To Inquire from Within

So many of us are in the habit of looking "Out There" for our answers, invalidating our own inner wisdom by assuming that, in some magical way, others may be wiser than we, even about what is good for us. We become other-directed rather than self-directed. One of the biggest reasons for this behavior is that we are terrified of making mistakes. If we follow someone else's counsel, then it is his or her fault if things go wrong. But if we are to take charge of our own lives, we must have the courage to inquire within, find our own answers, and make our own mistakes.

Some times my friends say, "I don't know" when I ask what they want or need in order to be able to make changes in their lives. To free them from their own inner pressure to give the perfect answer I ask, "Well, if you were to take a guess, what would it be?" Almost always they have an immediate and right-on "guess". We are our own best experts. We know what we should do. We are only afraid we do not know or afraid that our knowing will be wrong. It takes courage to listen to ourselves and act on what we hear.

We can learn to trust ourselves by inquiring within. To practice doing this, sit quietly, close your eyes, and for a moment focus your attention on your breathing. Gently visualize your inner wisdom as a graceful butterfly. Admire her beauty, and encourage your butterfly to sit on your shoulder and whisper her wisdom in your ear. Be still and listen. We do now what we want and need, and we can have the courage to accept the results and the rewards of inquiring within.