“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”
~Charles R. Swindoll
It’s in there, I know it is. Underneath the mental noise, habits, and distractions, there it is, clear as day…your inner truth.
If you’ve ever been confused or wondered why you got into the same situation again for the millionth time, it might be worth your while to quiet down and listen. Your inner truth is always speaking – guiding you, pointing out the red flags, tapping you on the shoulder with clarity. The real you absolutely knows how to handle things wisely and walk the joyful path. Isn’t that amazing?
It’s simply a matter of listening.
Getting in the Way of Listening
We try way harder than necessary to figure everything out. Do you ruminate endlessly when you need to make a decision? Or get stuck in repetitive patterns that don’t serve you? Are you too busy moving forward to notice what is here now?
Listening to your inner truth is about getting out of your own way. Maybe you complicate matters by:
- Thinking you have to come up with the answers
- Moving too fast to be present
- Letting the past and future consume your attention
- Leading with should’s and have-to’s
- Doubting what you know to be true
If you are trying to get to peace, trying to find happiness, trying to make your struggles disappear, there is a simple solution.
But it is a radical one, so you need to be ready.
Discover Yourself
You are being invited to do something you may never have done before. And that is stop. Stop the analyzing, the agitated thinking. Stop spinning in doubt and frustration. Stop doing what doesn’t bring you happiness.
Just for a moment, step away from all of that. You can always pick it up later, if you want.
Take a deep, cleansing breath. Realize that you are still very much alive even though you aren’t caught in your mind. Notice space and silence. Then listen.
Instead, of barreling through at warp speed, put down all the armor, and be one with life. Because you already are. Underneath all the swirling mind activity, the pressures, the confusion is you. Unconditioned. Undisturbed. Infinitely present. Boundlessly intelligent. Vast and spacious. Crystal clear.
How to Listen
From the perspective of aware presence, the rules are different than what you are used to.
Your starting point is to inhabit the space of not knowing. It’s such a relief to say the truth: that you don’t know and you can’t figure it out. Let yourself rest here.
Then be quiet and listen. Don’t worry if your mind goes crazy. Stay as the space in which thoughts appear. Simply be present and available to what arises now.
Notice: What is your body communicating in its own special language? What insights spontaneously appear? What do you realize that you have been ignoring?
Expand in openness and receptivity. Let go of anything you might expect or hope to hear. Allow anything to show itself to you without judging it.
At this point, it’s anyone’s game. Maybe the change you need to make will become clear. Maybe you will see that resting and doing nothing is the wisest path. Maybe your urge to defend will fall away, and the most beautiful heart-filled response will appear.
Let yourself be surprised by the capacity of your natural intelligence. Then bow to it by letting it guide your actions.
It’s so simple. Listen up, and your true magnificence will shine everywhere.
What happens when you listen to your inner truth? What gets in the way? I’d love to hear…
David Nagy says
Hello Gail!
Could you explain what you mean by “Moving too fast to be present”? It resonated with me deeply.
Thank you,
David
Gail Brenner says
Hi David,
Welcome to you, and much appreciation for your question.
“Moving to fast to be present.” When we are caught up in our minds and are busy playing out habits to escape our feelings, we don’t have the space to be present. Many of us stay ridiculously busy or we occupy ourselves continually with checking phones and staying connected way beyond what we need to or we spin endlessly in our minds about the past and future. As humans we have come up with unlimited ways to distract ourselves from the present – so we end up living in the past and worrying about the future.
When we are so busy and distracted, we overlook what is here now in this moment. If you let all the mind activity and running go, just for a moment, you come to a full stop. Without concepts and ideas about how things aren’t like they should be, you can see how things really are. Here is this breath, these sensations in the body, the warmth of the sun, the leaves moving in the wind, fingers typing. The more you stay in the present, the more you will find that this is where you can find peace. This is where your wisest answers will emerge.
So practice stopping the movement forward – ahead of yourself and away from yourself. Instead, be still, become aware of your inner experience, and simply be.
Love to you…
David Nagy says
Hello Gail!
Thank you for your kind and detailed answer. Through the help of therapy, a few special books and vipassana meditation I have found my way back to the present. But sometimes, especially in the beginning, I realized I was too strict with myself, I wanted to be present too much, and I was angry for “slipping” back to past and future. With time I learned let go of this too, I learned to be patient and loving toward myself.
As I have rarely met any advice regarding this “impatience”, I thought “Moving too fast to be present” was a message that even if we’re on the right track, we need to accept our own pace.
Thank you for your work on this blog. Your weekly reminders are greatly appreciated. I’ve been reading your messages for two years now, and I really love the direction you are heading with this blog.
Greetings from Hungary!
David
Gail Brenner says
Wow, David, you are writing from Hungary! Fantastic.
You interpretation of “moving too fast to be present” is very appropriate. If your attention moves into the past or future, where does that happen? In the present. There is no way we can get around being in the present – because it is always the case. That said, it may take some time to recognize the presence that is here and available. Our minds play out habits of thinking that keep us overlooking the splendor of now, and these may take some time to wind down.
But there is no need to wait. Every time you wake up and realize that your attention has been in the mind, simply recognize what is here, you are here. No need to be impatient about it or stressed. Simply celebrate the recognition that you have consciously returned to where you have never left. The present isn’t a place. It is the life that is happening right now. So there is never a problem. When you feel that there is, recognize the now. Here is peace and happiness…
Craig conscious says
The power is always in the present moment however we are so focused in the past trying to change things or experiencing anxiety by thinkijg of the future. Nothing is always happen right now even though it may seem like it is. Only right now I happening. So be conscious of staying present in your experiences moment to moment and let it guide you.
Tracy says
Thanks, Gail, for this post. It was the first thing I saw in my e-mail yesterday, when I was facing what I anticipated to be two stressful events. It was a great reminder not to project and to deal with what actually is.
David Stevens says
Listening is the key Gail…it’s an art form that can be learned by anyone. Thanks for putting this out there
be good to yourself
David
Chris Akins says
Gail,
Wonderful post as usual. In the midst of living, it is often to forget that at our core, we are spiritual, wonderful beings. I particularly appreciate your formula for keeping in touch with that awesome being we truly are; e.g., by taking the time to be mindful, moment-by-moment, of our true nature.
Awesome post. Thanks!
Chris
Gail Brenner says
Great to see you, Chris!
It’s so easy to get lost in the doing of life. But even in the midst of the doing, there is presence, being, life. Right now! I love that this is the case.
May we remember….
mary choo says
just to say how much i liked this post. Its so true we realy do get in our own way most of the time. I am really enjoying reading the posts and articles.
Thank you
Mary
Gail Brenner says
So great to hear from you, Mary. Sounds like you know the pleasures of getting out of our own way – truth, authenticity, limitless possibility.
Tristan says
So is it speaking loudly enough in the girl and her younger sister who have been raped many times by their dad, and will be raped again when he gets drunk again? They’re too afraid to go for help or stay in touch with me. (All I could do then was guess their school and speak to the principal). Why is this inner truth so weak within the fear and natural contents of their minds. If they don’t identify genuine help and the younger one commits suicide, can we say she was too stubborn to let her inner truth speak?
Matan says
Amazing,just amazing…
Thanks
Gail Brenner says
My pleasure, Matan. You are so welcome.
Anonymous says
What is it you are listening for ?
A distinct voice speaking in your language( eg English) , a feeling, a hunch ?
Gail Brenner says
We can’t know how it will show up. Listen deeply and be open. Let go of any ideas about what you think you will discover.
I recently had a decision to make between two things. The logical choice was choice A, but when I got quiet and listened outside my mind, the clear answer was choice B. It came with an inner knowing that was undeniable, and that’s what I went with.