Your Humorous Voice

Everyone has their own unique sounding voice and those who know us well can identify who we are just by our voice.

Such is the case with my best friend and me. We can’t hide how we are doing from each other because we can tell how the other is doing just by the sound of each other’s voice. 

Although the voices of siblings can be similar, they are also distinct. My three sisters and I have similar voices. Yet, one is slightly higher, one is more throaty, another more thoughtful. Then there’s me. I have a mixture of throaty and thoughtful.  

The voices of my brothers are distinct as well. My oldest brother has the deepest voice, my youngest the highest and then the brother between them has a medium depth to his voice.

My husband and his younger brother’s voices are so similar that I once mistook my brother-in-law’s voice over the phone as my husband’s. I was a little embarrassed when I realized my mistake. I’d been a bit flirtatious before I realized that I wasn’t talking to my husband.

Just as the sound of our voice is distinct, so is our humorous voice. What we find to be funny and how we express it is unique to us. 

We can nurture our humorous voice by starting with those we feel the most safe with.  

My husband is the safest person in my life so my humorous voice comes out with him most often and most naturally. I don’t try to be funny, but when we are both laughing after I’ve made a comment, then I know I’ve somehow hit the nail on the head.

Trying out our humorous voice on others can be a little risky, but to nurture our humorous voice, taking a risk is necessary.

For instance, as an exercise instructor, when I begin one of my classes, I like to start with a humorous story about myself. Again, I’m not trying to be funny, but some of the things that happen to me can be a bit funny. And if a few people smile, then I know I’ve tickled their funny bone. If no one smiles, I simply move on. 

The key to nurturing our humorous voice is to not expect people to laugh, but when they do, then we know we’ve found the humor in your voice. 

I know from experience that my humorous voice is not sarcastic, one sided, or hurtful. And if two or more people are laughing because of something I’ve said, then I’m on the right track. 

Why Bother?

Why bother nurturing our humorous voice? Just as everyone has their own unique sounding voice so each of us also has our own unique humorous voice. Nurturing grows it. Growing it puts others at ease. And who doesn’t want to be at ease?