Follow your Intuition

What is intuition? Intuition is the ability to understand something instinctively, without the need for conscious reasoning.

The word intuition is derived from the Latin word “intuer” and is literally defined as: to look, to consider, to consider something attentively.

Synonyms include:

• Gut feeling
• Hunch
• Iinstinct
• Inner knowing
• or sixth sense

Everyone has intuition; an innate power that can pass on a source of meaningful information—the little voice in your head, the angel on your shoulder.

The indefinable ‘I don’t know why, but it just feels right. Everyone has intuition, and when you listen to it, you will be amazed at what you know deep inside.

Intuition is a source of knowledge, which has little to do with predicting the future, but everything to do with the present.

Your intuition lets you know things through your gut feeling, a spark, an intuitive hunch while you are doing something completely different.

It ensures that you know so much – and at the same time, you do not know.

The wealth of information from your intuition is often not packaged in words or language. That is why you get your answers or messages mostly through unexpected, indirect ways.

Living Intuitively

In recent years, an incredible amount of interesting scientific research has been done into intuition and how it works.

It shows that intuitive decisions turn out just as well, if not better than decisions about which you have carefully listed all the pros and cons.

Do you act intuitively?

It means that you perceive something at once without thinking about it, analyzing it, or rationalizing it. It is instinctive and lacks logic. You feel spontaneous and know in a split second whether something is correct or not.

How to recognize Your Intuition

Nowadays, it is mostly about relying on your intellect and making decisions with your head. You create lists of pros and cons and even To Do list. Then you make decisions based on that.

In our Western world, the emphasis has been on rationality and logic for so long that we can safely say; If you have the feeling that you could live more spontaneous and from your intuition, then it is probably wise to do so!

• But how do you go by your gut feeling?
• And how do you really know what your intuition tells you?
• How will you know if your intuition is helping you?

Intuitive impulses can be recognized in different ways. You can have a dream that gives you more insight, but you can also see images in your head, experience physical sensations or see, hear, smell, and so on.

And do you choose based on this hunch? Then, in the end, it gives you a very content feeling. You are relaxed, feel happy, and do not experience stress or fear. No, it motivates, enthuses, and creates flow.

Follow your Gut Feeling

There is a difference between feelings and emotions and these are by definition not your intuition. Feelings go deeper than emotions but are often less intense.

Because your intuition takes everything into account – including things of which you can rationally say, are not relevant (anymore), such as negative experiences from the past and fears that are no longer realistic.

And your feeling that something feels  “good” can be unconsciously influenced by advertisements and others’ opinions.

You do not always need to know why you decide something. For the Head and the Heart’s decisions, a simple answer suffices: Because it makes you (long term) happy.

So yes, it is good to trust your gut feeling. This “second brain” knows much more than you think and allows you to make decisions more freely and quickly, without endless trial and error.

But do you feel fear or resistance? Then learn to distinguish whether that feeling in your stomach is not accidentally caused by emotion.

6 Tips for strengthening Awareness of your Intuition for decision making

1. Be aware of your random thoughts

Off course – you ARE not your thoughts; you experience them – but if they seem important, remember them or write them down so you can reflect on them later.

2. The rule of thumb “sleep on something” really works

For complex issues, go through all the information, write down all your considerations and go to sleep – take the decision that feels best the following day.

3. Relax

Ask your subconscious a question and do something else – meditate, garden, play music, exercise, take a hot bath, whatever – and see what comes up.

4. Be alert to signs and symbols in your environment

What strikes you? What catches your eye, and what does it say about you or the situation?

5. Feed your unconscious

Use your senses, read stories, listen to music, paint, do crafts, make music, make a collage with magazine cuttings. Dream. Daydream. Fantasise, give your imagination free rein. See what spontaneously comes out of your hands.

6. Dare to be alone and make your own decisions

Your intuition is a highly personal, tailor-made compass; take the space to listen to it and have the courage to act accordingly.

Make decisions from your intuition

When making important decisions, take a time out to let your intuition do its work. Check in the now: what are you feeling? And do not fight with your feelings. Accept every feeling and don’t add words to them.Even “bad” feelings turn out not to be so bad if you embrace them lovingly.

This way, you come close to your intuition, and recognizing and following this will give your life the right direction.

 – There are no bad feeling, it’s your thoughts on them that make them so –