> Today’s guest post is written by a beloved friend and great yogini, Ishvari.

“Here is my secret. It is very simple: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” —Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

How do you know you’re making the right decision? Within each of us is a heart that does not alter with the seasons or across the years. It has a deep wisdom—a knowledge beyond common reasoning or sense. The heart knows. 

But sometimes it is difficult to hear your own heart, your true self. It gets drowned out by fears, desires, pride, cultural norms, and personal histories. Our ideas about good and bad, societal standards around wealth and status, and even our sense of personality can get in the way of making the best decision, or of taking the correct path in that moment. So how can you hear your heart in the midst of all of this noise?

The first step, as always, is to meditate. When the mind is quiet, the heart is available. (It was always there, but meditation brushes away the detritus of thoughts and expectations so you can feel it again). Don’t focus on your dilemma while you meditate. Put a pin in it. You can even write it down, and then leave it alone while you meditate. After your meditation session, you can pick it up again and see what clarity has come. 

If you aren’t able to quiet down enough during meditation to feel your own heart, there are some other tricks to employ. My favorite is the I Ching. You can buy the book (a few good versions are here and here) or use an online app like this. I don’t know why it works, but it does. You may find that this tool gives expression to the wisdom of your inner self. 

My other favorite method is to use your imagination. If you have two options in front of you, pick one. Decide to do it. Use your imagination to feel into all aspects of that choice: how it would affect your body, your mind, your environment. Notice how you feel. Now shake it off; let it all go; and use your imagination to pick the other option. Go through the same steps. It should be clear to you which one feels right.

Still not clear? Then wait. Maybe it isn’t time to make your decision just yet. Clarity will come.