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“When you know, you know.” You’ve probably heard this phrase. You might have even used this phrase talking about love and finding the love of your life. This phrase might even hold a deep truth for you. Or not. But the phrase taps into an important understanding as one navigates this plane of existence: some things you “figure out” (with your mind) and some things you “just know” (with your heart and intuition). In case this all sounds like rubbish, let me assure you this is actually a valuable wisdom teaching.
The notion of “Knowing” or “Being in your knowing” was quite new to me until about eight years ago. It was then that a new wisdom teaching crossed my path in a book called I am the Word: A guide to the Consciousness of Man’s Self in a Transitioning Time by Paul Selig. Actually, the book is a channeled book, meaning Paul Selig is a sort of radio receiver for celestial teachers’ wisdom teachings.
From this particular wisdom teaching I have learned that Knowing (I’ll use a capitol “K”) exists and it is fundamentally different from thinking. I have learned we all possess our own Knowing and it comes from deep within. I have learned that when one is secure in their Knowing they can trust the information received and there is no fear. I have learned how to take action originating from my Knowing. Finally, I have realized that for me this practice of being in my Knowing is both an opportunity and an obligation.
The Teaching
The introductory section of the chapter “I am in my Knowing” from I am the Word reads, in part (bolded sections are my choice, not the author’s):
“I Am in My Knowing.” We want you to repeat this as often as you can. Once you are in your knowing, you begin to accomplish things that you could not have otherwise, because understand that the level of fear that precludes you from your knowing takes up most of your energy. Now you all understand what it means to feel yourself as being in your knowing. To be in your knowing means that you resonate truthfully and you don’t question what you feel. It is the truth and it is unshakable in your system because you understand that. . .
If you remember the first time you met your love and you knew this was your love, you can resonate with that. The love may have passed or have been changed, but you know what it means to know. Now once you know, you can begin to act from your action in the knowing that you have. Once you do this once, you can do it again and again and again. And what we mean by this is, “I can be in my knowing and act on that knowing with purpose and understanding that I am safe.”
We will tell you this. When you are in your knowing, you are not afraid. You know it. You know the truth and there is no fear in that kind of truth. You will feel this in your heart. When you are in your knowing, you understand that you are safe and the actions that you take from this place of knowing will bring you benefit. When you are acting from your fear, you create more fear and you entangle yourself in distrust and other problems that will manifest from that creation, but when you are in your knowing, you are safe.
So right now we would like you to decide that your knowing is accessible to you on a deeper level. You will decide this. You will change a pattern that you have lived with your entire life with this action, because up until now you did now know you could know.
Knowing is a thing
It’s the inspired idea. The creative energy. The gut. The intuition. That kind and loving inner voice. It’s the truth the arises from within you - maybe just a fleeting moment here and there, but an undeniable truth nonetheless. It’s that weird, unexplainable moment when you “just know” that you should do that thing, go to that place, complete that task, ask that question, call that loved one. It’s all of that AND it is real. That is what Knowing is. Selig shares it this way: “To be in your knowing means that you resonate truthfully and you don’t question what you feel.”
Let me put a fence around this, because it can be confusing. True knowing will always lead you in a beneficial direction for yourself and others. So if you are wondering if Knowing could ever feel like harming something or someone - it cannot. In that case, you have tapped into something else entirely.
But the point is, Knowing is a thing. And it COULD be a thing that you have slightly noticed and then outright ignored or denied over and over because it didn’t come from “a logical place.” It’s true, Knowing is not coming from a logical place. That is called thinking. Thinking is associated with the mind and will leave you with questions. Knowing comes from a deeply connected, truthful place and will not leave you with questions. We all have access to our Knowing because everyone has access to their inner self.
Not Fear but Trust
Do you ever find yourself making a decision and then worrying about it? Maybe you decide to take a new job and then second guess the decision before you even start. Maybe you think seriously about moving far, far away and then all kinds of reasons you should NOT move far, far away present themselves for your consideration. So you don’t go. Maybe you face a big decision and feel compelled to ask everyone else what you should do. “What do you think I should do?” you say to this person then that person, which ultimately only makes you more confused.
In all of these cases fear has been running the show. And when fear is running the show, you are NOT in your Knowing. I repeat, when fear is running the show, you are NOT in your Knowing.
Being in your Knowing is far more settled. You breathe easier. You don’t worry. You make a decision that feels right even if you can’t articulate why. You don’t need to ask others what you should do. You don’t need others’ approval for decisions made or actions taken because you are secure in the rightness of them. It’s not an ego thing. It’s not prideful or boastful. It just IS. And it is always its own right fit in the moment it is happening.
Many of my readers already know that my family seemingly on a whim left the USA for S. Korea in 2010. At the time, many people commented, “Oh, I could never do what you are doing. I’d be too scared.” It was a funny thing for us. Somehow, both my husband and I just KNEW that we were doing something that was right for us at that time. The decision happened quite quickly: “What do you think about teaching abroad?” Brent had asked me one day in the fall of 2009. My literal, immediate response was, “Why not?” There was no fear. I had an immediate sense of curiosity about the whole idea. It seemed exciting, not scary. We talked it over, learned what we needed to learn to “make it so,” and operated from both head and heart simultaneously. And with little effort and a good deal of trust, we both decided that teaching abroad would be the next part of our family’s journey.
So many other things DIDN’T happen - things that as I look back on it indicate to me that we were operating from our Knowing. We didn’t talk ourselves out if it. We didn’t get nervous. We didn’t ask everyone else if we should do what we were thinking about doing. We didn’t second guess the decision once the decision was made; we acted on it. We didn’t worry about thousands of random things that could go wrong. We trusted that we were doing exactly what we were meant to do (and “only for 2 years” LOL).
Taking Action
Knowing happens in the present moment. One moment you are living your life doing your thing, the next moment in some circumstance or moment of contemplation you Know; it just comes to you. When you trust that Knowing, it leads you to take action. Actions can be anything and everything from pausing to interact with a stranger to fostering or adopting a child to moving far, far away. Taking action is crucial since that is the whole point of connecting to your Knowing in the first place. Living a life means interacting with the world. When you interact with the world from a place of Knowing, you are moving toward a better you and a better community and world, or as Selig writes, “the actions that you take from this place of knowing will bring you benefit.” Because you are not operating from fear, you aren’t adding fear to the mix. Because Knowing comes from a kind and loving place or plane, your actions are kind and loving, too. Not surprisingly, this benefits you and everyone around you.
Opportunity
If you are beginning to realize the moments you have connected with your knowing, that’s wonderful. And useful. If not, pause awhile and see what surfaces. When HAVE you connected to your heart and intuition enough to align to the depths of yourself to just Know? What did it feel like? How did you respond? What benefits resulted?
Like anything, operating more consistently from a place of Knowing takes practice. We are mostly programmed to work solely from the thinking mind, so there is some re-training involved before you can comfortably shift your mode of operation. Don’t be surprised if opportunities arise for you to practice being in your Knowing.
It might sound strange, but a simple claim like “I am in my Knowing” actually helps. I’ve personally used this with some frequency and the results are good. For example, I remember once specifically using this claim before an anticipated challenging parent-teacher conference; it turned out to be productive rather than contentious. Yay! And I have used it countless times since then. Try it as a morning mantra and see what happens!
and Obligation
Because aligning to and operating from this inner knowing is so beneficial to your life to move forward productively, it serves as a great opportunity for you on life’s journey. But in a weird way, it also becomes a sort of obligation.
Consider that you and I exist on the planet with an opportunity to make it a better place. Wouldn’t it make sense that we have some obligation to align to truth, trust, and Knowing rather than fear and worry? Ultimately, we can do so much more when anchored in Knowing. The teaching mentions that when you engage with your knowing you will “change a pattern that you have lived with your entire life with this action.” That’s huge! For example, how amazing would it be to break a harmful cycle of negativity, distrust, abuse, neglect, shame, anger, or fear? Changing a pattern that has been harmful or even destructive affects your life as well as all the lives around you. Your friends, family, and community can’t help but be positively impacted by your actions. Consider this - even future generations will be impacted.
Know How
But how do I DO this? you might wonder.
I am the Word teaches us that you can ask “What do I need to Know?” to connect to the voice of Knowing, the eternal you.
And with the claim: “I am in my Knowing,” you set in motion a new way of being that is anchored in your inner truth. With practice and engagement with opportunities that arise, you will differentiate actions taken from the thinking brain and those from the Knowing heart. Over time, become familiar with what unfolds when you are in your Knowing - an emotion, an inner voice, a feeling or sensation. You can even keep a record of what happens when you take action based upon your Knowing. Discover for yourself how fear recedes and trust blooms when you are in your Knowing.
May your path be clear, your Knowing true, and your actions beneficial to all.
Read More
Selig, Paul. I Am the Word. Tarcher Perigee, 2009.
You can find all of my series in the archives:
Adulting 101 Coupons: A Gift from your Parents
Partnering 101: A Deep Dive into Leaving Kindly
Me-Time: Self-care in the time of Covid
Reasons for Hope
From Fog to Flow
With a Grateful Heart
Lessons in Life School
Life Cheat Sheets
Riffs on Wisdom Teachings
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Author of Me Time: Self-care in a Challenging World. Available at Bookemon. (Click here for link)
Find more of my writing at GreenBaytoKorea.blogspot.com
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All photos by © Brenda Brayko 2023 unless otherwise credited.
No reference to John 1:1? Is the Knowing not God's will in my life. . . the "knowing" what He wants me to do and be?
I love this! Thank you.