Inner Listening is Not the Same as Meditating

I’d like to draw a distinction between meditating and inner listening. Most meditation practises aim to still the mind. There are countless techniques to help bring us into presence with our breath and with our true inner nature. Once we have been meditating regularly and know how to move into a stiller place, we can explore inner listening.

As I conceive of it, inner listening is an inquiry of our lives through the body. Start by paying attention to any tension or persistent body aches in your body. It’s a time to sense what those pains have to say. Is there anything in your life that is out of balance that may be affecting that aching part? Does that part need anything to heal that you aren’t giving it?

In addition to listening to specific body-talk, it’s useful to tune in about more general life questions. We can analyze life choices in endless loops and still not be sure what we should do. Instead, get still and feel what direction is best. We all have an inner voice that can guide us, if we practice getting still and listening to it.

The more we make time to still the mind and then listen within, the more we come in contact with ourselves. I see ‘falling out of contact with self’ as a significant contributing factor to many chronic diseases. When we are listening and feeling into ourselves we are more likely to make decisions that support our well-being. When we believe that we don’t have time, effectively we are choosing to be somewhat disconnected. We can’t disconnect from our bodies and our inner world then be surprised and complain when we don’t feel well and our life doesn’t flourish.

Make time for you. It’s excellent medicine.