Tags
And we could feel the heat of a thousand voices telling us which way to go.
And we cried out is there no escape from the words that plague us so. ~ Sarah McLachlan, Drawn to the Rhythm
Recently someone I know was struggling with a decision.
Someone who needed to be reminded that she should listen to her gut, her inner voice.
I’ve been in this place several times – we all have.
We want to do the right thing…
for you 
for me
for him
for her
for them.
Maybe we should speak our mind…
or perhaps we should sit back and listen, absorb every word and try to understand.
A thousand voices weigh in…
from a lover
a friend
a child
a parent
Every piece of advice…
well-meaning well-intentioned…
meant for our good, for their good, and coming from a thousand life experiences.
Sometimes the answer seems hard to come by…
it keeps us awake at night…
consumes us in the day.
Have we forgotten to trust our gut, our inner voice?
Do you trust your instinct?
In the end…it is you that has to live with your decision
Go ahead…you know the answer.
talktodiana 
“All people are created equal, thereafter you have to earn the respect you deserve.” You might want to blog about this quote. Adapted from a Dixie Chicks quote about the president of US.
LikeLike
Well hi there Stelios! Out of curiosity what was the exact quote from the Dixie Chicks? Was it in reference to Obama?
Thanks for checking out my blog and leaving a comment!
LikeLike
This post is spot on for me at this moment. I listen to my gut feeling all the time but lately there was on decision, where I questioned whether it was actually fear masked as gut feeling. The thing with a gut feeling is that it is normally clear and strong, so it is difficult to ignore. Never doubted about my gut feeling but this one I was/am. So went against it. Feel out of my element. Do you think it is possible to mix these two up? Fear of unknown and gut feeling. Great post!
LikeLike
Everything is possible. Honestly my personal experience has been that often my gut feeling is the scariest way to go when it is about me personally growing or developing…Thanks for stopping by and asking the tough question that I don’t have an answer for!
LikeLike
Nice post – makes me think. I think I view the world as a series of choices. There’s not always one right option. Whatever path I choose I will have to work through the challenges that my choice has created. I guess that I do operate by my gut a lot, but I also don’t sweat each choice or regret them either.
LikeLike
I believe that too, that there isn’t always one right choice and I do all my sweating before I make a decision, once made I don’t often look back either. Thanks for your thoughts. 🙂
LikeLike
Yep….video blocked….but still great post! And yes….ignoring that “inner voice” has turned into trouble for me at times. I do believe in going with my gut!
LikeLike
women do it more naturally, at least that’s what I’ve read. Thanks for stopping by, always good to see you. 🙂
LikeLike
My “doc” actually “prescribed” going with my instinct. He was referring to raising my children at the time.
Love your stuff, girl!
LikeLike
Wow your doctor told you that? That’s amazing. Thanks I love your stuff too!
LikeLike
I know…..country doctors are the best! If I still lived near him….I’d still be going to him!
LikeLike
Yes I do trust my instinct and listen to my gut and now days so does hubby although when we were first married he didn’t and he thought I was strange to listen to my gut. However one day many years ago we bought a car and I told him my gut told me it was the wrong thing to do, he dismissed the thought and bought the car and we had nothing but trouble with it from day one…………Also there was the day we were at home and I told him someting terrible had happened but I didn’t know what then the phone rang and it was my mum telling me my cousin had been killed, these things helped him realise that sometimes my gut feeling is right………..
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing those stories Joanne. I’ve had similar experiences… 🙂
LikeLike
Remarkable post. Thank you.
In the end, I have to lay my head on the pillow at night. Have I lived in a way that lets me drift into restful sleep? If not, then maybe I didn’t do the right thing for me. Some value of mine or code I live by was violated by the decision I made. Perhaps someone got hurt by my decision. Perhaps it was me that got hurt. How can I mend it?
As it goes there are times when I don’t have enough information to make a decision. So I gather information from those around me. I’m careful to consider more than one side to it.
When I ask others for information, it’s very important for me to sift out the information and not get caught in people pleasing, doing what the advisor is telling me. Rather to only weigh in the infomation I needed. Getting too many advisors in it complicates my ability to hear my now informed inner voice. It helps me to tell myself that I’m the one who will live with the consequences. I try not to let fear creep in, but realistically see what the possible consequences will be. Check with myself if I’ll be willing to live with those possibilities.
A wise person once told me, “if you don’t know what to do, do nothing.” Amazing how many times making the choice to “do nothing” has led to an good decision sometimes within hours, days or a week or so.
Words are easy to write, living this way takes courage and self awareness.
In the end, I have to live with me. I have to suffer or reap the consequences of my actions and decisions…. and lay my head on the pillow at night.
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by Terri and leaving your well thought out comment. You’re right – at the end of the day, you need to be able to lay your head on the pillow. I have often not made a decision because I don’t like what my inner voice is telling me…usually it has ended up the way I should have decided. I will have to ponder your theory on not making a decision when it’s within my power to do so…
LikeLike
I used to set aside time every day to meditate or pray. It gave me a space in my day to listen to my own thoughts, and wait on God to answer any questions or concerns or just speak to me. I am much more comfortable speaking and giving my opinion and this was very challenging. Your piece reminded me how much I need that time every day to silence the world so that I can really listen.
LikeLike
Sandra, you are so right – we all need to find a place of solace when working on life struggles. You have said things or encouraged me so many times, you don’t even know. 🙂
LikeLike
good post, sometimes what we advise isn’t what they need. dangerous thing that. I agree, the quiet voice at our core is often silenced by the noise of the world.
LikeLike
Thanks Bill! I wonder if we allow it to be silenced because we don’t trust in the quiet voice. What do you think?
LikeLike
I think the quiet voice often offers us what at first glance is the more difficult of choices. I think the quiet voice, may leave us more open to hurt and vulnerability, but actually makes us stronger.
I posted a bit ago how I didn’t respect it advising a friend: http://bwthoughts.wordpress.com/2012/08/27/i-just-dont-want-you-to-get-hurt/
but I mostly think we just try to protect ourselves.
of course in the words of the great Satchel Paige, “Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits”.
LikeLike
Thanks Bill I agree. Trust and vulnerability are closely linked. I remember your post above, it was a good one. I encourage others to read it. Happy Sunday Bill!
LikeLike
may each day be the best day of your week
LikeLike
Nice! Very nice!!
Yeah, definitely trust my gut on tough decisions! (Especially once I read about studies showing your sub-conscious is actually pretty good at figuring stuff out. Often your first instinct is the correct instinct, so go with what you “knew” all along and don’t second-guess yourself too much.)
I so related to your idea about a thousand voices. I often bounce my thoughts off friends for their thoughts. It all factors in, and sometimes friends have have pointed out things I’ve completely missed. And yet, in the end, it’s my decision based on my thoughts, gut, goals. Had one friend who was offended I’d asked for, but not taken, her advice. I wasn’t asking her what to do; I was asking her what she thought! 😕
You’re in Canada, right? I also couldn’t view the video, but I’ve liked what I’ve heard of McLachlan, so I searched YouTube and found one that worked for me (in the USA):
LikeLike
Weird about the video…You guys don’t view us Canadians as a threat do you? (smiling) Thanks for your comment. Your thoughts are always so well worded and appreciated.
LikeLike
[blush] Well, thank you! Very kind!
And, yes, absolutely. We’ve convinced you crazy Canucks will be invading any day now! 😛
LikeLike
We know the way in is through nail clippers as this is the one item you guys are pretty firm about us not bringing through customs! All joking aside, I have always enjoyed traveling through the States and have met really wonderful people. 🙂
LikeLike
Ah, yes, this is exactly what we fear! A cavalry of moose-riding Canadians armed to the teeth with nail clippers! 😯
I return the compliment: I’ve done a fair bit of camping in Canada, and each time is a treasured memory. And thanks for all the fish!!
LikeLike
Glad we could accomodate you!
LikeLike
Powerful words Diana. When I stop listening to the voices in my head and move into the silence of feeling my way into a decision within me — I always find my answers.
LikeLike
Thank you Louise, it’s like the answer is already there and one just has to look. But it’s hard to be objective sometimes, for me anyway, when I don’t quite like the answer!
LikeLike
What a pity that the video clip is blocked in my country .. contains content from SME because of copyright grounds… love the sentiments… I always trust my instincts… but it took me a long time in my life to teach myself to do that…
LikeLike
It’s just the song that contains the lyrics at the top. I act on instinct as well. In fact in this data driven world/assemble facts and act on the them – I check my gut and gather data to support that! 😉
LikeLike