Julie Powell, author of the best selling book Julie and Julia, shared her success story at the Missoula Businesswomens Network’s Fifth Women’s Symposium last Saturday, February 20, 2010. Julie candidly told the 400 women who attended the luncheon she did not develop nor follow a business plan to write her best selling novel which was then made into a movie starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. She pointed out how both chance and perfect timing played a major role in finding her voice as a writer. Julie contributed her success to listening to the wisdom of her little voice. She said, “The crazier your ‘little voice’ is, the more you want to listen.”
Do you listen to your little voice? Or do you ignore, over-rule and discount what your little voice tells you, based on whether you agree or not?
One of my blessings acquired from living with a brain injury was tuning in to hear my little voice. Previous to my brain injury, I depended on my brain to be my primary intelligence. After my brain injury, my window of intelligent thinking lasted two hours each day before I metamorphosed in to my dazed and confused self. My little voice took over and guided me after my cognitive brain fizzled out. At times, my little voice prompted me to do things that didn’t make sense to me. But I did what I felt inspired do and things turned out surprisingly well.
Why? Partly based on what Julie Powell said, chance and perfect timing. Once my brain battery fizzled out, logic and reason faded, fear and judgment dissipated. Since my brain was not able to interfere, I listened and heard my little voice. I learned to trust and rely on my little voice, which over the years has guided, directed, corrected, comforted, protected and blessed me.
Guess what? My little voice turned out to be far wiser (insightful), creative, and daring than my logical brain. Since my brain injury I’ve developed other synergistic intelligences, too. The knowing of my heart, my gut feelings, my ability to sense other’s emotions, an awareness that Angels are present to help me, all of which more than compensate for my cognitive deficits.
As I regained my cognitive abilities, I’ve allowed my logical intelligence to discount, ignore or over-rule my intuitive intelligences on occasion, regrettably. The perfect combination is when my little voice and logical brain team up to form a dynamic duo. At times it feels like a duel.
Does your intellect or logical mind over-rule or discount your internal intelligences? Do you seek or ignore the wisdom of your little voice?
Whenever I find myself shifting back to old patterns I remind myself, “My brain was not designed to keep up with the busyness that exists in today’s world. My brain is responsible for operating every function in my body. It seems like an unfair burden to rely solely on my intellect and logical reasoning to make critical decisions, too. The answers and guidance I want and need reside deep within me. All I need to do is ask and then listen … to the wisdom of my little voice.
How about you?
That little voice speaks to me on occasion and I’m always amazed at what happens when I listen to it.
Not long ago when I was in the middle of a crazy-busy day, that little voice told me to go grocery shopping – NOW. So I dropped everything I was doing and drove to the store. When I got there I ran into a friend who was crying and in distress.
When she told me what was wrong, all I had to do was make a few phone calls to the right people to get the ball rolling to set things right again. Soon her problem was resolved.
It’s not that there was anything special about me, I just happened to know the people who would help her fix her problem.
Recently, that little voice told me to learn Spanish. Sounds strange but I know enough to follow it. Quien sabe? (Who knows?)
I so enjoyed meeting you at the MAR confrence in Missoula last week. I just keep thinking about some of the things you said and how they apply to not only my clients but to my ex husband who suffered a brain injury as a result of a car wreck and was in a coma for 10 days. He is not the person he thinks he is 5 years later because it has not been ok for him to be the person he now is. Y a that sounds strange but everyone alaways though he would be who he was and he isnt. Maybe god and time will bless him with healing and he will move on with his life.
I love that “little voice” because it is so uplifting and independent. What I need to learn to overcome is those negative people who walk through my door and tell me that I am no good.
Thank you, Lois, for your inspiration.
Helen,
Thank you for your kind remarks. I’ve been thinking about what you said, too. I’ve noticed there are layers of denial that the “old self” is gone forever after a brain injury that get tangled up with layers of recognizing and accepting the “new self.” Sometimes it’s the brain injured person who “gets it” first, that he/she is not the same person, nor ever will be who he/she used to be and his/her family and/or friends refuse to accept this new reality. This is often the case when the brain injured person by appearances looks and sounds the same, but cannot function the same. Other times, it’s the brain injured person’s family and friends who first understand that the “old person” is forever gone because they notice the “new person” is different. In this case, it’s the survivor who is in denial and often it’s the injury that interferes with the survivor’s ability to realize he/she is not the same person as before his/her injury. What’s sad is that either way, the brain injured person will continue to try living their life as he/she did previous to the injury and will continually struggle with confusion, frustration and a life of chaos. Rehabilitation will be delayed until the survivor lets go of the “old self” and learns how to live as the
“new self.” If family and/or friends won’t or can’t let go of the past and accept the new reality, then the survivor will have to find another support system to help them adjust. My heart aches for your ex-husband. Even though it’s a painful process to accept your “new self,” think of how painfully desperate it must feel to try to live up to expectations you can’t meet.
Carrie,
I have two thoughts that came to my overactive mind. A quote by Dr. Seuss, “Don’t worry so much about what people think. They don’t do it that often.” The second is a mantra I say to help build my self-confidence. I borrowed it from Al Franken’s Stuart Smalley from year’s past SNL, a catchphrase
“I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and dog-gone it, people really like me.” I say it with conviction. It makes me giggle and fills me with gusto.