If you try to Navigate Life without Your Inner Compass during a Major Life Change, You are going to get Lost
Meet Your Inner Compass
Your “inner compass” refers to your internal guide or sense of direction, shaped by your core values, beliefs, instincts, and desires. It represents the intuitive sense of what feels right or wrong for you personally, helping you to navigate life’s choices and decisions in a way that aligns with your true self. It is one of your greatest allies when you are going through life changes, challenges and crises.
“In 2020, during the pandemic, which was a major life crisis for most of us, with too much time on my hands, I concluded that I was subconsciously ignoring my inner compass. I was stuck in a dead-end relationship. After investing significant time and energy into this relationship, it was difficult to walk away. I stayed, for more than a decade, because I felt I’ve already put in so much effort and I kept hoping that it will eventually pay off. I thought, “I’ve already come this far, maybe just a little more effort will make things better,” even though my inner compass suggests otherwise.
I was wearing a mask, presenting a version of myself that didn’t fully reflect who I truly am. I adopted behaviours, attitudes, and a lifestyle that didn’t resonate with my inner values. I fell in love not just with who my partner was, but with who I believed he could become. I sometimes saw glimpses of the person I wanted my partner to be and held on to the hope that this version would eventually emerge. This attachment to potential made it difficult to acknowledge the truth of who he really was. I discovered that if you’re not following your inner compass, you often end up feeling lost.” S. Valentine
Why do we ignore our Inner Compass?
- We might ignore our inner compass out of fear of being alone or due to emotional or financial dependency on certain situations or people.
- The desire for approval and acceptance can lead us to seek validation from others or feel pressured by social or cultural expectations to conform.
- Avoiding confrontation or difficult conversations, along with discomfort with change or disrupting the status quo, can cause us to disregard our inner guidance.
- Low self-esteem or feelings of unworthiness might make us believe we don’t deserve better or fear we won’t find another opportunity, leading us to ignore our true feelings.
- A deep emotional attachment to certain memories or experiences, along with nostalgia for better times, can make it hard to listen to our inner voice.
- The belief that things will improve and the investment in the hope that circumstances will change can keep us from following our inner compass.
- Reluctance to let go due to the time and energy already invested, combined with a commitment to making things work at all costs, can cause us to overlook our true feelings.
- Denial of the current reality and a tendency to overlook or dismiss red flags can prevent us from acknowledging what our inner compass is telling us.
- A belief that things will eventually get better and misplaced faith in the strength of our current path can lead to disregarding inner signals.
To avoid losing our way during life transitions, we need to mindfully pay attention to what our Inner Compass is trying to tell us.
How do you know when you are back on track following your inner compass?
If you are following your true inner compass you are aligned with your core values: Your core values are the principles that matter most to you, such as integrity, compassion, freedom, or generosity. These values are your personal moral compass, guiding your decisions and behaviours. When you align your actions with your core values, you’re ensuring that what you do reflects who you truly are. For example, if you value honesty, you’ll feel compelled to act with transparency, even when it’s difficult. If you value creativity, you’ll seek opportunities to express yourself in innovative ways. This alignment creates a sense of harmony within yourself because your outer actions reflect your inner beliefs.
If you are following your true inner compass you are listening to your intuition: Intuition is often described as a gut feeling or an inner knowing that doesn’t necessarily arise from conscious reasoning. It’s that quiet, sometimes subtle voice that tells you when something feels right or wrong, even if you can’t immediately explain why. Intuition often manifests as physical sensations in your body—tightness in your chest, butterflies in your stomach, or a sense of calmness and peace. These sensations are your body’s way of signalling whether something aligns with your inner truth. Trusting your gut feelings means paying attention to these signals and taking them seriously, even if you can’t logically explain them at the moment. For example, you might feel an unexplainable sense of discomfort about a decision that seems perfectly rational on the surface. Trusting your gut in this scenario might mean reevaluating the decision or considering alternatives.
If you are following your true inner compass you are pursuing what you really want: True desires are those that emerge from your authentic self, not from societal expectations, peer pressure, or external validation. These desires are deeply connected to your passions, dreams, and what genuinely brings you joy and fulfilment. When you pursue these desires, you are following a path that feels deeply satisfying and meaningful. It’s about recognizing what you truly want, beyond what you’ve been told you should want, and making choices that lead you closer to those goals. This could mean choosing a career that aligns with your passion, engaging in hobbies that light you up, or building relationships that nourish your soul.
If you are following your true inner compass you trust yourself: Trusting yourself is an essential part of following your inner compass. It involves believing in your ability to make the right decisions for your life, even when those decisions are unconventional or go against the advice of others. Self-trust grows from self-awareness and experience; the more you practice listening to and acting on your inner guidance, the more confident you become in your ability to navigate life’s challenges. Trusting yourself also means accepting that you won’t always have all the answers immediately, but believing that you can figure things out as you go.
If you are following your true inner compass you are authentic in your choices: Authenticity is about being true to yourself in every aspect of your life. It’s the courage to make choices that reflect your true self, rather than trying to fit into moulds that others have set for you. When you are authentic, you don’t compromise your values or desires to please others; instead, you live in a way that is congruent with your inner truths. This can sometimes be challenging, as it may require going against the grain or making difficult decisions. However, being authentic in your choices ultimately leads to a more fulfilling and meaningful life because you are living in alignment with who you truly are.
| Following your inner compass is about living a life that is true to who you are at your core. This involves an acute alignment between your actions, decisions, and the inner truths that define you—your values, instincts, and objectives. It’s a process of tuning in to what resonates with you on a fundamental level, and then allowing that resonance to guide your choices. |
Journaling Prompts to Help You Follow Your Inner Compass during a Life Crisis
- When have I felt the most ‘in tune’ with myself? What was I doing, and how did it feel?”
Think about the times in your life when you felt deeply connected to your true self—when your actions, thoughts, and feelings were perfectly aligned. What were you doing during these moments? Were you pursuing a passion, spending time with loved ones, or simply enjoying solitude? Describe these experiences in detail, focusing on the emotions you felt and why these moments stood out to you. Then, reflect on how you can bring more of these ‘in tune’ experiences into your daily life. What small changes could you make to feel more aligned with yourself on a regular basis?
- What desires or dreams do I keep coming back to, and why do they resonate with me?”
Identify the dreams, goals, or desires that persistently occupy your thoughts, even if you’ve pushed them aside. Why do these particular desires resonate with you? What deeper need or value do they represent? Perhaps they align with your passions, your desire for freedom, or your need for self-expression. Write about the emotional connection you have with these dreams. Then, explore the barriers that have kept you from pursuing them. What small, actionable steps can you take to begin moving toward these desires? How would your life change if you started to honour and follow these dreams?
- How do I typically feel when I ignore my intuition? How can I start trusting it more?”
Reflect on past experiences when you had a gut feeling or an instinct about something, but chose to ignore it. What was the outcome of that decision? How did it make you feel emotionally and physically? Did you experience regret, frustration, or a sense of misalignment? Now, think about what it would take for you to start trusting your intuition more. What are the small steps you can take to listen to that inner voice, such as checking in with yourself before making decisions or paying attention to physical sensations like tension or ease in your body? Write about how trusting your intuition could positively impact your life and help you make decisions that feel right for you.
Following your inner compass is not just about making decisions, but about living a life that is deeply aligned with your authentic self. It’s a holistic approach to life that requires self-awareness, courage, and a commitment to your true values, instincts, and desires.
If you have difficulty following your Inner Compass during a Life Crisis, I can help. You can either invest in my Discover Your Life Purpose after a Life Transition online retreat to gain the clarity, motivation and direction you need to manifest your next chapter in both your personal and professional life, or join me here on my little farm in the south of France for a Camino de Santiago de Compostela Your Next Chapter walking retreat.