Why I Listen to My Inner Voice Instead of Fear

I like to go on walks in nature because the silence outside helps me listen to the quiet voice inside of me. I feel more at peace when I see the majestic trees. My spirit sings when it listens to the sound of the birds and the melody of the forest.

I like going on adventures into the forest. They awaken my curiosity and help me be open to new possibilities. Even if I go to the same place there is always something new to see. The forest looks different in each season. These new experiences help me get unstuck and awaken my enthusiasm for the beauty and all of the good in my life. Then my problems seem simpler and it’s easier to brainstorm solutions for the difficulties in my life. It’s impossible to feel depressed when looking at an unusual flower or watching the squirrels chase each other. 

The other day I really had my heart sat on being in the forest. However, the place where I usually walk was closed for a special event. I pulled off at a convenience store parking lot and tried to figure out a solution. I had a choice to make. I could listen to the victim voice in my head or I could encourage myself and try something new.

Choice 1: I could go home and cry and tell myself that nothing ever works out for me, including my walk today. This may sound like an exaggeration but it wasn’t. I was going through something difficult and really needed the peace of the forest to help me feel better. The park being closed felt like the universe was slamming a door in my face. I wanted to go somewhere safe and lick my wounds.

Choice 2: Buy some Gatorade and some Cliff bars at the convenience store and go to another park not too far away. The hike would be more difficult but the forest would be much bigger with many more trails. The place was new, unknown, and uncertain.

The old me would have picked choice number 1 because it seemed more familiar and safe. However I wasn’t the old me anymore. I have been working hard over the years to replace negative coping behavior patterns with more positive ones. I now realize that I don’t have to cast myself in the role of the victim. I am the creator of my own life. When a door seems closed in my own head I know that I can find the key to unlock it. I can also create my own key or go through another door that is open.

I was happy to realize that choice number 1 no longer appealed to me. It felt constricting and limiting. Choice number 2 on the other hand felt juicy, intriguing, expansive, encouraging and full of possibilities.

I was sick of feeling afraid of uncertainty in my life. Yes, sometimes uncertainty is a little scary but it can also be full of possibilities. There was a sense of freedom in the unknown and the possibilities that were calling to me. I decided to listen to my inner voice and to go with choice number 2. 

It turned out that choice number 2 was the right choice. The positive outcome turned out to be worth the risk of trying something new.

The new park was beautiful. I could see mountains and wildflowers. I could see and hear a busy woodpecker healing a tree. I encountered a horse who was hoping I had brought her a treat. I found a cute little snail. Then I found another snail that didn’t have a shell. I didn’t know snails came in both varieties. I found a beautiful flower called a Foxglove. I wondered what it would be like to be a honeybee and hide inside of it. I marveled at the old trees in the forest. I found a hollow tree stump. I had such a wonderful time that I plan on going back soon to explore more trails.

I have learned that when one path closes in my life I can always choose a new path to get to where I want to go. The new path may be full of uncertainty but I don’t have to be afraid of it. I can explore it with curiosity and be open to the new possibilities.