how do I tell whats coming out pa?

Like many other beginners I find that when I record my voice it doesn't sound like me. Sounds flat and lifeless. Play games with compression, reverb ect and it improves. BUT! Isn't what I'm recorfing what I actually sound like? If thgis is what I sound like live, how do I improve my live sound? Make sense?

What you think your voice sounds like and what it actually sounds like are completely different, therefore, before saying there is a problem, ask someone you know to see how close the recording is to your actual voice, and you will probably be shocked with the answer.
Have fun
Bill