Every single one of us has that annoying inner dialogue thing going on. You know, the voice that distracts you, tells you that you can’t, you’re not good enough, that won’t work, etc. It’s also the voice that participates in mild to sometimes severe paranoia, and pays way too much attention to what others think of you, often giving you false ideas of what others think of you. Ultimately, it’s the voice that speaks more loudly and more frequently than our true voice, and stands in the way of creating what you want in life.
Many of you aren’t even aware of this voice, or it’s distinction from your most authentic voice (intuition, highest self, etc.). And then there are those of you who are well aware of it yet don’t know what to do about it. Wherever you fall into in that range, you all want the same thing: to get it to shut the hell up! (Or, put nicely, quiet your inner dialogue.)
Below are some ways I’ve come across ever since I became aware of that voice and set out to silence it. I’m not there yet, but these ways have helped immensely in quieting it enough to hear what I truly want, who I truly am, and what my next step is in any given area. Try them out and see which one(s) fits you best!
Focus on Gratitude. There is not one teacher out there who skips this step, or downplays its importance. No matter how loud or demanding your inner dialogue is, simply stop what you’re doing, stop that train of thought, and focus on what you are currently grateful. List them out loud or on paper, and continue to do so until you can’t think of anything else.
Breathing Techniques. Like gratitude, I can’t say enough about focusing on the breath. There’s a reason why meditation and yoga are so dang popular – they work! Granted, not everyone is naturally inclined to such practices, so you have to play around a bit to see what does work for you. I started out with a simple breathing technique called “square breathing”; I do 5 rounds of it each morning or before working on a project, and I notice the benefits throughout the day. That is, my mind is quieter, outside people/events impact me less, and I have a clearer picture of what I want and how to get it. (Email me or comment on this to learn what square breathing is.)
Intentionally Indulge! Sometimes you have to confront the beast to get rid of it J. Either by writing it down or saying it out loud (to yourself or a trusted other), get everything the voice is saying out. Bring it into the light of day, so to speak, so you can let it go. You can’t help but feel better afterwards, plus the voice will feel like it needs a nap.
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) If you haven’t yet looked into this, stop what you’re doing and go to www.thetappingsolution.com. Although you may feel silly doing it at first, you will notice the benefits in no time.
We are ever-changing beings, so allow yourself to be open and flexible when trying any of these out. What is extremely effective one moment, may need a little extra support the next. For example, sometimes I’m just too scattered and crabby that doing my breathing technique alone isn’t enough; it takes the edge off, but I need to follow it up with something else, like focusing on gratitude. And some days I may need to do all four! Point is, do what works, and accept that it may not always look the same. But that’s the point of this whole article, quieting that inner dialogue so you can determine what that is!
Every single one of us has that annoying inner dialogue thing going on. You know, the voice that distracts you, tells you that you can’t, you’re not good enough, that won’t work, etc. It’s also the voice that participates in mild to sometimes severe paranoia, and pays way too much attention to what others think of you, often giving you false ideas of what others think of you. Ultimately, it’s the voice that speaks more loudly and more frequently than our true voice, and stands in the way of creating what you want in life.
Many of you aren’t even aware of this voice, or it’s distinction from your most authentic voice (intuition, highest self, etc.). And then there are those of you who are well aware of it yet don’t know what to do about it. Wherever you fall into in that range, you all want the same thing: to get it to shut the hell up! (Or, put nicely, quiet your inner dialogue.)
Below are some ways I’ve come across ever since I became aware of that voice and set out to silence it. I’m not there yet, but these ways have helped immensely in quieting it enough to hear what I truly want, who I truly am, and what my next step is in any given area. Try them out and see which one(s) fits you best!
We are ever-changing beings, so allow yourself to be open and flexible when trying any of these out. What is extremely effective one moment, may need a little extra support the next. For example, sometimes I’m just too scattered and crabby that doing my breathing technique alone isn’t enough; it takes the edge off, but I need to follow it up with something else, like focusing on gratitude. And some days I may need to do all four! Point is, do what works, and accept that it may not always look the same. But that’s the point of this whole article, quieting that inner dialogue so you can determine what that is!