DO YOU TRUST ME? / AMPLIFY YOUR OWN INNER WISDOM
THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION YOU CAN ASK YOURSELF.
TURN UP THE VOLUME ON THE VOICE THAT’S OFTEN HARDEST TO HEAR: IT’S YOUR OWN AND IT’S A WISE ONE.
Like most people, I’ve lived many periods of change in my life, some natural and flowing like when each of my two boys were born and our family started a new chapter of life together (indeed, both times, it was a good day for a good day), some stormy and uncertain like when the company I worked for was acquired and everyone I knew as a steady hand of leadership was exited from the new business.
Like most people, I don’t like change as a general rule. Even small workflow or process changes at the office could sometimes make me itchy. One of the best quotes I heard on this recently was something along the lines of: “I’m ok with change… as long as it’s my choice!” Yes, I agree. It’s nice to feel in control of one’s own future. However, rational hat on, I know it’s not exactly realistic to think it will be that way every time, possibly not even most of the time.
Whether the feeling I’m experiencing is flowing through calm waters or white river rafting or fighting the elements in the vast open ocean, I’ve discovered that, in moments of great change or uncertainty, the most important question I can ask myself is: ‘Do You Trust Me?’
If the answer is No, the work becomes examining why not and what’s going on. If the answer is Yes, then I can move through anything. That’s right... Anything.
And the staggering thing I’ve learned is that the answer is almost always: Yes. Yes. I trust me.
Yes, because I’ve met my inner, most confident self. Yes, because I’ve seen her in action and I know what she can do. I can hear her. I can see her. And by asking myself this question time and time again, I can hear her more and more clearly every time. That deep seated voice of inner wisdom - not my ego, not my outer self - but the voice of my deepest self who knows the way and knows the answer. She knows what lights me up and she knows what makes me feel warm. The most important thing is asking the question and staying attuned to the answer.
You may not always have a vivid, high-definition, picture-perfect answer to the questions you’re up against but if you can tune in to that whisper of wisdom, at a minimum, you can find your general direction.
Here’s what I know for sure: I have always landed on my feet, even when I stumbled. I have always figured things out, even when I took my time. I have made pivots and learned to ride waves and rough waters when I needed to. If nothing else, my history tells me that if I can follow the energy and what feels right, I will never be led astray. The key is really just practicing listening closer.
Whatever change or uncertainty you may be going through, you can’t force the answer or coerce your crystal ball but you can lock into your inner compass and the wisdom of your inner voice to know that your direction is sound. And if it is sound (and it’s a good day for a good day), you can take that leap.
DO YOU TRUST ME?
Amplify your wisdom, turn up the volume on your inner voice.
You can trust yourself, trust you intuition, trust your journey. Just ask: DO YOU TRUST ME?
A deep breath and a leap. When have you found the courage to leap? Can you identify that feeling that gives you the strength and resolve to go for it?
Think about the areas of your life where you implicitly trust yourself. What’s the pattern that you see? What about areas where you don’t or you‘re unsure. What’s the difference and how can you draw inspiration from the realms that you do trust. Practice asking, practice listening and practice having awareness of what you feel when you do and when you don’t have that trust.
When change or decision points are upon us, the ‘Should’ voices are loud. Who you think you should be, how you think you should act, what you think you should do. All based on our socialized selves and often based on hopes and wishes of other people in our lives, even if they’re well-meaning. Take out the noise and the influence by tuning into the deepest and quietest voice.
Trust your deepest self. Practice listening closely and it will get louder and clearer over time.
