"Your inner voice is the voice of divinity. To hear it, we need to be in solitude, even in crowded places". - A. R. Rahman.

A couple of years ago, a University of Phoenix commercial called to action: "Earn your Master's degree in less than one year for $11,000." Everywhere the male subject actor went, he saw either the word or number eleven. Another man held a sign stating, "the clues are all around us." This scenario represents the external clues that guide us on our journey through this lifetime. However, how often do you listen to what you say?

There is a Vedic notion called DHI, the voice of wisdom, knowingness, or intuition. Throughout our lives, society encourages us to ignore our intuition in favor of the library of external knowledge stored in our overactive minds. I describe DHI as a "gut feeling" or sensation one follows without knowing exactly why but knowing it is the right action. We must quiet the mind to access this wisdom, which requires patience and practice. In the following paragraph, I will share a fun way to demonstrate how often we ignore our intuition.

I own an Amazon Alexa Show device that offers many valuable skills to subscribers. One skill, The Question of the Day, tests your knowledge in several categories. Alexa poses a question followed by four multiple-choice answers. Judy and I take turns answering the questions. Many questions are outside my knowledge base, and I will rely on a best guess. My typical scenario unfolds this way - I narrow my choice, and although I have a strong tendency toward one answer, I overthink and select the opposite. Almost invariably, the correct answer was what I had an inclination towards in the first place. I always exclaim, "I knew I should have chose that one!" I ignored my intuition for fear of being wrong (on a skill game that means nothing).

If you do not own an Alexa Show, you can easily find a similar skill by doing an online search. It is fun to expand your knowledge base while listening to your inner voice (or not)—observe without judgment. With diligent practice, you will connect to your intuition that dwells in the quiet moments of the mind. I now ask, "When does listening to what you say matter most?"

Nationally, during September, we observe Suicide Prevention Month (SPM). SPM is an educational campaign to provide instruction on suicidal ideation and how to approach a person who is struggling. Many workshops will give the attendees a list of resources available to offer a person in a mental health crisis. You might ask, "What does this have to do with my intuition?"

Recall my description of intuition as a "gut feeling." You may have felt the hair stand up on the back of your neck, which indicates that the inner voice is calling out. Imagine the following scenario. You observe that a usually happy friend of yours has changed in affect - they appear depressed, talking about giving things away, and their productivity seems to have faded. These new behaviors are the external clues that something is different. During my early days in the fire department, we gave a person acting in this manner "space" to work things out (external direction).

However, what does our inner voice tell you about your friend? Does your intuition suggest speaking with this person? Pose these questions to your inner guide, then listen for an answer. If you want a conversation, do so without fear of backlash. There is a prevailing belief that if we discuss suicide or depression with a person, then they may carry out their plan - something that is not true. Often, a struggling individual seeks help and looks for support from others.

As I write this post, I think back to my friend's suicide. He presented apparent changes in his behavioral norms. My inner voice often guided me to sit with him and ask, "What's going on?" Instead, I ignored my intuition in favor of the cultural direction that said not to butt into another person's personal life. I wish I had listened to what I had to say. Would it have made a difference? I will never know. However, I do what I do now (peer support, teaching trauma-informed yoga) as a way to honor his memory.

This scenario exemplifies why listening to your inner voice is essential, but not every message you receive will be about critical incidents. In addition to crises, a combination of external sources and intuition helps make every day, not-so-critical life decisions. Until next time -

Namaste,

Tim

If either you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, please get in touch with a licensed health provider, therapist, or peer support specialist. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available as a resource as well. Dial 988, and if you are a veteran, press 1.