You Don’t Need A Perfect Voice To Share Your Voice | Ep 350

You Don’t Need A Perfect Voice To Share Your Voice | (Episode 350)

Fear can turn a simple song into a mountain. Justin takes us through that climb—how panic at a lectern, years of comparison, and the weight of being seen slowly gave way to a gentler practice of participation. The story isn’t about hitting the right notes; it’s about learning to belong without earning it, and letting your voice be enough, exactly as it sounds today.

We unpack the link between expression and mental health, exploring how anxiety narrows our lives and how small, chosen risks widen them. From church rituals and call-and-response to everyday moments that invite a word, a whisper, or a nod, we highlight the power of starting where you are. Justin shares why stepping back from public reading protected his well-being, and how singing quietly—then more fully—became a steady form of exposure that calmed his nervous system over time. Along the way, we redefine voice to include writing, sign language, music, and caregiving gestures, expanding what belonging looks like in real communities.

If you’ve ever felt judged for not being “good enough,” this conversation offers a new route: participation over performance, repetition over perfection, compassion over comparison. You’ll hear practical ways to try a verse you don’t know, choose roles that fit your limits, and keep your dignity intact while you grow. Stick around for a heartfelt invitation to celebrate every kind of voice and a reminder that presence is the point. If this resonates, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and tell us: where will you use your voice this week?

Chapter Markers

0:00 Welcome & Global Invitatio

0:24 Mission To Help Three Billion

1:44 To Sing Or Not To Sing

2:42 What Singing Has To Do With Mental Health

4:12 Learning The Rhythm Of Mass

5:22 Letting Go Of Vocal Perfection

6:28 Insecurity, Judgment, And Preference

7:48 Permission To Participate Imperfectly

8:53 Falling Away And Finding Faith

10:06 Dad’s Example At The Lectern

12:11 Panic Attacks While Reading

13:44 Reframing Mistakes And Comparison

15:06 Choosing Roles That Fit Limits

16:17 Starting Small With Singing

17:24 Singing Even When You Don’t Know It

18:16 Many Ways To Have A Voice

19:25 Comfort Zones And Growth

20:05 Owning Your Voice In Community

21:14 Closing Gratitude And Call To Action

#ShareYourVoice #ImperfectSinging #VocalExpression #ConfidenceInSinging #SpeakYourTruth #AuthenticVoice #VocalJourney #PowerOfExpression #EmbraceImperfection #FindYourUniqueSound #SelfExpressionThroughVoice #BreakTheMoldSinging #NonPerfectVoicesMatter #VocalEmpowerment #JustSingIt #justiceforsurvivors #justice4survivors #VoicesforVoices #VoicesforVoicesPodcast #JustinAlanHayes #JustinHayes #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #VoicesForVoices350

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome & Global Invitation
• 0:24 Mission To Help Three Billion
• 1:44 To Sing Or Not To Sing
• 2:42 What Singing Has To Do With Mental Health
• 4:12 Learning The Rhythm Of Mass
• 5:22 Letting Go Of Vocal Perfection
• 6:28 Insecurity, Judgment, And Preference
• 7:48 Permission To Participate Imperfectly
• 8:53 Falling Away And Finding Faith
• 10:06 Dad’s Example At The Lectern
• 12:11 Panic Attacks While Reading
• 13:44 Reframing Mistakes And Comparison
• 15:06 Choosing Roles That Fit Limits
• 16:17 Starting Small With Singing
• 17:24 Singing Even When You Don’t Know It
• 18:16 Many Ways To Have A Voice
• 19:25 Comfort Zones And Growth
• 20:05 Owning Your Voice In Community
• 21:14 Closing Gratitude And Call To Action

Transcript

Justin Alan Hayes, Voices for Voices: 0:02

Hey everyone, it's Justin here, Voices for Voices. Welcome to another episode of our show. Uh thank you for uh tuning in. Whether you're watching, listening, whether you're near the United States or you are uh in a uh different area of the world, we welcome you. Uh we we ask if you can please smash that subscribe button. Uh that helps us reach uh more people uh and get us closer to the goal of helping, wanting to help 3 billion people, at least 3 billion people over the course of my lifetime and beyond. And thank you so much for being with us on this episode. And thank you so much uh for taking time out of your day and and letting Voices for Voices uh uh share uh conversations, experiences, events. Um, and we're just grateful to to have you here with us today. And uh we hope you're having a great day. Uh hopefully uh you're you're able to get some relaxation, some self-care, and with the busyness and craziness as we are uh quickly uh approaching uh here in the United States, uh, and depending on uh religion, that uh holidays and feast days uh to be celebrated. So I wanted to talk a little bit about to sing or not to sing? That is the question, excuse me. Yeah, and and so you might be wondering, well, what's this have to do with mental health? What's this have to do with voices for voices? What does this have to do with me uh and and you and everyone uh who is watching or listening uh at one time or another? And so we're gonna get into that. Uh so when I say the word sing, it's just uh it's our way of singing to a melody, uh, to lyrics, to uh words uh that have been uh written. Uh and and I'm talking everything from, you know, for me being at uh at church and having you know the the the gather uh red gather book uh that has uh songs and in the readings or responsorial songs, and then there's other uh other music that is played uh throughout uh the mass, which is what what we call gathering together, uh and growing up clearly not knowing you know the customs of the different prayers, the different recitation, uh, where the priest, the pastor, uh shares and then asks the congregation to respond. And so it's just the ebb and flow of the mass, and there are different parts where there are some singing parts, and that doesn't mean that anybody has to be a great phenomenal Grammy Award-winning. I mean, what they we don't have to be the best singer, we just sing, and it may sound like when I try to sing, it just the sound of my voice, just the uh the the regular tones that you hear, and and that that's fine, that's great. And so we're gonna get to a deeper message of singing. Uh, but first, uh want to say that you hear the word sing, we automatically think of you know what what music are we listening to, uh, where you know there's an artist that's singing, or whether we you know go to a place of worship, and if there is singing, uh, or even you know, prayers that are recited. Uh and so growing up, uh, and even still a little bit to this day, being you know, insecure thinking and and being worried about what others think and how they're judging me. Uh singing is one of those areas that it's easy to fall into that trap of well, that person's terrible, that person's great. I really like that person's voice, how how they sing their songs, uh, and then that kind of points us in a direction of the type of music we like, uh, the the the words, maybe the uh the lyrics connect with you on a deeper level than just the song level. Maybe there's deeper meaning. Uh, so first off, I just want to say if you want to sing, sing, and don't let anybody tell you otherwise. Sing. Nobody's perfect again. Nobody's perfect. I'm not perfect, you're not perfect, nobody's perfect. So don't think that well, nobody's gonna like it, or I can't do that, and at mass at church, and that was my thoughts for so many years. Uh, there you know, a time, period of time where you know I fell away from the faith, and uh when I finally came back, I just started participating more than just being a body uh at mass. Just okay, well, I went is everything is everything done? Did I check that box of attendance? And there was always the one area that I would it wouldn't be singing, it'd be reciting one of the the prayers, and that's the our father. And so that was it. That that was all that I would really join in, besides some of the basic salutations and uh and and and at the uh the the end of end of mass the uh that happens and and I still wouldn't sing when I came back to the faith I wanted to participate more and uh so I did. Let me back up a a quick couple minutes. So before I fell away from church and and mass and and that I was just as I I mentioned, just as shy, insecure, people are gonna hear my voice, and it's not great, so I'm just gonna you know, just kind of nod my head and and you know, check that box that I attended. Uh right prior to my mental health crash, whatever you want to call it. Uh my dad had for so many years uh and dad's in heaven, and I love him forever and ever and ever. He's still my dad. He's he's uh yeah, and one of the things that I did also remember and do remember is at the at the at the Catholic Mass, there's usually two readings by uh members of the congregation, a runs responsorial song, which is a uh just a short response, and then there's you know words. I'm just trying to keep it as basic as possible. I know I'm not using all the correct terms, but I'm just trying to I'm trying to connect. Uh and so there's a reading, which could be short, could be long, and then responsorial song, where there's maybe four to six to seven different uh different uh responses that uh that the that the that the person from the congregation is reading, and then uh the congregation sings uh part of a part of a song, and and then the gospel, uh the pastor, the priest, uh reads that and and and then they give their and share their their homily with with the congregation. But my dad, he was always on the schedule to read, uh, and it over the years, you know, whether it was once a month or uh once every two months or twice a month, or you know, the schedule be put together. But I remember my dad always stepping up to the plate when it was his turn to to read, and it might be part of why I am and why I'm as vocal as I am, and we are voices for voices because I remember and always remember, and getting even you know nervous, those butterflies of when he would go up and he'd be walking up to the lectern to to read, and then here's you know me in a way kind of judging that he say the right words, did he just all this stuff, you know? People talk and and it's you know, it and it's like, oh my gosh, I I hope he doesn't mess up, I hope he doesn't mess up, and he's human, I'm human, you're human, and so we make mistakes, but a big deal. But he was one of the ones that volunteered to go up and read in front of hundreds of people uh when he was scheduled to to read, and so to see him up there and be confident doing what he did, he didn't have to do it, he didn't have to volunteer. It was something he wanted to do to give back to God and give back to Jesus, and uh wanted to uh he had it has a booming voice and and uh and uh of authority, so people really tune in and and listen and watch when uh when he he was when it was his turn to read. And so when I was starting to come back to the faith, but before I had my mental health crash, but what I feel led a little bit to it, or was at least a factor, there was a ton of factors, uh, but one of those factors was I wanted to be like my dad, I still do. Uh that's never gonna stop. And I was signed up to be a reader, and so the schedule would come out, and I would have while I was reading at church at mass kind of these panic attacks, I would get so overwhelmed, I get so hot and sweaty, and feeling like I was gonna pass out. Never did pass out, but I felt like I was going to. And then the mental health came and I backed off the reading as like I can't do this anymore. I just am feeling again all this anxiety, and I've already talked on numerous episodes. Uh, so you can you can you know get over three hundred and forty-five episodes at this at this point in time, and I talk about all the mental health aspects of me. Uh, and this was one of them where having panic attacks, I was just not just not myself. I was just so so nervous, and everybody's looking at me, and what if I mess up and all these thoughts that now I don't worry about as much because I realize now that nobody's perfect, and so I don't need to compare myself and ourselves to others as much as I I have. There's still the occasional time where I do, but I'm human and I accept that, and you can accept that too. Big deal if we mess up, we just move on, we just go to the next the next thing. And it takes practice. None of these things happen overnight. That's why wanted to and still wanna accomplish and and do things for not just my dad, my mom, my family. Uh and so we get back to the singer not to sing, and that's where participating in mass comes in. So I'm not a reader anymore. I I had again all those panic attacks, and um that that's one place that I at church where I I'm okay being a participant, just being an attendee. But then it was again, I wasn't participating in the singing of the different songs, uh, most notably, you know, the entrance and the exit songs are usually the you know, two or three verses, uh, the chorus and all that. Um so I wasn't doing that, and then at some point I decided what the heck. I don't say what the heck, uh I decided why not, and then I I started participating and singing the the different parts throughout the mass as well as the entrance and exit hymns. And so just coming from Mass and Church, uh where now I'm filming this after I've returned from from uh mass, that I participate as much as I can, as much as I'm comfortable with. And so the message here is do the same, participate as much as you're comfortable with. Don't worry about what other people think. It's easier said than done. Trust me, I know it. It's much easier to look at somebody, to look down on them, to whatever. It's easier to do that than actually do it, and and so I want you and all the other thousands, millions, billions of people that watch and listen to Voices for Voices, that tune in to do what you're comfortable with, stay in your comfort zone. It may be every once in a while try something that's outside your comfort zone. So for me at church, I didn't participate in all the all the aspects right away singing. It would start with, well, do I know this song or don't I know this song? If I know it, then I'm more uh apt to participate and sing. If not, then I wouldn't. Then I would just stay quiet, and so it would start with that, and then it would get to the point and where I would you know say internally to myself, okay. Well, I don't know this song, but I'm just gonna sing it anyways, or I'm gonna try to, or just stay on key as best as I can. Kind of like when we recite the Our Father, try to stay on pace and on track with what the rest of the congregation, how they are reciting it, that prayer, that important prayer, performed by divine uh you know divine intervention. And so that's the message. Whether it's singing, whether it's writing, whether it's sign language, whatever way you're able to communicate, if you're caregivers, the same thing, however the person or persons you're caring for are able to share in their own way. That's a voice. Is somebody talking like I'm talking now, or our guests talk. But there's so many other forms of voices. And we want to include all those. Voice is universal, everyone has a voice, whether they're able to communicate like me or like others or not. The main thing is share your voice. Let it be known. If you want to participate in something, then give it a try. If it turns out, like when I was reading and having those panic attacks at church during mass, I tried it. I could, I guess, try it again, but I would just rather not because I I just I know the the way my body and mind are that it'll be another date scheduled on the calendar where I'll have to be in front of people that I don't know, and sometimes some of the the um the uh the individuals uh names or locations in those readings are ones that aren't familiar, and so then I would again think, oh well, I messed up, Justin. You messed up. You said that city wrong, you said that country wrong, you said that territory wrong, you said that apostle's name wrong. Uh and so for me, I I gave it a try. Can I do it now? I probably could. I probably could. I just I just don't want to right now. And that's okay. I'm allowed to make that decision, just like you are. You're able to make that decision. Your caregivers are it doesn't have to be reading and or being in front of a lot of people, just that communication, however, that is, that the needs are being met of the individuals. So if if you want to sing, sing, if you want to talk, talk, and talking can be again, can be in writing, sign language, verbal singing, uh playing a musical instrument, uh being uh an actor, actress, uh, musician. It comes in all types of shapes and forms. So I when I go to mass, I participate as much as I'm familiar as much as I'm comfortable with, and now and at this current state, I participate about as much as I can as being a participant and attendee at mass. Because I'm not worried about what somebody next to me or but behind me or in front of me thinks of my voice, and I I've I've grown more and more comfortable with my voice, and that's all that matters. So thank you for joining us. Please be a voice for you or somebody in need. Let's celebrate all voices, no matter what shape or form, what sound, uh no matter what what that looks like or hear sounds like, and uh that's what it's about. And so hopefully this evolution that I uh went through uh was helpful. If you if you can subscribe, give us a big thumbs up, smash that subscribe button, let everybody know about voices for voices and our movement and wanting to help at least three billion people over the course of my lifetime and beyond. And if you've been helped in any way, anyway, small, big, medium, large, teeny tiny, teeny tiny, let us know. Let us know. So thank you for joining us. God bless the United States of America and all of our uh individuals that uh are here. And God bless you wherever you may be across the world. And this is Justin Alan Hayes signing off, and we'll see you next time. Bye bye for now.