Turning the radio up is a solid strategy for fixing curious vehicle noises.

That's been my go-to for decades.
My husband has a different opinion. 😬

There’s something comforting about cranking the tunes when the car starts making that odd sound. And as long as I can’t hear it, I don't have to worry about it.

*Sigh*

You and I both know that's not how it works.

And yet, we tend to do that within ourselves. When something inside us starts clunking or rattling, like when our energy is off, we're not sleeping well, our backs and knees ache, or our thoughts are spinning, we tend to reach for "noise." Maybe not actual sound, but distraction, busyness, or entertainment; anything to avoid the uncomfortable signals our bodies are trying to send.

We don’t always know what the clunking and rattling means. Maybe it’s exhaustion we haven’t named. Or perhaps an illness we're afraid to think about, or the ache of grief or disappointment; the kind we don’t know how to fix.

Not everything has to be named right away. Not everything broken needs immediate repair. Sometimes what we need most is to pause long enough to really listen, with gentleness and curiosity.

The clunking and rattling sounds you hear aren’t necessarily a sign of an issue within; they could simply be your body trying to tell you to slow down, to rest, to reach out, or to pay attention in a way you haven’t been.

What matters is that you don’t drown out the signals your body gives you. Don’t turn the volume up so high that you miss the chance to grow, heal, or simply be with what’s true.

You don’t need all the answers to be at peace. Sometimes the willingness to listen is enough.

And if there is something wrong that needs attention, listening is what helps you know the difference. It’s what makes space for healing, for wisdom, and for grace to find its way in.

May you have the courage to turn down the noise.
May you listen with kindness and curiosity to the stirrings within you.
May you trust that even the unsettling sounds carry wisdom.
And may you know deep in your being that nothing true within you is ever too much for grace to hold.

My wish for you this week, Reader, is that you’ll create enough quiet to hear what your body has been trying to tell you. May your heart recognize what needs rest, what needs care, and what is quietly growing, right where you are. That's the fiLLLed life.

Live a fiLLLed life, Melissa ​

P.S. Do you struggle with the difficult or scary stuff? Check out my book, Pursuing Uncomfortable: Lean in and Overcome. It gives you the four touchstones you need for any difficult, yucky, or uncomfortable situation.