You know more about what you need than you think

I have a theory: I think we’re better at knowing what we need than we give ourselves credit for.

Sometimes when we’re looking for answers to tough questions, our immediate thought is to look outward for advice.

When we get nervous about the path forward, we want someone else to tell us what to do.

When we’re confronted with uncertainty about our future, we want to latch on to a proven method, something that’s safe and tested.

But when we look outside first, we tend to mute the voice inside of us that knows what’s best.

You know the one I’m talking about.

It’s that thing that’s helped you make decisions your entire life.

Sometimes we ignore it because we don’t trust what it has to say. Or maybe it’s pointing us in the direction of something challenging that we don’t want to confront.

But here’s what I truly believe: making real changes in your life starts with listening to that voice first.

Every time I write a post, I realize what I’ve written about is a lesson that I need to learn, re-learn, or understand at a deeper level.

It’s my own voice telling me exactly what I need to pay attention to right now.

And the more I pay attention to my own thoughts first, the more I’m able to learn the lessons that need learning.

Don’t get me wrong: I’ve relied very heavily on the wisdom and advice of others. It’s an essential part of discovering your own path.

But you’ll never be able to fully realize the power of that wisdom if you’re not paying attention to your voice first.

Try this:

If you’re looking for an answer to a tough question, consider writing what’s on your mind for 5 minutes a day.

Writing is one of the simplest and most elegant ways to listen to that voice.

It clears space so that your own wisdom can come to the surface.

It strips away the noise and helps you listen with intention.

It doesn’t matter what you write at first. Many days the first thing I write down is “I’ve got nothing to say today.”

But even the act of writing that helps me clear space to get the answers I need.

Get in the habit of writing for five minutes, every day.

You know more about what you need than you think.

Go have a great workday.