Cory Quirino's Inside Out

Listening to your Inner Voice

IT CAN get noisy inside our heads - very noisy. Growing up, we heard many voices in our minds - mother, father, teacher, priest, best friend ...

And all this time we listened to their beliefs, ways, judgment and feelings on countless issues - from chewing our food properly to attending church service to displaying behavior expected by society.

Each figure that mattered in our lives had a face, a body, and voice. The voices helped us form our own opinions, pass judgment, speak with conviction.Finding our own voice.

With all the voices talking to us and competing for our attention, which one should we really listen to?
Complex as it may seem, only one voice should prevail in the end -our own.To erase past recordings of other voices in our heads, we have to:
1. Tell the voices to keep silent.
2. Sit in a quiet corner and meditate.
3. Allow the real person to emerge, not the one dictated by, formed, and created by authority figures.
4. Let our own voice speak.A checklistTo find out if you are heeding your own true inner voice called your higher self, here's a checklist.

Choose the best and most honest answer.(Lifted from "The Path To Love" by Deepak Chopra, MD, here's another way to help you get in touch with your self.)1. I decided to go it alone on something that mattered to me.
2. I had a great new idea.
3. I came up with a way to solve a situation, out of nowhere.
4. I said, "I love you."
5. I got something off my chest I'd wanted to say for a while.
6. I swallowed my pride and admitted I was wrong.
7. I supported someone who was in doubt or wanted to make a difficult change.
8. Despite the evening news, I feel that life is good.
9. I didn't blame anyone.
10. I didn't complain.
11. I searched deep inside.
12. I made someone feel better about himself than he did before.
13. I saw something good in someone who made a bad impression before.
14. I trusted and it worked out.
15. My faith in God was justified.
16. I had a moment of insight.
17. I forgave myself or I was kind to myself.
18. I was tempted to jump to conclusion but didn't.
19. I was at peace.Give yourself a point for each statement chosen.0-5 pointsYour life is based on other values and not the spiritual.

However, your inner self is ruled by routine. Creativity and sensitivity don't rank high with you. Looking deep inside yourself isn't an easy task for you. You may describe yourself as an atheist or a skeptic.6-15 points.

You believe in God but don't have a strong link to a spiritual life. Money and success are not your greatest goals. You are safe in the middle ground but worry about your future.

Passion is not your asset.16-19 pointsYou are attuned to the spirit and follow your star wherever it might lead you. Your belief in God is based on your own personal experience. To you, love is a great force and you believe in its miraculous powers.

InterpretationIf you scored high in terms of your own sense of spirituality, you also scored low on fear, guilt and anger. The voices that tell you "this is what you better do or else" are recordings from the past.You have the power to choose what voice to heed, and the more often you listen to your true, higher self, the better.

You can decide what voice to obey - the one that holds you back in fear of failure or pain or the one that allows you to face life with hope and courage.Samples of negative voices"Don't do it, otherwise you will suffer the consequences.""If you jump you will hurt yourself.""It's good to go on a food or alcohol binge.""Even if it breaks you, do it.""Go ahead, pursue it till you're blue in the face.""Go for it - never mind who gets hurt in the process."

Practice listeningThe best way to practice the art of listening to the right voice is while you are in front of a buffet table. Stand before every dish. Stay for a few seconds.

Does a voice tell you to dump heaps of food on your plate or to go for moderate servings? Does it accept the food or reject it?
Remember, it's not the food calling to you - it's your inner voice communicating with the food.

The next test is after consuming the food. If you feel guilty, you listened to the wrong voice. But it's not too late. Avert any harmful effects by exercising. Hit the gym!Love and light!

http://www.inq7.net/lif/2004/jul/06/lif_23-1.htm

posted by Misteryo Philippines Network (MPN) @ 7:18 PM