Listening Part 3: Listening In
52 Weeks - Week 17
"Follow your heart, listen to your inner voice, stop caring about what others think." Roy T. Bennett
How real is it to be listening to voices in your head, or following the guidance of something you can't see or logically explain? It depends on your belief systems, frames of reference, and clarity about who you are.
Belief systems set the tone for our positive and/or negative experiences in the world. If I believe hearing voices is a bad thing and means I am either possessed or delusional, then most likely I will seek guidance from someone or something I can see. On the other hand, if I receive messages of inspiration when I meditate or pray, I am much more open to receiving guidance from within.
Frames of reference refer to your inner and outer construct of the world. In other words, how the world works according to you. Your worldview is dependent on your beliefs, attitudes and perceptions about life. It is your physical, mental and emotional bodies working in sync to keep you safe from anything that upsets the status quo of your existence and welcomes anything that supports it. Your construct can define your starting place for anything you want, in this case a journey for inner guidance. Within that construct, beliefs set the tone for the journey, creating the conditions that move you forward or backward depending on your resonance with the idea.
Clarity about who you are, your confidence in your abilities and self-worth create momentum and the solidity of your inner connection. How you feel about yourself determines how fast and how far you go in connecting with your inner guidance.
So, your starting place, the conditions of your journey, and the quality of your connection is all dependent on you—your worldview, beliefs and self-image. No pressure! No really, no pressure. You are exactly where you need to be to get started on one of the most wonderful adventures you can have.
“The quieter you become, the more you can hear.” Ram Dass
Getting Started with Inner Listening
You have to start where you are. There’s no way around it. In order to listen in you need to pass through the gateway—your mind! If you’ve been practicing any of the breaths from previous 52 weeks emails it will serve you. If not, it might be to your advantage to go back and check out weeks 1-4 and choose the technique that works best for you.
Listen in. I mean that literally. Direct your attention and your hearing inward. Push past the body noises and through the labyrinth of your mental chatter. Feel your way into your inner caverns where your consciousness and sub-consciousness share space. This is the place. Sit here. If you are feeling a little lost about this, use your imagination as a guide and let it direct you. It will take you where you need to be.
Breathe with focus. Gently. Letting stray thoughts and discomfort go on the currents of your breath.
Find your center. Explore your inner territory, feel around for the place where body, mind and emotions converge. For me this is my heart center and it feels calm, positive and grounded in light. Your center may feel the same or you may feel something different. Each of us has our own unique experience. Use your intention to get centered by holding an image or thought that makes you feel good. Some hints for finding your center: Relax. It’s not something you have to create; it is already in you. Breathe and let go, as it is a place free of judgments, blame or guilt. Most importantly, it is a place that feels like home.
Focused attention. Sit in your center, keeping your mind present and listening, like you are offering your attention as a prayer or a gift. You are waiting for the door to open, for entry to the place of inner knowing. Focus on your out-breath. Gently, keep bringing your attention back to your out-breath. No thinking. No doing. Breathe until you feel that opening of connection—that spacious feeling as if your molecules are spreading out, as if you have connected to a subtle current of energy. A door has opened and you’ve been invited in! The secret is you are always connected, focusing your attention allows you to remember.
What happens next is up to you. One thing I can tell you is you are in the right place at the right time. Hang out, see what happens and feel what you feel.
Resources
All of my information is based on over 40 years of experience with my inner guides and how I hear, feel and interact with them.
Journal Prompt
· Write or draw about your journey inner listening.
· Explain what happens when you ‘center’ in.
· What do you feel/see when you focus your attention inward.
· Keep track of your progress each time you practice.
Final Thoughts
I’ve been listening to my inner guides for many years so I know that with effort and persistence you can make contact however your inner being shows up for you. In next week’s Listening Part 4: Inner Voices, I will go into detail about connecting with inner guides and voices. Stay tuned—it’s really cool!