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6 Questions to Access Your Inner Wisdom

Photo by Jon Jacobsen
You can do anything you want to do in this lifetime. ~The Dalai Lama

One bone numbingly cold winter morning in January 2003, my husband Tony and I were carefully making our way to work, which was no easy commute.

At the time we were living in Kiev, the capital city of the Ukraine where winter months are so frigid, it hurts to draw a breath.

We had moved there to take up teaching positions in an international school after having been living in an ashram in India.

Initially we had been excited by the thought of such a dramatic change of scene, but the reality of it was proving to be brutal.

The working environment was choked by a tight, controlling, iron hand. Outside, the minus 18F temperature challenged us as winter began taking hold and in the under-heated school I shivered so much, I began to wear my coat, hat and gloves.

Our daily trek consisted of a nose-to-nose jam-packed ride on the subway and a walk through a park. Then we would cross a railway track and finally venture down two small slopes before climbing steps to an elevated neighborhood.

However, on this particular morning, after making our way across the track, Tony and I stared at one another in silent dismay. Layers of snow had compacted the lower slope densely, producing a black, glossy, frozen surface.

Tony encouraged me by going first as I followed. I placed one tentative foot in front of the other. Despite having iron cleats on the bottom of my boots, I slid dramatically across the ice, somersaulted and landed back-to-front on all fours.

I straddled the slippery surface rigid with shock and knew I was in trouble. Severe pain was thumping out of my right wrist and up into the arm, accompanied by an odd sound slicing the air. The sound had cut through sticky trees and echoed in the far distance.

After a few seconds, I realized I was hearing my own howling.

Everything began to happen in slow motion. The shock of the event lifted my awareness to a level that extended outside of my physical body.

With this elevated and expanded perspective I became aware of a number of things simultaneously.

First, I knew I had broken my wrist in two places. Second, I became aware that,

“This is happening because I am cut off from my spiritual and creative essence.”

Third, I heard an inner voice firmly state,

“This situation can not continue!”

In that instant, I knew the work I was doing had to change. While I had been making a valiant attempt to teach English, my heart was definitely not in it.

I was starved creatively, leading me to feeling cut off from the richness of my interior world, the result of which was misery.

Now as a perfect wake-up call, the universe was responding and I had no choice but to take note.

A few days later this dramatic insight was clearly reinforced. While we had anticipated staying in Kiev for two years, the Ukrainian Director suddenly announced she was cutting down on her more expensive foreign staff and our contracts were not going to be renewed.

Thankfully, we don’t always have to suffer an accident or illness in order to listen to inner messages.

A surefire way of unearthing ‘where we are’ in our life is to take a few moments to slow down, sit with a pen and paper and engage in self-inquiry.

We can ask:

While this inquiry is simple, it is potent and empowering.

Once we begin listening to our inner wisdom, the universe happily points the way and leads us in new and often previously unforeseen directions.

For me, my bone breaking, job-loss experience in Kiev was pivotal. It provided the perfect opportunity to re-focus, articulate my dreams in relation to the work I wanted to do and follow my heart by returning to the islands I so love—The Bahamas.

Once back on Bahamian soil, everything magically fell into place.

Several years after first hearing it, I was finally ready to take the Dalai Lama’s quote to heart [opening quote at top] … To create the kind of work I was being inner-directed to do.

I knew it had to be now or never.

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About the author

Julie Hoyle is a natural intuitive, writer, artist and trans-personal hypnotherapist who lives on Grand Bahama Island. Her profound spiritual awakening and the unfolding of unity consciousness is detailed in her book, 'An Awakened Life - A Journey of Transformation.’ To claim a free copy and for information about online courses, soul purpose readings and energy retrieval, go to: True Alignment. You can also connect with Julie on: Twitter and Tumblr.

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11 thoughts on 6 Questions to Access Your Inner Wisdom

  1. Absolutely wonderful story.

    I love your questions. If a person would take the time to sit and work with them, I’m sure they would work wonders.

    I will definitely share this article.

    Thanks

    Dan @ ZenPresence

  2. Very inspiring story, Julie. Thanks for sharing. It is true that you can achieve anything you want if you’re persistent, courageous and take action. I feel that most of us lack the last step and we just dream and dream, but never really commit and act upon what we want. I’m about to move to NY without a visa (yet) and a job (yet). Crazy? Maybe, but I’m determined to make it work. I’m scared, but I know this is what I want. Even if it takes some adjustments that are difficult for my overall financial situation, it will be worth it in the end. It’s all about commitment to getting what you desire.

  3. It is such a blessing to have the clarity to listen to the messages that the Universe gives us. The path to listen and follow still feels hard, but one keeps trying as the veils on the heart fall. Thank u for a wonderful post and reminder.

  4. Great post, Julie. In such fast paced life, we have forgotten all the aspects of life and running after money just like anything. I wish, if we could sit and put answers in front of those questions to get real meaning of life.

  5. Thank you for sharing this amazing story! I would also ask myself what I am tolerating in my life, and if I really need to do so or if I would feel happier and “lighter” if I found a way to get rid of these negative aspects of my life.

  6. Wow! this is so beautiful! It is so interesting how are inner voice will do whatever it takes to be heard. For you , it was breaking you wrist (ouch) ! When our inner voice is telling us something it is time to listen! thanks for your post!!! I LOVED IT

  7. What a lovely story! Thank you for sharing it. I feel inspired for my Thursday morning in New Zealand.

    Katie

  8. Love it! Sometimes the universe has a way of really slapping you in the face and screaming, “this isn’t it for you!”. Thank God for the universe!

    You know Michelangelo’s quote, “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free”? I’m on a similar journey to the one you experienced and I’m trying manifest my vision.

    Thank you for sharing your lovely story. Makes me feel that much closer.

  9. Mendrette24

    Hi Julie,
    Great article. I love the 6 questions. I answered yes to all of them and I’ve been contemplating leaving my job for over a year and pursue a dream, but I’ve been scared. I realize that if I remain scared I will remain stuck. Articles like this definitely helps. Thanks

  10. Julie thanks for sharing your experience. It also relates to me in someway. And as such although that unfortunate incident do imposed some trouble time..but everything happens for a purpose. That’s what I think! as I had to think in those days just about myself and focusing on what I really want in my life.

  11. Valerie

    After I answered these 6 questions all with No, now what? I know that sounds silly but I find it somewhat challenging coming up with the next step as to where to next. I’ve been soul searching for years and my awareness has expanded and I feel clear now which is important in the creative process. However, I don’t quite know myself yet and have a hard time finding my purpose. I once heard the saying that we are always on the right path so I guess I’m just a late bloomer.

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