My inner voice has saved me from things that were going to go really wrong, time and time again.
I’m not special, either. I just paid attention.
We all can do this. You can do this.
About a decade ago I was going to make a life change that would’ve been disastrous. There were signs of doom along the way, but I was insistent. Out of nowhere, I was presented with another option so dramatic that I had to stop and reconsider. At first I refused. But the message was insistent. So I stopped. I listened. And my entire life changed ina big and beautiful way.
Future events made clear that had I not listened, things would not have gone well for me.
A few years ago a sick friend neglected to take sufficient care and as a result, something happened. When she told me, in frustration I blurted out: “Your disease isn’t going to kill you, THIS is.” The words came out of my mouth before I could stop them. And in fact, a few days later that happened.
More recently, my inner voice told me I needed to postpone or cancel the retreat to the Middle East planned for this month. I had no idea that coronavirus would impact travel so seriously during my dates that I would’ve been forced to cancel at a late date, at a great financial loss. In retrospect, it was prescient.
I feel the same frustration about coronavirus. Many people in my greater circle remain uninformed. Some are just not paying attention to public health guidance. Some are just stupidly stubborn. They don’t take expert guidance seriously because they don’t think anything will happen to them. They don’t want to curtail activities. They don’t see that it’s not just about THEM: we are all in this together and we need to all take measures for this virus to abate.
We’re in this together
I feel the same sense of frustration I did when those words came out of my mouth to my friend. In fact, I can’t keep from providing strong input. Probably obnoxious input. That could be life-saving input.
Our responsibility to one another is so clear to me. I wonder why people can’t look past their own self interest and see what I see. And why they aren’t in touch with their own inner wisdom.
In retrospect, guidance has been present in my life for a long time. I think it’s true for us all, but we don’t always listen.
The late Joan Rivers attributed her success to the fact that she was smart enough to walk through any door that opened. I think the reverse is also true: Be smart enough to notice when doors need to be closed, at least for a while.
So how do we listen to our inner voice?
- Quiet yourself periodically. Slow down.
- Listen for times when your inner voice is insistent. For a hunch. A feeling. Intuition. Or that feeling of frustration.
- Ask for guidance.
- Let it steep. Wait for answers.
Regarding coronavirus: Listen to qualified public health officials. When they recommend social distancing, do it. If you don’t want to prioritize your own health, put public health above anything else.
Use good judgment. That’s how we’ll get through this.
I don’t always listen as closely as I should, but even I know that this disease is nothing to laugh at. I have been staying at home or in my car. I have to go into the DR these next two days and it makes me nervous. I’m still going to go because he’s an oncologist and not a GP (those I avoid at all costs) in my life those kind of mistakes could be deadly.
I couldn’t do any of this without you…you are amazing. Stay safe.
One learns more listening tan speaking. Good post!!
Our inner voice is always there for us.
Yes, this is so true, however, unfortunately most of us, including myself are running a mile per minute and don’t take time to slow down and listen. Thanks for the reminder!
and yet, so much guidance to be found there. Slowing down is always a good thing.
Yes! Listen more!
and react far, far less!