What's The Little Voice Inside You Saying?

I had a conversation last night and into this morning with my friend, Mia, about how things flow effortlessly when we get out of our own way and do what we're most inspired to do. She spoke to me about realizing that her best work comes through her but is not of her, it is of another source, from the Universe, from God. She spoke to me because I invited this discussion by pondering the subject myself for the past few days.

She is a writer, and she said to me:

"...it [is] just what I had feared and known all along: It's not me thinking up the words. It's me noting down the words that I hear, very easily & effortlessly."

This got me thinking about the inspiration in my coaching and creative pursuits. I feel true joy when I am creating, whether it be relationships, love, an artistic project, an article, a product that will help my clients, or when I am practicing empowerment for a client. I ask for guidance and I get it every time. A power much greater flows through me, brings all the resources, people and circumstances to me that are perfect for the situation at hand, and I effortlessly and delightfully share it with the world.

This is the concept of Unity. I am one with you, with God, with all that is. When I know what would best help you it is only because Universe tells me, because you are one with Universe and so am I. It wants the best for both of us, and if I tap in I get amazing results. It comes through me and connects me to my client (or sometimes a friend or a project), my inner self, and Universe to expand us all.

Then something very interesting happened. I thought, I don't recall ever being inspired in my legal career. The practice of law felt very prescribed. I was given the impression there is one way to do things, their way, the right way, and I must learn it and not deviate from it. It felt very regimented to me, formulaic, and the life was literally sucked out of it for me. Even in writing, one of my favorite activities and best talents, I was constrained by the style, format and voice of others. I had no freedom to express myself, much less to flow inspiration into my writing.

A thought that never occurred to me fluttered around in my mind. I began to question whether I ever invited inspiration into my legal career. I wonderded whether inspiration would be useful in a legal setting. Surely it would have to be useful in any career, wouldn't it? The parameters we operate under in the legal profession can leave us feeling regimented, like machine operators punching a press. Repetitive and automated systems are already developed for handling routine matters. Why reinvent the wheel? It seems like there isn't much wiggle room for creative outlet within that framework. It also might have something to do with how engaged and suited one is to the area of practice, but that is an article for another day.

Creative or inspired lawyering - there is a concept. I know there are lawyers who use creative thinking to resolve matters. I'm sure I did, but I felt limited in my options. In any profession, there is mastery of the skill set of your craft, and then there is the creative use of your skills to masterfully and elegantly go about your business in a way that is your signature, your stamp, your brand of genius. I know that lawyers use creative thinking and they are thinking outside the box when they handle legal matters. I wonder, though, how often we step outside of our own ego, get out of our own way and let the inspiration flow through us from something bigger than ourselves. In my experience, lawyers tend to have big egos. Egos want credit for the ideas and for the results. Egos get to bill in six minute increments. How do you bill a client when God did the work? ;)

What I am talking about goes beyond the thinking inside your head that comes up with "creative" solutions and ideas. I'm talking about surrendering to all that is. Surrendering to who you are, to time and space, to the moment. I'm speaking of living your life in a state of oneness with all that is, having reverence for life and the universal laws of life, with love, respect, honesty, forgiveness, kindness and compassion for yourself and for others. I'm talking about tapping in to the great wealth of knowledge, people, and resources that are available when you realize the oneness of us all.

Stepping into that flow literally acts just like Mia described. It is not you performing your job. It is you hearing the voice of something much bigger than yourself and pouring it all out for the world to see, because Universe chose you and your unique set of life experiences, talents and crafts to express as only you can express the gift you have to share with the world.