Small talk is something that many people do not always feel comfortable with. Some may feel they do not know what to say or how to carry the conversation because it feels awkward. Others may feel the conversation is pointless and forced and do not try to put much effort into it. Even though it may feel this way sometimes, whether the conversation feels important or not, it is a window to building relationships and potentially even starting longer conversations.

When most people think about their voice, they tend to focus on the sound that comes out of their mouth. They might notice the pitch of their voice, whether it is high or low. They might notice the loudness, whether they are speaking softly or projecting strongly. But there is another important quality of the voice that often goes unnoticed until something feels “off.” This quality is called vocal resonance.

Often I have clients telling me they feel like they have a lump in their throat or they are out of breath when speaking, and this is most often the cause of tension due to anxiety. But the good news is these voice symptoms that appear can be managed with the proper tools and techniques.

Breathing is something we do without thinking. Most adults take between 12-20 breaths per minute, which translates to over 20,000 times a day. But when we begin to pay attention to how we breathe, we can discover powerful tools for improving our voice and calming our nervous system.