Before we get into how to develop and cultivate inner knowing, let me define what I mean by it.
The meaning of Inner Knowing
An inner knowing is the certainty and conviction of the truth of a path, decision, or perception. It has the quality of being trustworthy and beyond doubt, and is attained directly without need for conscious reasoning.
Develop Inner Knowing by being Present
Sounds like a strange thing to say, but in my experience, Inner Knowing shows up in the present moment. Obviously, it can’t turn up in the future, since that doesn’t exist, nor in the past because neither does that! That’s why you need to be present to develop inner knowing.
But what I mean is that in this present moment, often, I’m not actually here. I’m stuck in a melancholic ground hog day style replay of the past, or in some fantasy horror sci-fi, scaring myself in the future! So perhaps my Inner Knowing is an abandoned gift ever-present in the Present waiting to be unwrapped, while I’m too busy distracted in the past or the future looking for the answers that won’t be found there.
So one principle for developing this Inner Knowing I’m seeing is Immediacy. Attending to this moment fully allows me to emerge into the next more effortlessly and easily.
Are you fully present to what’s here now?
If you are willing, perhaps we can take a look together… In a meditational experiment via social media, share what you discover in the comments below or do it privately while on the bus!
Your Experience Now
In this very moment, as you read these words… what is your experience like?
Funny, I took a deep breath as I typed those words!
What’s your breathing like?
Relaxing a little, I notice my posture.
How are you standing or sitting? How are you holding yourself?
Asking these questions to you and myself, my breathing has deepened and I’ve adjusted my posture. The lower back pain has eased a little. Doing a quick scan of my body, I feel some tension in my head, a constriction in my throat, with it comes a flashing thought of sitting in a sauna! Perhaps a longing in my heart too to Relax!
I’m curious… what do you sense in your body right now? What happens when you are there for yourself… present to your body.
When you do that… what emotions can you detect? What is the emotional weather / landscape?
I feel calmer now, more open and receptive. A slight tenderness arising. A thought pops up… “Maybe that’s something to do with not being Home for so long”! The lights are on, but nobody’s home! Hahahaha 🙂
Perhaps you also have a story to tell about what you’re observing.
What is the narrative? How deep are you immersed in that story? What is the character you are playing right now?
What are the headlines of the thoughts passing in your mind in this very moment?
Taking a moment to observe… a pause… having a look, before you proceed.
Be Your Own Guide
Maybe you can periodically ask yourself in the day… What’s here now?
In my opinion, becoming present to your experience is an important step to develop your inner knowing so guiding your life from within, especially in areas such as finding meaning and purpose in your work.
That’s why, in my coaching with clients, I ensure I work with them to develop their own inner guidance system.
You can find more tips here on, how to Develop Intuition: 21 Ways to Tune into your Inner Voice!
As they say…
Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man To Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime
Consultants are popular these days, but how about some self-consultancy! Open the consultancy of guiding yourself and your experience! You might be the most valuable consultant you ever hire!
Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash
