Confession time: It was a difficult holiday season. A family health emergency meant Christmas was spent in the emergency room with the following week in a high alert status, though most of it was spent in hurry-up-and-wait mode.

The health emergency is now under control (with many thanks to family and friends for their prayers, good thoughts and jazz hands) and I have returned to my home, my rhythm, my routine. This includes checking in with calendars, Twitter feeds and meditations. And what struck me was the message the universe was trying to give me today.

First up was my calendar from Louise Hay. The mantra read: “Today I trust myself to do what is best for me.”

Then came a Tweet from Iyanla Vanzant: “The Self is always guiding and protecting us. It is up to us to choose to listen to what the Self is saying.”

And so some higher power wants me to remember this lesson: Trust myself.

I am a huge fan of the television show Parks and Recreation, one of my favorite quotes is from the character Tom. When told to go with his gut he replied, “But my gut is small. And it’s easily irritated.” It’s the first thing that comes to my mind when people tell me to trust my gut. But truth is, I always know what is best for me. I always have the answer inside of me. I just need to stop, breath, and listen.

I can’t think of a better way to start the New Year than to focus on this message of trusting myself. I don’t need to make any lists or resolutions. I don’t even need to set any intentions. All I need to do is choose to listen to that wisdom inside of me — call it your gut, your heart, your instinct. If I tune down the outside noise, I have all the answers I need. And truth is, I don’t really need many answers. I need to learn to ask the right questions.

What would happen this year if you turned down the outside noise and turned up the volume on your inner voice?