Why you Should Listen to your Inner Guidance

For the last few years I have been coming more into my own power. This process has been huge for me personally. What does that mean? Coming into my own power?

It simply means that I am learning to trust myself and make decisions based on what I know to be best for myself. Each person is a complex web of interior forces. I have certainly been confused understanding my own interior self. The more energy and awareness I spend understanding my personality, life goals and challenges, the closer I get to making decisions that are best for me–and not being swayed by other’s thoughts and opinions.

In the past, I used to allow others authority over my own reality and perceptions which often left me with more confusion, doubt and self-judgment. Occasionally, I still see myself allowing others authority, but I am quicker to see how much others sway me, and readjust to my own interior truth.

This past weekend I found myself dealing with a very angry neighbor. She had an opinion about choices I made. I listened to her, and was swayed by her opinion. I felt bullied by her anger and I was upset by our interaction. I realized about 6 hours later, that my truth did not align with hers, and her energy was not about me. In the end, I regained my balance, while still understanding her unique perspective.

Be certain that you’ll be challenged by the outside world’s logic—which won’t work for you time and time again. It takes a fair amount of self-awareness and stamina to listen to your own inner guidance about what is best for you. It takes practice but over time, I have come to understand that I don’t owe anyone an explanation of myself when I am being directed from the inside. I have come to understand that the world behind my eyes, the experiences that I have and the thoughts that I come up with have more authority for me when what the world says it is possible to experience.

I know that in order to have this authority, my internal sense of self needs to have a strong and courageous backbone from which to view my own self and direction. It takes self worth and valuing my own path in order to allow this to truly manifest fully.

Some days, when I am challenged by another’s perception of my life, I know that if I just give myself some time to listen to my own self–while still listening to them–I am directed by a power within that has wisdom, humor and the ability to change, moment to moment.

Sandra Wood works with women who want a life of empowerment and self worth. She teaches women how to create powerful boundaries, deepen their own awareness and have the courage to use their personal strengths learned through experience and self wisdom.

Technorati Tags: inner guidance, life goals, self doubt, self-empowerment, life coach, self worth

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Depression as a Reminder

A few weeks back, I had a wonderful comment on my website from an individual that had read my previous article about depression. The enclosed comment got me to thinking more about depression, and rather than posting a very long reply to this wonderful comment, I decided to blog post this exchange.

My own experience with depression has made me see it as a blessing rather than a burden. Depression has led me to rearrange my inner map from time to time, and the most severe bouts with depression have come when I needed to change the most. I have gone from being a very selfish, cold, self-centered person, to being one that is capable of love, vulnerability, and far less fear. Life seems far more complex and sacred now that I see a spiritual reality sustaining the world we live in. Sadly, when I try to explain it to others they think I’m a bit off. Recently, a young member of our family was diagnosed with depression, and I have insisted that the family not pathologize his condition. I’m not sure the rest of the family believes me–they are so sure that we have bad genes–but perhaps books like “The Depression Advantage” will help change that.

Thank you for your wonderful comments. I have also come to see depression as a reminder that some things in my life want my attention. Often times, it is a simple reminder to be gentle with myself, but to also create some movement and to realize that I have control over what kind of energy I can create. I can’t “will” myself out of depression, but through awareness I can make things happen. These days, I can feel a simple hint of that energy, and I know it is a good time to readjust.

For me, depression has been a reminder to express myself honestly, both with myself and with others. It is true, one must be capable of being vulnerable, walking forth even when fear is there, and learning what love means to them. And yes, I agree-life IS far more complex and sacred than we think. Once we begin to realize that, I think everything then simplifies! To just know that you aren’t going to know everything, get everything, or understand everything-is truly a relief.

It is unfortunate that when we see our family tendencies, genetic pre-dispositions and traits, that we give up. Each person’s depression is as unique as who they are. To think that we are just like our family and that we must suffer like others is truly unnecessary. So often, we only see our challenges as something to get over, move past, and be ashamed of.

Our challenges are almost always a gateway into discovering something more amazing, unique and beautiful about our journey. Depression and cancer (another challenge of mine) usually are only seen as enemies to defeat. With that kind of attitude, we only war with ourselves. I like to call these challenges, Dark Gifts………ones I will never deny as unique and helpful. They might have been difficult, but they were gifts, not enemies to contend with, and certainly not some sort of “sentence” of how my life will be from now until my death.

Each day, we get to choose what kind of awareness, light, love and wisdom we want to employ. So often, we forget again and again how amazing the human journey really is. I am reminded myself each time depression peaks its head into my energy-that I have power over a life that is expansive and even with heavy energy in my life-it does not have to define who I am.

Thank you again for your wisdom, I wish you and your family well.

Sandra Wood works with women who want a life of empowerment and self worth. She teaches women how to create powerful boundaries, deepen their own awareness and have the courage to use their personal strengths learned through experience and self wisdom.

Technorati Tags:depression, genetic predisposition, cancer, self-expression, life coach

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