Weekly Wayfinder – January 29, 2018
Welcome to the Weekly Wayfinder, a curated list of wayfinding-related inspiration, ideas, activities and fun stuff to click on and learn from.
WHAT WE’RE READING: Scheduling our worry – and other tips for letting go of beliefs that hold us back
WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO: What we say when we talk to ourselves
WHAT WE’RE PLAYING WITH: Getting started to get going
WHAT WE’RE CURIOUS ABOUT: How do you get really good at something? Hint: look for a teacher.
WHAT WE’RE TRYING: Tracking our time – where does it all go?
THIS WEEK’S MANTRA: “Only (s)he who listens can speak”
Shared with me by a friend today, this week’s mantra is part of a longer quote by Dag Hammarskjold, a Swedish diplomat, economist and author. The full quote reads:
“The more faithfully you listen to the voice within you, the better you will hear what is sounding outside – only he who listens can speak.”
I’ve been working on trying to find my inner voice lately – the one that knows my true, authentic self; the one who lives my inner wishes and hopes; the one whose message I’m so eager to hear, especially in my own current moment of transition. These days, simply locating this voice – let alone listening to it – often feels like an arduous process, one that takes much time, care and attention.
One of the ways I’m working to tap into my inner voice is by getting out into nature, and especially for walks. Feeling particularly confused and stuck on a certain challenge this weekend, I laced up my walking shoes and went out into the cold Saturday sunshine. Rather than putting in my ear buds and flipping on a podcast, I pushed myself to walk through that uncomfortable silence to see what might begin to bubble up. Within minutes, and with only the muted beat of my footsteps following me, I slowly, slowly started to hear my inner voice come through.
In about an hour of listening to that voice (and sometimes even talking in conversation with it), I managed to move from a place of fear, anxiety and overwhelm toward a calm clarity – one that I carried with me throughout the rest of the weekend. Did it solve everything and instantly silence my worries? No. But you can bet I slept easier that night, and have in the evenings since. Not only that, but now that I know what that voice is saying, I have a better opportunity to authentically align my actions with that voice's true intentions.
How are you tapping into moments of calm reflection and quiet solitude to reconnect with your inner voice? Whether it’s a walk outside, a moment to journal, or a meditation on your yoga mat, I encourage you to find time to get quiet and listen – so that your true voice may speak.
Onward,
