Speak Boldly: How to Own Your Voice with Confidence
The Fear of Speaking Up
There have been many moments in my life when I held back from speaking boldly, even when I had something important to say.
🤐 In meetings at work, I hesitated.
🤐 In moments when I knew I was called to share my story and empower others, I stayed silent.
The fear of judgment, the fear of failure, and the fear of rejection kept me from stepping into my voice with confidence.
But everything changed when my husband and I launched our YouTube channel, Lex & Lev. We started hosting live streams and workshops, and after almost every session, we would receive messages and emails from people expressing gratitude for my vulnerability. That’s when I realized my voice had more power than I ever imagined.
It wasn’t about being on a big stage or having a perfectly crafted speech—it was about showing up, speaking out, and serving others. That shift in perspective transformed my confidence and changed how I saw public speaking.
If you’ve ever struggled to own your voice, you’re not alone. But the good news? You can learn to speak with boldness, no matter where you are in your journey.
Why So Many People Struggle to Speak Boldly
Even the most skilled professionals, leaders, and entrepreneurs hesitate to speak up. Why?
It all comes down to three major fears:
1️⃣ Fear of Judgment – “What if they don’t like what I have to say?”
2️⃣ Fear of Rejection – “What if my message isn’t received well?”
3️⃣ Fear of Failure – “What if I stumble or sound unprepared?”
These fears don’t always show up as obvious thoughts. Sometimes, they come in the form of self-doubt, imposter syndrome, or second-guessing every word you say.
I personally struggled most with fear of judgment, but I eventually realized that my biggest critic wasn’t anyone else—it was me. Once I learned to be kind to myself, to shift my self-talk, and to make my mind a safe space, I gave myself permission to be vulnerable.
And that vulnerability unlocked my confidence.
If you’re constantly stumbling over your words, feeling uncertain, or shrinking back, it’s not because you lack skill—it’s because you haven’t given yourself permission to fully own your voice.
The Shift: How to Own Your Voice with Confidence
The biggest mindset shift that helped me stop second-guessing myself as a speaker was this: It’s not about me.
For the longest time, I worried about how I was being perceived, but the moment I shifted my focus to serving others—to the people who needed my message—everything changed.
✅ Owning your voice means fully embracing your story and your speaking style.
✅ It means giving up comparison and trusting that your unique delivery will reach the right people.
✅ It means surrendering to the fact that you aren’t meant to serve everyone—but the people who need you will find you.
Think about the most powerful speakers in the world—Tony Robbins, Lisa Nichols, Eric Thomas. None of them sound the same. None of them try to copy each other. They leaned into their authentic voice, and that’s what makes them magnetic.
3 Powerful Techniques to Speak with Boldness
If you’re ready to own your voice and speak with boldness, here are three game-changing techniques you can start using today:
1️⃣ Clarify Your Message & Your Why
Why do you want to speak? Who do you want to impact?
When you have clarity on your mission, your message becomes stronger.
For me, my passion is helping leaders become better storytellers, be heard, respected, and paid. When I focus on that, my confidence grows because I know I’m making a difference.
2️⃣ Shift the Focus from Yourself to Others
Fear thrives when we’re focused on ourselves—how we look, how we sound, how we’re being perceived.
But when you shift your energy toward serving your audience, the fear fades.
I always remind myself: Even if my message isn’t for everyone, it’s for someone. And as long as the right person receives it, I’ve done my job.
3️⃣ Use the Visualization Hack
Before I speak, I visualize one person in the audience who desperately needs to hear my message.
I imagine that their entire life will be changed by what I say.
When I’m on stage, I see everyone in the room as that one person.
💡 This simple shift transforms how I show up as a speaker—it makes my message personal, powerful, and urgent.
How to Develop a Stronger Presence
If you’re naturally soft-spoken or hesitant, you can still develop a commanding presence with practice:
🔥 1. Practice speaking louder.
Get comfortable with hearing your own voice at a stronger volume.
Sing in the shower, read out loud, or record yourself speaking boldly.
🔥 2. Master your breathing.
Confidence is felt in your breath control—when you breathe fully and speak with intention, you project authority.
🔥 3. Refine your pacing & tone.
Use voice inflection to emphasize key points.
Pause intentionally to let your message sink in.
Speaking with boldness is a skill—not just a personality trait. Anyone can develop it with practice.
Final Thoughts: Your Voice is Needed
If you’re reading this and you still feel afraid to speak up, I want to tell you this:
It’s okay to be scared. It’s okay to feel nervous. But don’t let fear silence you.
💡 Fear is just a false expectation appearing real. The only way to break past it is to take action anyway.
Your story isn’t just for you—it’s a blueprint for someone else’s life. You have an obligation to share it.
So here’s your next step:
✅ Take a moment to reflect on the one person you know you’re meant to help.
✅ Practice sharing your story—whether it’s on social media, in a conversation, or in a meeting.
✅ Start small, but start today.
