Everyone has intuition, but not everyone listens to it. It’s usually because they don’t know how to tap into their instinct and recognize when it’s appropriate to trust it. For those who ignore it, they may feel that their intuition has got them into trouble in the past and let them down, so ignoring it is a safer option. Some people have a highly developed intuition, while others only feel a slight inkling; a weird feeling in their stomach; which can be scary, so they’re not sure what to do with it.
When you learn to get in sync with your intuition, the better you’ll be at making decisions. Intuition can be a powerful guiding force in your life as it is guided by your values.
Practice makes perfect
Going all-in with your intuition takes time, and it’s not super easy. It may take years of practice until you are perfectly in tune with it, and it all starts with small steps. Here are some tips on how to listen to your intuition and follow what your instincts are telling you.
1. Use your common sense
If you need to make a decision in an unfamiliar situation, you can use your common sense by increasing your knowledge first. Do your research or seek advice from experienced people before you let your intuition guide you. When you are more experienced or knowledgeable in a topic, your intuition works better for you.
2. Be more conscious of the signals your gut is sending you
Following your instincts starts with a decision to do so. It’s a conscious and mindful effort. Throughout the day, try to notice how your body reacts to different situations and what signals your gut is sending you. Listen to that weird feeling in your stomach. Different situations will elicit subtlety different feelings in your stomach. Feel your whole body and let it guide you, rather than listening only to what your brain or logic is trying to tell you.
3. Step away and breathe
To follow your instincts, you may need to step away from the situation and allow yourself time to breathe. Take a long walk, sit in silence, meditate, or be with nature. These distractions will help you calm your body and mind and allow you to take perspective, making it easier for your mind to engage in free association so you can listen to your inner voice.
4. Recognize your feelings
Don’t ignore your feelings. If it’s your intuition talking to you and you haven’t had this situation before, you may have a feeling that is hard to explain. Recognize those feelings and don’t push them away just because you don’t have a solid explanation of what they are, especially if there seems to be an easier option. When something feels unsettling, acknowledge it, be honest with yourself and notice what it could be telling you.
5. Let your thoughts and feelings flow
If you are unsure whether to listen to your gut or not, grab a pen and paper and write down your thoughts. Write what you feel and where you feel it. Reflect on your thoughts. Let the words flow out of you without caring whether someone might read what you write. Then once you have written as much as you can, reflect on what you have written; are there any themes, ideas or lack of information that you need to close off to better understand your feelings? What do you need to do to take another step towards a decision?
6. Follow your instincts in familiar situations
Intuition is based on your experiences, and your subconscious is great at keeping tabs on them even when you don’t consciously know about them or remember them. When you are in a familiar situation, try to listen to your gut feelings. If you have been in a similar situation before, your intuition can easily kick in and guide you on what you should do next. That weird feeling in your stomach will no longer feel weird but rather hold meaning for what you are experiencing.
7. Recognize the patterns in your life
Are there similar opportunities that keep knocking on your door? Perhaps you’ve decided to ignore them in the past, and here they are again… knock, knock, knock. There may be opportunities presented in front of you, that you have ignored in the past, but now you should take a leap! Perhaps it’s time to recognize the patterns and act on them.
Remember, what we resist, persists!
8. Pay attention to physical symptoms
When your gut is trying to tell you something, you will feel physical symptoms. It can be a sinking feeling in your stomach, or butterflies in your tummy. You might be sweating or nervously excited. Tune into your body, reflect on your feelings, and follow your intuition.
Until you understand what your intuition is trying to communicate to you, you are bound to make mistakes and get things wrong. However, once you start to enege with your intuition, your ability to work with it will strengthen.
Your intuition can be a great compass that guides you throughout your life. When you pay attention to how your body reacts to certain situations, when you increase your knowledge and expertise in a topic, and when you learn to recognize the patterns, you learn to tune into your mind and body and develop your intuition.
The more you practice listening to your gut, the more you learn what it’s communicating, and whether to trust it or not. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes or failing. They are part of the learning process that can strengthen your intuition and make it more accurate in the long run.
Clients often come to me to get unbiased assistance with a big decision. They’re often unsure about what country to live in, or if they should stay in their job or how to manage difficult interpersonal relationships. In each situation, I help them develop their intuition, how to notice it and how to listen to what it is communicating. As a result of working with me clients are more attuned to their intuition and better able to make decision on their own.
If you are struggling with a situation and don’t know what to do next, I can help you contact and make sense of your intuition so that you will always have an ally when difficult decisions need to be made. Book in a confidential call with me and we can explore how I could support you to build your relationship with your intuition.
