Only about 25% of people experience an active inner voice that comforts and/or guides them. I’m one of those.
I started recognizing an active inner voice when I started taking big risks in my profession.
My theory is that my inner voice became very dominant, because without it, I doubt I would have taken the risks I did.
Experimental psychology has studied the phenomena of the inner voice extensively, and concluded that most all humans have the biological makeup for an inner voice, but not all people experience the inner voice. This happens either because they are not aware of the inner dialog that occurs, or they choose to describe such a thing as an inner voice differently.
I’ve concluded in my own case a strong inner voice started when I was 37 and ended in my early to mid 50’s. This fifteen year period coincided with me taking my biggest risks professionally and economically.
My religion (Mormonism) actively teaches its members to be guided by the still small voice within. This is usually called the gift of the Holy Ghost. We are also taught that if you do not hear the still small voice within, then you should listen to the voices of your religious leaders. It’s the same. Equivalent voices.
Inner voice is often referred to by other names, such as, “self talk”, inner monologue”, “second voice.”
For many years I referred to my inner voice simply as “ the voice”.
Up until I was 37, I listened exclusively to others’ voices. Those voices determined much of the feelings I had about myself. For example in junior high and high school., I listened and was influenced by the voices of so called popular kids. It determined how popular or unpopular I felt. (Insane.)
In church I was influenced by the voices of strong ecclesiastical leaders.
In college and graduate school, I listened and was influenced by powerful scholars.
Then it happened as naturally as the sun comes up in the east, I heard a voice directly outside the left side of my head. It was an inner conversation we had. I asked questions, the voice answered back. The voice was dominant. I believed what it told me.
From that time forward the voice immediately relocated into my head. It comforted me. That inner voice rehearsed my future. I believed it. I stopped being influenced so much by people’s opinions, and relied instead on my own inner voice.
New research has identified that the second voice is located in a different part of the brain than from where your primary voice is located.
My inner voice did not talk about religious topics. It talked about practical things like how I would be able to leave my present career and go into another one. The inner voice did two things for me: it reinforced its original message, and it gave me the internal force to step into an unknown professional territory.
Personally, I don’t think everyone needs to experience an inner voice. For example, if someone wants to leave their present job and go to another, they just do it. How hard can it be? Hard, at least for me. I had accomplished a relatively high degree of professional success. Plus, I had a bit of temerity in my personality. I grew up listening to others’ voices. I thought I was only as good as others would say I was good. Or as bad as the case may have been. It was as though I didn’t have a say in the matter. As a result I would perform to the expectations of others.
Then one day that stopped. I listened to that inner voice. Two things happened: I was far more inwardly content, and the voices of others were set aside. Those outward voices no longer moved me. I bowed only to that inner voice.
For me, it literally gave me the sensation of flying through air and looking down on myself engaging the players and environments of my new life. There were moments when I caught myself thinking that I have no business doing these new things. Then that inner voice would speak, “don’t worry, everything will be ok”.
This was profoundly spiritual for me. More than any experience I had ever had.
Until I went out on my own and started my own business at 37, I didn’t worry about money. The paycheck as a religious educator always arrived. On my own as a management consultant, I often made in a month what I made all year as an educator. And often, more than that. Nevertheless, I started worrying about money. It became a battle between my worrying about money and the reassurance of the inner voice.
Sometimes the worrying would win out, and on occasion I became sick or depressed. But for all that, it never resulted in a financial tanking of any kind. My inner voice was right, everything was ok.
Then, there came this remarkable moment, where the inner voice asked me when I was going to trust myself more. I had grown too dependent on that inner voice. I needed to step out and relate to the world more directly. I needed to have more confidence in my own rational thinking. That’s when my motto became: square pegs in square holes, no square pegs in round holes. I had another breakthrough. My rational mind took over. It was a tough rational mind. That has led to the next twenty year chapter in my life, but more of that next time.