Why you can't hear your Inner Voice
See if this sounds familiar: You’ve been getting excited about finally doing inner work. Or maybe you’ve been at it for a while. Either way, you’re inspired to get to the bottom of YOU. So you’re loading up on all the resources you can find. Your sister, who’s practically enlightened, calls and gives you her opinions. Your yoga buddy has advice for you. You read self-help books by the best authors. You’re following inspirational folks on instagram. You listen to thought provoking podcasts. You even get notes like this in your inbox from yoga teacher / life coaches who only want what’s best for you.
LOST IN THE NOISE
All of it seems so useful because you’re on a journey of self discovery. But what you may not notice is that when you’re busy listening to everyone else, you lose yourself.
All of voices eventually blend together into a giant cacophony of noise. Lots and lots of distracting, competing noise. No one can offer real insight any more because there is just so much. It’s coming in and going by so fast that you’re head feels like it’s spinning. You can’t think straight and it’s hard to make decisions.
YOUR INNER VOICE
Drowned out by all of that noise is your inner voice. Quiet. Soft. It’s barely perceptible beyond the louder roar from everyone else. Your inner voice gently offers it’s guidance. Only, you haven’t heard it lately because it speaks so quietly. Honestly, this is where your journey of self discover should be leading you - to YOURSELF.
If you’re ready to hear your inner voice, start listening inside instead of outside. Scary as it sounds, it’s time to turn down the volume on all the other voices. That means unfollowing on social media and not listening to podcasts so often. It means being very picky about who you let into your feed and your mind. Turning down the noise can also include not running to other people for advice before consulting yourself.
IN THE QUIET
By turning down the outer noise, it’s possible for you to hear your inner voice again.
That’s a good thing because your inner voice will never guide you wrong. It doesn’t know how. It only knows what’s best for you in the moment.
Sometimes what’s best for you could cause some pain (like when it says you need to end a relationship). That’s why we drown out our inner voices with other voices. But the potential for heartache doesn’t mean that the guidance coming for your inner voice is wrong. Usually the heartache will be short-lived and is in service of greater joy in the long run. I know this is true because I met my husband only a few months after listening to my inner voice and ending a romantic relationship that wasn’t right for me.
LISTEN TO YOUR INNER VOICE
The next time you have a small decision to make, pause and connect with your inner voice for guidance.
Put a hand on your heart and take a few quieting breaths. This is best done when you’ve been away from social media and other voices for a few minutes.
Ask your inner voice for guidance
Listen for the answer - know that your inner voice may speak in words, images, or sensations. Be available and curious about what arises
TRUST THE ANSWER you get
If you’re really comfortable getting a lot of other people’s opinions about your life, this exercise can feel scary at first. Start small. Asking questions with low-stakes answers will be easier for you. Know that you don’t have to act on anything your inner voice tells you. You can simply listen and hear what it has to say. Honestly, you don’t have to do anything with what it says.
GETTING GOOD AT LISTENING
Your inner voice will only point you in the direction of your highest good. The better you get at quieting down the outer noise so that you can hear that guidance the more comfortable you’ll feel trusting it. Getting good at this will build your confidence from the inside out. It’s an embodied experience of living from your deepest values and authentic truth. It’s not something you can fake or that anyone else can tell you how to do… only you can guide you to your own truth.
So yes, connect with teachers. Talk to friends. Listen to podcasts. Do all those things that help you stay awake and inspired along your self-discovery journey. But most of all, remember to get quiet. Listen in. And let your inner voice guide you to your deepest, truest, most authentic version of you!.