Running Backwards & Trusting Your Soul | Learning to Trust Yourself

A morning drive reveals a powerful lesson about faith, confidence, and trusting yourself—even when you can’t see the whole path.

I used to drive my daughter to middle school by way of the back gate of our community because it’s such a beautiful drive. Quiet. Peaceful. One of those routes that gently eases you into the day.

One morning, something caught my attention.

I noticed a woman running… backwards.

At first, I wasn’t even sure what I was seeing. She looked like she was running forward—arms moving naturally, posture steady—but she was clearly moving in the opposite direction. It stopped me in my tracks. I had to really look.

Now, I don’t know about you, but walking backwards without looking would be a challenge for me. Running backwards? On purpose? With confidence? That felt like a whole different level.

What struck me most wasn’t just that she was doing it—but how she was doing it.

✨ She was looking straight ahead
✨ Her movement was deliberate
✨ There was confidence in her body
✨ Faith in her footing

Sure, she was on a straight, concrete sidewalk. The path was clear, level, predictable. And still… how confident would you have to be to start running backwards? Especially out in public.

Of course, this wasn’t her first time. She had practiced. She likely stumbled before she found her rhythm. Maybe she checked behind her now and then, just to reassure herself.

And that’s when it landed for me.

Isn’t that exactly what our spiritual journey looks like?

At first, we feel awkward.
We second-guess ourselves.
We look back often for reassurance.

But with practice, something shifts.

We begin to trust ourselves more.
We move with greater ease.
We stop needing constant proof that we’re “doing it right.”

Think about that phrase for a moment…

Self-assured.
Sure in oneself.

Isn’t that what spiritual unfolding is really about?

Not becoming someone new—but becoming more confident in who we already are. Trusting our inner guidance. Allowing ourselves to move through life without needing to see every step in advance.

So let me ask you this…

Which do you think is easier?
Running backwards so gracefully that it looks like you’re moving forward…
or being who you truly are?

💛
Gwen
and the Mentoring Lords of Light

📝 Take a few quiet moments and reflect:

Where in your life are you being asked to trust yourself without seeing the whole path?
What would it feel like to move forward anyway—steady, deliberate, and self-assured?

PPS

If this reflection stirred something within you and you’re feeling called to deepen your connection with yourself, you might enjoy my book Meditation Starts With ME.

It’s a simple, grounded guide designed to help you begin—or return to—meditation in a way that feels natural, supportive, and doable. No pressure. No perfection. Just small moments of presence that add up to meaningful change.

For a limited time, the Kindle edition is available on Amazon at a special countdown price—making this a beautiful moment to begin if you’ve been feeling the nudge.

Trust what’s calling you. 💫

Gwen Peterson is a spiritual mentor, author, and the founder of Insights & Illuminations. Through her writing, meditations, and soulful teachings, she supports others in developing trust, clarity, and a deeper connection to themselves. Explore her books, reflections, and guided practices on her website and YouTube channel.

Categories: : meditation, Positive mindset