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The Mirror Within:
Awakening Human Potential
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By Rudy Gaskins, April 27, 2025
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I’ve come to understand that acknowledgment, when offered with sincerity and intention, is far more than a pat on the back or a courteous nod. It is a sacred act, a mirror held gently to another’s soul, reflecting back not just their deeds but their very being. In that reflection, a quiet but profound truth is spoken: You are seen. You are valued. What you have given has not gone unnoticed, and the world is subtly changed because of you. Acknowledgment, in its truest form, breathes life into connection and affirms our shared humanity.
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In curating and stewarding the Voice Arts® Awards, I’ve had the sacred privilege of observing how deeply people crave and respond to genuine acknowledgment. Not the superficial kind that flatters or appeases, but the kind that reflects the truth of someone’s labor, talent, and courage. I’ve watched nominees and winners hold back tears as their names are called. Others gush with uncontrollable joy, their hands trembling as they accept a symbol that says, You are not invisible.
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It might be easy to dismiss awards as vanity projects or ego-driven competitions. But that would miss the spiritual and psychological undercurrent that flows through them when they are done right. Acknowledgment, at its core, is an act of love. And when love is given publicly, it carries a kind of alchemy. It transforms not only the one who receives it but also those who bear witness to it. It reminds us all that we are part of a human story where effort, passion, and voice do not vanish into the void.
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“I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.”
-Maya Angelou
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What I see in her quote is that acknowledgment lifts people beyond their trials. It offers a place to stand tall again, rooted in the truth of their contribution.
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I’ve reflected deeply on how acknowledgment can serve as a healing force. I’ve seen artists who are brilliant, unrelenting, often underpaid, and frequently over-questioned begin to believe in their worth again because someone took the time to say, Well done. And not just someone, but their peers. Their community. A room full of people who understand how hard the road has been.
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There is also power in accepting acknowledgment. It’s not always easy. Some recoil, unsure how to receive praise. I’ve been that person too, caught between humility and disbelief, wondering if I was truly deserving. But I’ve come to see that accepting acknowledgment is an act of grace. It is saying yes to your own humanity. Yes to the fact that your work, your words, your voice, are worthy of being recognized. That you’ve offered something only you could give, and that you allowed yourself to be vulnerable enough to give it.
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Philosophically, I believe acknowledgment affirms the idea that we do not live for ourselves alone. We live in a web of meaning, constantly weaving and being woven into others’ lives. When we acknowledge someone’s art, we are saying that their existence has contributed something real to the collective human experience.
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As a co-founder of the Voice Arts® Awards, I am clear that the creator of an awards program does not own what it means to the participants and recipients. For those individuals, it is about their life story and dreams. Only they know and feel what it means, both in the moment and for the rest of their lives. Only they can truly own this very personal experience. In that spirit, acknowledgment becomes part of the story that people carry with them forever.
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“What we are most passionate about are those things that reflect back to us who we really are.”
-Werner Erhard
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Good Morning America once called the Voice Arts® Awards “the Oscars® of voice acting.” While I am proud to hear that comparison, so often echoed in articles, blogs, and social posts, the true joy lies in knowing that the honor of being named a nominee or winner of the Voice Arts® Award holds meaning far beyond any comparison. These moments are glorious in their own right. They are personal affirmations that creativity, dedication, and sacrifice are vital pursuits, not trivial ones. Human affirmation is essential. Unlike artificial intelligence, which is fueled by data, human beings are moved, uplifted, and inspired by life itself.
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And in a time when so many feel unseen, unheard, and undervalued, creating a ritual of acknowledgment becomes a spiritual act. It is a declaration that beauty still matters. That storytelling still has power. Those voices, both literal and metaphorical, deserve to be lifted, celebrated, and remembered.
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When I look out at a room filled with nominees, presenters, producers, family members, and friends, I see each person there because they dared to dream and chose to support the dreams of others. In that moment, I am reminded that acknowledgment is not just about the person on stage. It is about everyone who showed up, who held them up, who listened, who believed, who contributed their congratulations to the moment. It is a ripple effect of love.
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This is why I do what I do. This is why the Voice Arts® Awards matter. Because in a world hungry for validation, overwhelmed by judgment, and fractured by division, acknowledgment becomes a bridge. And over that bridge, we find each other. ♦♦♦
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Rudy Gaskins is the CEO and co-founder of the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences (SOVAS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the global community of voice actors and the professionals who contribute to the voice acting industry. I have co-created That’s Voiceover!™ Career Expo and the Voice Arts® Awards . Rudy is an Emmy Award-winning TV producer and documentary filmmaker, with a career spanning PBS, ABC News, NBC Sports, Court TV, and Food Network. His natural talent for advertising led him to become Vice President of Creative Services at Court TV, after which he founded Push Creative Advertising, offering branding services for major global brands such as American Express, Lexus, NBC Sports, Delta Air Lines, Costco, Food Network, BET, and TV One. He has received numerous awards across the media spectrum, including multiple Telly and Promax awards. Under his leadership, SOVAS has been honored with Special Congressional Recognition from the United States Congress, a Certificate of Merit from the New York State Assembly, and a City Council Citation from The Council of the City of New York.
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From the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences
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From the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences
