Quiet voice

[Nordman]

I'm putting this under the general health category because I'm not sure where else it fits. I'm looking for some advice.
I have a really quiet voice! I've always had a quiet voice, ever since I was a child. At school, teachers and in fact pretty much everyone used to tell me I was speaking quietly because I was shy, and so I became shy and lost confidence (it really did happen that way - I was NOT shy to begin with). As I've got older my voice has stayed quiet and it really bothers me that I come across as shy or lacking in confidence when I really don't feel that way. It's just that my voice doesn't project far. If I try to speak louder it sounds strained and the tone changes so I sound annoyed.
Has anyone experienced this or does anyone have suggestions of how I can learn to project my voice louder but still sound normal?

No one has any suggestions?

I have a suggestion. I had the same issue. I found, by chance, that improving my lung capacity helped.

Cycling and Qi Gong really helped me health-wise and as an unexpected correlation, my voice has way more strength to it. More oomph, if you know what I mean? I'm convinced it's because of the chest muscles being worked.

Also, if you are excessively tense, this will reflect in your voice. Obviously in the middle of a pandemic things are tense, but working on ways to properly relax may help.

Yes to the above, and also singing lessons .

Making your voice deeper will produce a bigger sound. With practice it can become your normal voice.

But I wouldn't get too hung up about it. I much prefer softly spoken people. I actively avoid loud ones!

See a speech therapist.