In praise of looking inwards and spending time with our mind

To know what we truly want to get out of life – to plot the path forwards that is aligned with the core of your being and your values – we need to look inside ourselves.

See if you can find a way to follow Erling Kagge’s advice to head into the wild for three days and be alone with your thoughts with no one to speak to.

Otherwise, have a day on your own. Cut out the noise, lock all of the distractions away. Hide your phone somewhere and shut your laptop.

Head to the mountains, sit on your balcony, or find a bench in the park. Sit with yourself and just be. Retreat into yourself. Spend time getting to know yourself, peacefully.

Make it a date with yourself. Be gentle, take it gradually, and just see what comes up.

See what’s in your mind. Observe the weather pattern in there – ask yourself if it’s clear or stormy.

Think about where you are right now in life and how you feel about it. Tune into your inner voice and see where your compass is guiding you to go next.

Listen to your intuition and what your instinct is. Get better at listening to your inner guide and consult it when decisions come up. See what every ounce of your being is telling you. Is it a “hell yes!” If not, to quote Derek Sivers, it’s a “hell no”.

Try to make time every day for being alone and listening to what’s inside. It doesn’t have to be meditation (although there are so many reasons for that), at least not in the conventional sense. You could make your own meditation; maybe walking in the woods, just sitting and looking at the sky, or watching the birds in the sky.

Tune in enough and start finding your answers.