Often our minds are so noisy that we lose touch with the wisdom of our Inner Self. However, there are simple ways to reconnect
Our minds demand a lot of our attention. They are busy thinking all day long with barely a pause. They spend time dwelling on past things we cannot change or future events that might not even happen. Add to this the million things we keep in our heads that we need to do each day and it’s not surprising that we sometimes feel stressed out and exhausted. It can feel like we have no time or energy left to pursue our dreams and goals. But connecting with our Inner Self can help.
Luckily there are many ways to quieten our thinking and tune into something deeper. In this place, we have access to intuition and wisdom that can change our lives.
What is the Inner Self?
The Inner self or Higher Self is the part of us that is beyond the mind and the ego. Some people think of it as a connection to divine energy or guidance, while others just see it as a different way of thinking. We can also call it intuitive thinking, inner guidance or the subconscious. Either way, having a conversation with this part of yourself can help you access wisdom that you didn’t realize was available. This deeper consciousness is full of wisdom, inspiration, and joy. It can help us feel whole, loved and complete. It can help us to achieve our life purpose and make the world a better place. And it is always available to us.
Here are six ways you might try to connect with the Inner Self. Before beginning any of these methods it is useful to find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed and then take a few deep breaths before you start.
1. Asking
You can have a conversation with your Inner Self simply by asking for its advice or input and then listening to see what comes back. Simply find a quiet place, at home or in nature, and take a few deep breaths.
Ask your question and see what inner guidance you hear.
The responses that come might feel a bit like thoughts, but there will be a difference. They may seem new or surprising. They will have a quality that is more overarching and concerned with the big picture of your life rather than the detail.
For example, you might ask what you should do about a problematic relationship and rather than giving instructions about how to fix the problem your inner guidance will suggest you spend time writing a gratitude journal or appreciating nature. At first, these might seem unconnected, but there may be surprising correlations. When you are grateful, peaceful and loving, some relationship problems simply dissolve.
And even if they don’t, being open and grateful will mean there is a capacity to find a new answer to the problem rather than just listening to the mind rehashing the problem over and over again and attaching blame and guilt without ever coming up with a solution.
Sometimes when you ask for guidance you will just see an image, a symbol or a person’s face and this can show you where to look for more wisdom in your life.
2. Journaling
Some people find it very difficult to have a direct conversation with their inner self at first. It can be hard to quieten the mind and we may not always trust that the words we hear are coming from somewhere other than our usual thinking. In this case, automatic writing, stream of consciousness journaling or writing a dialogue with your Inner Self might help.
You can write a question in your journal and then answer it. Some people find that answering with the opposite hand to the one they usually use helps switch the thinking away from the dominant, logical part of the brain. Others find writing in a different form, such as poetry or song lyrics helps them switch to the more intuitive way of thinking.
3. Creative Activities
Some people are more visual than word orientated. If you find you get your deepest insights when involved in creative pursuits then you can use this to connect on a deeper level.
For example, you might ask for advice and then paint or draw an answer, or make a pot or take a photograph. It might seem impossible to get advice from making a pot, but it isn’t. The design you choose, the decoration and colors that you are guided to use can all give hints as to what it is you are seeking at the present moment. And the process of being creative automatically quiets the mind and allows for new insights to arise.
4. Dreaming
Analyzing dreams can be a great way to get in touch with your Inner Self. If you rarely remember your dreams than just repeat ‘I will remember my dreams’ over and over in your head before you go to sleep. This often does the trick.
When analyzing your dreams avoid relying entirely on a dream dictionary, as this will only give you insight into separate elements of your vision. Instead, try to understand the overarching theme of your dream. For example, if you are lost in a dream this might mean you have drifted away from your goals in life. Alternatively, it might mean that you have a big decision to make and can’t choose the right path.
It might take some time to get the hang of how your dreams are guiding you. However, it is well worth the effort. In the dream state, the conscious mind is suppressed allowing a clearer connection with deeper parts of consciousness. Keep a dream diary and write down as many details of your dreams as you can when you wake. Go back to previous entries from time to time because you may gain new insights as you get to know your Higher Self better.
5. Repetitive tasks.
If you really struggle to quieten the mind you might find it easier to hear the Inner Self if you engage the mind in a repetitive task. Do something that keeps the mind just busy enough not to interfere, such as weeding the garden or ironing. Many people also find they get insights while taking a shower or driving.
6. Being in nature
Often it can be difficult to hear the voice of our Higher Self amid the distractions of life. You might easily be pulled out of your deep state by the ping of an email notification, a pile of dishes that need washing or errands that need attention.
For this reason, it is often helpful to go for a walk in nature. In nature, there are less urgent distractions. The natural environment is more soothing and calming. We can listen to the Higher Self as we walk, settling into a rhythmic pattern of feeling each step on the ground beneath us. Alternatively, we can simply sit quietly in nature and see what comes to us.
Being in nature can also be combined with the other techniques to make them more effective. So you might like to take your journal or sketchbook into a beautiful place in nature and work with those methods there.
7. Meditation, contemplation or visualization
In order to really get to know your Higher Self, it pays to treat it like any other relationship. This means dedicating time to getting to know this part of you. Allocating ten minutes every day to getting quiet and taking a break from the busy mind is one of the best ways to develop this relationship. You can use this time to meditate, contemplate something beautiful and inspiring or enjoy a visualization. Developing this relationship will provide such enormous benefits in your life that the time is well spent.
How do you know that it is your Higher Self you have been connecting with?
When you receive this deep guidance you will probably just know. What you have learned will seem just right, even obvious.
Your Higher Self will always give you healthy advice. If you hear guidance that involves dangerous or unhealthy suggestions then it is not coming from a good place. The guidance you receive will always be supportive and encouraging. It will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted or at least give you more clarity. If you hear critical thoughts or negative judgments you are still hearing the egoic mind.
If this happens, experiment with doing a short meditation or listening to some relaxing music to quieten that voice. Once you feel more peaceful, try again.
Often the answers you receive will surprise you. However, on reflection, they may seem like answers you already knew deep down. They will often make sense as part of your journey. Our Higher Self can give us advice that changes the way we look at things. This can help us to be less fearful, less caught up in the material world and more inspired and confident about our life-purpose.
Other ways your Higher Self may guide you
You may find that you do not immediately receive guidance or advice. But if you remain aware, you might find guidance coming in other forms. For example, you might be drawn to a book that resonates with where you are in your life. Alternatively, you might meet someone with just the insights or knowledge you need.
Building a relationship with your Higher Self
Your relationship with your Higher Self is like any other relationship and will improve the more you put into it. Don’t be disheartened if at first, you receive little or no guidance. Trust that as the relationship develops you will understand it more clearly. The results of better intuition, guidance, peace, and wisdom really are worth the effort.
Some of the benefits of connecting with this guidance.
Connecting to this deeper knowing can help us in many ways. It can inspire us with new goals, visions, and ideas. The connection can lower our anxiety and create a deep sense of peace and joy. We also find our abilities and talents enhanced when the ego gets out of the way and allows intuitive thinking more room. Above all, connecting with our true nature helps us to love and accept ourselves and others.
