Voices in our Head

 There is a voice that is loud, harsh, and seems to be always looming within our minds. It is the voice of fear, worry, and anxiety. It is the voice which says you are not good enough, that things are not going to work out for you. You can call it negative self-talk, "Mr. Mediocracy" (as one author puts it), or chatter. It is the voice that makes us doubt our abilities and think poorly of ourselves. It is the voice which will lead us to self-doubt, hopelessness, and despair. 

There is another voice, which is soft and gentle. You may call it self-compassion, positive self-talk, or various other titles. This is the voice that says keep going, you are doing so good, don't give up. It is the voice of truth and clarity. If we allow it, this voice can lead us to serenity, peace, and security. 

This calm and quiet voice can be heard when we slow down, take a deep breath, and listen. It can be heard in moments of meditation, prayer, or in any contemplative setting - during a walk for example. It takes a bit of conscious effort to hear it, what's more, it requires that we ignore or set aside the loud and anxious voice within. 

I understand these inner voices in a religious context. Specifically, I recognize the still, small voice as the voice of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead alongside Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost can be received by the laying on of hands as a gift following baptism. Even for those who have not received this gift, the presence of the Holy Ghost can be felt. Aside from this, every individual, whether they have received the gift of the Holy Ghost or not has within them the light of Christ, often referred to as our conscience. The Holy Ghost and the light of Christ are meant to direct us in the way of truth and righteousness. Essentially it is God communicating with us through the Spirit or the light of Christ.

When I slow down and take a moment to listen to that soft voice within, I feel that it is speaking truth to my heart and mind. Too often, I feel overshadowed by the loud and anxious voice within. I doubt myself and worry about the future. Then, I take a moment to pause, and I can clearly discern a calm voice within, that tells me to keep going, that tells me I am enough, and that everything is going to be alright. I feel a sense of calm and security wash over me. I believe this to be the way God would speak to me. He loves me and wants nothing more than for me to return to His presence. He motivates me to keep moving forward even in the face of adversity and trial. 

I am making an effort to stop and listen to the quiet, gentle voice within more often. I try to recognize when I am paying too much attention to the loud and anxious voice. This requires that I do not simply go through the motions, but that I pause and consider for a moment the voices in my head.