Sometimes it seems hard to know what we really think and feel. Is this relationship really good for me? Am I hurt by what he said? Do I want to go on another date with her?

What we need to do is tune into our inner voice, that little voice of truth, so that we can be confident in our choices and decisions. Easier said than done, right?

What is your inner voice?

People call it different things. You might equate it to God, the Universe, source, or your highest self. Whatever you call it, it is that quiet yet persistent 'voice' that truly loves you and has your best interests at heart. You may hear it, you may have visions, or you may simply come to 'know' what it is telling you.

What are the benefits of tuning into your inner voice?

You will no longer be at the mercy of other people’s opinions, being swayed by first this person, then that person. You will know what you think, feel, need, and want. When you know these things, you can take responsibility for getting your needs met, rather than expecting someone else to do it for you. You can also communicate these to other people.

The difficulty is that when we are so busy in our lives and ticking off our to-do lists, we ignore our little voice of truth. If we make time and use the tips outlined below, we can re-connect with our inner voice and grow in self-confidence.

Seven tips on tuning into your inner voice

1. Slow down

When we are busy and our minds are whirring away, it’s too noisy for us to hear our inner voice. We need to slow down and drop into our bodies. One of the easiest ways to do that is by focusing on your breathing. You may find it helpful to put one hand on your heart and one hand on your belly, and then focus on breathing so that your belly fills with air and deflates each time. Do this for at least five long breaths. You will feel calmer and more in the present moment.

2. Grounding

Spend a few moments focusing on your feet. Notice where your feet touch the floor and through the floor, are connected to the earth.

3. Notice physical sensations

Let’s say, for example, that a friend has invited you to a big party on a weekend when you know you already have some commitments. After slowing down with the breathing and getting grounded, begin to notice what’s going on in your body as you contemplate going to the party.

Does your body feel expansive, light, and open, or are there areas of tension, restriction, or tightness? Sit with the choices available to you. Are there other options? As you tune into your body’s sensations, see what emotions come up for you and give them your attention.

4. Meditate to connect

Whilst prayer is us talking and asking, meditation is where we listen. It is another great way of slowing down, getting present, and connecting with our bodies. There is a wide variety of relevant meditations to choose from, from meditations to listen to God, to meditations to connect with our highest self. A guided meditation of this kind gives you a helping hand in tuning into your inner voice.

5. Environment

Whilst we can tune into our inner voice in any situation, it is often easier, especially when we are new to it, to find an environment that is conducive to listening. This often means some time alone so that we don’t have the interference of other people’s ideas or even the influence of their presence. Finding a quiet place, private and free from distractions, is helpful. I particularly find being out in nature, in a woods or a field, helpful, but really any little area of seclusion will suffice.

6. Let go of the stories, the shoulds, the what-ifs

If you find yourself saying something like "Well if I do this, then he’ll be annoyed, then we will argue...", or "I should go out and meet them because I will look anti-social if I don’t”, then know that your busy mind has got involved and is running interference.

When that happens, notice it, but let it go. If it’s really persistent, there is something that needs your attention and you may need to deal with that in order to tune into your quiet voice of truth.

7. Trust

We can trust our inner voice, as it is on our side and truly loves us. However, some of us have made choices in the past, that with hindsight, we wish we hadn’t. We can then have trouble trusting our inner voice. Can I trust it? Do I even know what it’s really telling me?

If this is true for you, the way through is compassion and forgiveness. Is there someone you need to forgive? Do you need to forgive yourself? We all make mistakes yet we can be so hard on ourselves!

Our little voice of truth, our inner voice, is there to guide us, help us grow and have peaceful and powerful lives. It is always there and is the root of our knowing ourselves and having confidence in ourselves. With practice and patience, we can learn to tune into it whenever we need it.