Do you hate your own voice?

1. 82

   kallini2010posted 11 years ago

   Do you hate your own voice?
   
   Of all insecurities that I have (and the list is long), disliking my own voice is a nightmare.  Did you have any time in your life that you hated (or hate) your voice and what did you do to improve the situation?  The irony is that I am not a singer, not young, but maybe singing (or public speaking) is something that I want to pursue - even though I can only hear how I go from one tonality to another within the same sentence only when my speech is recorded.  Margaret Thatcher did not have a pleasant voice as far as I know...
   
   

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2. 69

   Mazzy Boleroposted 11 years ago

   I don't hate my voice now but I used to when I was younger. I had a teacher when I was around 10 who was snobbish and humiliated me every single day for my working-class accent. She would ask me to read in front of the class, and I would manage to get maybe one sentence out and she would shout "Stop! Stop! Stop! How that grates on my ears! How common, how vulgar you sound! Every time I hear your voice I cringe!" She would go on and on, mocking my pronunciation.  Eventually, I became very self-conscious about my voice and  was convinced that whenever I spoke, everyone was thinking how vulgar it was.  Sad, really - I was too young to understand that she was just a total cow.  She's long dead now, but I would have loved to have found her as an adult and smashed her right on the nose! 
   
   It's important to your confidence not to hate your own voice!  It took years for me to find some confidence but in the end I became a lecturer and they couldn't shut me up:) There is probably nothing wrong with your voice at all - ask other people what they think. Keep practising recording speaking as it's good to hear your own voice from the outside - it sounds different! Play around with accents and ways of talking and have fun, find out what your voice can do.  Join classes or groups where you can speak - amateur dramatics is good, as you can use your voice different ways.  Go to a folk club where people sing together - even if you hate folk music! You don't have to audition or sing solo at a place like that. Build your confidence in your voice one step at a time.  And you are right about Margaret Thatcher - her voice really was pretty awful - but that didn't stop her.

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3. 73

   Trish303posted 11 years ago

   Yes singing I sound like a moose hit by a train, talking i sound like a chipmunk. Not much I do to change it.

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4. 69

   Eva Civoposted 11 years ago

   Not any more- Now I love it! But when I was a kid people made fun of it, so it made me insecure. My voice is unique. It kinda sounds as if I have a cold, it's husky, but not deep at all. I like it now as an adult. It's part of what makes me me.

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      Neil Sperlingposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      From the way your describe your voice - you would make a great singer doing songs such as janis joplin and melissa etheridge etc.... talk on or song on - enjoy the fact you can talk :-)

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5. 69

   howlermunkeyposted 11 years ago

   My Voice is fine, It's the other voices in my head that concern me...
   (kidding, kidding). Jokes aside, when I was young it was weird to hear myself on video etc, but as I've gotten older Ive gotten used to hearing myself (Sometimes I talk to myself when thinking through a complex  problem lol). I am a HUGE fan of music, and do appreciate other peoples voices (Love American Idol). Love it when people like Scotty McCreery open up and suprise ya!

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      Neil Sperlingposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      LOL -- love your opening.

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6. 61

   sassymomonthegoposted 11 years ago

   My voice is okay, except when I'm singing--so yea I hate my singing voice, because I love singing in videoke or karaoke. Whenever I sing, they thought I was kind of crying, lol.

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7. 59

   epigrammanposted 11 years ago

   ...what do you mean?  the sound of my own voice or the fact that I am a 'supposed' riter - well I hate both.

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      kallini2010posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      What I mean, Epi, i have to share with you - with a couple of clips!

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8. 61

   duffsmomposted 11 years ago

   No, my voice is fine.  I have to admit I like the way my voice sounds in my own head, more than when I hear it recorded.

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9. 88

   Georgie Loweryposted 11 years ago

   I don't like to hear myself talk, I think my voice sounds completely foreign to me. I have a Southern accent but, when I talk, I think I sound stupid. I can't describe it any better than that. I especially hate hearing myself laugh. Other people say that they love it and will get to laughing when I do it, but I think I sound like a horse or something.

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10. 93

    MarleneBposted 11 years ago

    Oh, yes. I use to hate my voice as a child and even as a young adult. But, then I became a dance instructor and had to talk out loud to people. Little by little I bacame comfortable with my voice... but not for singing, just for talking and spewing out dance instructions.
    
    One day, out of the blue, I was in a situation where I actually had to sing in front of people as a worship leader. At that time, I still didn't think my voice was "all that". In fact, I refused the offer to lead worship because I didn't think I was a good enough singer. But, people kept pushing, pushing, and pushing - saying how it was the Lord's calling and all that stuff. I think it's because the church needed a worship leader and no one wanted to do it. I was the one who was most easily pursuaded. Eventually, I caved in and lead worship at that church until I retired and moved away.
    
    I think most people don't like their voice. But, I have found that the more we use our voice, the more comfortable we become with our voice. Recording and playing it back is a good way to become comfortable with our voice.
    
    I like all the suggestions Mazzy Bolero gives, especially about playing around with accents. It's fun and helps us overcome inhibitions.

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11. 92

    MsDoraposted 11 years ago

    My own recorded voice surprises me, because then I hear my Caribbean accent which I do not hear otherwise.  I neither like nor dislike it.  I find it acceptable.  However, wanting to pursue singing or public speaking, and hating your own voice may be a subtle way of sabotaging yourself.  If nobody boos you, follow your dream and let your public voice grow on you.  Good luck!

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    1. 82

       kallini2010posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Good one with booing - no, nobody boos me - I make people laugh!

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12. 0

    Garifaliaposted 11 years ago

    As I hear it through my ears it's alright, but I'm not crazy about it. Thankfully others have approved of it and I have become one of the voices on a radio program (locally where I live).

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13. 92

    cat on a soapboxposted 11 years ago

    Hi kallini2010,
    If I were able to change one thing, it would be my voice. It's not awful, and I can sing along w/o embarassment- I just think it's too loud and a little strident at times. I have to concentrate on controlling it. Someone once told me when I started in sales that my voice was a horrible monotone and that I wouldn't be successful. I have overcome that with practice and some public speaking when required of me, but I still cringe when someone says, " Hey, I thought that was you! I'd recognize that voice anywhere!" lol 

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14. 72

    That Grrlposted 11 years ago

    I've never liked my voice. But, I think there is something about the way you hear your own voice. When you listen to it recorded it sounds different from how you expect.

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       kallini2010posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       That is precisely the horror - I don't mind hearing it the way I hear it, but recorded - it is the actual voice, the way EVERYBODY ELSE hears it.  The same goes for a mirror - without a mirror our image of ourselves would be entirely different.

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    Neil Sperlingposted 11 years ago

    I love my voice -- just wish my vocal range was more than 12 notes..... at least 2 full octaves would be nice... I love to play guitar but singing all the songs I like to play ... well my vocal range is too narrow.... so - all I need is a lead singer and I'll doo harmony. .... it is all good!

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       kallini2010posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Sorry, Neil, what happened to your rating - why are you at 1?

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       Neil Sperlingposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I like being number one!  LOL
       
       I think it is because I use noscript with Firefox..... it disables some scripts that operate behind the scenes.... personally I could not care less about my ranking - my traffic is escalating, etc etc etc

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16. 76

    Peter Geekieposted 11 years ago

    I grew up in the West of England and had a strong West Country accent which is associated with stupidity. When I went to university I was told to lose my accent and in the Royal Navy as an officer I deliberately developed a middle England accent. It seemed to be quite successful as it was never mentioned again, at least not in a disparaging way. I remember when I first rang my wife to be, her mother answered the phone and I heard her call to her daughter "it's that young man with the dark brown voice again" - I have to admit I still don't know what that means !
    Personally I don't like recordings of my voice which happens as I still lecture on various subjects. In my head I don't recognise it as mentally I still speak with a broad Devon accent.
    Kind regards Peter

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       innerspinposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I think "dark brown voice " means deep and rich. That sounds good to me!

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    distance2010posted 11 years ago

    hell yes, it sounds so foreign on a recording!

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18. 60

    gspielmanposted 11 years ago

    The Bible says make a joyful noise, and when I sing it is noise, I am not sure how joyful though. My voice is okay to me, but ladies tell me that they like my voice but to me it is nothing special. But I did use it to make money as a on air radio personality for a while.

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19. 81

    sherrituckposted 11 years ago

    I was told in elementary school that I sang poorly.  From that point on, I was afraid to sing.  When I was asked to join my church's choir, I thought they had lost their minds.  It wasn't until recently that I found that singing is a great stress relief.  I really belt it out when no one is around.  However, I'm still afraid of singing out in public places.

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20. 76

    LadyFiddlerposted 11 years ago

    LOL...... Yes i myself  dislike my voice especially when recorded or it bounces back from a call. I am like is this how horrible i sound in reality. Ewwww but then again people told me they like how i speak so guess is mind over matter with me.
    
    Nice question

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21. 60

    Jyle Dupuisposted 11 years ago

    I do. I have a very hard time listening to myself so I will usually avoid recording myself or speak in front of a video camera. If feels like I naturally have a deep voice but I strain it to speak in a higher (normal) octave. So now I think it just sounds weird.

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    1. 82

       kallini2010posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Don't strive to be in a higher octave - people have a natural preference to listening to lower voices than to higher.  For learning foreign languages, men's voices are better than women's - we don't like high pitched sounds!

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22. 67

    Dale Hydeposted 11 years ago

    I don't like my voice. I have heard it on videos and audio recordings....However others say they like it. I think they are just being nice, lol.

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    unitifyposted 11 years ago

    I don't hate my own voice. But I wish I could sing better.

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    backporchstoriesposted 11 years ago

    When I first saw your question, I thought of singing voice.  When I was young, I loved to sing my lungs out.  I tried out for grade school choir and was sent home before try outs were over.  I was crushed and for the first time understood I had a voice that does not sound like everyone else.
    
    First time I heard my speaking voice played back on a recorder, a grin slapped across my face.  "Oh my....is that me?  I sound so funny...never imagined that..."  My speaking voice is fine and acceptable and I use it proudly to voice what the Creator propels me to say. 
    
    I sing prayer songs and may still crack a note here and there, but this is the voice God gave me.  For that I am proud!

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    edhanposted 11 years ago

    Nope.
    
    I am sort of a person who loves to sing in the bathroom. Pretty cool and the sound of echo can be heard within.
    
    I like what I am so I am definitely happy with my own voice.

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26. 73

    SidKempposted 11 years ago

    My own voice is not what I would like it to be. I sound much better to myself inside my head than I sound when I hear a recording of my voice. And it matters. I'm a successful trainer, but not a successful motivational speaker, and that may be why.
    
    I've come to accept it - it doesn't bring up insecurity or any emotional disadvantages. And, purely for my own joy, I took singing lessons for a year and a half. Sometimes, I do the acting exercises that improve my voice.
    
    My point is that we are best off not feeling bad about the qualities we are given. And that, if we want to, we can work to change them.
    
    Most people would think, "Gee, if you're short and so ugly you look like a man, you can't be a successful actress." But look at Linda Hunt!

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       cat on a soapboxposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       great points, Sid!

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27. 72

    austinhealyposted 11 years ago

    I try to dislike as little as possible about myself. I tend to let other people do that and they do it very well

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       SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       LOL! Thanks, Austin. I really needed to hear this message today!

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28. 78

    dghbrhposted 11 years ago

    I don hate my voice so far though I cant sing for that matter. Otherwise i love the way my own voice sound to me.
    Thanks and its a nice question.

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29. 81

    phillippeengelposted 11 years ago

    I detest the grating and jarring voice I have as a male, and admire the euphonious and sleek voice of the female.

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30. 91

    vocalcoachposted 11 years ago

    I hate my voice!  If you're one of the many people who feel this way, you've come to the right place because you're about to learn why you hate your voice and how to fix it. read more

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31. 60

    rouilliewilkersonposted 11 years ago

    I love this picture, it's lovely! The color is gorgeous! And nope, I like my voice just fine.

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    StephenUKposted 11 years ago

    I disliked it during teens, since it didn't really seemed to have changed much at 15/16 years old. Although it generally sounds ok now.

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33. 77

    hrymelposted 11 years ago

    I've always had a problem with my own voice.  I've always wanted to be to sing, but it's just not one of my talents. 
    
    Sadly, this insecurity has also limited my career choices.  I worked in radio for 3+ years, and to be honest, I'm good at radio.  I enjoy all of the technology, meeting people, creativity, and even the meticulous details that are frustrating. However, because of my insecurities with my voice, I chose a different career path.

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    Jennifer Bartposted 11 years ago

    I don't hate my own voice unless I hear myself on a recording then I am like I hope I don't really sound like that!

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    JamesGrantSmithposted 11 years ago

    No i love to talk, i love myself and my voice.

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