Stop Listening To The Noise, Find Your Passion

“Listen to the whispers of your heart… It knows of pathways your plans could never dream of” – Jane Lee Logan

Life is busy and distracting. Often “important” things happen that are a distraction from what it is that you need to be doing. Distracting us from our goals and the steps we need to take to achieve them. Perhaps a friend pops round unexpectedly for a “quick chat” that turns out to be a whole afternoon. Meanwhile you’d planned to cook your healthy meals for the week. Leaving you behind in your plan to eat right and lose those few extra kgs that you put on over Christmas.

Often these “important” things can be dictated by other people, as they are important to them but not necessarily to you. Is it because you feel obligated to other people or you feel that you don’t want to let them down? Is it your own expectation of yourself or is it their expectation of you?

This leads to the question of boundaries and valuing yourself enough to install healthy boundaries.

Or you may feel distracted by the noise in your own distracting thoughts. Thoughts of evaluating events that have past, judgements on how you could have handled them or anxiety about the future.

This distraction, this noise, regardless of the cause, can prevent you from finding and living your passion. Your passion is your guide to why you are here and what you are meant to be doing.

How do you quieten the noise so you can listen to ‘the whispers of your own heart’ as Jane Logan so perfectly puts it? How do you find out what it is that You want to be doing? How do you find out what it is that your soul is longing for?

Here are a few tips to quieten the noise and be still, so you can hear those whispers that will guide you:

1. Set a Time – Set time aside for yourself to be quiet, daily. Make it part of your routine. Perhaps first thing in the morning, shortly after waking up. To start allow yourself 15min to be quiet, you can always increase the time later.
2. Find a Place – Find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted for the allotted time.
3. Unplug – Switch off the devices. Make an effort put down your phone. Put it on flight mode. Ignore social media interruptions. Switch off the TV.
4. Set a timer –Set a timer for 15 min or the time you have planned to spend with yourself. You can use your phone as a timer if you have placed it on flight mode. If possible set your timer alarm to be quiet and gentle so it doesn’t startle you when it goes off.
5. Relax and Breath – Sit comfortably. Close your eyes. Focus on your breath. Breathe in and out deeply.
6. Be present – All we have is right now, this present moment. Be there, be all there. You have only allocated 15 min of your day to being quiet, allow yourself to be all there for that time. Your mind will try to distract you by thinking of past events or future plans.
7. Observe and Feel – Your mind will think an array of thoughts – things to do or regrets or judgements about past events. Don’t judge your thoughts, allow them to come and go like waves wash onto the beach.  Feel whatever sensation you experience in your body or whatever emotion may come up.
8. Listen – It will come to you. As you get more familiar with allowing yourself time to be quiet, you will be able to hear those ‘whispers of your heart’. Trust them, they will lead you to where you are meant to be going.

It is important to do it. If you aren’t able to manage 15 min initially, then do 5 minutes. You will see the benefits as your continue to be quiet. If you skip a day, don’t judge yourself just try again the next day.

Are you brave enough to listen to the whispers of your heart?