Voices matter. They can change a heart or a mind for good or for bad.

A skill you must develop in life is knowing which voices deserve your attention. Because not all voices are equal.

Some voices carry weight because of a relationship.

I was reminded of this during a particularly challenging conversation with my dad. At one point, I told him that no matter how old I get, his voice will always matter to me because he is my dad. Whether he likes it or not, his voice carries weight in my life.

But it is also true that many voices must earn their place.

It is worth listening to people who have walked the road before you. Entrepreneur Alex Hormozi once said, “Don’t take advice from people you wouldn’t trade lives with.” Typically, the people you would trade lives with have the experience, wisdom, and credibility that make their words worth listening to.

Other voices simply have volume.

The challenge is that in today’s world, volume is everywhere.

Social media. Comment sections. Random opinions from people who know nothing about your situation. And if you give every voice equal weight, you will spend your life reacting to noise instead of listening to wisdom.

I don’t know which voices you are listening to right now (my hope is this newsletter is a positive one). But my challenge to you is simple.

Become a voice worth listening to. And learn to ignore the noise.

P.S. The Optimistic Outlook is a Podcast! Leaving a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts would mean a lot.