What Is Intuition?
Intuition is the ability to understand something by trusting your feelings rather than conscious reasoning. It’s an instinct or insight about a situation that enables you to make a decision without going through a rational process.
Intuition is the way our subconscious mind communicates with our conscious mind.
People experience intuition differently and in various forms: gut feelings, hunches, insights, or inspiration. Some signs of intuition are
- Bodily feelings, such as gut feelings, tingling, or heart palpitation
- Thoughts and ideas that seem to come from out of nowhere
- Daydreams or fantasies that are seemingly unrelated to reality
- Strong emotions that lead you to take certain actions
- Flashes of insight regarding your intentions, motivations, or desires.
The Difference Between Intuition and Emotion
Intuition is a process of obtaining insight or inspiration without conscious reasoning, whereas emotion is an intense mental response to a perception of something.
Intuition is the basis for decisions, influenced by previous emotions. Emotions are the result of experiences that influence your intuition.
In short, intuition is the prediction, whereas emotions and feelings are the consequence.
How To Know When Your Intuition Is Talking To You
An intuitive voice is the creative voice that resides in your subconscious mind. It’s what you hear when you’re in the shower, meditating, or perhaps driving home from work. It’s the voice that says “write this down” or “call that person” or “go this way instead.”
We all have an intuitive voice, but not all of us listen to it. Sometimes it’s too soft to hear over the noise of life. Sometimes we’re busy and don’t have time to listen to it. And sometimes, we don’t believe in our intuition because it doesn’t make sense.
Luckily, just like any life skill, you can practice your intuition and become more aware of your intuitive voice.
How to Develop Your Intuition & Find Your Intuitive Voice
There are many ways to find your intuitive voice and start feeling more in tune with yourself, including meditation, journaling, or simply walking in nature. Listed below are some of the ways you can try to develop and tap into your intuition:
Meditation
Sit still and take deep breaths, or move slowly through your body with your eyes closed. Try to find a calmer space within yourself. This will help you get in touch with your inner self and give you a better understanding of what your intuition is telling you.
If you’re searching for an answer to a particular problem, ask a question either in your mind or out loud before meditating. Your subconscious mind will go to work and eventually provide you with an answer through intuition. Sometimes you’ll get a response quickly but most of the time it takes a while. Be patient.
If you’re new to meditation, there are several apps to help you in your intuitive journey. Try Headspace or Calm if you’re looking for ways to start connecting with your inner self and strengthening your intuition.
Journaling
Intuitive journaling is a great way to find your intuitive voice. It’s a creative and therapeutic tool for self-expression, inner healing, and change. Journaling is a form of writing meditation, a way to calm the mind and gain clarity, and can also be a powerful exercise to strengthen the connection with your inner self.
It can be a great way to bypass the conscious mind and let things come to the surface.
Try intuitive journaling by writing a few pages about what’s on your mind. Don’t think about spelling or grammar or whether your writing makes sense. Let the words come freely. Later, document things that seem like interesting coincidences and see if you can connect the dots.
Art Journaling
If journaling seems daunting, or if writing generally isn’t your thing, try more visual techniques such as keeping an art journal. Drawing your thoughts can help you discover what’s going on inside and eventually provide answers to questions you might have.
There are no rules to keeping an art journal. Feel free to experiment with whatever art form suits you best.
Spending Time In Nature
Take a step away from technology and other temptations of the cognitive mind to unlock your intuitive capabilities. Spending time in nature quiets the mind and helps you connect with natural forces and yourself in the best way possible.
Intuitive Decision-Making
Intuition can often be a better decision-making strategy than deliberation because it helps us make decisions more quickly and with less effort. Intuitive decision-making or “sixth sense” may help us reach better outcomes by creatively using our feelings, thoughts, and hunches, which is often more helpful than relying on past experiences or rational thinking.
Entrepreneurs like Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, and Oprah Winfrey are known to rely on their intuition to make decisions.
If some of the greatest entrepreneurs of our time trust their intuitive instincts in decision-making, then there’s no reason you can’t do the same.
Know that the intuitive voice can be different for everyone. It might be more or less intense, but what matters the most is that it feels right for you. Some people might need more time to find their intuitive voices than others, but with practice and patience, you will get there. Make practicing your intuition and intuitive decision-making a habit and watch your life become instantly more fulfilling.
Follow your gut.
