We all live in two worlds simultaneously, .moving between them at the speed of thought and without a trace of a footprint or the sound of a whisper. The gulf between these worlds can be immense yet we manage to traverse them with unconscious ease and subconscious energy. The distances are often enormous but can never be measured and our comings and goings never cease even when we sleep.

The outside world goes on regardless, but the world of our inner voice, where our thoughts are heard only by ourselves, is rich in imagination and memories, filled with ideas and introspections, a place where we meet ourselves in conversation and reflection, where our inner voices constantly dialogue with us as we become both speaker and listener to our selves.

Our inner voice is more powerful in our lives than the voices shouting at us from outside. Have you found yourself being suddenly aware of yourself thinking, as if you had just come across an audible conversation, when in fact you own inner dialogue has been proceeding unconsciously only to be heard by you almost unexpectedly. It is as if the stream of consciousness was simply unfolding its own thoughts quite independently when you became aware of it like walking into a room.

From time to time I have practiced long periods of meditation and journal reflection. These times have been the most personally challenging and insightful periods of my life. Many people mediate. Some follow religious disciplines and practices while others simply set time aside to be quiet and alone. Whatever method you use, these times are immensely valuable in attuning ourselves to the dialogues of our own inner voice.

At one stage in my journey I removed the TV totally from the house for over two years. That single decision changed the whole direction of my life. It caused me to go on an inner journey of self discovery. I started to read more, think more and write more. I soon learnt that my inner voice had much to teach me and a lot to say. To assist my listening I began to write a journal. I wrote down the unfolding of my inner voice journey.

Every morning I would get up early, well before the household awoke and take my books and journal to a quiet room and simply give myself time to be still without any interruptions. What I soon discovered when I first started was that I did not know how to use the time or really what to do. That's when I tried something quite radical for me. I literally wrote down everything I was doing and the thoughts that came into my mind in those early hours - whatever they were and whatever they concerned - without trying to stop them.

The inner voice I discovered has its strangely own independence and attitudes. At first I felt I was listening to a stranger, but a familiar stranger who wanted to dialogue with me. To assist this dialogue I gave my "inner voice" a name and simply wrote down what was said. I also began to ask questions and wait for the "inner voice" to respond. I then wrote down the answers. On occasions the "inner voice" would ask me questions which I would record, and then over time I attempt to answer them as openly and honestly as I could. I wrote down all my responses, some which took several days, and occasionally weeks to bring together.

Those early morning meditation meetings became exciting, challenging, often disturbing but profoundly revealing. I discovered things about my self I had never expected. Deep anxieties surfaced, personal questions needing to be resolved had to be addressed, issues about my attitudes, beliefs and values were raised. I was being confronted in ways I had never anticipated, simply because I stopped still enough to let my "inner voice" be heard. But it was worth it!

Life has two essential journeys - the inner and the outer journeys. Many people go through life having never experienced the deeply delightful depths of the inner journey which can add so much more richness to the experiences we have in the outer journey .Of course the inner journey is very personal and private. It is largely unknown and unchartered and therefore often unnoticed and neglected. But not to have taken it, nor listened to the "inner voice" is perhaps to have missed out on the most satisfying and enriching journey of all.