“This is what my friends are telling me.”
“My parents don’t agree.”
“My best friend says that I should…”
We listen to so many voices, consider so many opinions, think about many points of view. Instead of turning outward for advice, I invite you to pay attention instead to the guide inside, to the wiser self that loves us and knows what’s best for us.
It’s easier said than done. Like everything else, it takes practice. In an exceedingly noisy world, where it seems impossible to turn off outside influence (no matter how well-meaning), it’s important to listen to your inner wiser self. She will show you how to live your life, not anyone else’s.
To do this, I have a simple yet powerful tool:
I journal.
This is how I transform my writing time into a sacred practice.
Before writing in my journal, I say a prayer or set an intention for this quiet time. I used to light a candle but adding too much drama made it more complicated than it needed to be. Now, I just pick up my pen and journal and wherever I am, I start to write.
I usually start my entries with “Dear wiser self.” You can use “Dear intuition,” or “Dear future self” or even “Dear journal.”
I don’t edit or censor. On the page, fear, anger, joy show up. It’s where I curse and put myself down and jab the page with angry words. This is where my secret bad girl makes an appearance. It’s where I doodle smiley faces, rainbows and hearts. It’s where bad grammar comes out. And It’s where I use words like “I hope,” ‘I dream,” “I want.”
This is also the place where I feel comfortable about asking my inner wise self for her advice on what to do, on whether I’m going where I should be, on whether a decision is right for me. It’s as simple as asking my question and how I feel about it and then writing down what comes next.
When I don’t get the answer yet, I try again the next day or bring it up another time.
How do I know that it’s my inner wise self talking and not just my ego or my inner critic? I hear the love in the words that are being written. I hear how it only wants the best for me.
And as I continue this practice, I feel in my bones when the words are right, when they are giving wisdom that you need. Your heart, your tummy, even the blood flowing in your veins feel calm.
When I read past entries, I start to see patterns, and can check in whether my inner wise self was right. Most times, she usually is.
“When you begin with a clear intention to access the Voice of wisdom within, you let the universe know that you are ready to open two doors into your soul: the door into your deepest self and the gate to the cosmic divine…So by setting your intention to open your sol to divine dialogue you elevate the act of writing to a place regular journaling rarely goes.”
—Jannet Conner, Writing Down Your Soul: How to Activate and Listen to the Extraordinary Voice Within
In August, I would love to start journaling with you everyday. In my August e-newsletter, I will share with you 31 days of journaling prompts and tips if you want to start a journaling practice. Subscribe to my newsletter using the form below to join the fun 🙂
