You Already Know

How do you know what the right thing to do is? 

With everything that happens in the world - uprisings, protests, war, poverty, greed, conspiracies, all of it - how do you know what to do? 

With everything that happens around you - family, friends, workplace, colleagues, your place of education, faith community, culture, and all the narratives, obstacles and joys that are interwoven with all of that - how do you know what’s right? 

For everything that happens in you - in your body, blood, mind and heart; around what you believe, what you feel, what you give yourself to and keep yourself from; how you spend all those joyful, painful, and in-between moments - how do you know that you’re on the path you’re supposed to be on? 

What if I told you that leaving behind the notion of right and wrong will help you make better choices? That there isn’t really a wrong path, only the path that you’re on and your capacity to walk in any direction? That the plan for your life is less about what you do and more about who you are? That all you have is yourself, your body, your heart, and whatever is with you in this moment? 

Let go of the idea of getting it right and think more in terms of being where you are and you’ll find what you need to live your way through all the happenings in all the spheres that make up your life. 

And while there are people, institutions, groups, even governments, traditions, and family-ways-of-doing-things that have wisdom to give you, rules to follow, suggestions and ideas about things that have worked before and might work for you now, the only person who can make a decision about what you’re doing with your one wild and precious life (thanks, Mary)...

Is you. 

And while that may seem daunting and scary and overwhelming, and to some even dangerous and shocking, it’s ok. Breathe. Relax. You were made for this. You can make decisions about your life, beliefs and longings because inside you, wound up in your bones, entwined through your breath, flowing through your blood, built into your essence,

Wisdom lives. 

You have a Deep Knowing, or as the ancient Jewish tradition calls it, inner wisdom. Something that is connected to the fabric of it all that you can sink down into, call upon when you need it. It’s the stillness the Psalmist* spoke of and the peace that Paul* depended on. You don’t have to listen to the greatest teacher, have coffee with a renowned leader, read the right book, go to the best conference, say the right prayer; there aren’t enough church services you could go to, good deeds you could perform, people to impress, God to please, for you to be given the wisdom you need right now.

Because, my friend, you already know.

Wisdom lives in you, now.

You can learn how to feel around for it, find it, get to know it, listen to it, ask it good questions, and take those leaps of faith it will empower you to take.

Because everything you do is an act of faith, every decision you make is coming from a narrative and belief about you and God and the world and how we all work together. 

Journal prompts will be added to the end of each message this week - journaling is a great way to get to know yourself and to find that inner you that’s under all the shoulds and coulds and nots and what-ifs and if-onlys. You’ll find it. You already know the way. 

Journal Prompt: Instead of thinking about all the things you should have done, could have done; the things that you aren’t and the things you wish you were, take a moment to focus on a decision you made, something that you did, that made you feel alive, made you feel like you. Speak to yourself about that choice like you would if it was your child, partner, or friend that you were encouraging and praising. 

Join me in the App?

* Psalm 46:10, Philippians 4:7.

Liz Milani xo
Instagram: @thepracticeco 

From this week’s series titled "You Already Know," with a subscription in the App. Hope to see you there.