing from your essence is touching and so very real; I have never been a singer myself but for many years I used to wish I had a great voice. And why? Because I wanted to perform and be applauded for it. That seems very strange now and quite unreal and it makes me enjoy your blog even more and how you have found that it is not about being acclaimed but all about singing for the sheer joy of singing.
To be able to listen to somebody who is truly connected to themselves singing from the heart and not holding back, is a beautiful experience. By singing as you go about your daily activities, you are giving those around you a real gift and a true blessing.
Absolutely true Peter.
Wow Coleen, I can relate to all that you’ve shared here. I sang pretty much all the time as a child – so simple and joyful, in true confirmation of myself. After years of being in bands and performing on stage for the recognition it gave me and the sense of self-worth I was looking for from the world around me, I too stopped – it didn’t feel good anymore. Actually in truth it never did feel good – performing was just that, a way to hide in a character, a stage persona I created to give myself the confidence to sing on stage. The only way I can describe it is that I would literally call in a force to build me up and squash all my feelings of anxiety. But that type of confidence is false and transient. It leaves you feeling depleted, empty and needing more. I would come off stage feeling as high as high can be but would come crashing down minutes later. To try to maintain it for longer I would drink lots of alcohol, but inevitably the down would come and I’d be left needing my next performance ‘fix’.
Over the past couple of years I too have been singing along to and for myself to Michael Benhayon’s Glorious Music. This has supported me to reconnect to the absolute joy I felt as a child when I expressed through singing. I no longer need to be on stage, to be seen and admired by others, to make myself feel better than others. Now when I sing it is from equality, and without needing anything in return. I feel I have come home.
Awesome description of that adrenalin cycle that kicks in for so many performers, Lucy. I remember it well – the nervous anxiety before going on stage ( now it’s called ‘getting pumped’) and then the adrenalin high afterwards that, as you say, leaves you feeling empty and exhausted, seeking more, afterwards. I have even observed this in children getting ready to perform also, so it’s a behaviour that is imprinted at a very young age. Pretty yeuk, in my opinion. I never liked the way it had me breathing shallowly, almost like panting.
I can so relate to what you express here Lucy. In a recent experience I had, playing with Michael Benhayon and others, I was more present than I had ever been on stage. There was an equality amongst every person who was playing, including Miranda Benhayon. Nobody stood out as the ‘star’. I didn’t feel any buzz afterwords, but I felt a very still sense of completion. Like we just did what we were there to do.
I know what you mean Jinya – I have felt that too. “a very still sense of completion” is a great way to describe the feeling. That and absolute joy in the truest sense of the word – feeling a deep confirmation of who I am when I express myself through singing.
I used to try to sing much lower to attempt to give my voice a bassy richness. I ended sounding like an Elvis impersonator! I find that the more I claim and live who I truly am inside, my voice changes. It somehow becomes more me. Less trying and just being expressed. And the richness comes effortlessly, along with the tenderness.
Jinya, maybe you could do a cover of Michaels Glorious Music.
Sing for yourself and not for recognition. In writing this I can feel the difference. It feels so expansive to sing from your body singing just for you. Looking forward in feeling you in your voice. Thank you Coleen
Sign me up to hear that when it comes out Coleen! I think we need a way to have sounds and vision in these blogs – so we can hear it at the same time! How refreshing to sing when there is no need for a compliment.
I love Coleen that you do not hold back in documenting for us here the many positive comments you have received from your accidental audience members. It’s marvellous to see someone claiming their power in this way.
That’s beautiful Coleen to share your joy with others through singing your own voice, not to impress but in just being you. Thank you for not holding back in being heard – it is inspiring.
Lovely to feel the joy in your blog Coleen. Singing and expressing naturally – beautiful and inspiring.
This is beautiful Coleen and so inspiring. I hold myself back from singing in public, even though I sometimes do unintentionally, it just comes out of me. My work colleagues notice it and they then say to me: “you are in a good mood, you are singing”. After reading your blog I feel inspired to pay more attention to whenever I feel like singing and hold it back because I think I am not in the right place for it and will re-consider it.
I find truly interesting how the ‘plasticity’ (the moulding) may be seen as a positive quality (wow this person adapts perfectly to this and that environment as if it always was part of it!) or it may be seen as the use of our main resources to get recognition and acceptance from as many kinds of people as possible.
Coleen I love this blog, and while I’m really looking forward to hearing you sing sometime, I feel I already know what l’ll hear. The beauty of a voice that sings only as an expression of the purity and sweetness felt within is heavenly, as your pet-shop lady commented. I feel you have captured what it is that is missing in music and performance everywhere and something Glorious Music has restored, and hence re-kindled in you. I look forward to being confirmed in the blessing already received by reading your words.
Well said, Jenny – “The beauty of a voice that sings only as an expression of the purity and sweetness felt within is heavenly.” This blog has helped me to connect to the true purpose of singing as an expression and a reminder of where we come from.
Thank you Coleen, I wish there was a sweet little recording of that voice at the end of this blog as I am missing your voice and I haven’t even heard it yet. I am definitely guilty of singing every where I go, I just can’t help it and the joy it brings others always surprises me. I love how you shared in detail the way your voice touches people.
Nothing to be guilty of Sarah 😉 I’ve had times when I’ve been travelling on the tube in London, listening to Glorious Music and have held myself back, often having to bring in a huge force to do that, to stop myself from singing along with a full heart. I yearn for the unselfconsciousness I had as a child when I would literally sing everywhere I went, so it’s so beautiful to hear that you sing unfettered wherever you go. I am inspired. What’s the worst that can happen? – so what if someone thinks I’m bonkers! – not really a good reason for holding back so much it hurts.
Although I could not hear you singing obviously while reading your blog I got a sense of the lovely grace that I am sure will radiate from and around you when you are singing, so that I am right now feeling touched and embraced by your song. A lovely quality to tenderly end the day and go to bed with.
Yes beautifully said Alex
Beautiful expression of appreciation Alex, I can feel what you expressed here Coleen and agree with Alex, it feels very grace-full..
I love it when you see a child singing freely in a public place in their own world there is often a moment when they stop and catch themselves as people look then you can see the shyness creep in as a reaction to the judgement.
I guess that is where kids start to shut down. They get the message from the outside world that their naturalness is out of place if not completely unwelcome.
Yes absolutely Dean I can remember this as a child. Doing my own thing and then feeling snapped out of it by another’s reaction that felt so different to what I was experiencing. The need to please kicks in very early I guess we are trained from a very early age to seeks approval from learning to talk and walk. So if it is not forthcoming we close down.
What I got out of this blog was, ‘don’t hold back your natural expression otherwise you are not the only one missing out but everyone who would have experienced it also.
That IS the message, Luke 🙂 Awesome you got it so simply and so clearly!
Your clarity here is awesome Luke. And just imagine what it would be like if we all shared freely our natural expression. We’d be constantly inspired and in appreciation of each other. There would be no space for anger and hate and judgement etc etc and all the to other un-natural expressions that fill the space instead.
Yes! Stevie instead of the common saying “they’re stuck in a vicious cycle” the cycles of appreciation of each other would be the new cycle. Continually confirming and celebrating one another.
Ain’t that the truth, First there are all the challenges or objections (for whatever our reasons) we have to just being ourselves but then, what about what everyone else is missing out on. We may mull over our many imperfections but meanwhile other people are missing out on our unique and very needed qualities that each carry.
Indeed and if we were all perfect we wouldn’t need each other to reflect each other’s qualities.
What a journey Coleen you have travelled full cycle
Lovely Coleen for the lady in the supermarket to appreciate your singing, but sad that she said “Why does no one ever just sing anymore?” I feel we are so bombarded now with the modern type pop songs that young people listen to – they don’t lend themselves to people who are listening to them to be able to sing along to. Actually, often the words are awful. We seem now to be completely imposed upon by what the radio stations etc. dish out to us. I suppose I could say (as an older person) – “in the good old days” the songs were much nicer and suitable for people to sing as they were doing things. I definitely remember people singing while they worked, especially building people on their worksites. Now they have music on their radios blaring out in their vehicles, again, imposing on everyone nearby. Much nicer to hear someone just singing because they are happy. People seem much more stressed now, not relaxed enough to just sing with joy. Lovely that you were able to just sing with joy, and no wonder people noticed and appreciated.
I loved reading about the comments you’ve had when you are singing to enjoy your own expression…others most obviously enjoy it too, what a delight Coleen. I’ve always loved hearing children singing to themselves as they go about play or a task, and your descriptions had this same easy quality. Thank you for sharing your re discovery with us here.
Funny, indeed ridiculous, that we choose to morph ourselves when ‘performing’ so that we fit the expectation of the audience in order to get their approval or adulation and yet there’s an absolute, immediate connection with others that’s possible the moment we’re just presenting ourselves. Not just in the realm of singing, but when speaking, writing or any ‘-ing’ where we have an opportunity to express who we truly are. Such wasted effort, when we can naturally just be and that our very being-ness is what people warm to, not the rehearsed, manicured version.
Very true, Cathy. When we share our being-ness, it is irresistibly gorgeous and can be felt by everyone even if they aren’t consciously aware of it.
Absolutely Cathy. It seems there is a choice here in all we do, ie put huge effort into ‘performing’ or simply express naturally who we are.
Young children love to sing, so pure and sweet. I used to sing in the choir at school and loved it. Singing together in a group was supportive and I had no shyness whatsoever. It’s a shame that the shyness took over as I got older, but gradually I have allowed myself to be seen and heard and it feels great to claim myself back and begin to feel my own true voice again.
Sandra I have had the same experience as a child, I loved singing in the choir and groups, as well as playing instruments. But as I grew into my late teens I just pulled away and lost all confidence. Now having reconnected to myself, I am reconnecting back to my true voice, it feels amazing.
Young children do indeed love to sing and I have listened to them make up their own songs and tune and hum it to themselves as they play or just walk along. It is so beautiful to hear and sounds completely different to my ears than when I have heard them sing for any kind of performance. Even mentioning to them that I like their singing is sometimes enough for them to become slightly inhibited or go into a slight push or performance to be recognised in some way. It must be so ingrained in us all to seek recognition or approval from others rather than just expressing what feels natural and the truth of who we are.
I’m getting to understand the difference between a performance and a delivery. When we are on a stage, we perform for the recognition. Every aspect is ‘staged’. We perform and audience clap. Everybody fulfils their role. When we are on a platform of truth, we simply deliver truth. It’s not done for the applause and the audience is left alone and that is why music made in this way is not energetically imposing to listen to.
That’s a superclear description, Jinya: performance for recognition or from a platform of truth, delivering truth – awesome.
Very well expressed Jinya. When we deliver we do not look for or need applause. The truth is delivered – full stop.
Amazing the difference when you really let yourself feel the two angles. And how simple it is.
A great insight Jinya – the vast difference between performance and delivery. It is a true joy to be present when there is a true delivery of voice and music.
Jinya, coming from a talented musician such as you, this is a very honest confession and one which if embodied, will serve you and all who listen to your music, in truth. I trust that I am in the UK to listen to you when you fully claim your ‘platform of truth’! It will be a healing for all. . .
Good description here Jinya. When we ‘perform’ we need or want something back from the audience. This puts a pressure or imposition on them. Delivering the truth needs nothing.
You have made a beautifully clear distinction here, between performance on the one hand and delivery on the other Jinya. It brings to mind several magnificent ‘deliveries’ that I have witnessed in the past where applause was not given for protocol reasons, i.e. it was in a church. You could really sense the power of the energy among the audience during the pause normally occupied by applause.
Yes, I’ve felt that too, Jonathan: sometimes I’ve also observed how we use applause to cover that powerful moment of feeling the energy of the delivery, as though its ‘too much’ somehow. I love to have silence at the end of a powerful delivery by someone, so that I can feel how the energy of it sits with myself and the whole group.
Applauding can override this at times. I guess we need to listen to our bodies to know when to applaud, when not to applaud.
Gosh, I love this bit you have added, Jonathan and Coleen, that often applause is used as a noise and distraction to avoid feeling what has just been presented. This brings to light for me the many ways we interfere with a natural stillness that knows and shows us everything.
Great point JInya. With performance I can feel we always need/expect something back, but when we simply share ourselves we have no need. This feels so much lighter, freer and joyful.
I like your explanation Jinya, perhaps many of us are put off music as it has become a performance where we need a certain outcome, whereas if we just deliver what we have without the need for recognition then it may be more enjoyable for us and will certainly not be imposing on others. I find very little music that I hear unimposing as the music is being used to convey the emotions of the performer, and this is something that feels harming to listen to as it is projecting something unbalanced in a person onto anyone who absorbs it. A lot of singing now seems to be about who can hit the highest note and hold it the longest, warbling away, yet there is a energetic discernment that can be made as to whether that singing is from a body that is out of tune, even if the voice is technically not.
Great that you define the difference here Jinya, ‘we perform for the recognition.’ or, ‘When we are on a platform of truth, we simply deliver truth’, the former imposes on people, the later leaves people to be.
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Katie I love hearing how kids just start singing and making up songs. remember doing this and feeling very joyful when doing so and super care free about expressing like this. Over time I let that stop, being caught up in what other people will think, slowly I am letting this go but it seems to be quite a strong one that I let seep into my life. But the more I let go and be me it naturally falls away.
I agree, Katie and Natalie, I too “love hearing how kids just start singing and making up songs”. They make it such absolute fun. Maybe I did that when I was very young, but I don’t remember, seem to have always been very shy. But occasionally at home, I do occasionally do that now, and yes, it is fun. Maybe one day I will do even more than that, I have changed so much over the past few years.
It’s beautiful Natalie to reclaim that joy of singing free from any cares of what another thinks about it, and that goes for everything, not just singing. I have taken on the inhibitions of ‘I’m not good enough to be singing, or playing or expressing’ worried about what others might judge, or more so judging myself as not up to the mark. It’s been great to unfold and understand that the singing and expressing is a natural true part of me, and the inhibitions and judgements are absolutely not. It is just an imprisoning hold that is not even real. Crazy what we give our power away to.
I have always wanted to play the guitar and a few years ago I had a few lessons with a guitar someone had lent me. I ran a few sound workshops where we would sing simple chants and I would play the basic chords and we had fun. Eventually I moved away from that area and I gave the guitar back. More recently I bought a guitar for myself and strummed it a bit, but, having no group to play for, lost interest, didn’t practice, and my confidence dropped. Your blog reminds me that the guitar is still here in my house and perhaps I can begin to play it just for me, and enjoy writing songs and singing them just for me – not for anybody else. It shows how much we depend on others for our encouragement and motivation and how we often won’t do it ‘just for ourselves’.
That’s lovely Carmel remembering and feeling to just be and do this for you .. en-joy ❤️
A great observation Carmel. It seems so easy for us to do for another but when doing so for us we tend to shy away. More recently I have found that doing things just for me offers such huge support and prompts me to feel real value for myself in the knowing that I am worth it.
I did that too Carmel. I have tried twice to learn the guitar and then gave it up because I found it too hard, even though I love listening to someone playing the guitar. When I was younger I played in brass band and I played the piano. Music was a big part of my life and I enjoyed it. I have often wondered lately whether I should take up another instrument now, then decided that I would work on the ‘instrument of my own voice’ and keep on singing along to Glorious Music and Chris James and they are all so “sing-a-long-able”..! Contemplating what music means to me is that it is an amazing form of expression and with a little encouragement, from myself, I am enjoying more and more the sound of my own voice and not worrying whether it is pitch perfect or not or what others’ think.
Agree, sandrahenden, The songs by Glorious Music and Chris James are very “singa-long-able”. They celebrate with joy. And they don’t impose on us, compared to most music nowadays which does impose what feels like a very heavy energy.
Very interesting Sandra. I played cornet in a brass band in the sixties, and now in retirement I have taken up the piano.
Music has always been a big part of my life too, but I have always drawn the line at singing, feeling that the sound that I produce is neither harmonious nor tuneful and is really for personal consumption only!
Great point Carmel that so often we feel the pressure to come up with something acceptable or the pressure to deliver something good to others and this can stifle any creativity or flow. Simply connecting to ourselves and the true purpose of music allows us the freedom to express whatever is there to express and when done in this way we may think it is just for us but in fact even if we are the only ones who hear it, we are co-creating something for everyone to feel and that has a far bigger impact energetically than we perhaps realise.
Beautiful, beginning to play for you. It’s a great feeling of self appreciation.
Amazing Carmel, it exposes the fact that we are so often performing for the recognition for others, how demoralising for ourselves.. it’s as if we are saying that we are not good enough to only perform for ourselves
Great observation Carmel…it reminds me of when I hear people say that they don’t bother cooking ‘just for themselves’ – why not cook, play guitar, sing, etc just for ourselves. We surely are worth it 🙂
Wow Colleen. I love what you have shared. I would love to hear you sing.
I agree Heidi, but I felt her sing in every word of this blog… truly divine!
Nicely put, Jenny Ellis, for sing Coleen has and that tune is pretty sweet, calling us all to feel what can be brought when we naturally and un-selfconsciously allow ourselves to express.
Yes, Jenny Ellis, this whole blog is a beautiful song, we are all sharing in the loving beauty held here.
Yes Jenny Ellis, in every word you feel the power, joy and natural flow of Coleen’s voice – truly divine indeed!
Yes Victoria Lister – Colleen is doing it so divinely through song as she has shared and we can all do it in our own way. To bring heaven to earth.
Thank you Colleen for a deeply touching blog. I love how you write and what you have written – there is so much power in what you have shared and I can feel how moved people would be when they hear you sing. Deeply inspired x
It’s great isn’t it that Coleen has been able to just sing in public as she goes about her day to day life. So many people hold back from singing and expressing themselves because they believe they have a terrible voice or due to feeling self-conscious.
Such a shame isn’t it that we hold back for fear of what other’s think when our voice is such a natural form of expression. I am beginning to sing-a-long more and more, I just can’t keep it to myself, ok it may be very quiet, but nevertheless the joy I feel when singing to myself outweighs any fear I have of being heard. So it’s sooo worth it.
I have a colleague at work who sings while she is working. She just sings! It is not for performance or for recognition, she just enjoys singing and sings for herself and doesn’t hold back. It is so refreshing and I love it. She is an inspiration to me in simply being myself without worrying about judgement or ridicule.
I’m reminded of when I was about 7 years old and going to church in an old abbey pretty well every Sunday and there was always this man in the congregation who sang louder than the rest and I felt embarrassed for me and him and everyone else. I thought that he was showing off, performing for a front seat with God and wanting attention but from what you’ve just said, Coleen, maybe he was just singing for the joy of it. But even so the best part was driving home and picking mushrooms in the fields outside – then we could truly sing with joy.
I love how you end this Coleen about the difference of performing or sharing on stage. You have indeed shared great insight into the journey of singing to please and perform or to sing for the joy you are and to share that with others.
My voice is a huge marker for me. It tells me how I am. It is a wonderful tool of connection & healing. As Coleen has shared, to allow the vibration of our true voice to travel through our bodies without push or expectation can be deeply healing for ourselves and for others.
Coleen, as I also have sometimes moments where the truth in me and who I truly am shines through, it is amazing how you are in train to discover this in your voice by singing.
Your blog is so joyful Coleen. Glorious Music rocks!
How gorgeous Coleen, the process you have shared about letting go of the way you used to sing and allowing your natural divinity through your voice to shine through. This is one of your natural gifts; please do share it with us.
I love how you said Coleen that you will ‘perform’ again but not as a performance in the common way it is but as a sharing of you and who we all are.
Thank you Coleen. It is amazing how so many things that come naturally to us as part of our expression as children get changed and manipulated into something to try to excel at or get recognition for, whether that be singing, music, drawing, dancing or any of the myriad forms we express through. It is lovely for you to have shared your reconnection to this natural form of expression Coleen.
This is just one snapshot of an amazing and loving Being bringing their essence for all to experience. Powerfully healing for all Coleen. I loved the simplicity in your comment -‘They are hearing a woman connected with herself: lovely, gorgeous, content’. Celebrating your Light, thank you Coleen.
So true Ariana, it is great to remember that everyone has a beautiful voice.
This blog highlighted to me the joy and innocence in singing when it comes from within and for no reward or self gain. We are robbed of living like this from such a young age because we very quickly get recognition for what we do.
Wow Coleen, so much in this blog, I love it. I haven’t moved past the point of allowing myself to sing in a public place, but so relate to your little girl experience of singing freely. You really show how natural singing is, and how restrained our society has become with regard to this, and also the artificialiality we have built around singing. Lovely also to read how you have honoured those ‘dry-spells’ rather than forcing the voice when it is not there. Ahh, a sigh of letting-go. Thank you for the huge inspiration.
I remember as I child I used to sing all the time, making up little tunes and adding words to go with them. I remember adults commenting to my mother about what a happy child she had. I also look back at how that love of natural expression became crushed when trying out for choir when I was told my voice was too deep to sing with the other girls and I would have to stand at the back and sing the second part with the boys. Whilst this may not sound bad the way it was delivered made me feel crushed and my natural exuberance for singing became something that I started to withhold and keep in check.
I too have been inspired to sing again both through the work of Chris James and Glorious Music and now see my deep rich voice as something to celebrate and not to hide. And whilst I may not have perfect pitch I do have a quality when I sing that brings a joy to my heart and puts a smile on my face.
Inspired by reading your blog, I sang today for the first time in a long time. I had forgotten how lovely it is. I could feel when I first began to sing that I was pushing my voice. I then chose to re connect and sing from connection and from my body. It felt joyful and lovely.
Thank you Coleen, your blog does remind me too of the way that I learned to be a chameleon in life, playing the game to please and get accolades from people around me. It is such a freeing thing to let go of that and just allow myself to be. Something I am still reminding myself of doing layer after layer. But so worth it!
I do not have a beautiful voice even when I am connected to myself, I am okay with that now and it does not stop me from singing at the Glorious Music concerts or to their albums. I connect with the music and sing to my hearts content with all the love I feel.
I love that, marylouisemyers, singing our hearts out and sharing the love we feel has got to be beautiful.
I also have felt the energy of singing for something, to please or show off, which is very contrived, forced, or holds back. But when singing just for the joy of it the quality is very different.
Evidently you feel natural joy in your heart, as that is what others hear in your singing Coleen. What an inspiring blog, I feel inspired to really let myself be me.
Thank you – I never made the connection as to why when alone, I could enjoy singing and sound like me, but that as soon as someone else was present I sounded different – quieter and more constricted – contracting my expression around others!
Very inspiring. I love your spontaneity and can feel the playfullness and joy that comes with the innocence of a child, a child that we all are if and when we allow our true expression to flow.
Elaine, thanks for reminding me about playfulness. Going back to playfulness and innocence, what singing is all about, is so important – not to think, am I singing correctly or not. Then singing becomes joyful again. Very often I’m just too serious and singing can remind me, that life doesn’t have to be serious.
I can relate to what you are saying Coleen very well. For me music and singing are so natural and they become a very important part in my life again. When I sing, I feel very connected to myself and everybody around me. This feeling of connection brings up so much joy in myself.
So beautiful to hear your wonderful experiences Coleen whilst singing naturally and spontaneously throughout your day- a lovely confirmation of how you are feeling- joyous and loving.
I love the question: “why don’t we hear people simply singing during their day anymore?”, that simple act of singing to confirm the joy that is felt within.
These days, Joel, it seems that singing is not considered to be normal any more, and is even suspicious. I know of a man who came through customs singing, and they pulled him over and went through all his stuff and kept him in interrogation for a day. He was just returning from a holiday and feeling joyful! I feel people are frightened of exposing themselves in case they are considered to be cranky or showing off. Let’s all start singing and change this deadening attitude.
“Blessed are the children – for their’s is the kingdom of heaven”. A famous quote from a fairly well known prophet. And yet often I believe not really understood. Perhaps you are touching on something great here Coleen. The the true freedom in the way a child sings, walks, talks, plays without any form of consideration of the temporal assessment of others – may just be something more than society gives it credit for.
Simon I realise that there are many prophets that have said many things. Yet a few years ago I would not have understood what that line meant. Today I have much deeper connection with the truth of the line, very obvious when you see the joy and simplicity in a child singing or playing. It’s a confirmation to me that there has always been the truth in plain sight however I had been the one that had not chosen to see the truth – even if it was there in front of me.
How utterly true David. The truth has always been there and is there right before our noses, being received and communicated through our very own bodies – and we have been everywhere else, in our minds, unable to see what is right in front of our noses. The old alchemists used to say that the philosopher’s stone (true love and truth) is as common and known as the ground we walk on, right in front of us, and we are too arrogant to see it.
Beautiful Simon….I think you’re onto something.
I agree, simplesimon: what we are looking at here is huge and warrants much further investigation. I love that quote from that prophet; actually, I love that prophet, too. I love how you have included it here in this context, to which it most certainly applies. Thank you, simplesimon888.
I agree Simon – the freedom of expression of a child is a glimpse of heaven- so too can be the untainted natural expression from all of us.
How gorgeous, thank you for sharing this Coleen. I loved reading people’s feedback to your soulful singing or lack of it!
When my children were younger, one of the ways I could gauge how they were feeling was by their singing to themselves or lack of it. I was never really into music so they did not have much music played around them in their early lives yet singing was a very natural and joyful part of their day, and I never tired of hearing all they chose to sing about, it was so sweet and playful. Why do we leave this ability that expands and expresses so much joy within behind to fit in? The desire to fit in must be quite huge….
So true Toni, whether we sing to ourselves or not is a good marker of how we are feeling. I know when I am feeling great I find myself singing round the house.
It is a great question Toni, ‘Why do we leave this ability that expands and expresses so much joy within behind to fit in?’ For me I know I slowly left my natural expression not really to fit in, but to not be bullied and teased, to not draw attention to myself. Holding back no doubt.
Beautiful blog, – and I loved reading about how people got mesmerized by your singing. We each have our talents, and singing is not one of mine, which I have totally accepted, but I love listening to Glorious Music. And I do sing along in my car!
It’s actually quite funny how we choose to put on so many different singing voices as you have described here in your article Colleen. It is like the amount of personas we can adopt in life to cover up our true selves. It is a relief to discover that they are not in fact needed, and that by dropping them we save ourselves a great deal of energy and can simply be ourselves.
I like the way you look to it Rebecca, you make it light by describing it as funny and I feel in me that I have a tendency to make it heavy and something that is wrong. Thank you for sharing with me your way of living.
I love the way children are naturally themselves and the way they sing is just part of this. So easy to return to as you have shown Coleen. Thank you
Absolutely, before children learn about editing and censoring themselves they move, sing and make noise with such a naturalness and for the pure love of it.
Hi Coleen, your blog made me stop and wonder how many other areas of life we do this in ‘ mould ourselves to what is required in order to pass’ rather than just being ourselves. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to consider this behaviour and I will ponder on my own way of being!
Re-reading your joyous post brought me to see how much I enjoy singing in the car and at home to Glorious Music and also that I rarely sing for myself or hum a tune, something I used to do, but stopped. Singing is a lovely way to be with self and as you show can bring joy to others.
That has reminded me I used to sing at home, Kehinde, and make up my own tunes and songs, and sometimes when I was walking on my own too. It doesn’t have to take us away from what we are doing, but rather accompany it, and I find I can build a beautiful rhythm of movement with it. Also it makes me more aware of the vibrations in my body so I feel more alive.
Gorgeous Coleen. My children often sing when they are playing, especially my daughter. I love to listen to her sing, just as I love to watch her play – both beautiful natural expressions of her totally yummy essence. To have rediscovered this as an adult and to sing with such innocence and wisdom once again is remarkable. I look forward to the sharing of yourself through your singing one day. I am sure I will love it just as much as the experiences I have each day with my little girl.
I love singing, I remember when I was a young girl I was trying out for the school band and another girl got picked over me, and from that moment on I thought that I wasn’t good enough to sing for people. After singing with Glorious music I now know that my voice is beautiful, powerful and I love the feeling of singing in my body. It’s so much fun.
Wow Coleen what a glorious little article. Beautiful 🙂
Beautiful, I could almost hear you sing just from reading your blog!
I so agree Rosie
M heart was singing along with your words Coleen as in them I felt the truth that applies to all. When we bring our own unique expression into activity simply for the love of expressing it, we take away the pressure, the falseness and the ‘discipline’ that creates heaviness and drudgery around life. We become the light, joy-full children again which we all began life as. Yet we carry with us the purpose of what life is about, to share all of us with the world and reflect back to it how simple and wonderful life can be, even if outer circumstances do not necessarily support or applaud such expression.
Coleen this blog is absolutely amazing and a true inspiration to claim my singing back where ever I am to sing naturally as I breathe again. I started doing it again because it’s a huge part of my expression and as soon as people notice it or really hear and then also see me I stopped it. So now I know I want to reconnect to that feeling that let me go on and keep on singing, being heard and seen. That’s what I chose working on and your blog is supporting me in reclaim that…the natural way of my expression. Thank you so much for your sharing.
How amazing Coleen, thank you for sharing your journey with your voice. You feel like a beautiful bird, joyfully singing your song to world because you can and it flows from your heart with ease. The other day I found myself singing whilst filling the car up with diesel at the petrol station, I was so full of love that I could not stop myself. I could feel how the man nearest to me kept looking at me and smiling, I could feel how my singing was lifting his heart, it was a beautiful moment. It is evident that singing from our hearts with no other agenda is a very good ice breaker out in the world!
I can relate so much to what you are sharing here Coleen. I once wanted , and almost became, a popstar through a TV show- it was all about pleasing the outside and showing off my singing voice and my talent. I stopped singing this way a couple of years ago and the most beautiful compliment was once shared by my partner, who said: when you just sing, without wanting anything, I love your voice so much.
I love that you sing along in your day Coleen, without holding back. It is refreshing to hear. I recall when I was young coming home from the movie – The Sound of Music after a school excursion in a bus full of kids when unbeknownst to me I burst into song unaware that I was singing out loud. I was a bit of a dreamer and sang to myself all day long. On this occasion the whole bus full of kids started laughing. I was shocked when I realised what I had done and then very embarrassed. Imagine a world where nobody held back. It would be very interesting indeed.
I too thought wow when I read all the places you sang out loud. I can quite often be enjoying singing in my car, then I arrive at my destination and stop, I had not even considered the possibility of singing after getting out of the car!
“Imagine a world where nobody held back.”. I love this Kathleen. How joyous would it be if we all sang whenever and wherever we felt to. It would feel like Heaven.
I agree Anne, or it could be a very comical musical.
Ha ha Kathleen! Or a tragic opera!
This is an awe-inspiring blog Coleen; I can hear you naturally expressing your beauty and essence as I read. It feels like the magic of nature; the chorus of birds singing. What I can feel as I read is how you are expressing all of you, your exquisite essence; but more than this – for you are expressing the divine true love in the world which we all wish to re-connect to. Hence, when people hear you sing they are connected not just to you and your innateness but to the exquisite love which is in everything when we choose to see, hear or feel it. You are connecting people to this glory in them and in the world and providing permission for them to express in this way too. Glorious Coleen.
I never find bird song imposing, like a lot of human music can be. Perhaps this is because animals are naturally aligned to the expression of God. As human beings we have free will and by exercising it in truth we are able to express from our natural divinity. This is a big learning that I am always unfolding.
Yes, birdsong is the best! In the summer mornings the little birds can be quite noisy with their song, but it never feels like an imposition whatsoever, rather a call back into connection with myself, with them and with the whole of nature.
Very good point Jinya – Bird song is so beautiful and natural – not like some of the music we produce.
Great metaphor. Birds are not busy with others. They are born with a sound and just start singing it till they drop dead. Singing without an audience. They just sing because that is their innate expression of what is simply inside of them.
I love hearing the birds and it immediately supports me to come back to my Soul as they sound so sweet and beautiful. As you say they are never imposing and as part of nature they are rejoicing and expressing so.
This is really gorgeous Coleen.. I can definitely relate to changing the way I sing; holding back and being more high and quiet around some people, trying to show off with others and then just singing my natural way. The latter feels amazing, the others not so much! And it’s quite incredible to notice the difference in how much of a struggle on my lungs it is to sing the first two ways.
When I find myself singing or humming, I can feel it’s because there is a joy in being connected to my soul. No matter what it sounds like, when we are celebrating who we are and where we come from, it can only be beautiful.
Yeah it’s nice when you catch yourself singing in a joyful moment before there’s even time to be self conscious. It’s like listening to a canary – a sweet singing canary – and then suddenly realising it’s coming out of your mouth.
Yes gorgeous Dean:)
What a great blog to read. You show how music has the potential to be so very healing. Stopping people in their tracks, is a sure indication that a connection to harmony is felt. What an opportunity to pause the momentum and re-establish the connection to joy.
Very true Johanne and it is glorious to feel that same healing in Coleen’s blog too. It must be such a joy to hear her sing in the most unexpected places, like the car park. A true gift from heaven!
Wow Coleen; what a difference it makes when your voice is from the heart.
I agree, Bernard.
Just like breathing–every expression of ourselves in glory in truth is as natural as breathing, without any need to make it greater or lesser, without a need to focus on it at all. Glory is our breath.
“Glory is our breath”, how simply beautiful Adele. Upon reading your words I became super conscious of my own breath, realising how tender and precious it feels in my body, breathing in and out gently. Our breath is something that we have taken for granted but what a glorious way to bring ourselves back to feeling our bodies, through our breath.
Ariana I like your words about our voice and the impact it has on others and the trap we can fall for. Yes it is on us what we choose: the love we feel for ourselves inside or the love we are looking to find outside.
Adele what a beautiful comment. I really feel how crazy it is to try at life and gain recognition for what we do when just being is glory enough.
So inspiring Coleen – I will keep singing when I get out of the car!. More than ever I find myself singing or humming as I go about life at home and it just feels so natural and joyful. Interesting to read that people do notice the beauty of your singing as you sing from all of you – such a refreshing change from what we usually hear in shopping centres.
I love the joy expressed in this blog. I don’t know you Coleen but I have seen you and the sing-songy spring in your step. I look forward to the day I will hear you sing.
I have always loved singing and movement, and your joyful blog Coleen has inspired me, and rekindled this natural love.
Beautiful sharing Coleen, I too can feel how lovely it is just to sing when I feel to and if I ever start to sing to impress others I can feel a hardness in that, and how it is imposing on others as well.
Singing around the house to Glorious Music CD’s I sound terrific.
When I sing in a group I notice I can get a ‘tight’ feeling in my throat, that’s when I know I have lost connection with myself, am “trying too hard” and looking for recognition, something that happens across other areas of my life.
Thank you Coleen for inspiring me to look a little deeper at ” detaching ———–from performance”
It is great what you have shared about singing and performance and that you have exposed the need for recognition about this as well as wanting to be on the stage. With what we have allowed and more and more reality shows for many the goal or ‘dream’ seems to be to sing or go on stage. Could this be to do with lack of acceptance and true love of ourselves, so wanting it from others? It is like we are constantly looking on the outside for life instead of stopping and connecting within with what is true .. something that Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine teach (to connect to the truth within) and I feel we all could benefit from.
Thank you Coleen for sharing, it makes such a difference when I hear someone singing purely for the enjoyment of it and not wanting any recognition or praise from others.
So true James. When someone is “singing purely for the enjoyment of it and not wanting any recognition or praise from others” it is music from Heaven.
Thank you Coleen for igniting with your words the wish of sharing my voice again.
Reading your post is a confirmation about what I feel that singing really is. True connection with myself first, no need of approval or acceptance, and share my voice free, pure and unconditional. No need of anything else, but the joy of being connected with everyone in the same purity.
A very beautiful and inspiring blog. This sentence stood out for me ”No need for accolade, no need for a stage, no moulding, no applause. I am simply just being me, singing about who we are and where we are from.” – Awesome.
Thank you so much, Coleen. As a little girl of eleven I was forced up on stage to ‘perform’, something that I did not want or need. The abusive situation robbed me of my voice; years of not expressing me turned into decades…. it is a beautiful gift to hear that anyone can reclaim their voice from the moulding of the past and let it out anytime in simple joy!
I can hear your song in your words and they are truly gorgeous- it is nothing short of amazing what we bring from deep within us and to share it so openly is a gift to us all. Thank you.
I love this sentence, it’s a bit inspirational for me who always saw singing or music, something that you do for another: “This time, however, I was singing just for me, only when I felt to sing, and whatever glorious song I felt to sing.”
Yes, me too Oliver. SInging for others felt empty to me, because I did not firstly connect to my essence and feel how wonderful it would be to share this divine beauty with the world to remind them of what is also within them – now that’s a great reason to sing.
Yes Oliver I agree and I’ve also just realised that to open up and sing I need approval/the nod so to speak from an authority that I actually “can” sing. In other words I have a singing voice worth sharing and ok for others to hear. Hog-wash I say…who cares what another thinks of my voice…permission is not required nor sought any longer.
I’ve just visited another country and the thing that really stood out the most to me besides the number of people around, was that so many people were singing, it was awesome I loved it
The difference between performance and sharing is profound and indeed very exquisite.
It is profound Rebecca and there is a stark a difference which can easily be felt by all.
Well said Ariana, we all have a beautiful voice. Every voice held back we miss. It’s the voice coming from within ourselves and not just from our throat that is what we love to hear from each other. Thank you Chris James for the amazing work you do all around the world!
I have definitely been discouraged from singing by the comments of others, and I have also sung in the style of a performer I might hear. Singing I can see now is about our natural expression, some may wish to sing while others may not. But it is important not to be discouraged by another or try and be anything but ourselves. Within that singing can be real pleasure for our bodies.
I just loved the bits about you singing in these public spaces…I’d love to see more of this in our community.
Agree sarahflenley, how lovely would it be if more people sang (from the inner-most connection!) in public spaces. Not in the energy of a flash mob, but just to express how lovely they are feeling. This would be music from Heaven!
Me too Sarah, and I agree with your words “I’d love to see more of this in our community.” – in fact I did come across a man singing to himself, but with no hesitation to prevent others from hearing his mellow and joyfull tones, as I walked through the echoing mall of a shopping centre recently while he was mending shoes at a repair booth. I commented and thanked him for it truly was making a difference for the early morning shoppers – but of course that was not his intention – he was just singing because it was natural for him to do so.
Well said Ariana – again society has put ideals against the perfect voice and that one can only qualify to sing if they can hit certain notes – but we’ve left out true expression. To discover that we all have beautiful voices if it comes from our connection is a whole new way of looking at singing – not for fame and money, but for pure expression.
Letting our inner gold out whatever our natural expression happens to be – and the magic just goes on emerging. Thank you, Coleen.
It has always amazed me the people with natural musical abilitys. My musical abilities all reside in my right index finger that can hit the play button. Music that comes from being rather than doing, will always be on totally different scales.
Coleen, I used to sing and love singing in my youth and made attempts in my adulthood. It is just beautiful to read how lighthearted and natural you are with singing. This inspires me to sing again just as a natural expression without any pressure.
Coleen, also your article felt to me like you would have sung it, just to express and share naturally who you are… and that is inspiring and of an exquisite facility. Thank you for giving me this access to sing and share – like a form of radiating energy with tone from the innermost : ).
I love the light-heartedness of your blog and the way you approach life- I can picture you walking around singing in public- this cracked me up but awesome to see someone just having fun and enjoying themselves like you do.
You have just explained how currently life is, where children are connected to themselves, their beauty and natural way of expression and then get caught up in life, looking on the outside as to how it ‘should’ be done instead of staying connected to themselves and living what feels to be done and honouring what they feel.
Great point Vicky and for me the singing exemplifies this. We often sing or hum naturally as young children until we get a little older and someone tells us that isn’t the right tone or pitch and then it becomes all about getting it right for someone else rather than sticking to our own natural expression. In this I can see how we start to live further and further away from our true expression and replace it with how we think we ought to be.
Before I would have thought you are talking nonsense that everyone has a good singing voice – but over time the more I connect to me and let go of being self conscious about how I sound the more I enjoy it…To let yourself sing and be you is most definitely a healing. One that I keep letting go of the imposed beliefs of what it ‘should sound like’.
Coleen I could feel your divinity in this blog. I could feel your connection to your childhood innocence as you sang. What a beautiful gift you have for yourself and for everyone else.
“music-detaching-singing-from-performance” what a gorgeous choice. I have not come across anything that kills spontaneity, playfulness and my childlike purity of expression more than thinking that I have to perform to someone or match up to some ideal over and above the natural expression from deep within me.
And great to hear Michael sing on this latest album. Awesome.
I agree Elaine and Elizabeth. It is truly beautiful to hear Michael sing on his latest album Heaven’s Stairway. Michael and Miranda singing without the imposing is very much needed in our society today.
Your blog has taken me one step closer to a Chris James workshop or retreat Coleen as a way of meeting the resistance I have about full expression through singing!
Yesterday, I received an email giving details about an event going to be held in the UK by Chris James. I could feel the resistance within me. It’s great to read bernadetteglass’ confirmation in that I am resisting claiming my voice and expressing it through singing.
Go for it Caroline! It’s all in there waiting for our attention and expression!
I had huge resistance to attending a Chris James workshop and even had resistance during the workshop. But what was uncovered was incredible. I never knew that I had a sweet singing voice or how it felt to really sing from me.
Thank you Coleen for sharing your experience. I too have listened to ALL the Glorious Music albums by Michael Benhayon and what has really been different is that the songs don’t sit in my head and download at night when I go to bed.
In the past I have found any song on the radio can get stuck inside my head and a few lines will repeat and repeat and I have no way of getting away from it. Thank God I met Serge Benhayon who has presented a deeper understanding as to why this actually happens and good news – I no longer get songs repeating when I stick the radio on.
On another note the Glorious Music has lyrics that blow me away and because they have a meaning they seem to hold more value for me. I know Michael Benhayon – a young man with the deepest integrity and care for all people and this is what inspires me about his music. You can feel it and he is a great artist of our time. Seeing him perform last week was the highlight of my month to say the least.
Beautifully said, Bina. When Michael Benhayon produces a new song, it feels like a gift to humanity, because it is about every one of us. There is no self, no emotion and no big-noting whatsoever, simply the sharing of love and truth in whatever way is needed.
I agree Bina, the presentations of Serge Benhayon have given me a much deeper understanding of music and it’s effects. The clarity of Michael Benhayon’s music is beyond any other music I have listened to.
I agree Bina, there is so much given in the lyrics – they are not just songs, they are healing, confirming, celebrating and a joy to listen to.
“I did not respond to these confirmations as accolades because my voice already felt lovely… to me!” When we accept and value ourselves we do not need accolades. It is beautiful and lovely to receive compliments but we no longer need them to bolster our lack of self-confidence and self-worth but to confirm the beauty that we already know we are. It is with deep appreciation I thank Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine for inspiring and supporting me to appreciate myself not for what I do but for who I am.
I am profoundly moved by the comments and confirmations all of you amazing people who have written in response to this blog- confirmed in the power of our natural singing expression and inspired by how many are now wanting to expand their own natural expression also. It is a huge lesson for me on not holding back my truth and my experience, but sharing it, so that are all equally inspired and confirmed. Thank you.
You have really touched on something dear to people Coleen, a voice that is pure and free of emotion is lovely to feel in your body.
Singing just for me for fun, it brings a connection, aliveness and natural expansion from expressing oneself lovingly. This is the key and beauty we all are and by simply allowing without any need for recognition or acceptance from anyone. Thank you Coleen for sharing so beautifully about the joy of singing and being oneself and the permission to do so and sing in one’s heart.
That was a joy to read Coleen, keep singing!
Coleen I love what you’ve shared. I found myself singing in the sea yesterday and had a moment where I thought I wonder if people think I’m weird (not that they could hear me over the waves) but then I remembered this blog and gave myself permission to just sing .
I’m noticing that I’m having different songs of Glorious Music’s come to me and when I listen to the words they are always apt to where I’m at. As I write this I am wondering if they’re coming to me more because I’m allowing myself to hum them in my day, allowing myself to ‘simply just be me.’
Perhaps sining is one of those things that we can hesitate to express incase others think we are weird, or we may be overheard, or don’t sound great… In my case the latter. My feeling is that it comes from wanting to express joy but suppressing it; something which Coleen didn’t do and has inspired me to not hold back.
Me too, KB. A particular song by Glorious Music will come to me, and when I listen to the words I can easily feel why. The songs are all very different yet every one of them is universal, reminding us of where we come from and the glory that awaits us, celebrating love and life all the way.
Thank you for sharing your story and journey with your voice Coleen. I love how you say ‘I am simply just being me, singing about who we are and where we are from.’ What a beautiful blessing for others to hear. Music to ones heart.
Wow this is a really inspiring blog Coleen, so beautiful that you have reconnected with the purity of expression you had as a child. I have found that when I am feeling really disconnected from myself nothing brings me back more quickly than gently humming and feeling the vibration of my voice in my body.
Since reading this blog, I have started to let myself do the occasional hum, which has at times turned into a little song, and it feels lovely to hear my voice again.
There will soon be a little collection called something like, ‘The Hums of Shami’.
A beautiful sense of emergence, Shami, thank you. And then ‘The Hums of Shami’ – deep giggles and inspiration – thank you, Lyndy.
Shami, I too have begun to let go and sing in my kitchen, not very often but when I do, it feels lovely for me too, to hear the sound of my voice… playful and light – very different to the hard sound I used to make.
Singing as a way to represent and celebrate where we come from, is the best ever reason to sing. Thank you, Coleen for sharing this inspiration.
Exactly Ariana, and I have experienced that everyone has a beautiful voice while doing sounding with Victoria Carter. In a group where everyone is allowing sound to come from their bodies, all of it is beautiful and finds it’s harmony amongst the other voices in the group – quite exquisite.
Reading this blog and these comments, I am inspired to start singing again, it has been a while… when I discovered my natural voice and way of singing, I was so surprised at how lovely it sounded.
Donna I’ve always had an aversion to singing with the exception to my singing along to many Glorious Music tracks during my driving in the car. In those instances any sense of self judgement goes away and instead I feel inspired and joyful to join in with the music. I’ve also come to appreciate those that have a natural quality about their singing and that is just as lovely as singing myself.
Hi Donna, that’s lovely, I recently truly connected with me whilst singing and it was the deepest and most beautiful experience and like you I was surprised at how lovely it sounded!
This is really lovely Coleen. It makes me want to hear you sing, but then I recall the times that I have felt deeply with myself and with no concern of how I sound that my voice has been so sweet that I almost didn’t believe it was me. Singing is not a strength of mine, so I have only connected to this way of singing a few times. I do recall how lovely it felt to sing like this, and you have inspired me to engage with this more on a daily basis!
Danielle I have had this experience as well, it is amazing to hear the beautiful clarity and strength that is waiting to come out, where I let go of judgement and expectations.
That’s beautiful Nicole and the way you put it it sounds so lovely that I don’t want to ever let go of this way, why would I?
Yes, me too Danielle, “singing is not a strength of mine, so I have only connected to this way of singing a few times”. Coleen’s blog has also inspired me to sing on a daily basis. My favourite time is when I am alone in the car, or at one of Chris James’s events singing with a choir.
That’s lovely Anne that you can connect to this way both alone and with others. Sometimes it can take a lot of trust to fully let go in a group of people.
I can totally relate Danielle. Singing with force or trying, my voice sounds strained. Yet when I sing to confirm feeling myself it is effortless and sounds so sweet I too cannot believe it is from me! Such a lovely feeling, my body goes all tingly.
Yes you’re so right Rachel, it is actually really forceful and straining to sing or even speak when not connected to the sweet and powerful voice within! Even more reason to continue to develop this way in all of my day!
Well said Rachael. “When I sing to confirm myself it is effortless and sounds so sweet”. When I first sang in connection with my body (with the help of Chris James) I was amazed at how lovely my voice does sound.
Thank you Coleen. I love to sing too, mostly in my home. For singing to be as natural and lovely as breathing, nothing more … feels so freeing.
I agree Ruth, singing to me is really freeing. I can actually feel when I am not in my fullness by how my voice comes out – and it’s a great reminder to connect and be present in my body and see how my voice changes. It is very revealing. And fun 🙂
Yes Jo, I can really feel the difference when I am present with my body, feeling how it moves and the way I do things, it brings a completely different quality to my voice, much stronger clearer and with a deeper resonance… and yes it is fun.
How beautiful to read Coleen. There is a huge difference between someone singing to be heard and someone singing as an expression of them. The feeling is vastly different. Even if the sounds they are making are not always the most ‘tuneful’, you can completely appreciate and connect to the joy that is felt and expressed and in that the sounds are heavenly.
Yes Bernadette, I felt Coleen’s joy through her words and how she feels when she sings. I would love to hear her one day too! Coleen thanks for sharing your joy with us.
I can hear your sweet voice Coleen as I read your blog, it is gorgeous. Your examples show how others are inspired and can enjoy the joy you are feeling when you are singing your way, beautiful! I hope to hear you singing one day!
Hi Coleen, I loved your story. I notice a correlation between my natural singing at home and how I’m feeling and if I’m feeling connected to me. When something is not right inside me and I’m not in the joy of being connected to me I always notice my singing has stopped. I know when I’ve sorted out my issues and reconnected because the singing floods forth again. This signifies that my joy is back – the joy of being me! My dogs are very subdued when my singing stops, as soon as it returns, they also become joyful as well and often dance about.
Reading your comment, Melinda, I got the picture of a “new form” of diagnosis in order to realize what may has become imbalanced in me – through singing, hearing and feeling it – and at the same time re-balancing it through singing… : )
The dogs are right there with you, that’s a great marker!
The other day Coleen- I comfortably sang in front of my class without firstly going into my head about should I or how should I. Before I knew it I just had, which was amazing for me as I grew up with many issues around expressing and singing.
Shortly after, I appreciated the ease at which I sang, the simplicity and I also thought of your amazing blog.
An amazing sharing Johanna and very inspiring.
Very cool Johanna. I have found it hard to sing in the past because I go so into my head about how I will sound and wanting to sound good. As I always believed I had a bad singing voice, singing was never a joy – not even when I was on my own. But of late, things are changing. I enjoy singing for me and when I sing for that reason I’m no longer so concerned with how I sound.
Thank you Coleen. We can use your story as an analogy for any form of expression. When it comes from us directly without any need at all, it just feels enough. This is definitely something I am experimenting with a lot these days.
I love to sing too Coleen so thank you for sharing this return to singing in its true nature, with no performance, nothing sought in return – but just because singing is an expression of who we are. I feel my tension draining away as I write!
This is lovely richardmills363, it feels so rare that people sing in this way, ‘no performance, nothing sought in return – but just because singing is an expression of who we are’, I have noticed small children sing in this way, it is completely different to singing for recognition.
I often can’t remember all the words to a song, or sometimes can’t get the tune ‘right’ rebeccawingrave. I’m never sure what note is going to come out when I open my mouth, but your description of young children singing reminded me that they often don’t know the words, or the tune, they just make it up, or ‘La La’. And if its alright for them, its alright for me. La la La La la La.
The lovely thing about children singing is that they don’t care if they’re not ‘in tune’ or don’t know the words, they just do it anyway, with no self-consciousness, it’s so sweet. They just allow themselves to be their natural selves and don’t care what people think, maybe I wil just accept my own sweetness and sing out loud whether I’m in tune or not!
I too very much enjoy singing and with what I consider as true inspiration such as Miranda and Michael Benhayon it is no wonder my enjoyment for singing was taken to a another level. One place I do like to sing is in my car driving to work and on my way home. I find that it really supports me to connect deeper and express joyfully.
I find this too Amina. Singing helps me to connect to myself in a deeper way, and the expression is so joyful.
Me too, I love to sing in the car. The ride becomes so joy-full.
Yes Amina I also love to sing and find it helps me to connect with myself. I feel such clarity throughout my day when I do this.
I love to sing as well Amina, and some of my greatest performances have been in my car! It does support me to connect more deeply and definitely to express joyfully. For me singing along to Glorious Music on the way to work is like having a session, arriving feeling very still and connected.
I would add here Richard that you are a shining example who inspires others to sing with all the joy that they are – I never imagined I would join a choir but yours is such fun, I can’t resist and am finding out so much about being all that I am when I open my mouth to make any sound! A lovely blog Coleen.
In full agreement with you here Lorraine – it is also so inspiring to see how Richard has evolved deeper with sharing his own joy of singing and bringing the conscious presence to singing with the choir. No performance, simply being with joy-full-ness together and expressing this fully together.
To sing spontaneously is always super joyful and having been a home diva, I’m really enjoying learning to sing “out in the open” with others. Yet I’ve never wanted to perform singing, the one time I did brave it, I felt so uncomfortable about not singing ‘right’ that I rejected other offers to do so. I just didn’t want the pressure of my voice being judged and found ‘less’. So it is beautiful to hear from you Coleen, that it’s no longer about the performance for you but the connection to the pure joy of expressing yourself through song. I agree that it is as natural as breathing to sing, afterall and that returning to the innocence of singing gently to myself for myself without fear of judgement or need of recognition has led to the also natural call of sharing my voice with others. How wonderful for all of us that your heavenly voice has been reconnected to.
Peta, you have reminded me how much I actually love to gently sing to myself, and I especially love singing along to Glorious Music songs by Michael Benhayon, and Miranda Benhayon. I am beginning to let my voice be heard (and that includes my speaking voice) because I figure what’s the point of holding back my expression through singing if I enjoy it so much.
It’s true, singing is such a joyful expression and singing gently to ourselves or even as we go about our day lights up our lives and also those around us. I love seeing the look on peoples faces when I am singing away in my shop and it is feeling so natural, yet for them it is a delightful surprise. Keep sharing the joy!
Yes, I agree Sandra; me too, I’m starting to express myself more, not holding back my voice so much. I have always loved singing, but forgot about it for a few years. Even though I was aware of missing hearing my sister who used to sing a lot in our younger years. Through the divine music by Chris James and then the equally divine songs by Michael Benhayon and Glorious Music I have started singing again too. There is still more to unleash, so it’s very inspiring to read Coleen’s story. Thank you Coleen for sharing.
I love the idea of walking into your shop Jo with you singing. What a joy filled bubble to walk into.
I have such a lovely image of you Coleen, singing in the places you mention with angelic sounds coming out of you, and healing those around you with your songs. Beautiful.
I have always loved to sing, but mostly to myself as I was always too shy to sing publicly when I was young, telling myself I didn’t have a good voice. That all changed when I met Chris James and discovered I had a lovely, sweet voice … Chris is spot on when he says ‘everyone is born with a beautiful voice’ (or words to that affect).
There is so much joy in your blog Colleen…I am sitting with a huge smile on my face and in my heart. I look forward to hearing your divine voice one day 🙂
I remember I used to sing spontaneously as a child and throughout my teenage years. I felt free to do this in my household. But ironically I stopped singing spontaneously when I left home and went to music college! Yes, totally ironic! I could feel that this wasn’t natural to other people around me, and that music to them was something to be trained in and to practice and ‘perform’. There was little spontaneity. I allowed this to restrict and limit me and literally stopped singing for myself.
I felt such joy reading your blog Coleen. Your written expression has touched me in the same way your voice has touched many others. A great reminder there are many ways we can bring our full expression to the world.
This blog has a sweetness and delicacy to it. I also remember loving to sing as a child, and have been reconnected to that through your words. I know I love to sing when I’m out walking in the fields, so now am going to sing in public places too, it’s so ridiculous not to. This way of singing is not as a performance on stage but an expression from our lovely selves.
I always enjoy the magical moments they put a big smile on my face. It feels like when we sing, or in the examples you shared, everyone was blessed with such a magical moment. Unexpected in the moment but deeply magical and confirming.
Lately I heard a bird singing joyfully and loud not holding back its expression. This inspired me to also express in full with my voice. It is fun to play with my voice.
I can ‘hear’ your voice as an inspiration. Thank you, Coleen.
This a a lovely sharing Coleen, thank you. I allowed myself to be influenced by others opinions of what I was good at and what I enjoyed doing so much so that I stopped doing what I enjoyed doing and sought more accolades in what I was good at and in doing so imprisoned and contracted myself to being good at everything. Very exhausting but now I know what it feels like to enjoy doing what I am good at just because I enjoy it.
I live reading this blog. it reflects to me so much that I am not when it comes to expression.
It certainly sounds like you have found your true voice Coleen and I am very much looking forward to hearing it sometime it the future.
A few days after the first read of your lovely blog Coleen and I can feel the deepening awareness unfolding with in me, with choosing connection and not performance. I’m also very much deepening my appreciation to my natural expression simply flowing through me. Thank you
This is so beautiful and full of such grace. I can only imagine what your voice sounds like as it echoes down the halls, streets and arcades. It feels to me like the true angelic voice that the choirs long for but are unable to replicate as they are doing just that, trying to replicate something that is so natural and free in expression.
Beautiful Coleen. True art is in its Livingness. In every moment we breathe, through our breath it could be a hum, a song, a dance, a word, a style, a smile, a stroke on a canvas, a picture…it is all expressed with the pure Joy that we simply are.
Coleen, it is truly beautiful to feel the joy you have in your singing just for you. I often sing and hum to myself when I am going about my day but am too shy and keep it quietly to myself, afraid that someone may hear me. Having the confidence to be true to yourself and allow others to enjoy your beautiful voice is inspiring. Thank you for sharing and your blog has certainly made me ponder on why I am so afraid of my own voice.
Singing/music from it’s source is to connect, to share and to feel joy. It has been made into an art form that separates: pop music, classical music, jazz music etc. It is about who is the best, the most famous and who earns the most money.
The best, the most, the highest, the lowest, the most gravel-ly, the sweetest, the sexiest: there are so many ways to seek the approval of others and public accolades, delorme2013. And they all result in us selling out on what our own voice is, an expression of who we are.
Yes and the lived quality of that expression is what makes it wonderful.
Coleen, that you have been able to return to the simple beauty of your own voice and singing as a child and enjoy singing just for you is a powerful message for all performing singers. My first husband sang for the English National Opera; he had a very natural tenor voice and was much praised by all for its beautiful tone. However, once he became professional the push to “improve” it began; it must be bigger, more powerful, more emotive, “produced” in a certain way. Each singing teacher had a different theory, “sing from your guts”, “hold your diaphragm up”, “form your mouth shape just so”, and so on. This caused him to lose confidence in his singing and start to try hard to produce what was wanted. Consequently he started to squeeze the voice into something that was not his own. Looking back now I realise that the power and the glory of his natural voice would have been naturally developed if he had paid attention to himself and not the teachers, and sung from the pure love in his heart.
Wise observations you share here, Joan. That squeezing down occurs at all levels of singing: I feel we need to ask who benefits from us abusing our natural voice in that way.
I feel no-one does, Coleen, as it is a complete compromising of the self. It may partially satisfy those audiences who listen, but then that ideal of how the voice should sound has become the “normal”. Trying to fit into that model for the sake of recognition, fame perhaps, or to get a job, is sacrificing the self and its evolution for the sake of the applause and survival. It often results in damage and illness, and ruins many a voice and career, as the body starts to give way under the strain. But still the carrot is there, and many chase it thinking it will bring them fulfillment.
With the example of your husband’s beautiful tenor voice and what happened once the Opera got hold of him, you have so accurately detailed the steps of giving our power away to a ‘school of thought’ joanchristine. It is all about a perceived ideal or way of ‘doing it’ that actually annihilates the natural impulse ‘I sing because I sing’. And once this natural knowing and presence is clouded over we lose our confidence. Why do we go along with this?
What an incredible reflection, Joan, thank you for sharing. I felt your husband’s natural voice being diminished by process and professionalism. There must be thousands of things in us all that are affected in this way.
I feel to sing sometimes when I’m out. I wont be holding back now! Thank you for sharing
Thank you Coleen, I love what you have shared here.
Wow, and I was afraid to sing and express me in front of others? When it can actually be very healing and our natural expression. What I now feel is that my voice sounds different and more clear, when I feel more clear in myself. Also, I have considered – Singing and sounding good, compared to, Quality of tone and what we can bring. I am deeply inspired by Michael, Emmalee and Miranda Benhayon – for simply not holding back and “sharing of who I am and who we all are” That is singing in it’s true healing form.
Beautiful Coleen to feel your love of singing and music within reclaimed, as the real you for you, in your essence and beauty divinely. This is in contrast to coming from our needs, recognition and hurts which is then very harming and destructive to our very selves and everyone around. I love how you share that “Music and singing have become for me, once again, as natural and lovely as breathing”. A great honest and revealing article thank you.
In reading this Coleen I’m getting a sense of the beauty of our song when it comes from our innermost quality and that we all have a beautiful sound when it comes from that part of us.
‘I am simply just being me, singing about who we are and where we are from’. So much of singing today isn’t natural. It has a commercial purpose, or is for others, to impress and compete. It often feels forced. The true essence of singing, as you describe it, has in the main been lost. You open up for us the possibility that we all can reclaim our lost voices and sing again, but in a new and more heart felt way.
This is so true Kehinde, ‘So much of singing today isn’t natural’, I notice how when my 4 year old sings it feels so natural, he isn’t trying to remember words of a certain song, he sings from his heart and makes up his own words, it is very beautiful and there is a flow and an ease, when he tries to sing and copy a mainstream song, it feels completely different and very unnatural, there is no flow and it feels very mental and isn’t coming from his heart.
The sweetness and humility in this article is tangible as I read. No fanfare or drum role, simply the exquisite inspiration of someone getting all the ‘trying’ out of the way and expressing themselves in full and naturally so. So beautiful.
If I sing to get something for it – whether it is attention, recognition, to not feel alone or whatever – it loses it’s innocence. Every time I want something from my singing, if I want to achieve something with it, I abuse my expression and make myself small. Coz I am wonderful and beautiful and that’s worthy and responsible to express. If I want something for it – I say: I am not enough. This a lie.
Its a shame that singing these days is totally used in this abusive way. And so it is a bright spot that true expression – as your natural singing Coleen – is noticed as what it is. Finally we are still knowing truth.
Singing is such a joyful thing to do. I appreciate your journey through this expression and the hooks that praise and fitting in brings. It’s so lovely to know that you are out there singing, bringing that particular joy to the world Coleen.
Recently I have come across women singing to themselves and they both apologised for it. I said no one should ever apologise for singing and how lovely it was to hear someone singing. It seems sad that many people don’t feel they can express this way, to just sing when you feel to.
What a beautiful experience for those around you Coleen to feel your true expression of yourself by your singing. Something for me to aspire to, thank you.
Reading your blog brought tears to my eyes Coleen. How beautiful that you are singing from you again. I would love to chance upon you singing in a supermarket or car park or even on stage.
Coleen I would love to hear you sing. It truly is a blessing when we sing from who we are and not from wanting praise from another. The everyday songs I hear in super markets and all around feels so invasive that I’d much prefer silence. so when people hear your voice I have no doubt what a divine sound that is – something that is not found much in life so it is no wonder people are wanting to hear more of this reminder of the divinity in them too.
Thinking about it, doing anything in life as a performance for others is a bit of a set up. If we get others approval we feel elated but craving more and it is never enough, if we get disapproval we feel awful, crushed and deflated. Either one is actually the same trap and prison. But doing things simply as ourselves without that need for recognition is a way out of this no win situation.
Recognition is such a crippling emotion that we crave and hold onto. The fact that we are absolutely more than enough for who we are is the All. We don’t need anything else because we are already it. No one needs to confirm this for us we are the only ones that can confirm this for ourselves. That connection with God and being this in all that we do has no conditions or expectations. Allowing ourselves to be this and sharing this Joy in music is natural and what I have experienced with Glorious Music is it sounds and feels amazing.
‘Music and singing have become for me, once again, as natural and lovely as breathing.’
A beautiful blog Colleen of reuniting with your own voice and gifting the world with your connection to yourself. JOY in the World ✨✨
So very lovely to read your blog Coleen, and feel the obvious joy you feel and bring to everyone when you sing from your soul. Very beautiful.
I was just thinking the other day about how little dance & song are in our every day lives…..it is only for a ‘certain type’ of person and a lot of it revolves around performances. So I love what you have written here about returning to singing and making it part of your every day. And this line – “So, I have learned to detach my singing from performance and the effects have been exquisite” feels like a great metaphor for life….to live our live with our own expression and detach from outcomes (performance or otherwise) and enjoy it as it was meant to me – a simple expression of you.
This is gorgeous to read Coleen, I have a huge smile on my face. I too love to sing along to tracks from Glorious music, from my heart, feeling the vibration through my body, naturally so, especially in the car on the freeway. Sometimes if I’m in traffic I might slowly pass a car and meet another with smiles abound. In the past I would have stopped embarrassed to have been singing out loud, judging myself that I wasn’t good enough but now I just share in the joy I’m feeling and the connection felt confirms the glory of it all. I love that you sing in the supermarket, how gorgeous. I’ve not to date yet but if I feel to I certainly now feel inspired to!
After reading this yesterday – I have started to notice that there are times where I want to sing and hold back and stop myself – time to let it out!
Singing is a natural expression that we all can enjoy
I too have been complimented on my singing voice and became addicted to the applause as a way to prop up self worth. What I am learning through working with Serge and Michael Benhayon is that music is just a sound, but we make it into art form steeped in ideals aplenty. If I made a recording of somebody walking whilst they were connected to their inner heart, the love within, that sound would be as healing as a song sung in connection. The point is that it is all about energy, whether it comes out of the mouth or from the any other source. To me, singing is no more sacred a moment than brushing my teeth. Sound is a very powerful medium because it flows through space and through every cell of our bodies, therefore requires a great deal of integrity, responsibility and quality of presence when wielding it and this includes making footstep sounds. We all make sound whether we sing or not.
LOVE everything you have said Jinya.
Beautiful Jinya!
Love the truth of what you have expressed here Jinya. The fact is we are expressing in every moment, and the quality of our expression is a direct reflection of how lovingly we have tuned our instrument, us.
I am also feeling how your singing in this natural way would completely change the energy in the spaces where you were, and also give the listeners permission to try it for themselves.
That’s my feeling, also, Bernadette.
Your return to your natural expression in singing is very inspiring Coleen. I would love to hear you singing some time, as in fact I could see and feel how beautiful you felt and sounded to those who heard you.
I am inspired to to let my voice sing when it feels to after reading this, no matter where I may be.
Singing is one of the greatest joys in life, when its simply done to express the loveliness you feel inside. I also loved singing as a child and have recently started singing again at work, in the car, at the supermarket. People sometimes notice and seem surprised but pleased to see me enjoying myself.
Hi Coleen, I really enjoyed reading your blog and can only imagine what it must be like to be able to sing so freely. Thank you for sharing.
I have always felt that I wasn’t much of a singer. However what I have noticed is that the more connected I am with myself the more my voice changes and produces beautiful sounds.
Elizabeth, I have been finding the same. The more I connect with myself the more my voice changes and produces beautiful sounds, especially as I sing along with some of the beautiful songs by Glorious music. It is beautiful how everything is connected.
Totally Elizabeth. I am finding the same. I am currently doing some singing with Victoria and am finding that being with someone who has absolutely no judgment about my voice (and its croaking quotient), combined with presence in my body, and surrender to simply singing and not trying to create a sound, and bringing my joy, confidence and love to it, is transforming my voice – sometimes something surprisingly powerful and harmonious is coming out!
I can also say that I have experienced the same Elizabeth. For some one who only really sings in the car when I am myself its is amazing what comes out in my voice.
I wonder how many of us just love singing to ourselves (often very loudly) in the privacy of our car. I just smile every time I see people singing as they drive past.
I understand completely Elizabeth. When I am connected with myself I feel my voice deep in my body and the feeling and the sound as I speak is so gorgeous. I love to listen to the voices of others who are deeply connected to themselves, they warm you through and through.
I love singing, and recently I have learned that I can sing with God. The divine energy can express through us if we get ourselves out of the way. Take the performance out of it and the magic happens.
That’s such a great point to highlight Rebecca “take the performance out of it and magic happens”. This is what is inspiring me to apply to everything I do, so my natural expression comes through.
Very true, Rebecca, to get ourselves out of the way in everything we do allows magic to happen.
How true Rebecca. This is true expression – allowing God to sing through us. Glorious.
Beautiful sharing Rebecca and so true.
Coleen this was really beautiful to read. I love that you share who you are through your voice and people cannot but confirm you in that connection. I look forward to hearing you bless us sometime soon with your singing.
Coleen, what a beautiful expression you have as you are singing from your soul. This is what those people felt when they heard you.
I hope I get an opportunity to hear you one day!!
Thank you for singing and so naturally bringing that beauty for everyone to feel. I too have noticed that people have stopped singing, be it because they were told it is impolite (I was!) or because they are moulding to the increasing rigidness of society´s norms, but it is so refreshing to listen to your story.
I agree with you juliamanbos, I am one of the ones who stopped singing many years ago due to comments from others. It feels great to be gradually letting go of the effects of those past comments and sometimes really enjoy singing at home, just for myself, particularly in the shower.
“My body moved differently in each context, my clothing was different and my persona varied.” – Interesting that we can even be a chameleon in the way we sing.
We can turn everything into an opportunity to play chameleon, or to be ourselves.
Wise words Rachel, so true, be the real deal or keep playing the game.
Wow Coleen – this makes me want to hear your beautiful voice in a natural moment when you are singing just as a part of your expression rather to get recognition.
Not enough people sing as they go about their way – and it is such a beautiful gift to have 🙂
“I am simply just being me, singing about who we are and where we are from.” I love this, Coleen. Having stopped singing as an adult, I can now feel through your words the true purpose of expressing through singing, and the impulse returning from within me.
I loved how Coleen presented this to Janet. It feels joyful to read about it let alone to allow my body to express by singing where we are from. Heavenly.
I know someone that insists that everyone can sing and have a beautiful voice within them but to have the confidence to sing in an area larger than the shower is another thing. I have lived my life as we all have with music everywhere. Music has energy, a force that gets into your body. You can buy bonephones that allow to hear your recorded music and the real world at the same time by making the sound go into yours bones, gives new meaning to I can really feel the music. It is done by delivering the music straight to your head using your skull as the speaker. There is very little music that is not laced with emotion, country western music is said to make a successful song it must contain at least one or better yet all to be a great song; crying, dying, going somewhere and pickup trucks. There is now music available that is not laced with emotion and as you have said Coleen it is joyful to sing and to hear.
Dear Coleen, in our day’s world where everyone who preforms in singing seems to want to be a superstar – I just can embrace your approach to express your beautiful voice. Over 20 years ago, I had an experience which still accompanies me today. On a warm evening walk at the side of a sea with friends and a lot of other holiday makers – a young lady sang with her beautiful voice accompanying us. She did not perform, she just expressed and underlined the beautiful evening it was. It felt to me like an angel singing and when we arrived to the village ahead, everybody applauded thankfully.
I had the pleasure yesterday of experiencing some beautiful angelic voices coming from somewhere that I couldn’t make out. The voices were simply divine and so I went in search of the source and found two beautiful women rehearsing a song, they had clearly in that moment also found their true voices.
This blog really shows the emptiness associated with being a chameleon to get on in the world and that by dropping this and being true to our true self we do ignite our own love which always lays within.
‘I sing because I sing – because it is part of who I am’ I used to sing a lot as a child, from young I was joining in the church choir. I am touched by your sharing and well aware that I hold back my natural singing voice. You inspire me to just sing whenever I feel to, thank you Coleen
Thank you Coleen, finding our true voice and not fitting in to other’s expectations is a wonderful journey to be on, whether through singing or all other forms of expression. I loved the way you sing wherever you happen to be.
Also truly appreciating ourselves and our gorgeousness allows others to truly share their appreciation of us as well. Like being stopped in the street or supermarket. Being ourselves is so life changing not just for us but for everyone else – so much more than we can ever really comprehend.
What an exquisitely beautiful blog, Coleen. I have found that anything that we do that holds the quality of who we truly are feels as natural as breathing. There is a real simplicity in being this way.
Thank you Coleen for sharing your glorious self. It took me to parts of my day when glorious sounds come from me and remembering how they have always been a part of me, from childhood to now. I loved how you shared all the confirmations you received from people, and how everyone felt a piece of God through you. Glorious.
I so love what you have shared here Coleen as it feels what you have expressed honours the fact that music and singing when it comes from our innate voice actually celebrates us and offers all others joy and healing. I could so feel your joy and it reminded me of how much I too have always loved to sing.
It is so amazing to connect to and claim our natural expression – thank you, I love your blog.
Coleen what really stood out for me was what you said about being connected to who you are whilst you sing. That is what is missing from most of the music that is currently made. Not only are people not truly connected to who they are but they are actually singing in an attempt to be who they would like to be.
Such a succinct and wise observation, Alexis, that many,” are actually singing in an attempt to be who they would like to be.” And oftentimes, that’s a popular role model and we don’t always know if THEY know who they are either! Hmmm….
And the cycle continues…
Lovely to read your blog Coleen it sounds like your journey with music has gone full cycle with you having felt the joy and appreciation of the magic of singing for you in the innocence of your younger childhood before you got caught up in feeling you needed to perform in all aspects of life. Now you have reclaimed the joy and innocence of truly expressing from your authentic self.
Singing is like medicine: a true marker for if I am in my body or not. If I’m not I don’t enjoy singing and I have to make an effort to sing. If I’m with myself my voice comes naturally and with joy.
I feel the same Felix, when I’m with myself I catch myself singing without any effort. It becomes part of my joy.
One of the more profound experiences I have had in performing has been to feel no different when I got off the stage to when I was on the stage. This is such a liberating experience… The feeling of starting to be free of the ego of performing. There is a lovely clarity and a sense of connection there … No ‘rush’ like the old days, re-living the performance, getting everything you can out of it, ”milking it” or otherwise being inconsolable because it wasn’t received so well, all different sides of the same coin. Just to be yourself and to sing and then … To stay being yourself… It is liberating.
This is living Chris, when no matter what we do we feel the same gorgeousness within ourselves.
That is a remarkable development for a professional musician, cjames2012, and one I very much look forward to experiencing myself . Thank you for sharing your liberation from audience expectation and into self honouring.
Wow…I loved how all those people expressed how much they loved your singing in public spaces ; )]
I can relate Coleen, I love to sing, (although my voice isn’t exactly made for the stage!) and I know all my life I have desperately wanted to be recognised for my singing, seeing it as one of the highest form of praise. However since listening to Michael Benhayon’s music I have connected to the fun and joy that can come from expressing through singing with no need to be recognised.
Thank you Coleen, so beautiful and powerful to hear that you came back to what is so naturally a part of your expression.
Coleen what you have shared is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read. Tears have come as I’ve felt your reflection offering connecting to my own natural expression. You’ve inspired me so greatly I can truly feel that from now on the only choice is to live expressing all of me in fullness. This may not be the voice of angels in car parks (although bring it on if it is) but there is an abundance of laughter, joy and fun in me that I’ve allowed censorship over. Without perfection I’ll lovingly know that I am this deep inside and let it bubble up because that is my essence. Thank you so much for your loving sharing.
I love your blog Coleen and and I love to hear people singing with joy as they go about their work.
Coleen, I love what you shared in your blog, what gave me a big smile on my face was when you talked about how you’ve been singing whilst doing your shopping! as this can be such a ‘quick lets get this task done’ kind of experience instead of how you are showing here as you going shopping with yourself can be enjoyed so much that you can sing whilst shopping!! And by doing so you get to share that lovely sound with everyone and you get to chat with people you otherwise would have just passed by..
What a gorgeous song you have written here Coleen! I could feel the sweetness and power of your voice through your words. After reading this, I am inspired to be more playful in expressing with my voice and feeling its quality as a confirmation.
It is so wonderful to read about you regaining the freedom of expressing just from you, without any of the external moulds or pressures that we are so accustomed to conforming to that we don’t even notice. Reconnecting to our innate essence that knows exactly who we are and expressing from that place brings a joy back ourselves and to the world that everyone can feel and be uplifted by.
Coleen, I found your sharing so inspiring and simplifying, thank you.
I too used to always sing when I went for walks, and now often when I am alone in the car, this blog has shown me that sharing that with others does not need to be a push, but rather just a simple continuation.
I like how you said a “simple continuation”. Singing becomes an extension of our expression, it’s but one of many ways we can extend our expression.
Lovely blog, I so relate to the difference between singing for your supper so to speak and just allowing yourself to express through song. Thanks Colleen.
I really enjoyed this article and was reminded of the time when I was just feeling quite joyful and was singing whilst in a shop – which was enjoyed by the shopkeeper. I look forward to hearing your beautiful voice one day.
So beautiful Coleen to appreciate your own heavenly voice and share it with others for no other reason than it is joyous!
There is nothing quite like someone singing who is connected with themselves. It is so uplifting and brings a depth of beauty that is much needed in our world.
I am interviewing for a longitudinal study which began when the children were 2, they are now 4 years old. Each time I ask how many times the parents sing with the children, the immediate response is ‘all the time’.
It seems to me that the children’s enjoyment of singing gives the parents permission to sing too.
What a glorious study, Kathie. All the best with that.
Yes I feel this is true. Children do often give us permission to sing and be playful and so then why do we need them as our reason to express?
I love to hear people sing it is truly lifting and inspiring. I can feel the joy that people feel when they hear your voice Coleen, it is like a break in their day to stop and feel so much more than what is going on in their day.
I remember the joyful moments in our family would be when we were all singing, my sisters and me enjoying the connection.
Oh yes delorme2013S! You have reminded me, my mother, my brother and I would nearly always sing in the car and my father loved to listen to it. My brother and I also ran a ‘radio station’ when we were little (pre pubescent) – we would get into each other’s bed at night and tell the latest news in English and also in a made-up language we had, and then I would sing and he would sing and then we would sing a song together! We would announce each item like a radio announcer. Incredible fun was had.
“This time, however, I was singing just for me, only when I felt to sing, and whatever glorious song I felt to sing”. Wow, Coleen, love it. It feels so absolutely glorious to read these words. You were not looking for any recognition from anyone else, but just singing for yourself, obviously with such joy. And from that, you were not imposing on anyone, so people loved it. They could obviously also feel the love that you sang with. I look forward to hearing you sing.
Since reading your blog the first time I have realized that I actually really feel the impulse to sing, I can feel that I have this joy inside that I want to express and that singing can be an expression of this joy, I sang along to a Chris James album in the car yesterday and this felt amazing. Thank you for the inspiration Coleen.
Coleen what shines through in your blog is that as a child you innately knew and felt the joy in signing for you, in the moment and in appreciation for the magic of life all around you. It’s only in the later years do we get caught up in needing to perform not just in music but in nearly every aspect of life and in that the true magic is lost. It’s great to hear you’ve come back to that, something all the comments from strangers certainly confirm.
Reading the old lady’s comment “Thank you for your singing. Why does no one ever just sing anymore?” brought tears to my eyes. Not because I ever remember people singing like she did, but because considering that people might have been singing much more not that long ago, I felt the vast contrast between how guarded we have become with one another in society and the natural loving, free and confident expression that your article highlights is within each of us.
Indeed Golnaz and Coleen. It is stunning to discover in how many ways we hide ourselves – especially with others – out of protection and need for “safety”. For me it has been amazing to experience that this safety is not safe at all and how safe and held I feel if I truly allow myself to be me and express from there without limitations.
Aaagh, so true, it does not feel safe at all to scrunch ourselves up to fit in, and to scrunch up what we say and how we say it. Yet this is what we do. As I type I can feel the effect of all of that scrunching and twisting and fitting in on my body, and also what super hard work it is. Thank you for this Michael, you have reminded me that this is in fact all a choice, and we can choose to let go.
Agreed Michael and Catherine, it is very uncomfortable and takes a lot of energy to be what we are not and to allow less than we are.
People do seem to be more guarded and it never occurred to me that maybe people don’t want the attention singing would bring and these days we don’t hear people whistling anymore either. I have always associated someone singing whilst going about their day as being content with their lot, but you don’t hear that very often these days.
I agree, Golnaz, it is such a shame that we have lost the ability to spontaneously sing wherever we are. We have been so concerned about what other people will think. So long as we are singing with the joy that we are feeling, really connected to ourselves, what a joy we can be sharing with others.
I have to use that old word again but your blog is inspiring as I can’t say I have found my true singing voice yet, but after reading your blog I am sure going to start looking.
Recently I was sharing a kitchen with a friend who loves to sing, and I found myself becoming tense when ever she would sing, although she has a beautiful voice. I then realised that this tension in me was because I do not allow myself to sing and she was showing me something about myself that I did not want to see. Now I am learning to just feel the tension and accept the responsibility for suppressing my own musical expression.
Thank you Shami for sharing your experience. This is very inspiring ~ learning to feel the tension and accept the responsibility for our past choices.
What a great sharing Shami. It sounds (ha ha) like you are taking responsibility already – how fantastic that you took the learning from the interaction with your friend rather than pointing the finger of blame. I have been told not to sing many times before by people. What you have shared has reminded me that perhaps it was and IS okay to share my expression through song and that perhaps sometimes I am making people feel their own tension and discomfort for what they are not allowing for themselves.
Coleen – thank-you for sharing your journey with singing – Its amazing how blindly we can be lured onto this empty path of recognition and acceptance. Wonderful to hear you un-earthing your true expression and to feel the clarity & joy with which your voice is now appreciated as you go about your daily life.
Thank you Coleen for sharing your words and insight into singing, what a joy it is to express who we are and not hold back and try and fit in, like a round peg into a square hole. To fill the spaciousness that is on offer with all that we are, is to light up the world.
What a beautiful expression, and revelation paulmoses39 “fill the spaciousness that is on offer with all that we are” – rather than feeling like we need to fill an emptiness with music. I used to need to always have music playing “in the background” to fill up the emptiness. These days, I enjoy the spaciousness and I sing or play music because it will confirm who I am and what I am feeling, instead of taking me away from myself. Glorious Music and the music from Chris James has supported me to feel what music can be like when it does not impose – it does not try to make me feel a certain way, it just leaves me to feel whatever I am feeling: to be myself.
Thank you, Coleen, I used to love singing and dancing as a child, but have not done so for years. Your writing has touched me deeply and has re-ignited something which I will be exploring further.
If you sing and enjoy your voice, truly there is no need for an accolade – what is been said is a confirmation of what has been expressed and thus felt. This is such a beautiful way to sing and I agree singing is something very beautiful. I am inspired to maybe sing here and there when I feel to, outside of my room!
That is so true Lieke, if you enjoy anything you do there is no need for an accolade or any kind of award or reward.
Beautiful to read about you re-claiming your beautiful expression. “I am simply just being me, singing about who we are and where we are from.” When this is done without any ‘self’ it’s the most beautiful music of all.
Hi Coleen, your post has reminded me what my mother used to say about me as a child. She would tell people that she would always know when I am coming down with something as I would stop singing: and she would also know when I was feeling better as I would start singing again.
That is gorgeous Kathleen! I want to hear you singing at our next meeting otherwise I will think you are coming down with something.
Silent songs of joy are what I am singing these days Lyndy!
I want to hear heaven rejoicing out loud Kathleen!😇
That was a lovely clear marker Kathleen. Beautiful article by Coleen, which has me pondering why I shut down my singing voice. I have either not wanted people to hear me, or I have had an investment in how I have sounded and needed people to like and approve.
I’d love to hear you sing, sounds like you have a beautiful expression.
Yay Coleen – how about doing a ‘Cover’ for us so we can all share in hearing your angelic voice with no need. That would be beautiful.
Yes Coleen, a cover would be much appreciated!
That’s a lovely invitation and very confirming, Greg and Lyndy. When my body gives the word, I’lll be there…meantime, if you’re ever in my neighbourhood……;)
. . . we’ll drop in Colleen!
Coleen, what you write is beautiful. I never had an interest in singing myself, it always felt like a strain so I took lessons to see if I could sing without strain. The answer was yes but the moment I knew that I could do that I completely lost interest in singing without even noticing that fact. Only weeks later did I realize that I stopped taking lessons and I didn’t miss the lessons.
That is so beautiful Coleen, I also loved and still love singing. When I was little I used to sing without holding back and not wondering about who could hear me and how it sounded. Now when I do sing in public areas, I always feel how I am aware that people might hear me, so it has to sound good. Reading your blog makes me aware to let go of worrying how it sounds and that it is only about expressing all of me and how I feel in that moment.
It was lovely reading what people have said about your singing, it made me smile and what I could feel was that you had no attachment to this or need for recognition, which nearly all in the music industry (and life!) do have.
I loved reading this part too. How gorgeous to know yourself so well and appreciate what you bring so that you do not need recognition. This is very inspiring.
What I remembered recently which ties in with all of the comments about staying true and constant to who we really are rather than playing to our imagined audiences, is that when I was younger I had a feeling like I was being watched by others all the time. This may sound far fetched but I think that it’s very common, especially for young people to feel and act like they are starring in their own reality TV show !
This beautifully written article shines a light on our voices, and what happens as we can configure our singing to expectations in the world. But really this is a microcosm of the macrocosm. If we really honestly look at all our expressions, we are allowing ourselves to be moulded by so many outside influences, that we can almost forget who we truly are. What Universal Medicine presents is the clarity and wisdom that enables us all to reclaim our own true expression, our own selves, that enable us all to express them being who we truly are, and this is one of the most healing experiences that is there for us.
Great comment Chris, I agree how we allow ourselves to be moulded and transformed by outside influences in any aspect of expression we care to mention. There can be great beauty in how one may walk, exercise, clean, hold a conversation, place hands on another and even in something as simple as a gesture or smile. When we let go of trying to better ourselves or improve the world and simply connect to who we truly are, the heavens move every time.
Simon, so true what you said” When we let go of trying to better ourselves or improve the world and simply connect to who we truly are, the heavens move every time.” And Coleen has definitely shown us this by her lived experience.
I love the very visual nature with which you write Simon, as with this I could so clearly see that expression is not just that which comes out of our mouths but in every which way that we move.
The heavens surely do move when we allow ourselves to simply be Simon. They move with such joy and grace it’s a pleasure for all to see, feel and engage with. Thank you.
So true Simon. In every true movement the heavens move with us. ✨
Finding our own expression is so vital to living fully, otherwise we are living a mere shadow of our real selves. I know that I have played a chameleon for most of my life fitting in wherever I can to be liked. As I have started to get to know the real me, I can feel my natural expression is quite different from what I have been presenting as I have been presenting what I think people will like. But truth is, everyone can feel through it regardless if they know that or not. Thank goodness for Universal Medicine who has helped me to see this and assisted me in reclaiming the real me.
This is true, Donna, how we can adopt a chameleon like approach to life, adapting at every turn to who and what is around us, instead of staying steady with an expression of our true selves that provides a consistent reflection to everyone of the light that is within us all.
So true Donna. I have played the chameleon, fitting in with others in various walks of life but now, giving myself permission to just be me has lifted a burden off my shoulders. I feel as if I am finding my voice again and it feels great.
Yes Donna playing the chameleon can be exhausting can’t it?
And in truth we are liked no more anyhow.
This is true Chris, ‘if we really honestly look at all of our expressions, we are allowing ourselves to be moulded by so many outside influences’, I can feel how this has happened with my walking, my talking, my singing, that I have changed my natural expressions to fit into the world, great to have this awareness so that I can change this and allow again my natural expressions.
So beautiful to read your blog Coleen. I feel joyful and love from reading this. To have the opportunity to hear you sing would be another blessing. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Coleen you have revived a memory from somewhere long, long ago of singing in its natural state of expression for us all. This is such a delicate and sensitive sharing of your journey back to you. I too love to sing when I am driving my car, often some song will come to mind, I am not a natural born singer, (maybe I am wrong about that). We all have a natural voice that is specific to each one of us. Such a lovely way to start the day reading your blog, thank you.
Hello Coleen, I love how you have gone to this, “What each had in common, however, was the need to receive an accolade from my listeners that my singing voice sounded lovely, beautiful, pleasing and that my voice fitted in with what that genre or group expected.” It shows how we ‘target’ our audience looking for something for ourselves. It’s not simply just singing for how it feels to us it’s singing out looking for something. It can be reflected in how we live, looking outside for something when it all can be found within. Thank you Coleen.
Coleen I wish I could hear you singing. I had a friend many years ago who would sing all day long for no other reason than she felt like it. It was always a delight to be around her and her joyful expression. I can feel the joy you are giving those around you with your beauty-full voice.
This is a truly beautiful sharing Coleen and awesome to feel that you have reclaimed this most gorgeous of natural expressions for yourself, to sing from your heart so naturally and for others to receive your heavenly expression is a true gift.
So beautiful Coleen. I loved hearing about how the lady in the shop told the store keep to record your voice to play it all the time. Very funny, So precious and super cute…how awesome is that.
Thank you for sharing this Coleen. It is beautiful to hear someone singing as a natural expression of who they are rather than looking for feedback about how good they are. I recently saw part of an interview with a member of an Australian band that was big in the 80’s and he was saying that they would trial new music in small venues under a pseudonym while wearing disguises to judge audience feedback to see if it was going to be a hit or not before including the new song in their regular line up. It felt so empty, such a need for feedback and recognition with no true expression. I have heard Michael Benhayon and Glorious Music recordings and live performances and feeling the expression there is no neediness, no imposition on the listener to like what is expressed or to need to respond in a particular fashion. This music leaves the listener free to experience it and does not demand. This is so different to the majority of hooky, needy music currently available, and is an inspiration to many. So thank you to Michael and Glorious Music too.
So lovely that you have re-discovered your natural voice that you had as a child Coleen. So often in life we feel we have to perform or put on a show rather than just naturally expressing who we are to the world. What if living was as simple and natural as breathing?
Very lovely, it isn’t about performing, just sharing who you are through your voice. No need, just being you. That is amazing.
Thank you Coleen for this blog. Just by reading it I can feel the depth and the joy you spread all over these places. The sounds coming to me are like ripples from the heart. Love in a gentle breeze reaching everybody, that’s what we need all through the planet!
At my workplace the other day there were 2 girls around 6-10 years old, singing together. Not reproducing songs they knew but singing with each other, like a conversation. It was very beautiful and touched everyone around them – so natural, unaffected and harmonious. The thing that really struck me about it (apart from the beauty in it) was, as you mention Coleen, that it is so very rare to hear people simply singing because they sing …
Hello helen simkins, it is great you appreciate what it was you saw and I’m sure those girls would have sensed that. We often have these lovely gifts around us and while people may not be singing like they used to, but also possibly we don’t appreciate the times we do see these things. Just like you have here helen simkins, it’s important to appreciate what is already there.
I agree, Ray and Helen: confirmation and appreciation of anyone’s expression is essential – otherwise we may run into a default setting of just being the way everyone else is, or doing what everyone else is doing. On that, I feel a deep confirmation and appreciation of this type of expression through the comments on this blog. Also a confirmation for us all to express from ourselves and to share – whatever our expression is at any given moment.
Colleen, what a beautiful blog. To share how singing can naturally be compared with stringent ways when channelled into being. I used to think I couldn’t sing and was told so by my music teacher at school. She told me to mime when singing with the class in front of parents. I am now discovering that I have a voice which can be tuneful and am feeling a joy when I sing! I would never have thought this would be possible a few years ago, but its grand to feel how things can change around.
Coleen, I love what you share here, how something that is natural can been formed into something which is so far from the original, how your singing a natural part of who you are become about performance. This happens so often and it’s gorgeous that you have reconnected to and claimed back your voice, and can now sing just as a form of expression and not a a need to perform. It’s how we need to be with all we do – be us simply expressing rather than becoming the thing we do or being caught in any needs for accolades.
I am not a natural singer, although I hum when being with myself and especially when eating food my body likes. I realized there are different areas in my life where I do things for applause and for approval, where I love the audience (could be even 1 person). Great to realize this and simply share who I am without any needs.
Coleen, this blog it is a delight to read. It is especially timely as in a group session yesterday Serge Benhayon presented on the difference between being ‘on stage’ and being ‘on a platform’. The former is when a performer has a need to receive an accolade from the audience be it one person or thousands. When one is expressing from a platform, no external recognition is sought or needed. You are definitely singing from a platform as you did when young. Thank you for sharing your story.
Yes Anne this is great and perhaps that is what all the people in Coleen’s story were responding to? The fact that she was just singing to express herself without any need for anything back, and as a result they did not feel the usual pressure or imposition that so often comes with music or the other arts when the performer or composer wants some recognition or accolade from others.
Thank you for your confirmation, Anne. The timing of these things always amazes me: divine timing – so beautiful.
Thanks so much for sharing this Anne – the difference can most certainly be felt between the two, and it’s awesome to hear how Serge Benhayon has defined it in this way.
Thank you Coleen for sharing this, what stood out for me was that the lady you spoke about in the shop said makes a lot of sense, people don’t sing much these days but why not? If singing from who we truly are has such an affect, as I have felt from Emmalee and Miranda Benhayon singing, then why not share it wherever we are?
This is a beautiful sharing Coleen of something you obviously were born to do, I felt no boasting in your words, only a confirmation of how your singing was appreciated by so many and the confirmation that this was to something you knew and love. What a great question the lady asked, why does no one sing anymore? Are we all put off by being put down.
I feel this is true Stephen. Most places I visit they already have music playing. Could this also be another reason why we don’t hear people like Coleen sing anymore, simply expressing their joy?
I feel that the music recording industry put the performers on pedestals and gave them volume. Audience participation was no longer required and we just stopped singing and became listeners only.
Great point Stephen. Having grown up around singing (from day dot…), and taught singing for many years, I would completely vouch for the fact that most don’t open their mouths to sing due to the weight of expectation we have collectively bought into around singing – well nearly all people have at least…
Learn any other instrument, and we can accept the creaky notes, the bung notes, the out of tune… and yet with singing, there is this enormous pressure to have it be ‘perfect’ (and by whose definition?), or otherwise don’t open thy mouth.
All horrendous, and yet totally pervasive…
Hence the Joy in and for Coleen’s singing – it’s natural, so how could we ever hold back sharing it…
This is true, Victoria, I love singing and will happily sing with a choir, even a small group, but put me on a stage alone and my fear of hitting a ‘bum note’ will be overriding everything else. We are not perfect, in many aspects of our lives, and singing is a beautiful and naturally joyful form of expression that we can all do and make ‘mistakes’ in. As Jenny James says above, ‘Once the ‘performance’ is gone the joy of singing can be experienced by all.’
Absolutely spot on Carmel. And and awesome quote from Jenny James. I’ve just listened today, to the most apt audio on Unimed Living by Serge Benhayon on accepting our Grandness, and embracing our ‘imperfections’ within this. There is no need to reach some ridiculous, outer-imposed notion of ‘perfection’, before we accept who we truly are, our divinity… This is so applicable here: http://www.unimedliving.com/the-livingness/who-we-truly-are/accepting-your-divinity.html
Thank you Coleen for sharing your singing. I love how you sing like talking or walking simply expressing yourself.
Really lovely to feel how your natural singing voice touches others as they listen. It is wonderful when we sing from being ourselves and not trying to be something we are not.
this is truely beautifull and inspires me to also expand my natural expression beyond my 4 walls again so others can enjoy too 🙂
How incredible to take the time to connect so deeply and to understand this part of your life – and amazing to read about the incredible impact it has on the people around you.
Thank you nicolesjardin and I agree. To have this level of detail and deep care to something that most of us don’t even notice at times is lovely and great to appreciate. It brings a new appreciation to what goes on around me and you also simply saying that has brought even more, thanks again.
So beautiful what you have illustrated here Coleen. Feeling myself and my joy as a young girl too in just being and singing is something gorgeous to reconnect to. Why this same joy isn’t lived now in every moment is an interesting conundrum – but a joy I am certainly returning to more each day.
I talk all day in my job and as such I am very aware of my voice, how I sound and how it feels to me when sound comes out. It’s not always pretty, but when it is, it feels gorgeous as I felt gorgeous in my body first, then the sound simply followed. I imagine it’s much the same with singing. Thank you Coleen for inspiring more people to let out through their voice, what they feel inside and see what amazingness comes of it.
Hello suzanne anderssen, as you say it’s the self responsibility to the way you are speaking that shines here. The fact that you are aware of how the sound feels as you are speaking almost guarantees the quality of what you are saying away. It’s great to see people like yourself are willing to bring this type of care to a workplace, a deep care. I love this part, “it feels gorgeous as I felt gorgeous in my body first, then the sound simply followed.”
I can relate to everything you are saying here Suzanne. I have been finding exactly that with singing – when I am very present, clear and gorgeous the sound pours out, when otherwise, I feel powerless and croaky. It is all in the depth of our presence with our natural beauty and light.
What a revelation – the joy and simplicity return when we sing for the joy of singing rather than for the accolades and recognition of having a good voice.
Coleen thank you. The way you described your singing experience in the streets, the stores and at work, sounds like you are doing it as a form of joy-full expression seeking naught, like a child. How absolutely gorgeous! I hope I get the pleasure of hearing this expression of divinity one day too…
You share the simplicity and joy of you in expression – thank you.
Once the ‘performance’ is gone, the joy of singing can be experienced by all.
Thank you for sharing your love of singing Coleen, the joy is contagious, and clearly many have been touched by your expression.
Beautiful to read you blog Coleen, thank you. Most of us have lost when growing (or before) to express naturally and joyful without the need for recognition and acceptance.
I have lived most of my life holding myself back very strongly.
Now i started to allow myself to sing whenever and where ever i feel to and this is amazing. As singing is natural to me people can feel that…and they love it 🙂
Glorious janinaelisa!
I have a similar experience, as I was singing and performing to please but then stopped for some years and now I start to sing again, and it comes from a totally different place. Which is very freeing because there is no need for emotional relief anymore.
That makes sense to me ,sing for the joy of singing, nice one Colleen.
Keep up your singing because people are feeling and enjoying the joy you bring.
And yes, a definite reconnection to what music is truly about – healing and connection, not seeking adulation, or to be seen as ‘more’ than others… Oh the grasping for acceptance and tension in needing to tick everyone else’s boxes, whilst forgetting the naturalness of the child in music – that is most surely the key to reclaiming the actual power of our love in sound.
I remember being in Vietnam, and coming across a lady at a local food/produce market. She was up the end of one aisle, with a huge chopping board and cutting up chunks of red meat – that was her trade… And all the while, she sang. She sang as naturally as the sun shines, she ‘sang because she sang’ and she shared her gift with all around her, and they gratefully accepted it as being as beautifully and normally as the sunshine – she was no more nor less than anyone, and totally, naturally glorious.
I stayed with her and her voice for some time, and just cried – weeping with the tears of also knowing this (within me), and the horrendous tensions and expectations I had taken on from the world outside me that had so divorced me from such a natural and truly graceful way… And I was blessed by her sound, every note of it, more than I’ve felt blessed by any voice in my life (with the exception of Miranda Benhayon).
Your blog has reminded me of this Coleen – truly beautiful. I may just have to write one of my own on this sharing here also…
Yes, for sure you have to write a blog on this, Victoria. I am looking forward to it. The way you described it in your comment is as if I am standing next to you.
That is truly beautiful Monika. I still feel that I am in the wake of the lady’s sound… truly, a blessing and sparking of something so deeply known and completely natural, that we are largely devoid of in this modern world.
That is beautiful what you share Victoria
Great comment Victoria. Singing for healing and connection. I worked with a Haitian gardener in the Caribbean. On his good days he would sing all day, to the world.
Beautiful Nicholas. It is most certainly an experience of joyful connection, and nothing but, when one sings from their inner-heart… melting away all that is not of our true shining nature, with every note.
And oh the ease…
Absolutely Glorious Coleen – singing every note with you. “I sing because I sing…”
This is beautiful – “I sing because I sing”. What a liberating and natural way to express, simply sharing with all of your being.
Absolutely janetwilliams06. And when one touches upon this, the tears of joy just melt away everything we’ve done in terms of striving and trying in our lives (not just singing). We are in atonement – at-one-ment – with our essence, with God and with all.
This felt so beautiful to read as your song sings thorough your words like the words of a song. I can feel a song coming on, thank you Coleen for you are a wonderful inspiration.
This is gorgeous Coleen, and isn’t it a gift from heaven when we share this beauty with those around us? I also love to sing and often will be singing away without really realising until someone comments! Keep sharing your sweet voice wherever you go, I will look forward to the blessing when I pass you by.
Such a beautiful blog Colleen, thank you for sharing.
What a truly gorgeous voice you must have and I just love your willingness to share your unique gift with us all.
No matter where you are, keep delighting those who have constellated with you, inspired by your divine singing.
Thank you Coleen for explaining what is so joyful about singing. Love it!
Singing from the heart does have such a profound affect on us and those around us. I love it too and enjoy the sweet melodies that flow effortlessly when I sing just for me and because I feel to. I loved reading the comments from the ladies around you as you went about your day Coleen and it just shows that singing is not something confined to the stage.
Hello shevonsimon, I agree and as Coleen says “my singing glorious music for myself as a natural expression of how I am feeling at that time, has a deeply profound effect on so many people.”
What a beautiful blog, thank you Coleen. This connected me back to when I was a child and used to sing to myself – something I had completely forgotten – and something that is so natural. I then remembered times in my life when I used to sing a lot and how lovely I felt then. I still love singing but I am not allowing it to be part of my every day – and why not? Very inspiring blog.
Very beautiful Coleen. Your writing brings up for me the fact that we all have a uniqueness and a quality that is within us. Not necessary a talent or something we are naturally good at but in essence we have something special. Most of the time, this uniqueness never gets revealed because from such an early age, we are dictated to, re-modeled or re-molded by the world. We are encouraged to swim, play instruments, study, row, hop, skip and jump in search of finding a gift that can then be used to carry us through life. At the beginning of every life we are natural and soulfull, how quick this connection is severed or supported comes down to the environment that we are born into.
I love the point you raise, Matthew about our unique qualities that can be cherished. Great to support ourselves and others in remembering and building what we are here to bring.
‘She took me to the storeowner and asked them to record my voice and play it all day long in their shop.’ Dear Colleen when I read this line I just filled up – for the fact that your voice is allowing others to remember and connect to who they are.
Beautiful blog Colleen. Expressing yourself whether through singing or any other way often brings so much healing for others but we often hold it back or try to mould to fit in and lose what it is our expression brings. It is a wonderful sharing for us all to consider where and why we hold back our expression whatever its form.
Coleen, I just love how you have found your way back to the glorious and natural voice you had as a child, with no need to perform for recognition, but simply to share your voice with the world. These words in particular I find to be so beautiful and so true: “Music and singing have become for me, once again, as natural and lovely as breathing.”: so exquisitely expressed. Thank you.
This is so beautiful Colleen. There is a heavenly sweetness and deep love of your expression through singing beautifully felt. Thank you for sharing this. So gorgeous.
Beautiful Coleen. I love the way you describe your natural joy of singing.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could all sing at work and in public places more without the fear of being judged? I often hear customers sing along to the music that is playing in our shop when it’s a tune they know. Singing is not just for choirs or performances, singing is simply an expression of who we are.
This is really gorgeous Coleen and brings tears to my eyes, ‘Music and singing have become for me, once again, as natural and lovely as breathing.’ So inspiring, I do not really sing, I was told as a child i was tone deaf and gave up on singing thinking it was not for me, it is so lovely to read how it is very natural for us to sing.
Colleen I’ve not heard you sing yet but can really feel the difference that singing, because you naturally feel to express vs to fit in, is completely different. I also really love the music of Glorious Music and the fact of the feeling of simplicity, playfulness but also a real power and strength that comes from someone singing or playing music without needing anything from the listener.
Thank you Colleen, reading your blog it made me realise that I don’t remember singing as a young child, but as I got older I go about my day singing from time to time. It seems to me that our voices are an untapped resource to healing ourselves and others.
Beautiful Colleen what a blessing to hear your natural expression so clearly. I can feel the little child singing in me also as I used to until I lost that and stopped singing altogether. With Glorious Music, Michael Benhayon and Chris James we are learning to reconnect to our natural voice and bring the playfulness back to our voices, our ears, our bodies and our lives and the sounds are angelic in the true sense with nothing imposed and no performance.
Coleen what you have shared is simply delightful. I can feel the joy you experienced in childhood now in what you are sharing and in all those gorgeous experiences you had. How blessed everyone is to hear the sweet sound of your voice. I look froward to hearing you sing one day.
What I get from this blog is the responsibility we all have to express our natural gifts, such as singing, because they contribute so much to all the lives around us. But that each person may have their own particular gift to share, and even within singing no two people will sing the same, because even though the quality may be the same, each expression of that quality will be unique to the person. And this is gorgeous.
Such a lovely article Coleen. “Music and singing have become for me, once again, as natural and lovely as breathing.” As Chris James says ‘We are all born with a beautiful voice’. How great to reclaim your natural expression with singing. Thankyou – inspiring for us all.
If you take away the need for recognition, applause or acceptance, what is left is you, your connection, your pureness, your beauty and your voice from heaven. This applies for everything we do, if we take away the need for applause, what is left is just being all of you, without a trying.
This rocks Coleen, sounds like you have completely nailed true expression through sound. I would love to hear your voice, the purity without the look at me factor sounds divine.
Thank you Coleen what a beautiful sharing of yourself – I loved reading this!
This is a beautiful sharing Coleen on how you started with expressing your singing from who you truly are and then moulded it to what came back from others and then returned to the beauty of your own expression. Greatly inspiring, thank you.
‘Sharing of who I am and who we all are’ in whatever we are sums it completely. Thank you for your words Coleen and what a great way to have been brought up with a home that was filled with music, song and dance.
Wow Coleen I had tingles all over my body reading your blog. When I read that you were singing in supermarkets and car parks, I thought to myself, “I could never do that”. But then I questioned, well why not. If singing is a natural form of our expression, why is it that I hold back. I will only ever sing if I am super sure no one will hear me (in the shower or in the car). But fact is, I love singing, I love the expression. You have inspired me to find again my own natural voice. Thank you.
Beautiful Coleen. Music from the heart “I sing because I sing – because it is part of who I am”.
Your article presents so clearly that the more we ‘attach’ to singing/performing for reasons other than for the true love and enjoyment of it, we are measuring ourselves based on our performance to how another is going. This is very limiting.
So beautiful to read Coleen that you have regained the unconditional singing from your childhood, completely detached from any need to perform. You bring heaven on earth through your voice.
What a beautiful blog Coleen. It is wonderful that you have re-connected to your love of singing and you are expressing this as a confirmation of the love you and we all are.
How lovely this blog was to read. Your words really expressed the beauty in your singing. I would really like to hear you sing one day. How you must have filled those people with joy who heard you as you were going about your day.
What an amazing sharing Coleen. It brought a lot of joy to me to just read it and feel your joy as you sing from your heart. What beautiful confirmations you encountered from other people.
This has reminded me of growing up with singing and whistling. We as a family used to have fun singing in the car and often around our home. Nearly always someone would be humming, singing or dad would be whistling just for the pure enjoyment without any self-consciousness. How gorgeous to be able to connect back to how you used to sing “which was just simply part of you” Coleen and what a lovely gift for those people who hear you singing as you go about your day.
Lovely blog Colleen. What a beautiful blessing for you to offer gracing people with our voice. Expressing in the car parks and supermarkets without performing. very powerful.
Gorgeous blog Colleen! I love what observe about yourself as being ‘a trainee angel of compliance in church, an aspiring pop star with my friends, and when trialling for various choral groups, I would do whatever was required to pass the audition.’ How well that describes the way we all were, in whatever area, when as children we moved out of ‘just being ourselves’ into complying with what we felt we needed to fit in with.
I also love how you just sing around the place. I also do that (but don’t get such gorgeous comments as you! no comparison here – ha ha) It is so lovely just to be with music and feel your voice vibrating through your body in joy.
Absolutely Lyndy. I agree with all you shared and also love how Coleen observed herself as a young child then in her more developed years and now as she has returned to the joy of herself.
Colleen your blog brought such an overwhelming feeling of appreciation for what we all bring and share with the world around us. That is pure and simple love. Thank you.
Very beautiful Colleen… You reminded me that there was in fact a time when more people would sing to themselves as they went about their day… just for the joy of it.
This is gorgeous. Thank you, Coleen. I have written off singing as ‘not my thing’ many, many years ago – even though I used to sing all the time when I was little, and I often wondered why. Your sharing has prompted me to look into this form of expression and my experience and relationship with it, and it was very healing to realise that in my experience singing was deeply associated with imposition on another. Even though I may not ever be getting up on stage and sing in front of people, letting my innate voice have its full expression is something I would definitely love to explore.
I am with you Fumiyo in that this has also made me question my relationship with singing. I often find it pretty annoying and imposing when I hear other people singing so I might be one of those that inhibit their expression! Nobody in my family ever sang, I don’t remember hearing singing even once in my childhood. I have started singing more and more in the bathroom in recent times and have been finding my own voice. I feel there is much more to this subject than meets there ear – which is an adapted quote from a great quote and free audio about the energy of music that I heard here: http://www.unimedliving.com/voice/whats-on-in-the-world/world-music-day-2015.html the other day.
I have a two year old daughter who often walks around singing to herself. The sound is so exquisite and the feeling so achingly familiar that it stops me in my tracks and calls me back; back to love, back to me.
Oh! So so beautiful Liane!
This is an awesome sharing and it has prompted me to look more closely the role singing and music have played in my life. Singing in church and school choirs was a common route followed by many when I was in my childhood and teenage years. This stopped for many years until I joined an adult choir where I started learning to sing in Latin because I was missing the community feeling that comes with being in a choir. That didn’t last too long, because the joy wasn’t there in that type of music for me so I went back to simply singing for me.
Today I continue to love singing and I often find myself singing as I go about my day. I sing to the rhythm of the dishwasher, the clothes drier, the vacuum in fact anything that has a regular rhythm to its sound – my feet as I walk. Most of all I love to sing as I go about simply doing something in my everyday life such as showering, pegging out washing, watering the plants – the list is endless. The tune comes from deep inside in these times, as do the words, if there are any.
I also love to sing in the car when I’m listening to Michael Benhayon’s Glorious Music CDs or music created by Chris James of Sounds Wonderful. The miles fly past and long journeys seem to ‘shrink’ as I join in singing with their music.
Singing is such an innate part of my life, that it is a great barometer of where I am with myself. It’s when I realise I have been silent for a period of time that I realise the joy is missing, that I need to stop and reconnect with myself and consider what is going on that has led to my losing this deep connection with myself. Singing truly is an awesome marker to have in one’s life.
Thankyou Coleen, I was in tears of joy reading this. To hear someone sing from the depths of who they are without want nor need for accolades, is to hear the song of Heaven once again – a song we all sing deep within our hearts, despite whether we are listening or not.
Colleen I love this post as its great reminder to reconnect to our innate qualities that we all have but may have left behind as we became adults.
So true!
Its great to see that others share how wonderful your voice is with you. And it would be different for them to hear a voice that is not imposing, but is the sweetest thing they have ever heard, like a light has come into their day.
How bastardised is our natural expression when we think singing is just for ‘the stage’ alone. This pressure and ideal to perform taints and poisons the purity of our heavenly essence being naturally and unreservedly expressed.
Coleen, I love your beautiful story of your experience with singing. I so look forward to hearing you singing, it feels so absolutely joy-fulllll just reading about it. I don’t remember much of any singing in my household, other than occasionally my father breaking into songs, some of the old songs from before my time, but I loved to hear them. There seemed to be an enormous amount of embarrassment when anyone made a comment about someone singing, and the singer usually stopped. And it was not that they were necessarily criticising, just commenting, probably because it was unusual to hear someone singing. But it was a pretty critical, judgmental family, which was probably the underlying reason.
Criticism is a sure way to halt anyone’s singing expression, Beverley. I was very fortunate in that my Dad always sang and whistled to himself around the house in my childhood. Although he could not afford a major musical instrument, he expressed through playing the knife and fork (for drums), the paper and comb, ( amazing sound!), and the harmonica. Hence I grew up under the wing of someone who refused to have the music taken out of him, irrespective of financial circumstances. Hence my unceasing need to express my music..in spite of a few false turns, it can’t ever be taken out of me either. Enjoy claiming your music I say, Beverley.
Thank you for sharing Colleen, this is simply beautiful.
Beautiful to read you blog Coleen and how you came full circle and re-turned to the natural playful voice and expression of singing you had as a child, that we all have.
Thank you, Coleen for sharing your singing experiences so vividly and powerfully. I could hear your beautiful voice singing to me and that reminded me of the naturalness of a truly pure singing voice coming from our inner-heart that is reflected in the beauty of the bird-song. Every bird has it’s unique song, tone and ‘voice’ and how glorious it is as an expression of the amazing diversity of nature’s song. Everyone of us equally also has his/hers own unique expression in voice and song and how glorious it is when coming from our inner-most and it becomes a harmonic resonance whereby we can recognize our true connection to everything.
That’s so beauty-full Susan Wilson I really enjoyed your sharing about each bird song. Isn’t it wonder-full how they can fly and sing from the trees. This surely reflects the majestic beauty we are!
Why don’t people just sing any more?
I often sing comments or questions to people just for fun and when I’m feeling relaxed and content.
Love it Laura!
I love this Laura, I have done this with my children before and they love it. You have inspired me to sing my responses more often 🙂
This is a good question. I know that whenever I have heard a person just sing freely from their heart in public as they go about their day- literally heads turn and the place around lightens, people who don’t know each other also converse or share a smile.
Coleen, how lovely that you can again sing without need for ‘accolades’ but simply as ‘a woman connected with herself: lovely, gorgeous, content’, and the beautiful acknowledgments you received show that this is what we all long for.
Your blog reminded me of how I used to express my joy and love of life through song and dance ‘as natural and lovely as breathing’, but when I started performing, the emphasis became on giving people what I thought they wanted in order to get the ‘accolade’. I then held back on fully expressing through music and movement and it’s only recently that I am allowing myself to sing naturally again just for the joy of it. I realize from your blog that the joy could have been shared with many throughout my life and how my holding back affects everyone.
Yes, me too, Sandra – I have contemplated how many years I could have been expressing like this also: still, now is the time to express our joy and to share that with all.
I have found that when we speak, sing, express or communicate from us without any neediness for attention, performance or reciprocation, that the sound and tone of our voice changes to deepen, reverberating around the walls of the chest with a healing effect on both ourselves and others: it is the way that we live (freely, as the real-us) that’s being heard and in this the great beauty that’s enjoyed and appreciated.
Absolutely Zofia.
Recently I have been singing with a friend who is a lovely angelic singer. It is practically the first time in my life I have ever sung with or to anyone who is completely without judgement of my voice. I have been able to release my need to hear my voice ‘sound’ in a certain way, and have been able to stand free in my body, just enjoying being, and simply let the sound come out – no trying, no worry about the result. I am, in moments, stunned with the sound I can hear coming out, a sound I never envisioned before, that I didn’t know was there. All because there is no performance, no judgment, just presence and observation.
How could your voice be any other way but full of the amazing, beautiful and deeply loving ‘Being’ that you are. Thank you Colleen.
This is beautiful Coleen thanks for sharing your story. I too had to hum and sing a lot as a kid. I loved it and it wasn’t until I realised I was getting attention for it that I was affected by an audience. From here either I performed or if I didn’t feel my performance was good enough, I shut-off my expression. Much re-imprinting to do here. Your story is inspiring.
Coleen I have never heard you sing, but I so now want to! How exquisite that you go ’round gracing people and places with your voice – I also feel we miss this. I love also that you have claimed what you naturally and readily do without artifice or need for congratulation – this is a wonderful reflection for us all, whatever it is that we bring.
Your blog has also inspired me to raise a question that has been troubling me for a while. When did division between age groups infiltrate music. For my living memory there has been young hence “cool” music and old hence “not cool music. A young person who likes old music is weird -unless it is classical music which is OK.
An old person who likes young music is also weird, unless they are Mick Jagger and in possession of a degree of “cool” that cannot be removed no matter how decrepit they become.
We are all missing out in this. Music, and I am referring to soul inspired music, has the same effect on us all, whatever our age. If we limit ourselves by age bracket, genre, coolness, we are denying our body and its very natural response to what it is feeling with that sound.
Great point, Rachel: ‘soul inspired music, has the same effect on us all, whatever our age’. As a child in the 1950’s I was teased for playing the violin (not cool) so I started learning the guitar (cool) but at that point I stopped playing music just for the love of it and started to perform in order to get recognition. It’s possible that this ‘cool/not-cool’ division has been going on ever since the younger generation started to express themselves with new music genres.
Hi Rachel and Sandra. I have often contemplated at what stage music became a source of division and why it became so, too. Certainly, it correlates with the growth of popular culture and the cult of youth ( as I call it). Prior to that, we had only well to do music and folk music, the folk music often expressing a specific culture. A great deal of music today seems to be associated with identifying with a genre and / or a particular singer or band, as well as differentiating and separating the older and younger generations. None of this feels healthy to me. Different genres also seem to stimulate different emotions – anger, romance ( giving away of power ), indulgence, sadness. It’s almost like, choose your emotion and then your genre, at times. There is a great deal to discuss here….
So true Rachel. I remember my mum and dad referring to music of “our time” or my grandparent saying “back in our day”. I always wondered why we limit our enjoyment of music to a particular time frame in our own lives. Like we can only enjoy this from the age of 15 to 25. Soul inspired music to me has a quality of timelessness to it and everyone has the ability to connect to it – if we so choose.
It may be so that this has been the case for centuries but with our world becoming bigger and the music scene wider there is just so much more to choose to identify with and therefore the true separation music that is not coming from this inner source that Coleen has described, is more obvious to those who are willing to see.
Hi Rachel and All, music is music and if it cannot be enjoyed by all ages then what is the derivative of the music being played?
How beautiful Coleen to read your blog this morning and feel the joy in your natural expression of singing. Glorious music to my ears and my whole being.
Pure beauty
I felt that, too – as well as how claimed Coleen is in her ability to sing for herself and no longer for others/acceptance/recognition.
Coleen -you perfectly describe the difference between singing for recognition and singing in service, joy and confirmation. I am not much of a singer but I can relate to so much of what you have shared in the way I paint, take photos and even the way I work. Thank you for sharing this blog with us – I am looking forward to hearing your beautiful voice too!
I loved hearing how you returned to your natural harmony Colleen. Brilliant how you say the lady “attempted to locate the source of the heavenly sound and had then realised it was me”. We all can be this source of heaven, naturally, when we just be.
I agree, Joseph, when I read that part of Colleen’s blog, I was right there with her hearing that heavenly sound when the lady was looking for its source. It felt awesome in my body.
Absolutely true, Joseph, and to be that source in, and with, whatever we are doing. What I really love about singing like this is that it is completely free to air and I have no need of special equipment or any other complication either: simply breathe and express! Gorgeous – it makes me giggle!
Why don’t people sing anymore?
I grew up in a singing household. My mother had a beautiful voice, as did her mother. We would just sing, very spontaneously and naturally doing the housework together, preparing a meal…it was just what we did. One person would start and the other would join in
I am no different today. I sing at home all the time and in my car…but interestingly I am shy to sing at work. Too joyous perhaps in that very staid environment?
There is a natural antidote to the seriousness of life in singing, most especially when we sing from connection to our essence. The quality of sound we make is rich and reverberates through our whole body. Whatever else is going on in life, we can make a sound from our entire being that resonates with Heaven when we are connected to that essence.
I agree, dentistryinharmony, when I was younger, there was no distinct division between age groups within popular music. When I look back it feels as if there was deliberate creation of a division here, when the rock type of music arrived on the scene. It was almost as if special music and songs were especially created for the younger generation, especially young teenagers. Before that there was no division, there were all sorts of songs, some of them ridiculously silly fun songs, such as ‘I’ve got a loverley bunch of coconuts’, nationalistic, Australian folk, war time songs, romantic songs, a very ecclectic mix of songs available. We used to buy records of songs from some of the popular shows at the cinemas and thetres. People of all generations had their choice from what was widely available.
I sense the big change came during the late 50’s and especially the 1960’s, time of free love etc., and concentration on the younger generation.
I love that Rachel, and it’s true — as a little girl I used to sing a lot and it was always so joyful. I still sing now, but also shy away from singing in front of others. In fact, my voice clogs up! What is that? How come I feel free and comfortable to sing just with me, but not amongst others? Having been upset and hurt by reactions of people when I was young and singing in the likes of choir, perhaps even at home, I did clog up my voice a bit, deciding not to let it out to be hurt again. But that’s what has hurt me even more, not letting my joy be expressed, not letting my voice express the sweet sound of heaven that I know and can share with all I come across. So that’s something to work on now…
It is a beautiful question Rachel. We are bombarded with images, ideals and a consciousness that says everyone should be a popstar. I feel with all the technically manipulated voices we are offered today our normal voices to most no longer feel ‘good enough’ to be heard and so singing when you can be heard by others becomes less and less normal. Unless it is on You Tube where many try and imitate and like Coleen described put on their popstar voice. What this blog offers is a natural reconnection to our own voice and the joy of letting it out and be heard once again.
Yes I agree Carolien that bombardment from everything we have experienced in those moments we want to sing from our heart or express stops that innate feeling from being released. Sometimes it’s best if it is just released for you and all to hear and feel – true change !
Coleen this blog is so beautiful – it brings tears of joy to my eyes. Thank you!
Beautiful sharing Coleen. Your singing went from the recognition longing stage to the world platform of the everyday livingness for humanity, very beautiful and truly serving.
How beautiful Coleen for you, and for everyone who is touched by you singing from the preciousness and appreciation of you. I can so relate to having a few different voice personas to suit and please the situation — choir, pop music, a group of friends, and within that, my own true voice being muffled. As I read your blog I realise how it’s still not easy for me to sing from my own true voice in a public place — easy when I’m on my own! — and how gorgeous, freeing and a blessing for everyone that would be. This blog is inspiring to not let that slip away.
This is a beautiful sharing Coleen. I really enjoyed the section on others appreciating your singing… not something I ever considered doing, singing in public… yet when you share it sure does seem heavenly. I also found it fascinating when you wrote “I was a trainee angel of compliance in church, an aspiring pop star with my friends, and when trialling for various choral groups, I would do whatever was required to pass the audition.” Amazing all the different roles and persona’s we take on trying to fit into the world and yet somehow never seem to fit. Yet when you let go of all of that… out came your heavenly voice and the true joy of being you. Just gorgeous and thank you for sharing.
This is a great point you make Caroline about how we take on roles to fit into society, yet it is not until we drop them that we shine and our true nature is expressed. This blog by Coleen is a beautiful personal sharing of this.
Thank you Colleen for sharing your experience with music and your natural expression. How beautiful when we come from our true selves ‘within’ as Serge Benhayon has inspired us to reconnect to – and you have too!
Coleen, I love how you have expressed this, not from the place of needing an accolade, a stage, a moulding or applause (to use your words), but simply in sharing a celebration of who you truly are, because in this, you inspire us all to celebrate and ‘be’ who we all truly are – whether we are singing, playing music, at work, in the garden or doing the dishes (!). What I love about this reminder is that whenever we are being who we naturally are, it will always feel as natural and lovely as breathing.
Beautifully said Angela and I could feel the joy in your words as I read this. Celebrating who we are in all that we do is a beautiful thing to keep deepening for the more we give ourselves permission to do this, the more we inspire others to celebrate who they truly are as well.
“Sounds” to me Angela you know what you are talking about to be who you naturally are.