Intuition
" When something feels off, it is"
Hi friend!
The subject of intuition and "listening to your gut" is so near and dear to me. I live with my intuition (and values) as my compass. It's guided me in making many big decisions in my life, and I have to say, it's never steered me wrong. The times when I have experienced the most hardship is when I ignored my intuition.
When I am posed with a question of uncertainty, I often ask “ what does your intuition tell you”? It knows the way.
What is intuition?
Explaining intuition can be difficult because it's largely a feeling and a knowing. It's like trying to describe the colour blue — it's not easy to do! But simply put, intuition is an innate inclination or drive toward a particular action or behavior (as opposed to thinking or analyzing). It's a feeling or a sense that you have, and in many cases, a gut feeling based on past experiences.
Intuition is that feeling in your gut when you instinctively know that something you are doing is right or wrong. Or it’s that moment when you sense kindness, or fear, in another’s face. You don’t know why you feel that way; it’s just a hunch.
Intuition is not logical. It is not the result of a set of considered steps that can be shared or explained. Instead, while based on deep-seated knowledge, the process feels natural, almost instinctual.
6 Strategies for Listening to Your Intuition
1. Clear the Noise
Clearing the clutter of mental or external noise is one of the best ways to tap into our intuition easier. Spending time in solitude or in meditation can be profound in helping us better pick up on our inner guidance.
When we're constantly being influenced by others, what we see/hear, others' opinions or what others might think, the "shoulds" that we feel, or the general business of our daily lives, it makes it harder for us to pay attention to what truly feels best for us. By getting quiet and spending time alone we can better tune into our needs and intuition, free of distraction.
2. Initial Gut Reaction
Practice paying attention to your Initial split-second gut reaction when being faced with a set of decisions.
To practice this now, take a moment to think about a decision you're trying to make. Remove all thoughts or analyses about them, and just focus on the feeling of when you weigh your options. You can try flipping a coin to see what that split-second moment feels like.
Generally, when something feels right, there's a pull toward it, an openness, lightness, or senes of excitement. When something doesn't feel right, you may feel a sense of contraction, resistance, dread, or pulling back. You can ask yourself: which choice feels relieving, liberating, calming, or exciting? Which one feels heavy or uncomfortable? Your initial reaction can give you lots of insight into what might be best for you. Tuning into these feelings will help you familiarize yourself with your “gut feelings” or intuition.
3. Physical Sensations
The brain and body are intricately connected. When we feel a certain way mentally or emotionally, our physical body responds accordingly thanks to the connections in our nervous system. For example, if something feels wrong, you may hunch your shoulders, feel a heaviness in your chest or feel sick to your stomach, or you may have a concerned facial expression. Likewise, if something feels good, you may be smiling while talking about it or feel a sense of lightness and openness in your body, even if there's a bit of nervousness about it.
It's easy to confuse fear with intuition. To tell the difference, consider how you'll feel after making a decision. Do you anticipate relief, pride, or joy? Or do you have a nagging feeling that something's wrong? Fear can often be overcome, but intuition persists, reminding us when something isn't right.
4. Explore Your Options
Take a moment to think about a decision you’ve tried to make and that you kept coming back to again and again. Perhaps it felt unresolved, you kept second-guessing yourself or a nagging feeling never subsided. In my experience, my intuition is calling when something keeps coming back to my mind and an issue keeps repeating itself. It can sometimes mean we need to explore what it is that we keep questioning, in order to put it to rest.
5. Past Experiences
Recalling past experiences where you had a hunch about something can help you notice that feeling in the future. Try and remember what that "hunch" feeling felt like, especially in a past experience where you were correct about it.
6. Write It Out
Sometimes using our conscious, analytical mind can be helpful to pave the way for our intuition to shine through. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself if you're trying to make a decision or weighing a few options in your life right now. Grab a journal and write these out:
What is the ultimate outcome I want? What is most important when it comes to this area of my life?
What are the pros, cons, and worst case scenarios for each option?
Are my fears (worst case scenarios) realistic or imaginary? Often we are afraid of outcomes that aren’t even likely, let alone realistic. This can drown out your intuition. Ask yourself if your fears are deep-seated insecurities disguised as convincing truths.
Put it into Practice
Listening to your intuition takes time and practice and is just like a skill you can develop. If you're new to listening to your intuition, try tapping into it in situations that don't matter quite as much, such as very small decisions (e.g. what to order off a menu, or which type of cuisine to cook or order for dinner). You can also try it in conversations with others by gently picking up on the way someone feels behind the words they are saying.
Remember, your intuition is your inner wisdom waiting to be awakened. Trust it, nurture it, and let it guide you towards a life of fulfillment and authenticity. Embrace the beauty of your intuition, for it is a gift that sets you apart and allows you to navigate the world with profound insight. Trust in your intuitive whispers, the language of your soul, and move towards a life that aligns with your deepest desires and aspirations.
Step into the realm of empowered living, where intuition becomes your greatest ally and trusted companion. Embrace the adventure that awaits as you unlock the full potential of your intuitive muscles.
Do you listen to your intuition? Is this a new skill to you? Let’s chat about it and see how I can help.
XO Jenna
