You must listen to yourself, above all else.
Listen to the words in your heart.
Your true self is screaming to get out. Your essential self, as described so eloquently by Martha Beck, will stamp it’s feet and come out in ways that aren’t apparent to you yet. If you don’t listen to it now, you’ll have to listen to it later. And later might be harder, not easier.
No one can pick your journey for you.
No one is waiting for you to give you a ride to the life you’re meant to live.
You must listen to yourself. You must listen to your desires. When you stretch and run and scream and bend, when you wander the hallways wondering what to do, when you turn to a glass of wine at night or stare stupidly at the television for an extra hour, ask yourself:
Why?
Why are you doing what you do?
What is it that pulls you, compels you, motivates you, excites you?
Listen to yourself. Follow your instincts. Do what’s not been done before. Be daring. Be different. But most importantly, listen to what’s in your heart.
Your heart won’t stand up and shout to the world what it wants. You have to be ready to listen to it. Find spaces to listen, and listen carefully, to the teacher inside yourself. If you can’t hear what it’s saying, find a quieter place to listen.
Practice listening.
Listen to yourself, above all else.
***
My spaces for listening are during swimming, writing, and yoga. I gave these elements up in a big way during the last few months, and the dissonance in my life was too loud to bear. I was busy for the sake of being busy, without a clear goal, direction, or understanding of why I was doing what I was doing.
I’m trying to get back to a place where I know what I want. All I know right now is that this means saying YES to yoga, swimming, and writing. I write a lot more now – at least these past few weeks – and I’m much happier for it. I can’t tell you how you will work best – all I know is this truism: find a way to listen to yourself first.
If you’re curious, and want to send me an email with ramblings, I’m always happy to listen.
—-
Like what you read? Like us on facebook or subscribe to new posts. Got a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments below. This blog is a work in progress and I appreciate any and all feedback.
Also, you can find me on twitter.