Starting Something New

We have all started something new at various points in our lives. Sometime we had to, more than we wanted to, and sometimes it was entirely our choice. We all have experienced change. Starting something new can be really exciting. At times scary but also very interesting. Finding a new direction means that we must be ready to do something different.

In order to start something new we have to plan and prepare. Think about it. Can you remember? Every time you make a new decision, every time you consider your next big step, how do you gather the most important information? Where do you usually look, for what can help you most? Do you turn to your rational brain, best mental resources? Do you have knowledge and experience to support you with your next steps? Or do you rather hope and believe? Do you allow yourself to be simply guided forward towards your best future? Do you listen to your intuition?

Those who firmly believe in the guidance of the Universe, would say that every time we start something new, we are supported by some positive forces that conspire for our success. Sometimes we focus on this intangible help, simply following the whispers of our heart. Guided by intuition and trust, we believe that what is meant to happen, will. And if we are destined to be on the path we are choosing, then it must be the right decision.

What is the more reliable source?

Starting something new, we want to know that we are still safe. The risk we take is acceptable as long as it carries enough reassuring information and the element of excitement with it. In order to ensure our own safety we build trust. The more sense of it we have, the more likely are we to actually commit to making change happen. Trust equals security.

Knowledge, hard data and experience contribute to the feeling of trust, optimism and self-belief. However a peace of mind can also be achieved with internal guidance of intuition, whispers of our hearts and hope that we are on the right path.

What source of information do you focus on?

For many year I relied on my rational brain only. I believed then unless I see the evidence (scientific evidence of course  J ), data, figures, charts and real people who can confirm, I can’t move forward. It would be silly, irresponsible and untrue of who I was, right? My sense of safety about the future, came purely from rational thinking.

But thankfully there is another quality about me, which I actually learnt to appreciate and like a lot. I am passionately curious. This sense of curiosity made me listen attentively every time someone talked about intuition in my presence. I wanted to know more when they were talking about the Universe guiding them to follow their heart. Interesting. This intuition thing I don’t seem to have. How do you get one? Do you request guidance? Who from? What feelings should I tune into? What are the indicators?

Again, specific questions to identify rational answers.

And all I would hear were quite unspecific responses:

“You just have to find it for yourself”, “You kind of feel it inside” (Where inside? How?) “If you know your values and your purpose, let them guide you towards your truth”.

So one day I decided – I will discover intuition for myself or at least the feeling that I will recognise as guidance and the voice of my heart. No specific plan, no preparation. If this qualities are available to me I will discover them within.

And I did.

I can recall this sense of being guided in the right direction, almost instantly now. I know what it feels like to be drawn to a thought or an idea. Sometimes without an apparent reason. You know what’s best for you, you know what the right choice is, you know how the events are going to unfold. There is a sense of peace that is an integral part of it. There is trust that “everything is going to be alright”

Many of the decisions I made recently were based on this emotion and turned out to be pretty accurate.

Balance of both

I am still a bit of a nerd and I am quite happy about it. Starting something new, I first look for solid information to support my decisions but I like to have both now. As I engage into planning and preparation around my new projects or ideas, I look for that sense of trust and guidance in my heart too. Is it there? Should I go ahead or reconsider my approach? I now like to build my trust to go forward on what supports me mentally and logically as well as emotionally and spiritually.

If you are anything like me, with a strong need for confirmation and evidence, your thinking will take you from A to B. But what I know now is that a balance of both is necessary. Sometimes all we have starting something new is this guidance of your heart first before you can look for solid proof in reality. And that’s ok. Sometimes there is simply no way of knowing everything right at the beginning.

We make braver choices when we allow ourselves to be guided by our hearts. We are reassured and are more likely to take the first step much quicker, show courage and take action just because something feels right. We take this leap of faith, hoping that everything will turn out just fine. And it does.

If you’re not good at listening to your internal voice, tune into it again. Or maybe even for the very first time. Experience for yourself the benefits of having both. Solid information and trust at it’s purest form. Who know what exciting adventure are awaiting. Starting something new this year, take this leap of faith and open up to even greater possibilities. Let yourself be guided by your mind as well as your heart.

You are anyway, you just have to listen.