Listening

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Sabine Schoellhorn, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.

Lately I am focusing more on my inner voice and what is going on within myself.

I feel when we are busy with work or other commitments its sometimes difficult to take the time to listen to those deepest hidden thoughts and feelings. I say on purpose “hidden” because sometimes you need to go a discovery to search and understand what’s truly going on for you. Your thoughts and feelings can be scattered and there don’t seem to be a link between them making it hard to understand the true meaning behind. So understanding the “bigger picture” can get lost in the process of distraction and being busy. It can feel like being on “autopilot” and not feeling in control of life anymore. In that moment it’s okay and most important to stop and truly listen to yourself.

For me I was on autopilot functioning and avoiding my feeling of overwhelm. I just cruised along the days without taking the time to listen to my inner voice understanding what that meaning of “overwhelm” actually feels and what is the reason for me to feel that way. In those moments my emotions also hijacked me and I started crying too for no particular reasons. This was my indicator to take actions and discover what is at the bottom of my overwhelm feeling.

When you are in this discovery phase it is most important to be very kind to yourself. See you for who you are in all your imperfections too. It’s good the way you are, don’t search for what could be wrong with you. We all have our strengths and weaknesses and we cannot everyone’s cup of tea too, meaning we won’t be liked by everyone too. I think about it in terms of a flower that needs a different environment to flourish and grow in. Some flowers need more or less sunlight or water. So I believe the environment we are in, also implies if we can grow and flourish to be the best version we are. We all have different strengths and weaknesses and that’s okay, it’s important to understand that about each other, seeing us and also the people around us for who they truly are. I like to remind you that nobody is perfect, you can ask people and everyone will give you a different description of what perfect would mean to them. It’s all about how you view it, so I think that is why being kind to oneself is so important. Accept you being you, if you would like something about yourself to be changed, then change it because you want it to change. Don’t change for the people around you, you will loose yourself.

I know that I am very good in adjusting to different environments, like a chameleon is able to change their colors in given situations. So I understood my feeling of overwhelm came from the fact that I was in an environment that was difficult for me to be and I was pretty much beating myself up for not being good enough to thrive and flourish in that environment. So my feeling of overwhelm starting growing and growing and more tears were flowing along, feeling hijacked and in autopilot. It was that moment that I decided I cannot go on like that anymore, I need to understand and discover what is truly going on for me.

So I took that step to listen in to my thoughts and feelings and they were not really kind to be honest. They were all about “you are not good enough”, “how are you able to proceed” and it was not really nice and supportive at all. I lost track of being me and I had to remember that my worth is not based on judgement by others or that negative thoughts and feelings that piled up through that feeling of overwhelm. So I stopped and asked myself in a kind way, what makes you think you are not good enough, what are you trying to tell me with all that overwhelm? I listened beyond that negative voices and to my true self and essence of being me. And what I answer did I get? You are in a challenging environment right now and its okay because you know how to handle it. Be present every day and do what you are able to do and be kind to yourself in that moments. You are doing well, you are resilient and strong. My inner voice was full of trust and believe in me and it took over the negative voices and I remembered what I am good at it and that I will be able to handle that overwhelm.

Ever since I listened to myself deeply and I felt that I can trust myself to overcome this situation also in a environment that doesn’t seem to be a very good match for myself, I felt more at ease and peace. I am not on autopilot anymore and I take every day as it is. I am more kind to myself, keep on listening to any feelings that needs to be heard. So the essence is to listen deeply within, the answers are all there. I always tell my clients that all answers they need are within them, and I found my answer too.

I hope you can relate and please be kind to yourself in any situation you might be in.
Accept for who you are and if an environment shall be too challenging, you can always change the environment to a more fulfilling and flourishing one as an option. You know what you need to do in that moment, listen within!

I am sending you lots of love and light to you.
May your inner voice guide you.

Sabine