How to Find Your Truth

This is a summary of my latest video.  If you’d rather watch that, you can do it here.

I talk a lot about getting still and going within to find your answers, and that is absolutely the way to find your own truth.  So…how do you do that?  Well, it takes practice.  I’ve tried literally thousands of different practices to see what works for me.  The ones that are ALWAYS at the top of the list are journaling, painting, and yoga.  But, what if those things don’t appeal to you?  Or, what if they sound good, but you need something you can do anytime, anywhere?

Today, I thought I’d share with you a few different ways to get still that don’t take any supplies at all, and you see how they work for you.

One of the most basic practices that I love and use almost daily is simply walking barefoot on the earth.  If you know me, you know that shoes are…well….not my favorite things in the world, so I’m barefoot A LOT.  But, I’m not talking about walking around your house barefoot, like you’d do when you’re in a home where everyone leaves their shoes at the door.  No.  I’m talking about taking yourself OUTSIDE in nature without shoes.  Connecting with the earth.  This is called grounding, and you can do it in like 2 minutes.  Even less, if you’re pressed for time.  There’s something sacred about having your feet contacting the earth.  Whether it’s walking the dog in the grass, taking a walk on the beach or in the water, or even hiking barefoot down a rocky, clay-filled arroyo in the high desert.  It soothes away any stress you may be feeling, brings peace and comfort, reminds you of your place in the world, and yes, it absolutely quiets the mind.  At least once a day, I like to get out there and just feel my feet touching the earth.  If there is ice or snow on the ground, I have been known to visualize myself walking in it.  But, you do you.  Try it, and see what you think.

Another simple practice you can try is to focus on your breath.  Close your eyes.  Take three or four deep breaths and think of nothing else.  Pay attention to the temperature of the air coming in and the air going out.  Or, count your breaths.  Or, put your hand on your stomach and feel it expand on your inhale and going back down on your exhale.  If you like yoga, you can think “so” as you breathe in and “ham” as you breathe out.  The important thing is that these breaths are not happening while you’re making to-do lists or trying to solve some problem.  Just breathe!

The last practice I’ll share with you is something I first experienced as a 10th grader in Ms. Helton’s Algebra II class.  When anyone in the class made an excuse for something, she would say “My heart bleeds purple peanut butter for you,”  It was a great way to remember not to make excuses, of course, but what become even more important for me was the gesture she made while she spoke her infamous line.  You’ve probably seen this gesture, when someone is trying to show you the sad violin music that goes along with your conversation😀.  Simply stop whatever you’re doing, put two fingers together (I use my thumb and index finger), and just rub them together.  Pay attention to how the ridges on each finger feels in the other one.  That’s all there is to it.

You see, the key to getting in touch with your inner wisdom, your gut, your intuition, your instinct, and YES, your TRUTH, is simply to be still and listen to your soul voice.  You don’t need to do anything fancy.  Just BE.