True Guidance vs. False Guidance (Part 2)

Today's post, 2nd in a series of 3, continues the distinctions between true intuitive guidance, and ego-driven guidance (which actually sabotages us).  You can read the first 4 distinctions described in yesterday's post.

Characteristics of True (Higher) Guidance and False (Lower/Ego) Guidance
by Doreen Virtue, Ph.D. (From her book, Divine Guidance)

5.  True Guidance is strong and powerful.  False Guidance is insidious and sneaky.  Sometimes we experience something so loud and powerful we can't ignore it.  Such true guidance often comes when we are afraid of fulfilling a larger purpose. 

I had been experiencing 2 solid years of career restlessness during 1994-1995.  I applied the usual strategies, none which provided permanent relief.  During a meditation on a weekend retreat late in 1995, I asked this question - "Will I ever be able to figure out my career?"  The reply, in a loving tone, blew the wind out of me:

"We can answer your question - we've been patiently waiting for you - are you ready to listen?  Let go of [organization] completely.  It is time to choose a date to leave.  When this happens, much energy will return to you, allowing you to focus on yourself.  You are entitled to define your dreams, your own goals not somebody else's.  You will have the strength, energy and wisdom to deal with the unknown, and with the financial changes.  Your husband understands your needs and will support you.  The time is now."

I chose a date to leave and handed in my resignation right after the weekend.  And I felt awesome!

6.  True Guidance sounds familiar.  False Guidance seems out-of-sync with your interests/lifestyle.  True guidance has a quality of reminding you, "I know that."  Even when true guidance challenges you to stretch to reach for something, there's an underlying sense of trust.  False guidance has the opposite effect of confronting your aspirations and telling you, "Don't even try."

I get a lot of negative messages from lower self that attempt to block me, limit me, or have me believe that I just can't do something, so I better play it safe.  I find that when I can stay present, and notice them, then I can actually make a choice to follow or ignore the false guidance.  The true guidance I received to start a blog felt familiar because I had begun writing more, and the guidance felt so in sync for me, even though creating a blog was still a new venture I felt enough trust to move forward.

7.  True Guidance speaks in second person terms.  False Guidance uses the word "I" constantly because the lower self believes it - not the true you, is the center of the universe.  Most true guidance is phrased in the 2nd person, and sounds like another person is speaking to you. 

The most dramatic example of this that happened to me occurred in 1980.  I sat in my living room, despondent that I had not become pregnant.  My husband and I were in our late 20's and anxious to start a family.  We faced several infertility issues that needed medical intervention.  Without prelude, this loud and powerful voice in my head said the following words:  "You will conceive and give birth to a normal, healthy baby."  It was so dramatic and unlike my thoughts that I knew it was Divine.  I recall being visibly shaken and even looked over my shoulder to make sure I was alone.  I hung onto those words during many more months that followed before I did indeed conceive and give birth to a normal healthy baby (now age 23 and off on her own!)

8.  True Guidance feels like a warm hug.  False Guidance drains your energy and enthusiasm.  Whenever I act upon true guidance, I often experience a surge of energy that is very tangible.  The opposite is true when it's false guidance - then I feel no energy and sometimes have the sensation of slogging through mud with 50 pound weights on my ankles.  Other people may feel warmth with true guidance, or a sense of cold, prickly painful feelings with false guidance.  There's always the "gut" test too - do you have a sick feeling there?  Bodies don't lie, and if we choose to take an action when we shouldn't, some part of our body will communicate discomfort to us!

The remaining 4 distinctions will be discussed in the 3rd and final post of this series on 1/21/06.

Looking ahead - next week Spirit in Gear will be graced with 2 guest posts by fellow bloggers Don Blohowiak, and Amanda Murphy.  They will share personal stories of following their true guidance.

Comments

[Dick Richards]

Debbie - you have truly done all of us a great service with this series of posts. Thank you! Can't wait for the next one! I'll need some time to digest it all though before I can make any intellegent comment. Right now, all I can say is Wow! (I know this sounds a bit like one of those spam comments -- "really great site" -- but it isn't)

[Deb Call]

Dick - the writer in me loves hearing when my written thoughts hit the mark for someone else. Glad you are finding value, and feel free to take it in at the pace that works for you. Gracias!