I Believe

On Your Inner Voice
You often talk of your “inner voice”, Grandma, and in a way I understand what you mean, but how do you recognize it, and how do you tap into it?
The world we live in is full of noise – we cannot hear one another other, and we cannot hear ourselves. We are constantly told what we must believe, what we must acquire, what we must look like. The sounds and images flood our minds, blur our thoughts, grind our souls. We see on our screens beautiful, successful and happy people surrounded with friends, enjoying life, and having fun. This makes us feel anxious and afraid that somehow we have failed to live up to society’s expectations, and that it is our fault that we are not successful enough, rich enough, or good-looking enough.
It is important to step back from the noise, and the images, and take time to look at yourself, who you are and what you want and believe in. You need to find a place where you can be alone with yourself, and your thoughts. This is as necessary to your well-being as eating or drinking - it is vital for your survival. Without time to examine yourself, and finding out what it is that you want in life, and what makes you happy, you become just like a puppet whose strings are being pulled by others, and whose actions are inconsequential.
Solitude does not mean being by yourself it means being with yourself. Alone, in the silence of your seclusion, you are better able to re-acquaint yourself with the person you really are. As the lights of the outside world dim, and the sounds subside, you begin to hear your inner voice. It sounds magical at first, but it is your own voice speaking to you, your voice that had been muffled by the noise of other voices telling you what to do, what to think, what to say. It is your voice that is letting you know what you really want, what road to take, and what you need to leave behind.
Solitude gives you a chance to look at yourself more closely and examine your actions, your thoughts, your fears, and also the person you are becoming. If you feel confident that you are on the right path, then by all means continue to pursue the same course. But if you feel you have lost your way, then solitude will help you retrace your footsteps back to where you started
It is that voice that centers you, that defines you, that makes you understand what it is that gives meaning to your life. That inner voice erases doubt, fear, anxiety. It makes you realize that the attempt to please others, to get their recognition, to live up to an image others have of you, is all for naught – that path has led many successful people to take their own life. Your inner voice is there to remind you that true happiness is only attainable through the fulfillment of your true purpose in life.
So make a habit of listening to your inner voice. Even if you cannot find solitude in your busy day, take a few minutes to create silence around you, close the door to the outside world, and converse with your inner voice – this way you will always know what to do and will remain true to yourself.