By Lilly Singh, aka iiSuperwomanii on Youtube, released a new video on Monday titled “Voices.” The video is a compilation of mini music videos and songs by her portraying all of the voices that run through her mind.
Each voice had its own song and music video and each one was in a different setting. The video is all shot in a house with numerous rooms and each room symbolizes the different voices in our heads. She uses the house as metaphor to compare to our voices;
“Our mind is an intricate house filled with secrets, stories and levels. In the rooms of that house live our voices, the ones that whisper to us throughout the day. Being a good person doesn’t mean you don’t have evil voices, it just means you’ve learned to navigate through them.”
At the beginning of the video, Singh said to her audience, “The real prize is to be self-aware and to befriend your voices. And from time to time, give them a microphone.”
So this is what I want to do.
Today I hand the microphone to my voices.
The loudest voice in my head is the one always telling me that I can make it. Everything and anything that I want in this world is possible. This voice comes to me every time I think of giving up.
When I don’t want to spend that extra hour studying, this voice creeps in saying “No. You don’t quit because you’re tired. Keep going.” This is the voice that tells me that I need to work hard and achieve all my dreams and make them all a reality because I am a Muslim woman.
As a Muslim woman living in the western world, I live with a voice always telling me that this world does not work in my favor; that all my dreams, wishes, and hopes, are impossible for as long as I exist as a Muslim woman.
This voice tells me that I have everything to prove because I exist as a Muslim woman. This voice tells me that because I am a Muslim woman, I need to work harder than most. It tells me that my dream of being the first Muslim woman in Congress is possible.
But, as Singh mentioned in the description of her video, our voices often contradict one another and attempt to drag us in different directions.
As a Muslim woman living in the western world, I live with a voice always telling me that this world does not work in my favor; that all my dreams, wishes, and hopes, are impossible for as long as I exist as a Muslim woman.
I can’t possibly expect to become the first Muslim woman in Congress because America would never let a Muslim woman in politics. The voice often tells me that I don’t work hard enough; I don’t put in my 100 percent. The voice sneaks up on me at my prime and tells me that I’ll never make it anyways, so why am I still trying?
I have a voice in my head telling me that I am confident and I am beautiful. A voice telling me that I am worth it. I hear it saying that the years of insecurity I went through are now just a memory.
I am a powerful Muslim woman who can do anything I put my mind to and I shouldn’t limit myself; but, I am still sometimes held back by my insecurities; insecurities that can be hidden so well on my best days.
I went through years of hating myself, my acne, my body, my laugh, my voice, almost everything about myself. Now, the voice tells me that I am an advocate for self-love and confidence. The voice tells me that my acne is me. It has shaped me into the person I am today. The body and hips I used to hate so much? It’s the body God gave me and learning to love it was the best thing that ever happened to me.
The voice reminds me that I am a creation of the Creator and that makes me beautiful.
But of course, there is a contradicting voice reminding me my insecurities; the voice amplifies them. The voice comes up when I look into the mirror and tell myself not to wear foundation and other blemish-covering make-up, and whispers “Look at all the acne. How do you plan on leaving the house looking like that? Cover it up.”
The voice sneaks up on me whenever I want to try on an item of clothing and tells me, “Why bother? It won’t fit you anyways. Just try fitting into that with your hips, your thighs, and your belly fat. You’re just kidding yourself.”
My favorite thing about myself has always been my smile, but I can always hear that voice telling me to cover it up. The voice has a way of making me go from feeling invincible to wanting to be invisible.
I get the voice that shows me the wonderful people I have in my life. These people always show me unconditional love and constantly shower me with support and attention. This voice ever allows me to forget that these people exist; it reminds me that I am loved, wanted, and cared for.
At the same time, another voice tells me that I’m alone. The voice tells me to push everyone away because they don’t care anyways.
All of these voices make me who I am. They all talk and talk and talk to form my personality, character, and demeanor.
I am a powerful Muslim woman who can do anything I put my mind to and I shouldn’t limit myself; but, I am still sometimes held back by my insecurities; insecurities that can be hidden so well on my best days. I have plenty of people around me, but I feel so alone.
The voices in your head aren’t meant to be silenced; let them speak.
This is so me. On one hand my voices tell me to wear a hijab and the other hand my voices tell me what are you doing people will think your silly. I try to think positively but the nafs always come back to me.