7 Tricks to Develop Your Inner Voice

Listening to our inner voice allows us to fully discern our innate wisdom, guidance, and direction.  In doing so, we invoke the power of trusting ourselves and confidently following our truth. This, in turn, unfolds the most beautiful and true version of our life.  A person's inner voice can be viewed as a part of themselves that can rise above the details of the moment, and their own emotions, to gain a more objective perspective. There is always an inner voice guiding us - whether it is responding to a present situation, reflecting on a past experience, or offering guidance in the future. Our inner voice is our innate intelligence.
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​In order to listen to the inner voice, we must turn inward to hear what our bodies and souls are saying before turning to the world outside of ourselves for guidance.  The more we do this, the more we cultivate a relationship with our inner voice, and the easier it gets to live from the 'seat of the soul' - our own wisdom and truth.  This inner voice has been there all our lives, offering guidance, sometimes gently and other times urgently.  At times we have listened to it, and at times we have brushed it aside.  This voice is called many different things - an inner voice, inner guide, spiritual guide, higher self, inner coach, higher wisdom, god, goddess, alchemist, knower, or whatever you choose.  (I like to call mine Fred). 

Below, I've outlined some tips to kick start the relationship with your inner voice - but a quick note before we begin, and this is important:  Your inner voice is designed to be used by you, on you, exclusively.   This wisdom is guidance for operating in your body, and in your life, and it is not designed to be used on another person.  So, I caution you to be wary of the lure of turning your inner wisdom into advice.  While this can be an innocent action with a positive intention, the greatest way we can 'help' others is to get them in touch with their own inner voice rather than providing them with advice from ours.  It should also be noted that if someone in your life is giving you advice from their inner voice, it is your responsibility to check in with yourself and see what your inner voice has to say, rather than accepting it without investigation. 

Tip #1 - Slow Down
When we rush through our days, or when we are constantly 'plugged in', the mind remains busy and frenetic. By creating more space between our thoughts, we allow our inner voice the space to speak up and be heard.  So, practice doing things slowly, and notice the smell, sound, and feel of the world around you.  Set your phone down and unplug from the technology in your life. ​

Tip #2 - Invite Your Inner Voice to The Table
Inside our minds, we have a roundtable of voices.  Most of us have an inner critic, an inner child, a warrior or protector, some of us have a risk taker or a rule follower - or both.  These voices are a result of everything you've experienced up to this point in your life, and your endeavor to survive and understand the world around you.  In the litany of these thoughts, you can ask your inner voice what it thinks, what it would do, etc, at any given moment.  Just the act of opening this door will increase your access to your inner voice. ​

Tip #3 - Increase Your Self Care
Quality self-care can greatly influence the ability to tap into our inner voice.  Self-care is noticing what you need in the moment to come back into balance, and giving it to yourself.  For example, if you notice that you are anxious, ask yourself, "What do I need right now?".  Practicing self-care in this moment might mean pausing to walk in nature, listening to calming music, or calling a good friend.  When we are in balance and grounded in our body, it is easier to hear our inner voice. ​

Tip #4 - Journal or Meditate
Finding time for reflection and investigation is key to developing a relationship with your inner voice.  You can allow, or write, your stream of consciousness - simply being a witness, without judgment, to whatever presents itself.  You can also ask your inner voice questions such as; Who am I?  What do I want?  What is my purpose?  What am I grateful for?  What can I do today to bring me closer to my true self?  What do I need to pay attention to at this moment?  What does my heart want right now?  What does my body need right now?

Tip #5 - Create Safety
In order to hear your inner voice of wisdom, you must quiet the loud voices of survival.  These voices are beautiful and essential to keep you safe and alive - but as long as you allow yourself to stay in a situation that is unsafe, the quiet of your inner voice can not be heard.  This means that you must build healthy boundaries around anything or anyone that makes you feel unsafe.  Strong boundaries are essential to accessing your inner voice. When you let other people's thoughts, demands, needs, desires, and authority override your own, your inner voice will be silenced. ​

Tip #6 - Prioritize You Physical & Mental Health
We are one inner-connected system - our bodies, minds, emotions, and consciousness all work together.  We are able to operate most effectively when all of these are in balance.  This means eating foods that support us in feeling nourished and energetic, exercising so our hearts are healthy and we feel strong, and stretching so our muscles feel long and flexible.  This also means getting professional support or medication for any mental health illnesses.  When our systems are balanced, it is easer to discern the difference between our inner voice and an emotional reaction.

Tip #7 - Get Curious & Playful
Your inner voice can be easy to ignore. It can show up as a subtle feeling, quiet knowings, and gentle guidance from within. Your inner voice will not override your choices, you have to choose your inner voice. For many of us, it has become a habit to brush over an aha moment, a wave of goosebumps, or a pull in our gut - but the more we learn to pay attention to these indicators, the better we'll become at discerning and understanding them. Intentionally stepping into being more playful and curious with our inner voice can serve to strengthen the relationship we have with it. 
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Developing a relationship with your inner voice is an ongoing pursuit.  It is a path of choosing, over and over again, to carve out space and time for our inner voice to flourish, and cultivating the courage to follow the quiet urging in our soul. 

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Related Blogs:
What is Authenticity & Why Is It Important?
The Mindset Required For Personal Growth

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