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Listening to the words and phrases that you use when you talk is just one key to noticing your thoughts and beliefs. There are many times during the day when we are not in conversation with somebody else. These are moments when we can be most aware of our inner dialogue. Our minds are constantly thinking. We have thousands and thousands of thoughts every day of our lives; we need to begin to listen to our inner voices as they chatter away to us.

It can take practice to listen to our thoughts. Even when we are on our own we can create enough noise and activity around us to drown out our inner voices, and sometimes they are just so familiar to us that we do not hear them. Many of our thoughts may be positive, but just like the sentiments that we express aloud we may also have numerous words, phrases or concepts going around and around in our minds that are negative, limiting, fearful, compulsive or filled with conflict and struggle.

Exercise: Listening to your Inner Voices

Take ten minutes of silence to listen to your inner voices. Make sure that you are on your own and minimize distractions by unplugging the telephone, turning off radios and television sets or anything else that may drown out your thoughts and distract you from your task. It is often best to find a comfortable spot where you can sit upright, your body open and relaxed and your feet placed firmly on the floor in front of you.

For anyone who is unused to stillness and silence it may feel uncomfortable to do this for the first time. For some of us, the only time we stop rushing around is when we sleep, and it is possible that you may feel drowsy and want to nod off. This is why it is better to do this sitting upright. If you find yourself getting sleepy or, alternatively, looking for distractions, just bring your attention gently back to what you are doing and continue to listen to your thoughts.

Notice any positive voices. Notice the negative ones. Is your mind quite busy or is it still? Do you have fearful thoughts? Do you think about all of the things that you should be doing? Are your inner voices doubtful, happy, anxious, peaceful or confused? Are you full of negative or positive expectations?

When you complete your ten minutes’ of stillness, return to your normal tasks and activities of the day but see if you can continue to notice your thoughts as you do so. Every so often, pause during your activities and ask yourself ‘What am I thinking now?’ Do your best to keep this going for as long as you can: notice your thoughts as you work, eat, rest, bathe, shop, watch television, travel, undress or settle down to sleep at night. Notice your inner voices when you first wake up. Are they positive? Are they negative? Do they support you in health and happiness? Do you need to change them?

The more that you can practise listening to and noticing your thoughts, the easier it will be to heal your mind and change your life for the better.