How often do you face a decision and feel halted by indecision? Like you’re caught up in a mental ping pong game, back and forth, without covering any real ground. “But if I choose this, I’ll miss out on that.” The concern that you will make a wrong decision freezes up your ability to move forward with any decision at all.
Sometimes it’s just not clear what to do. You’ve considered all the known factors, but the outcome is hazy - and it’s scary to make a big (or even little) decision when you’re swimming through the unknown.
This is when it is beneficial to include what I like to call your inner compass. The inner compass is the source of effective and attuned decision-making. You can also think of it as your centered self, guidance system, instinct, knowing, or intuition. Using information gleaned from your inner compass allows you to approach decision-making from a wider perspective, and gives you a deeper sense of trust.
A direct pathway to your inner compass is through connecting with you body. There is an inherent and natural wisdom in your body that speaks to you, guiding you through senses, signals, messages, responses, and reactions. The body knows, and it’s up to you to listen.
Sometimes it can be challenging to hear what’s going on amidst the mental chatter. It might also seem inaccessible to be in your body. We have been taught to place more value on reasoning through the mind than the present-moment discovering of what our body is telling us. Thus, we learn to ignore, override, or discount our body’s signals. No wonder it can feel hard to read them!
The good news is, reconnecting to your body’s wisdom is totally possible. The more you practice, the more self-awareness you will build. Here are some ways you can develop your connection and become more attuned to your body’s guidance:
Practice body awareness exercises, such as synchronizing simple movement with breath, or yoga sequences.
Meditate on physical sensations in your body, both subtle and obvious.
Cultivate self-respect for your body by paying attention to your inner dialogue and how you treat yourself, choosing the thoughts that uplift your self-image.
Make healthy life-style choices like eating nourishing foods, exercising, spending time in nature, and getting good rest.
Learn specific techniques to develop your perception and read your body’s responses; for example, the Inner Compass Practice - you can learn more about this in my upcoming free Webinar.
Recognizing and reading your body's signals might seem far-fetched for some - but we've all had experiences of this. For example, feeling a knot in your throat when you try to speak up about something; or a quickening heart beat when you're nervous; or a pit in your stomach when a situation is "hard to digest"; or an expansion and opening through your chest when you feel free or confident.
See if you can recall a moment where your body sent you a message, wanting to convey something to you about a particular situation through sensation. What did it feel like? Remember the qualities of the sensation, and the location in your body. How did you know what this sensation was telling you? Were you able to interpret its message? What was the outcome?
If you want to learn more about your inner compass and practice specific tools for accessing your body's guidance system, check out my free webinar - it can really be helpful when it comes to decision-making!
In sum, there are many ways that you can strengthen your connection to your body and learn to be guided by your inner compass. With time and practice, you can build an attuned relationship in which you perceive and understand your body’s messages, and then apply them as you relate to the world. The key is including your body's wisdom in your life; integrating it into the decision-making process, your choices, your actions, and your way of being. The more you apply the knowledge you’re learning from your body, the more trust you will create, and the more freely you will be able to rely on the answers you’re receiving.
When amidst a difficult decision or uncertain path, turn towards the light of your inner compass, and discover the innate wisdom that's there for you.
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