In the world of travel and conquering the great unknown, there is an abundance of information available to assist us on our way. Where to go, what to do, what to pack. But one important yet seldom discussed item essential for any international escapade or other noble descent into uncertainty is… your inner voice.
You know what I am talking about. It’s that voice… that one Kermit the frog (and Jason Mraz!) sing about in the Rainbow Connection. We have all experienced it. That moment or moments when we KNEW that something was true but we had no logical explanation for how we knew that. Perhaps it was something simple like thinking of someone we haven’t spoken to in years just before we ran into them in a shopping mall. Or maybe it was just a gut feeling that something wasn’t right for us… and we passed on it only to learn later it was a disaster. Whatever your inner voice moment(s) may be, it’s a handy companion to have on any journey.
In my life of uncertainty, staying tuned to my inner voice has served me well. It has directed me towards concrete ways to immediately bring in money in times of emergency. It has gently nudged me in new directions or connections that were of benefit to me. It has encouraged me to take fruitful leaps that my intellect wanted to discard.
Whether you are roaming the globe or facing your own flavor of uncertainty, it is helpful to nurture and cultivate your inner voice. Here are a few tips to begin to add your inner voice to your repertoire.
Tips for Tuning into Your Inner Voice
1. Take time to be quiet and explore stillness. It’s hard to listen to your inner voice when there is a barrage of noise and distractions around you or in your own head. You don’t have to sell all of your personal belongings and sit on a mountain to begin to cultivate some quiet in your life. If you don’t already, find simple ways to bring some quiet and joy into your life on a daily basis. Maybe it’s a quiet walk in the park, or finding a serene spot outside to just sit and breath. You could walk barefoot in your back yard or listen to a meditation CD. Take a bath. Little steps every day to find quiet help cultivate a fertile ground where our inner voice can “show up.”
2. Take your inner voice out for a test drive. The best way to explore listening to your inner voice is to simply try it. Pay attention to your inner world a bit and see what you notice. Now don’t be confused, this isn’t the worrying voice in your head that starts shouting out distractions or going through your “to do list” for the day. It is a quieter voice. Sometimes it’s like a whisper or a thought that enters your head, except it’s not your thought. You could start by trying something simple like asking your inner voice, what should I eat for dinner? And see if you get a reply… a thought or idea that pops into your head. If you get an answer and it isn’t something that sound totally awful, give it a try and see what happens.
3. Inner Voice Discernment. Even for experienced inner voice listeners, it is not always clear what is the wisdom of your inner voice and what is… something else. So here is my general rule in negotiating the landscape of inner voice wisdom. If you believe your inner voice is telling you something but you are not 100% sure, and it’s innocent with no negative impact if you try it, give it a whirl. Perhaps it is reaching out to an old friend, pursuing a new job lead, or even simply trying a new restaurant. Often, simply trying out innocent instincts can help to validate your inner voice. If, however, your inner voice is serving up life altering advice, seek outside guidance before proceeding. Whether it’s your mom’s best friend who always has a good sense about things or a professional intuitive, it never hurts to get a second opinion.
Do You Want to Dig Deeper?
In my experience, the more we cultivate the quietness within the easier it is to hear and discern our inner voice. There are many spiritual practices that support this well and perhaps there are one or two that you’d like to explore. Here are a few suggestions and some of my favorites.
1. Get a Reiki Treatment or Take a Reiki Class. Reiki is a gentle Japanese healing art and does wonders for quieting the mind and easing the spirit. It is also a great way to support and nurture listening to your inner voice. After practicing reiki for over ten years, there are countless times where reiki has ushered in a strong knowing about something specific and useful, sometimes life altering, in my life.
If I am in your area, I am happy to be of service with a hands on reiki treatment. I can also send long-distance reiki from anywhere in the world. If you’d like to know more about reiki, visit the services section of my blog. I am also happy to assist you in finding a qualified reiki practitioner in your area. Simply write me through my contact page.
2. Dive Deep Into Silence. Vipassana is one of India’s oldest techniques of meditation. Ten day silent Vipassana retreats are offered at no cost to participants all over the world. These simple yet powerful retreats’ intent is simply to teach and offer practice in this style of meditation. While not for the faint of heart, it’s a compelling journey into the silence and great support for your inner voice. To learn more, visit their website at www.dhamma.org.
3. Take a Yoga Class! When I first began yoga, my mat was like a refuge. It was a place where I could dive and surrender into something glorious and peaceful within myself. It was also a tranquil treat for my inner voice. Whether you are new or experienced in yoga, classes ranging from gentle to more vigorous flow await.
Do you have any tips or inner voice stories to share? Perhaps a travel story or other time when listening to your inner voice really paid off? Or maybe a time you were surprised by an inner voice encounter. Feel free to write and share! It’s always good to hear from you.
In the meantime, happy adventures into the unknown… whatever and wherever that may be for you!
Gypsy Woman 
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