Looking for a Sign, is the Sign

Humans have spent thousands of years casting runes, interpreting the stars, or tracing lines in their hands in search of a sign, an answer, or a confirmation. When we search for a sign, our aim is to know, essentially, that what we are doing is right, that we are choosing the right person, job, or path, for our life. We long to, at long last, lay down this burden of constantly questioning ourselves.

But what if we knew we were doing it right? What if we trusted, beyond a doubt, that we already knew the answer?

When we find ourselves looking for a sign, we are one step removed from ourselves. We are at the doorstep of our truth, but we have yet to walk through the door. We have yet to come home to the reality that each of us has an inner voice that knows all of the answers for us, and that we can trust it implicitly. Some people call this voice the higher self, the sage, the knower — I like to call mine Fred. Some people externalize this voice and they like to call it god.

Although we use vastly different words to describe this “inner-voice”, the experience is universal, regardless of culture, age, or religion.

When we find ourselves looking for a sign, that is the sign. It is a sign that we already know the truth, and it is an invitation to deepen our relationship with our inner voice. It is a summons to access our wisdom and confidence and stand firmly in what we know.

When we believe that what we want is meant for us, we don’t need to seek outside permission. When we trust that our actions, regardless of the current outcome, we no longer need external validation.

Our inner voice is uniquely designed for us to use exclusively on ourselves.

Our inner voice can’t be used by anyone else, and another’s inner voice can’t be used by us (this is why advice rarely works). The inner voice is a unique gift given to each of us.

When we’re ready to stop relying on external signs, and desire to deepen our relationship with our inner voice, there are a few things that we can do.

Sit with ourselves. For me, this is always the first step of any investigation or journey. We can find a safe, comfortable space, and give ourselves the quiet time that we need to look inside. Sometimes I like to grab a journal, a blanket, a cup of tea, or some soft music. We can create a nest for ourselves and investigate what is inside of us, allowing our thoughts and feelings to naturally untangle themselves given the free space to do so.

Get out of the mind. Seeking signs is a task of the mind. The mind loves to put meaning on a situation or analyze an incident. However, when it comes to guiding our lives, the mind isn’t the most effective tool. It becomes a very valuable tool after we have the guidance, and we develop action steps. When we’re in the questioning phase, however, we need to access our inner voice, which is through our feelings. Remember, true feelings arise from a calm pool. When we have a tumultuous pool of emotions, we cannot easily access our guidance feelings. This is why intentionally doing the healing work is so important. It allows us to access our true wisdom.

Stay present. Our inner voice uses our senses and our emotions to offer us all of the information we need. When we stay present with our senses and emotions, we are able to access the intuitive information we desire. In many ways, we already do this. When we smell food that is rotten, we don’t eat it. If we smell smoke, we check for fire. When we feel creeped out, we take a different route. For this knowledge to be perceived (especially the more subtle messages), we must be present in the moment. Being present in the moment requires being in our body. Being in the body requires that we love our bodies and that we are free from judging it or ‘should-ing’ on them. When we are in our bodies, we are able to feel where to go (without even understanding it). I like to call this “chasing the vibration.”

Focus. Everything we want in life requires discipline to get there. When we want to trust ourselves more and be guided by our inner lights, we must focus our intention & energy, create healthy boundaries, and set habits to support our journey. In this case, these action steps might look like this:

• Surrounding ourselves with people who support us in trusting ourselves, and eliminate anyone who causes us to doubt ourselves.
• Stop asking others for their opinions or advice (including looking online for advice).
• Creating a relationship with a therapist or life coach who is trained to ask the right empowering questions to get in touch with the inner voice.
• Setting aside quiet time for ourselves daily, and/or committing to a meditation routine
• Staying curious, and assuming that everything is working out. The results might not always immediately look like we want them to, or think they should. We might not see the bigger picture yet. Stay curious, positive, and trust.
• Red flag all thoughts that don’t support us on this journey, and have a list of affirmations handy to retrain the brain.

In order to step into the adventure of life, with all its joy and wonder, we must be in the driver’s seat. We must trust ourselves. We can do many things in life that benefit us, but few have as great an impact as developing trust in our inner voice.