How often do you listen to that little niggling voice inside?
It’s not necessarily speaking words like when you’re thinking. But it might be a feeling that nudges you towards or away from something.
This could be something in the moment. You might avoid walking down a particular street because it feels dodgy, or choose a different meal for dinner than what you had planned you fancy something else to eat.
Or it could be a little niggling feeling that you’ve carried around with you for ages but the noise of life drowns it out.
For me, I’ve been wanting to make a video based on drawings rather than fancy editing. I felt put off because I’m not very good at drawing… But I realised that it would be better at getting my point across than trying (and failing) to animate things in software!
So I tried it this week and loved it! My inner voice was right.
How to hear your inner voice
Your inner voice is always there, but it can be hard to hear it, especially when life is loud.
Here are a few ways I’ve found helpful for turning down the external noise so I can actually hear what that part of me is saying.
1. Create quiet moments
Being still and quiet physically can help you be still and quiet mentally. Create quiet and space for that voice to come through. Stillness gives it room to speak. There’s a reason why writers’ retreats are so popular!
I like to make a cup of tea and go and sit somewhere different to where I usually sit or work. So go to the dining table or the garden if it’s sunny and I just observe what’s going on outside like the birds, the clouds and the plants in my garden.
You could try going for a walk without your phone, meditating, or relaxing in the bath.
2. Notice the nudges
Start paying attention to those tiny gut feelings or sparks of curiosity. They often show up before the overthinking kicks in.
You might feel a small “yes” or “no” in your body before your brain starts listing pros and cons.
You can train it with the simple day to day decisions like what to wear or what to eat. Then over time, you’ll start to notice the physical responses to other things too. Like when someone suggests to you a new process at work or someone gives you ideas on what you could do next in your business.
3. Separate it from fear
Fear tends to be loud and dramatic. Your inner voice is calmer. It might still lead you to something scary (like trying something new), but it won’t use panic to get your attention.
I think of the phrase, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease”. You pay the louder voices more attention, but that doesn’t mean they are always right.
When I was deciding on a niche for my first website, I got all excited (but also anxious) about a whole bunch of ideas for it. I knew I’d stumbled on the right niche when I felt a sense of calm about it instead.
4. Try things and reflect
Sometimes, the only way to figure out if something’s aligned is to try it.
Your inner voice often gets clearer after you take a small step in its direction. Do the thing, then ask yourself honestly: did that feel like me? Whether the answer is yes or no, unpick it and figure out why.
Then do more in the direction of ‘yes’.
5. Write it out
About once a fortnight I grab my notebook, write down a bunch of stuff I’ve been thinking about and see what comes up. I just do it freestyle journalling without any prompts.
If prompts will help you then ask yourself questions like:
- What have I been craving lately?
- What feels off?
- What would I do if no one else’s opinion mattered?
A Quiet Invitation
Your inner voice might not always give you the easiest answer but it usually gives you the truest one. And the more you listen, the more clearly it speaks.
This week, try making just a little space to hear it. Maybe that means slowing down for five minutes a day, paying attention to a gut feeling, or choosing the option that feels quietly right instead of the one that looks impressive.
And if you’re not sure what it’s saying yet, that’s okay. Keep listening. Keep experimenting.
I’d love to know – have you had a moment where your inner voice guided you toward something good? Hit reply and tell me. I read every one.
Emily xx
My latest video
To see the paper style video in action, watch my new video. Do you like it? Let me know in the comments!
