Beyond the Now

When we are quiet and alone—often late at night or in the wee early morning hours while lying in bed—that “small voice within” begins to speak.

Sometimes it comes in the form of fear: a worry, a mistake we made, or a negative experience that keeps replaying in our mind. Other times it appears as an idea, an action step, or an unexpected aha! revelation. It’s interesting how, as the mind finally begins to rest, these moments surface.

When the voice comes from fear, I call it the “Midnight Monster.” Its job seems to be stirring us up so we can’t get back to sleep.

But when the voice brings an idea or a quiet insight, it’s important to listen.

I’ve found that when I go to bed with a problem or concern on my mind, I sometimes ask my conscience to take over and help me sort it out. It’s amazing how often this works.

Recently, I had some apprehension about a heated conversation I’d had earlier that day. I was bothered by what had been said and, at the same time, feeling guilty about the part I had played in it. Before going to sleep, I asked myself a simple question: What is the right action to take?

In the early hours of the morning I woke again, facing the situation once more—but this time it felt different. The weight of it had softened. My guilt was less sharp, and somehow I sensed that the issue might resolve itself, perhaps even without my involvement.

That quiet inner voice seemed to say:
“Let go for the moment. No decision needs to be made right away.”

With that thought, I settled on what I would say if the conversation resumed, and then I simply let it go. The worry lifted.

The next morning I saw a text from the person with whom I had the disagreement. It read:
“Don’t worry about it. All is well. No need for further action.”

In that moment, a great weight lifted from my shoulders. The matter had resolved itself, and perhaps we had both learned something from the turmoil. Now we could move forward in a more peaceful way.

Sometimes the answers we search for so desperately during the day arrive quietly in the stillness of night. When the “Midnight Monster” visits, we may need to gently quiet it. But when the small voice within offers wisdom, it may be worth pausing long enough to listen.

— A quiet reminder from Beyond the Now