A radar gives an early warning sign of an aircraft approaching. Similarly, the weather forecast, though not always accurate, prepares us with early guidance. Life too sends us early warning signals which we need to pick up, helping us avoid much pain and sorrow.

My neighbour, a Parsi naturopath, would always say – ‘Learn to listen to your body’. Our body sends us early warning signs well before we face problems. How often have we looked back and deep down realised that we knew what we had to do or avoid and yet we paid little heed, only to pay a higher price later on.

Events in the world, if reflected on, send us signals of the winds of change. Sometimes we are so married to our idea of how things ought to be, we don’t see change coming. We either live in denial or think things will go back to status quo. And rather than preparing and changing ourselves, we refuse to accept and acknowledge the early signs, sometimes leaving us broken.

When relationships get strained, we suddenly realise that there were enough early warning signs which we ignored. A passing comment, repeated discussions on the same unresolved issues, internal frustration at not being able to get our point across, being reminded how busy we are with our own lives, discussions which display a change in thinking or just spotting a behaviour which bothers us but we brush it off as nothing.

And over a period of time when these small issues, unattended to because we were too busy or refused to believe anything can go wrong, gather an energy of their own, it hits us like a storm for which we are totally unprepared. The early warning signals were all there, we just refused to pick them up.

When we live with grace and elegance, we are not constantly rushing and always pre-occupied. We live with awareness and sensitivity. We learn to read between the lines. We listen deeply and observe carefully. We reflect, first on our own behaviour before trying to fix a potential problem. We are comfortable having uncomfortable conversations. We protect our relationships, not defend our ego.

And when we tune in to pick up early warning signs life is sending us, we will realise we possess the ability to perceive things and take measures at the right time. We just need to be honest and courageous in using this sophisticated technology that gives us early warning signals. Our Inner Voice.

(Picture – Lake Louise, Alberta Canada)