What If I Don't Have An Inner Voice?

​There is a knowing inside each of us that goes by many different names - inner voice, inner wisdom, inner sage, inner coach, higher self, inner goddess, god-self, consciousness,  alchemist, knower, intuition, and many others. Every single person is a spiritual being experiencing consciousness; therefore, every person has inner wisdom.  However, because not all of us have an inner monologue, some of us don't experience it as a "voice", but rather as a feeling or a hunch.  
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Psychology professor Russell Hurlburt estimates that 30-50% of people have an inner monologue narrating their thoughts throughout the day.  Hurlburt outlines the 5 main ways of thinking as:

1. Inner speaking/inner monologue - Example: talking to yourself, hearing your voice or someone else, or audibly recalling a phone number.
2. Inner seeing/visual imagery - Thoughts with a visual symbol.  Example: picturing a memory or place you wish you lived.
3. Feelings - A conscious experience of an emotional process.  Example: feeling sad after the death of a loved one. 
4. Unsymbolized thinking - no word of an image associated with thoughts.  Example: pouring your morning coffee without telling yourself to.
5. Sensory awareness - Paying attention to the sensory aspect of the environment for an unimportant reason. Example: hearing someone talk but seeing the light reflecting off their glasses. 

Feeling confused and wondering if you have an inner monologue?  Here are some signs you have an inner monologue:

• You talk to yourself
• You get songs stuck in your head
• You can brainstorm various points in your head
• You replay your favorite podcast or movie in your mind
• You rehearse in front of imaginary audiences
• You read to yourself

Research shows that this isn't an all-or-nothing phenomenon, some people have an inner monologue 25% of the time, and others 99% of the time.  Of the types of thinking you can use all of them in various amounts or change what types of thinking you use throughout your lifetime, periods of stress or growth, etc.  

If you're interested in more information on inner monologues, you can access some great articles here, here, here and here.  
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Rest assured, however, that regardless of how you hear your thoughts, having an inner wisdom that you can access to guide your life is universal to everyone. 

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The Science of Gratitude
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