Learning to Listen

Jul 8

Written By Viola Mae

Guiding Question:
Why don’t I trust my own inner knowing?

You ask.
You scroll.
You research.
You reach.

You gather opinions like protection—
as if the more voices you collect,
the safer your next step will be.

But under all that noise
is a quiet voice
you learned to doubt.

Maybe it got silenced in childhood.
Maybe it was punished, or laughed at.
Maybe it just got tired of being ignored.

Still, it waits.

Not demanding,
not loud—
just there.
Still whispering:
I’ve been here the whole time.

Cognitive Pause

It’s normal to seek external input—
but when it becomes constant,
you may have learned that others were safer to trust than yourself.

Rebuilding inner trust is not instant.
It’s relational.

You’re not broken for hesitating.
You’re cautious—
because deep down, you know your voice matters.

What moment made me start doubting my inner sense of knowing?
Whose approval do I still seek when I make decisions?
What would it feel like to pause before asking someone else—and ask myself first?

The 30-Second Pause Before Asking
Before seeking outside advice, pause for 30 seconds.
Inhale slowly. Ask:

“If I did know what to do, what would I say?”

It’s okay if nothing comes at first.
You’re simply practicing listening.

Over time, the answer may not be louder—
but your trust in it will grow.

You were never meant to know everything.
But you were always meant to be in conversation with yourself.

What if your inner voice isn’t lost—just waiting?

Echo Chamber