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Philosophy/religion

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Original poster

listening to your inner voice....

36 replies

gtedder1 · 14/02/2013 21:49

does anyone have any tips on how to listen to your inner voice or your heart? how do you tune in to knowing what your heart wants and seperate it from what your head may be telling you? would be interesting to hear your comments.

OP posts:

Selba · 15/02/2013 00:14

Interesting you should bring this up. I was wondering the very same recently. We are often encouraged to " trust your instincts. They are never wrong"
Well mine have been spectacularly wrong in the past !
I am not sure the head / heart thing really exists. If you are struggling with an issue I think you just need to mull it over for a long time until you reach a conclusion. Not always easy.
Is there a particular issue vexing you for now?

IndigoBarbie · 15/02/2013 08:50

Well, one of the easiest ways to do it is to note your body reactions to things. I think you should always opt for what feels good, to you. You only came here with a body, and it has all the tools you require for your life's journey - whether you believe it or not. Therefore, it also has magical powers on discernment.
The thing about following your intuition and your heart is that it is NEVER wrong. This is where people often fall into the trap of thinking that if they take the risk to do so, when it turns out in a completely different way than was expected they can just go with the flow. Trusting that what your body tells you is correct.
Sometimes its fairly hard to discern what our own inner voice/heart sounds like. Once you get into the whole debating over issues in your mind - then your mind has taken over - but evenso, the body is still present for all of this, therefore try to figure out what feels like the 'best' option for you. And, by feel - I mean - sense it in your body. With practise it becomes so much easier. You can learn to be in your own space, your own mind and you don't have anyone else's views clouding your own.

Sorry it's a quick answer, I'll come back later on with some actual real and proper tips. One thing though is - you know that sinkign feeling you get sometimes that feels like fear? That's your body telling you something isn't right with whatever you are dealing with now. When your body feels happy and good, your intuition is communicating with you. :) with love xx

EllieArroway · 15/02/2013 08:52

There's no such thing as an "inner voice" - other than your conciousness - and the heart is a muscle that pumps blood around your body.

What you have, though, is an emotional response & an intellectual one. The emotional one tends to be based around what you'd like to be true, and the rational, intellectual one tends to be what actually is true.

Sometimes they are in accordance, but often they are not. If you're trying to understand what the truth is likely to be be in an objective way then I would take more notice of your rational response.

Original poster

gtedder1 · 15/02/2013 10:16

hey, thank you all for your very very interesting comments. yes, i am debating with an issue at the moment...i am trying to figure out what my calling in life is. For the 1st time in my life, i feel determined to have a career. i often admire people that are successful and who have many acheivements through hard work and perserverance. i applied for nursing recently but when the uni came back with an offer... i realised this did not make me feel good...in fact i felt fearful and in doubt about whether its really what i WANT to do. i felt worried at the thought of spending so much time away from my son...studying and working unsociable hours! i think...i applied for the wrong reasons in the 1st place. i just feel so confused. At the same time i don't want to end up missing out on an opportunity.

i am a real big believer in following your heart as i believe it is never wrong and it knows what is best for you.

i read a very interesting article a while back about how before we are born into this world, we speak with our spirit guides about our life plan...but soon as we are born into our physical bodies; that bond is broken and the only way to know our life plan is to connect with our spirit guides through listening to our intuition. Sometimes we go off track but the universe can always help get us in the right path if we learn to connect with ourselves better.

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MostlyLovingLurchers · 15/02/2013 10:45

I'm not sure this is a 'heart or head' issue but rather your realisation that a particular path may not be for you - that there are implications that you hadn't thought through before.

Have you tried any meditation techniques? It may help you to still the chatter and the arguing back and forth with yourself, and just be still. I also think it helps to put stuff on paper - just get it out and then look at it so it isn't swirling in your head. Both will help clear your thoughts.

On a practical level you can make your own opportunities. If being at home with your ds is a priority maybe you could look at distance learning to get a qualification that would enable you to be self employed and work from home? Or maybe look to work p/t until he is older and then think about university, taking the time to think about what you really want to do? Don't feel pressured into a course of action that you have big doubts about - you can always defer.

Original poster

gtedder1 · 15/02/2013 11:08

hey, thanks lovinglurchers. i am considering a different path and hopefully i will have made the right choice! i have tried meditation but think i need to make it a regular habit. Will definately get things down on paper too. It always helps to be able to see things more clearly rather than having it all running around in my head!! thank you.

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CoteDAzur · 15/02/2013 11:13

"I think you should always opt for what feels good, to you."

Chocolate and ice cream feels good to me.

EllieArroway · 15/02/2013 11:44

gtedder Not really what you're asking, I know, but I did an about face with my career when my DS was a toddler. I went to university as a mature student and while it wasn't the easiest thing in the world, we managed.

Would OU be an option for you? If you haven't done a degree before (if that's what you're planning) then you can get student loans and stuff now.

Whatever you decide - good luck :)

Original poster

gtedder1 · 15/02/2013 13:04

To be honest..i really want to do a Pitman course. i have wanted to do this for a very long time but always ended up goibg off track and never raised the money for the course. I dnt think there is any funding for pitman courses. And it may take me a very long time to save for one but i feel pretty determined.

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EllieArroway · 15/02/2013 13:51

This might be the answer:

www.gov.uk/career-development-loans/overview

Selba · 15/02/2013 16:35

I utterly refute the notion that your intuition is NEVER wrong

IndigoBarbie · 15/02/2013 20:15

Wow Selba, say what you really mean.
Generally we have to build a relationship with our intuition to know whats right and wrong for us, personally.
Intuition, is never wrong. It's the interpretation and expectations that people place on it. And I speak from my own experiences, my own truth, always.
If you 'utterly refute the notion' you might have to explore for yourself (if it's your own you are struggling with) why this might be. We cannot judge another's intuition. We can only go with our own.

CoteDAzur · 15/02/2013 20:26

Indigo - When you said I should always do what feels good to me, did you mean I should eat as much chocolate and ice cream as I want?

IndigoBarbie · 15/02/2013 20:35

Cote, what you do is up to you

CoteDAzur · 15/02/2013 20:39

I know that, but you said "I think you should always opt for what feels good, to you. You only came here with a body, and it has all the tools you require for your life's journey - whether you believe it or not. Therefore, it also has magical powers on discernment. "

So... chocolate & ice cream feel really good. These unconscious magical powers of discernment, manifesting themselves through that good feeling seem to be telling me to eat as much of both as I can find.

Are you saying I should not listen to my brain when it says "Don't eat more than a little bit of choc & ice cream or you will get fat" and just do what feels good?

IndigoBarbie · 15/02/2013 20:45

I love it that you provide me with so much to think about. I didn't say anything about brains.
You listen to whatever part of you speaks and you feel like listening, if it says chocolate and ice cream - you go for it.

Original poster

gtedder1 · 15/02/2013 20:50

I'm definitely with Indigo. Intuition is never wrong, only your interpretation of what its telling you could be incorrect. Your intuition is your true essence and I also believe you have to work on getting to know it. Also intuition is not to be confused with feelings of over- paranoia and other related emotions.

OP posts:

CoteDAzur · 15/02/2013 20:52

That overwhelmed you, did it? I thought it was an easy question.

Sleep on it and I'm sure you will be able to give me an answer tomorrow morning.

(Hint: Using your brain rather than your heart will help )

IndigoBarbie · 15/02/2013 20:58

Cote, why does what you say need to be right?
If you don't agree with what I've said, that's fine. You might never have experienced feeling things with your body, or your heart. The best way to reconnect is to do some right brain stuff. If you want to try it.

CoteDAzur · 15/02/2013 21:10

I haven't even said anything.

I asked a question.

Can you try to answer it?

Original poster

gtedder1 · 15/02/2013 21:33

cote, I'll have a go at answering if you dnt mind.. i think the voice speaking to you wen it says to eat choc and icecream is not your intuition spking to you...and indigo was saying that if wen your intuition spks to you and it feels good, then follow your intuition as it won't be wrong. When you hear a voice asking you to eat more choc and icecream...its the voice of temptation whose only purpose is to stray you further from what is actually good for you. Moderation would be a good thing in the case of eating choc and ice- cream.

OP posts:

CoteDAzur · 15/02/2013 21:39

gtedder - No, actually, what Indigo said was "Well, one of the easiest ways to do it is to note your body reactions to things. I think you should always opt for what feels good, to you."

I don't see any mention of intuition. I see mention of body reactions and opt for what feels good, to you.

CoteDAzur · 15/02/2013 21:39

Anyway, how am I supposed to differentiate between temptation and intuition when I get the urge to do something?

Do they talk to different ears?

IndigoBarbie · 15/02/2013 21:46

Cote, you raise such good questions. Do you mean temptation as some kind of negative force?

The question you asked me (and please do correct me if I am wrong) was

Are you saying I should not listen to my brain when it says "Don't eat more than a little bit of choc & ice cream or you will get fat" and just do what feels good?"

My answer was that I said nothing about brains. That was my answer, Cote.

Selba · 15/02/2013 21:48

This thread is hilarious. I could give you some real life examples of my and others' intuition that were well out, but there is no potential for debate if the answer is just that I have not properly developed my intuition!

And Cote, my body is very much for large helpings of chocolate and ice cream too. And wine. Fortunately i have a pretty good brain that influences my actions and choices

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