Knowing how to listen to yourself isn’t easy.  At any given time, running around in your head, there are a multitude of opinions and thoughts vying for your attention. These opinions and thoughts make up a cacophony of voices.  The voices chatter all kinds of things – constant criticizing, blame for someone else’s pain, you’re not good enough, you’re too good, it’s not your fault, you’re amazing, you’re horrible… So on and so forth.

With all this noise, how do you know how to listen to yourself?  How do you even know it’s you talking and not someone else’s voice from the past or present?

Shel Silverstein wrote a poem called “The Voice” that is perfect in addressing these questions.  The answer is in the word whispers.  The Voice – your voice, is steady, calm, and whispers your truth with confidence and clarity.  The other voices shout to get your attention.  They make demands, are urgent, and confuse.  When they become too loud take the time to pause and check in with your voice.  Listen for the steady whisper that has been there all along. 

The Voice

There is a voice inside of you

That whispers all day long,

“I feel that this is right for me,

I know that this is wrong.”

No teacher, preacher, parent, friend

Or wise man can decide

What’s right for you – just listen to

The voice that speaks inside.

-      By Shel Silverstein