Lend your voice; add weight

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you couldn’t help yourself? Have you tried speaking loudly, hoping someone would hear you out, but no one seems to care? One of the most difficult situations to be is one in which no one is ready to stand in the gap for us or speak up for us. Seeing other people hold the key that we need but insensitive to our plights can be challenging. Sometimes those who have the power to help or set others free just don’t do anything. They keep watching, keeping busy doing nothing, until the opportunity to help passes. Is that not common in our world today? Don’t we have a lot of people who are voiceless and helpless in society, people who are constantly passed by or abandoned? At work, in the community and in social circles, aren’t there people who are struggling for breakthrough but can’t get the support they need?

I would like you to shift the attention away from yourself, and then consider those who are around you. Every one of us has one person or another that we can speak up for. Sometimes what people need from you isn’t extraordinarily demanding. In most cases, all we need to do is to add weight or lend our voice on behalf of those whose voice may be silent. Think about your influence at work, home or community. You will see that there are many disadvantaged people. They may not get the job, make the team, secure the contract, get the promotion, receive the aid or maximize their potential unless you stand up for them or speak up for them.
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The question is: who are you speaking up for? If you have ever enjoyed the benevolence of someone in your life who opened a door for you or advocated for you, I am sure you understand what I mean. Imagine what the world would look like if we had more advocates, people who are ready to speak up for, and add weight to support other people. Weighing in to help others may change the course of their life forever, just as some of us have experience. Here is a call for you to lend your voice, to be the voice of those who have no voice.

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Actions for the week

1. Think about a time when someone stood in the gap for you, spoke up for you or pulled you up. What did you learn? How did that impact or change your life?
2. Look for two people you can speak up for or whose situation you can add weight to. Go ahead and be their voice.
   
3. Share this message with those in your network.

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A quote to remember
"It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent" – Madeleine Albright

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Until another time,
Dele Ola, Award-Winning Author of Be A Change Agent
​Click HERE to learn about and get copies of Dele’s Books