Things to Know About Trusting Yourself
Something that I notice from time to time, both within myself and in the world around me, is this tendency to seek our truth outside of ourselves. Glennon Doyle refers to this as “asking other people for directions to places we haven’t been”. We pull a million tarot cards, we book that astrologer session, we ask everyone around us what we should do. And when nothing resonates, we keep begging for guidance.
When we seek answers outside of ourselves, we tend to silence and dishonor the innate wisdom of our inner compass. Often we turn to these outside sources not because we don't have the answers ourselves, but because we don't want the messages we're receiving.
Our work in these dark spaces, in this time of emotional wintering, isn't to do the thing our lives are asking us to do (although sometimes it is, if we're ready).
Our primary work is to sit with the parts of ourselves that are wanting to deny or reject what is coming through. Our work is entering into radical acceptance of the wisdom our bodies are giving us. Our work is to surrender to the crushing humility of “This is not the answer that I want, but I know it is true for me.”
That's the medicine. That is where we leap into the abyss.
This is not something you learn by reading a newsletter. This is a holy practice that is best approached with a trusty guide, a container of support, and a willingness to be maddeningly flawed and imperfect.
Trusting yourself is a lifelong practice of getting clear on what serves you best and taking aligned action with that knowing. It’s about committing to the self-compassion and nervous system regulation required to hear your own truth. Self-trust is about having the willingness to stay true to your word.
Trusting yourself is about making amends to the parts of you that you’ve wronged, and making do on those amends by changing your behavior.
It’s about having your own back, and pointing yourself in directions that are most aligned with that level of fierce protection.
It’s moving your body and getting into nature when you’re trying to think your way out of doubt and fear.
It’s about picking a different road when you know exactly where the old one will take you.
Learning to trust myself changed my relationship with my life, with my body, with romantic partners, and with my work. It is one of the best journeys I’ve ever taken.
Is this an area of your world that needs a deep dive? If your answer is yes, I would love to help you.