"I told you "

There was a time I said yes to a professional collaboration that looked perfect on paper.

But deep inside, something felt off. The discomfort wasn't loud—it was a quiet clench in the belly, a flutter in the chest.

Still, I told myself I was being too sensitive. That I should be grateful. That I was overthinking.

Weeks in, it was chaos. Misalignment. Sleepless nights. Emotional drain.

And through it all, the only thing I could hear clearly was:

“I told you so.”
 

I wasn’t angry at the other person.

I was highly disappointed and angry with myself  that I had betrayed my own knowing.

But that moment became my pivot.

Now, I honor the whisper. I take space. I listen.

We’ve all heard it: that subtle, quiet warning within—telling us not to go ahead, not to say yes, not to trust too fast.

It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t fight.

It simply says: “You’ll regret this.”

And later, when we do, it comes back—not in anger, but with that haunting whisper:

“I told you so.”

This isn’t a moment of shame.

It’s a moment of truth. A chance to pause and ask:

Why do we ignore ourselves?

And more importantly:

How do we begin to trust ourselves again?

Modern neuroscience affirms what ancient wisdom has always known—our bodies and subconscious minds often know the truth before our conscious mind catches up.

In 1994, neuroscientist Antonio Damasio introduced the Somatic Marker Hypothesis, suggesting that decision-making is deeply influenced by emotional signals from the body. These “gut feelings” are not irrational—they’re data from lived experience, pattern recognition, and body-based intelligence.

In simple terms:

Your intuition is wisdom stored in your cells.
When ignored, the disconnect grows—and so does internal conflict.
 

In yogic and Ayurvedic traditions, the inner voice (Antarātmā) is sacred. It’s said to be the voice of your higher self—often drowned out by noise, fear, and ego.

“When the five senses and the mind are still, and the intellect is at rest, that is the highest state. Through self-control, one hears the voice of the soul.”
— Katha Upanishad
 

Listening to the Antarātmā isn’t passive. It requires practice, discernment (Viveka), and detachment (Vairagya).

But the reward is clarity—a life where you live by inner alignment, not impulse or pressure.

Let’s be honest. We don’t ignore our inner voice because we’re foolish. We ignore it because:

• It’s inconvenient
  Intuition doesn’t always align with what’s shiny or popular.
   
• It’s uncomfortable
  Sometimes, your gut asks you to walk away from comfort or challenge your identity.
   
• We crave logic, not mystery
  Inner wisdom is quiet. In a world obsessed with evidence and hustle, this silence feels suspicious.
   
• We’re conditioned to override it
  From childhood, we’re trained to trust authority, validation, or societal approval more than our inner compass.
   

Here’s how to re-learn the art of listening:

Create space between stimulus and response. Breathe. Step back. Journal what comes up.

Does your stomach tighten? Do you feel lightness or heaviness? Your body often knows before your mind.

Silence builds a stronger channel between mind and soul. Over time, you start hearing more clearly.

Write down moments when your gut whispered—whether or not you acted on it. This builds trust and pattern awareness.

The inner voice is slow and still. Impulse is fast and loud. Learn the difference.

The next time you feel that whisper—don’t shush it.
Don’t rush to logic. Don’t crowd it with noise.
Sit with it.
It might just save you from regret. Or lead you to clarity.
 

Ask yourself right now:

• When was the last time I didn’t listen to myself?
• What did it cost me?
• What can I do differently next time?

Then, make a small promise to yourself:

“I will listen. Even if I don’t act, I will not dismiss the voice.”

If this blog spoke to you, chances are, someone else in your circle needs to hear it too.

Share it. Start a conversation. Tell your story.

And if you’re building a practice of inner listening, comment below or DM me—I’d love to know your journey.

• Your inner voice is intelligent—emotionally, somatically, and spiritually.
• Ignoring it leads to regret, stress, and misalignment.
• Reconnecting with it takes practice—but it’s deeply rewarding.
• Your future self will thank you