How to Listen to Your Inner Voice

It’s that voice in your head that tells you to go right instead of left. But you go left. It encourages you by reminding you of your potential and sending vibrations of love and strength. It is the gentle brush of the wind to push you in a different direction. Sometimes it is the positive, uplifting, and common words or phrases that are heard by others that are close to you. 

In life we hear “follow your intuition,” “trust your hunch,” “go with your gut instinct,” or “listen to your heart.” Too often, however, we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life that our inner voice gets fogged out. Instead, our loud voice kicks in; “gotta get up and get going!,” “don’t forget to ___,” “you are gonna be late!” With our ego in charge, it is no wonder that we can’t hear the other small voice trying to warn us of an upcoming disaster or a serious mistake. In fact, most of us, over 60% presented in several studies, make decisions more abruptly and randomly. This sudden motion of decision making may have very negative consequences in the end. 

But why does this matter anyway? 

Well, not all things in life are cut and dry. Decisions are meant to be made, and in some cases, those decisions will make or break us. They may have such a drastic effect on our lives that we find ourselves looking back telling ourselves not to do that one, or otherwise, telling ourselves that that was the best decision ever. Many of us have been there. I, myself, am one of those people. In fact, I can describe at least a handful of times that I heard my inner voice tell me to do something, and I chose alternately (in many cases, I just didn’t like the answer that I got). However, I can also say that over time, I have established a better relationship with myself and that internal microphone so that I am more open to its advice and warnings. 

I have heard people say, “I wish I would have listened to myself when I knew I shouldn’t have married her;” “something told me to go right. If I would have gone right I would have avoided the accident and maybe I would still have my car;” “if only I would have listened to my gut, I would have known not to move and would have found another way to make it work.” Come to think of it, I find that I am helping clients work through their regret and guilt from past decisions in almost 75% of our meetings. Intuition counts. 

As I go on to share some of the strategies that I have used or heard from others, I must say one thing...not all intuition is created the same. Some of us hear a small voice in the back of our head, we may visualize a picture or a symbol, we may get a literal gut feeling, we may find ourselves in repeated patterns in life and suddenly become aware of it, or we may even find that our instinct is hidden in the advice of others-I caution this approach because it could become habit to listen to others more than you do yourself. In that case, you are no longer listening to intuition but to what others think is best for you. 

That being said, what can you do to become more connected with YOUR intuition? 

1. Find a quiet place. Sit with yourself. Listen to your breath, feel your heart rate, meditate. Doing this more often will allow you to become more connected with you. 
2. Practice daily mindfulness. Pause. Breathe deeply. Reflect. Then react. Doing this alone will help you prevent from making the sudden decision; whether it be action, words, or thoughts-what you do matters. 
3. Open up your intuition by asking it to be more present in your life. Ask it to speak up more. And when it does show up-challenge yourself to pause in the moment and be aware of its advisories. Is it a feeling in your gut? Do you see a visual reminder? Is it your own voice speaking to you?
4. Eat a slice of pie before making the decision. Think of Kay from the movie “Men in Black.” Plus, nothing wrong with enjoying some pie before changing your life. Right? 
5. Write it down. Weigh your options. Sometimes just putting it on paper allows our brains to refocus on the intention and therefore our intuition can kick in. 
6. Talk it out. Writing it down is helpful, talking about it to those that care for you is also supportive. You may also sit with a life coach that can offer you insightful questions and guidance. Just as none of us are created equal, neither is our internal voice. Sometimes we just need to talk to feel it within ourselves. 
7. Let go of all things or people that don’t serve you. When we release ourselves from the toxicity of a negative relationship or idea, we embrace what was best for us in the first place. This is a great way to start. 
8. Pay attention to what is around you. Our environment has a lot to offer; not just the people but the energy of the objects. This will help you gain awareness of the here and now and your own feelings, thoughts, or actions. 

I challenge you to practice these strategies on several occasions. Begin with small decisions. What should I wear today? Where should I go? Is it a good time to call ___? Would it be best to ___ or ___? 

The more you practice, the closer you will become with your own inner voice. The magic isn’t where others are, but where you are with yourself. 

For more on this topic, or in case you are looking for a good read, check out “Intuitive Being” by Jill Willard or “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert. 
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We want to hear from you! What strategies have you used to connect with your instinctual gut? What questions do you still have? 

Blessings! 

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