We live in the age of technology where trends and fads change in the blink of an eye. With the rise of social media sites like Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram, we become more conscious of the self that we project online. Sometimes it even extends its power in the things that we do offline. We do activities that are “blog worthy,” go to places and eat food that are “Instagrammable.”

We become more vulnerable in being swayed in following the herd. We are pressured to conform to the latest trends, purchase the newest technology upgrades, visit up-to-the-minute destinations, to buy the most fashionable must-haves—that sometimes it makes us forget about ourselves. We overlook our own preferences, own style, even forget our own voice.

How do we avoid being drowned out by the voices of the maddening crowd? Here are some questions we should ask ourselves to help us clearly hear our inner voice.

What makes you tick? What are your pet peeves? What makes you genuinely happy? What eases you after a stressful day at work? What helps you destress? What provokes a compassionate anger in you? What makes you hope? What are you most passionate about? What motivates you to get up in the morning? Which activities, people, or things give you purpose? List down the things that anger you the most, and ask yourself why. This will make your inner voice clearer.

Transform the ongoing conversation in the stream of your consciousness into words. Knowing what you want and your stand on things will guide you in asserting your own thoughts to the world.

Spending time in the quiet helps. Allotting “alone time” for at least fifteen minutes a day helps our brains declutter. It is important that we find a safe space where we can be alone and vulnerable, then we can start practicing how to be calm. Because it is when we are calm that the connection to our inner wisdom is the strongest.

Breathing exercises also help. It’s okay to not call it meditation because sometimes it intimidates others who are not familiar with the practice. Just feel your breath. Listen to your body and your gut; it will help you figure out your feelings about certain issues and situations. Discomfort in choices or decisions, for example, can manifest in nausea, sleeplessness, or physical agitation.

Honing your instincts is also important. We should put our inner voice to a test so we can be more exact in listening to and acting upon what it tells us. Experimenting and challenging our inner voices can also help us break our own unconscious biases, which will help us become wise.

We all must actively search for our inner voice because, just like a muscle, the more practice and exercise we devote ourselves into, the easier it is for us to channel it when we need it.

What other techniques do you practice in honing your own inner voice? It would be interesting to hear your thoughts in the comment box below. Or send me a tweet at @ByronSThomas to discuss this.

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