Listen
to your Wisdom
By Lisa Martin
Being a good listener
starts with paying attention to yourself—your own inner dialogue. We
all talk to ourselves, but how many of us really listen? Sometimes
the inner dialogue doesn’t even shape itself into words. It’s a song
that’s been running through your head for a couple of days, or that
twinge of intuition that you’ve been pushing to the back of your
mind. Listening to yourself is about connecting with your inner
wisdom, your deepest desires and dreams, and understanding what is
truly in your heart. It’s listening to that little voice that wants
to guide you to your best life.
Intuition is your
Inner Compass
As women, we understand the power of our intuition and how valuable
it can be in steering our lives in the right direction. “Women’s
intuition” we say by way of self-congratulation when things go our
way. By better understanding what intuition is and how it works, we
can proactively access and leverage our wise self to chart the best
course for our lives. Intuition may appear to be random thoughts or
the beginning of a subtle knowing. These rambling thoughts may or
may not be well-formed arguments for or against something in your
life, but you need to pay them attention nevertheless. Often,
intuition begins not as a loud scream but rather an inkling that
something is not right or, conversely, that something feels good.
When we listen to these messages and follow through with our “gut”
feeling things work in our favor. On the other hand, if time isn’t
taken to listen to your inner dialogue, to be with yourself, you may
find the ability to connect with your intuition compromised. And,
chances are, you may make decisions that are not in your best
interest.
Create Space for your
Thoughts
Silence and patience are prerequisites for accessing your intuition.
You may remember the insightful words of the song written by Paul
Simon in the 1960s, “The Sound of Silence”.
Hello darkness, my old
friend,
I've come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.
Sometimes it is difficult
to bring that suppressed inner dialogue to the forefront of your
awareness. You need to make space in your life to listen to
yourself. Stopping the busyness of your life, even for a few
minutes, to be with the silence surrounding you will promote a still
and quiet mind. When in this state, true reflection can take place.
To hear the inner
workings of your soul, you must also practice patience. Give
yourself permission to take the time to capture your true longings.
This may mean letting go of your need for instant answers to mirror
the speedy pace of your life. Sometimes it’s enough just to have
formed the question and let your inner dialogue and intuition work
on the answer in the background of your mind.
Playing with your
Coach
Listen well to your inner wisdom. For the next week, find 15 minutes
each day to dedicate to daily reflection time. Use this time to
connect with your wise self. Begin to listen to what your intuition
is telling you. Write how you are feeling in the moment —no lists,
no answers, just random thoughts. Learn to be comfortable in the
silence. You might begin by responding to questions such as
-
I am happiest when ….
-
I am calmed by ….
About
the Author: Lisa Martin is the founder of
Briefcase Moms™, a company that is dedicated to helping
time-starved working mothers who want to manage the competing
priorities of motherhood without guilt and stress. As a mother and
professional personal coach with more than 18 years of corporate and
entrepreneurial experience, she understands the stresses facing
career-committed professionals. Struggling to balance work and
family? Sign up for Briefcase Moms™ complimentary publications
Taking Care of Mom™ and Success & Balance.
