Trusting Your Inner Voice
Trusting your inner voice and making authentic life choices may disappoint people you care about. It is important to take a step back and recognize the limitations of loved ones if they are not cheering you on for living your life for you- with truth and authenticity. Their disappointment is in no way a reflection of your worth.
Our inner voice, also known as our intuition or gut feeling, is a powerful tool that we all possess. It is that quiet, yet persistent voice that nudges us in the right direction, warns us of danger, and provides us with insight into our thoughts and emotions. However, we often ignore or dismiss our inner voice, leading to missed opportunities and poor decision-making. This can lead to anxiety, depression, resentment, and feeling lost and confused. In this blog post, we will explore why it is essential to trust your inner voice and how to cultivate a deeper connection with it.
What is Your Inner Voice?
Your inner voice is your internal guidance system. It is the voice that speaks to you in quiet moments when you are alone with your thoughts, and the voice that screams at you when you are about to make a huge mistake. It is that voice that tells you what feels right and what doesn't, and what decisions to make. Your inner voice is unique to you and is your own truth and knowing- no one else’s.
Why is Trusting Your Inner Voice Important?
Trusting your inner voice is essential because it allows you to make decisions that align with your values, beliefs, and goals. It helps you to stay true to yourself and to live a life that is authentic and fulfilling. When you trust your inner voice, you are more likely to make choices that are in your best interest and that of those around you. For most people, this takes an incredible amount of bravery. Trusting your inner voice and making authentic life choices may disappoint people you care about. It is important to take a step back and recognize the limitations of loved ones if they are not cheering you on for living your life for you- with truth and authenticity. This can be so challenging as often the limitations of others are informed by rigid cultural or religious rules, making it incredibly difficult to reason with these loved ones. Their disappointment is in no way a reflection of your worth.
On the other hand, when you ignore your inner voice, you may find yourself feeling stuck, confused, or unsure about the decisions you make. You may also find that you are not living the life you want or making the progress you desire. You may become depressed and irritable, anxious and fatigued, lacking a sense of purpose, feeling a sense of insecurity or shame, and resenting yourself or those around you.
How to Cultivate a Deeper Connection with Your Inner Voice
Cultivating a deeper connection with your inner voice takes time, patience, and practice. Here are some strategies that can help:
Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness is the practice of being present and aware of your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. Practicing mindfulness can help you tune out distractions and connect with your inner voice.
Listen to Your Body: Your body is an excellent tool for connecting with your inner voice. Pay attention to how your body reacts to different situations and decisions. For example, if your stomach feels tight or uneasy about a decision, it may be a sign to listen to your inner voice.
Practice Meditation: Meditation is a powerful tool for cultivating a deeper connection with your inner voice. It helps you to quiet your mind, tune out distractions, and focus on your inner thoughts and feelings.
Increase Your Self-Esteem: Surround yourself with those who celebrate you for you and help you to trust your inner voice. Recognize when someone is not making you feel good about yourself, or steering you in the wrong life direction, and try to externalize their messages as their own issues, not yours. Lean into positive self talk, self-care, and holding onto your worth. This will help you to trust yourself.
Keep a Journal: Writing down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a journal can help you connect with your inner voice. It can also help you identify patterns and themes that may be blocking your ability to trust your intuition.
Process in Therapy: Going to individual or group therapy regularly can help you process negative messaging you may have received from others in your life (including family members or partners) that make it difficult for you to trust yourself, or to even hear your inner voice. It can also help improve your self-esteem so you can bravely act on what your inner voice is guiding you to do.
Conclusion
Trusting your inner voice takes bravery, but it is essential for living a life that is authentic and fulfilling. It allows you to make decisions that align with your values, beliefs, and goals. Cultivating a deeper connection with your inner voice takes time, patience, practice, and lots of processing, but it is worth the effort. By developing a stronger relationship with your inner voice, you will be able to make better decisions in your life, and feel more authentic, inspired, purpose-driven, and fulfilled.
Kaci Smith, LMFT
I am a licensed psychotherapist in California. I run online, drop-in therapy groups for women in California year round, where leaning into your inner voice is encouraged. I also offer online psycho-educational workshops. Visit my website to learn more or e-mail me anytime.