Connecting with Inner Wisdom
One of my favorite wellness practices was unexpectedly born out of the pandemic restrictions in March 2020. In the early days of lockdown, I made it a point to walk outside on the trails that are near my home each day. I have kept up that practice each spring through fall and look forward to the first walks of 2022 in the coming weeks.
While I love to hike with others, my daily walks are mine alone by choice. It’s a way for me to practice deep listening – to the natural world and to myself. In doing so, I find I’m more surefooted when the uncertainty of change swirls around me. The more I walk in silence, the more I trust the guidance I receive. The more trustworthy the guidance, the more faith I have in my next step.
These walks rejuvenate me. Nature reminds me that the world is perfect just as it is and there’s an underlying rhythm and seasonality to all life, including mine. These walks remind me to keep my senses acute and my perspective broad. They remind me to be present and allow “what is” in this moment.
Researchers have long pointed to the health benefits of silence. Breaks from hyperactivity and overstimulation can lower cortisol and blood pressure, while providing a foundation for better emotional regulation and mental focus, deeper sleep, a feeling of calm, increased creativity and a natural state of mindfulness. It’s also been said that those who are more comfortable in solitude are less lonely. I can attest. I have found merit in these findings in my own life throughout these last two stressful years.
But the value of silence is even more profound. There’s something quite enlivening when we give ourselves the gift of creating a space to connect with ourselves, listen deeply and heed our internal guidance. This turns into a wellness practice when we invest in our self-care to keep the channel to our soul open, set boundaries to protect this sacred space, and take good care not to override the insight we’re gleaning.
The more we follow these internal nudges, the more synchronicities and serendipities seem to come our way. The key is to take some action toward our insights, even if they seem to make no logical sense. It’s been my experience that when I get a strong gut feel, I receive all I need to make it a reality.
I do my due diligence and I trust the evidence I collect along the way, which can be elusive but confirms I’m going in the right direction. It helps to track these a-ha moments. When I see a list of past examples where my gut feel was spot on, I can better recognize and rely on it. In turn, I learn to trust my own instincts and get better acquainted with my truest self.
Silence, and the absence of outside influence and expectation, helps us strengthen the connection with our inner wisdom and insight – especially when we are moving against the cultural grain. When we mindfully shut out the virtual world, we can easily recognize and address the things that capture our attention, like unconscious scrolling and media use patterns. We realize that life continues and the world still turns, even without our constant attention. What a relief!
While spending time in solitude can seem like a selfish act on the surface, its effects radiate outward. When we take the time to listen for and connect with our internal whispers, we recenter our hearts, which has a positive impact on our personal, professional and community relationships.
You can create a simple practice to connect with silence with as little as five minutes, which is how I started. Currently, I have more scheduling flexibility, so my practice is to get outside for at least 30 minutes a day. I didn’t always have the time or access to the trails I walk today. But the seeds for my practice today were planted when I had more structured personal and professional responsibilities.
Here’s what I do along with suggestions on how you can get started if you have less time each day.
My practice
Once a day, usually mid-afternoon when the weather cooperates, I head out on a trail for at least 30 minutes, depending on my commitments for the day.
I set the intention of taking a curiosity walk and remain open to learning, exploration and discovery.
I have no set structure or agenda for my walks other than no technology (news, text, email). I may listen to an inspiring podcast or audiobook. And I do like to take pictures of what I discover.
I trust that I’ll get whatever I need on that day. Regardless of outcome, I use the time to create space to receive useful guidance or answers, even when I don’t know what questions I’m holding or what guidance I’m seeking.
How to create your practice
To get started, schedule your quiet time in pockets of small increments. Try this:
Rise early: the quiet time can be used for reflection, pausing, reading, observing, exercising or mindfully sipping a cup of coffee.
Meditate, visualize or journal: take a few minutes to breath, gaze at a candle flame, set intentions, practice gratitude, let your mind wander, listen to the sounds around you, check-in, or explore a question or situation.
Utilize mindless activities: turn driving, showering or household chores into quiet time.
On the weekends or on days off, you may try things that take a bit more time to tap into the oneness:
Sit in a favorite spot or take a meditative walk
Get outdoors to hike, birdwatch or star gaze.
Do something you love, such as taking photos, making art or taking a road trip.
Anything that relieves the daily grind and provides a break from the noise and busyness where there are no distractions will do. Get creative on where you can be alone with your thoughts sans electronics.
And this practice is productive as well. As educator and author Stephen Covey once said, “Only as we keep an open communication with our deep inner life will we have the wisdom to make effective choices.”
Giving ourselves a break from our noisy world – the space and time to be quietly present – is a gift. It pays dividends on our health, mood and relationships with ourselves and others. And it will always guide you in the right direction.
Journal Reflections: How do you typically connect with your inner wisdom? What does it feel like in your body when you hit on an inner truth? How can your strengthen the inner relationship with yourself?