OverFlow: When Listening to Your Intuition Means Ignoring Your Shadow
It takes a lot of effort to ignore that voice that says, “Just do it tomorrow.”
OverFlow is what happens when I overthink, overflow, and over-everything. When my feelings have nowhere to go, I write about them.
My life has been great since starting the new year. I had a rocky start, but eventually, I got on with it and began working on my self-care resolutions. I got through February without dropping a single resolution—which made my doctors and my husband proud of me. (I think.)
But what does life look like when you’re prioritizing your overall health? What happens to your schedule when you need to fit in dental care, hair care, skin care, regular exercise, and tracking your calories? Not to mention recreational reading, working on word puzzles, and writing letters to friends—on top of maintaining a Substack.
Listening to Your Intuition
I’m happy—that’s true enough—but keeping my mental state focused on contentment rather than comparison takes a lot. I’m always resisting the urge to compare myself to other people who seem “happier” or more at ease with what’s going on in their lives. Enjoying the peace and quiet I’ve cultivated requires a lot of meditation and relaxation.
There’s so much noise in the world—in the Universe, even—that it’s sometimes hard to listen to my intuition. I have been trying to focus on my inner voice, but it escapes me. I’ve also been trying to get back to my daily tarot card pulls, but I often forget. By the time I remember, I’m already working or dressing up to walk.
But why don’t I stop and build back that habit and listen to my intuition instead of shrugging and thinking, “I’ll start tomorrow”? Maybe it’s because I’m already focused on my New Year’s resolutions, and I think of that focus as me listening to my intuition. I can fit only so many things into my daily time and energy.
It takes a lot of effort to ignore that voice that says, “Just do it tomorrow.” Every morning this week, I’ve woken up and stayed in bed for 30 minutes to an hour. I have angry conversations with myself because the urge to stay in bed and relax is so strong. But I remind myself of my goals and force myself out of bed to start my day each time.
Ignoring Your Shadow
Even now, as I’m typing this sentence, my shadow whispers, “Stop writing and rest! Who’s going to know that you missed one Sunday?” I will—and then the comparisons in my head will start. The same is true for all the other times my shadow tempts me not to do things that are actually good for me. I’ll know, and I’ll feel bad for not being as consistent as other people seem to be with their goals.
But how do you know when the voice in your head is your intuition or your shadow? It’s not as easy as separating the “good” advice from the “bad.” I’ve been through this before—I felt great about maintaining my weekly Substack posting schedule last year. Still, I also felt that sometimes I forced myself to do it rather than slowing down the process and enjoying it.
I guess the trick is to discern whether the voice in my head is telling me to slow down or not—not doing things “just because” is simply breaking these habits that I’ve worked hard to build. But slowing down is another habit I want to add to my new and improved life. My intuition is all about me slowing down and resting. (I think.)
But living a slow life is more than just resting. It’s choosing to enjoy what you’re doing in the moment, at the moment it’s happening. It’s lighting scented candles you said you’d save for a special occasion. It’s going on a date and looking into your partner’s eyes instead of your phone. It’s taking the time to appreciate the life you’ve created for yourself.
Slowing Down and Reaping the Benefits
My husband says I always complain about being tired, but I never stop moving. I always want to tick things off my to-do list. I’ll finish my workday, walk, cook, do the laundry, or work on something else. That’s what my “great life” looks like to him. I don’t think he’d call it slow living.
But sometimes, I catch myself relaxing and feeling grateful for everything I have and have done. I think that’s the secret. Consistency is great, and avoiding comparison helps, but it’s gratitude that makes me feel great.
What have you been doing this year, and what are you grateful for?
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash
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