Build your trust in yourself over time.
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We All Have Intuition
When you were a kid, you were probably much more in tune with your intuition. Your mom asked if you wanted spaghetti. You looked at it and immediately knew it was not for you. However, your mom said, “This is dinner.”, and you begrudgingly ate it. Your dad said, “Play guitar, like me.” You were bored with the thought, but he bought you a guitar, and signed you up for lessons. You hated it, but were told you had to go to lessons because they were already paid for.
Those are just a few examples of how our intuition is overridden every day as children. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if adults just asked you what you wanted, and you were allowed to tell them? Or you would feel validated even if they listened and acknowledged what you wanted, but explained why that can’t be the solution at the moment.
You as a kid: “I do not want to eat spaghetti!”
Your mom: “It sounds like you don’t think you will like the spaghetti. Can you just give it a try? I’ve already made it, and it’s your sister’s favorite meal. I can make your choice tomorrow.”
Your dad: “How about playing guitar like me?”
You as a kid: “I don’t think I will like guitar. It seems boring. Can I play the drums instead?”
Your dad: “We’ll go to the music shop this weekend and see if drums are in our price range.”
Instead, after years of having your intuitive thoughts denied, by parents, teachers, coaches, peers, and other adults, you’ve gotten out of practice of using your intuition.
You Can Reclaim Your Intuition
The first thing you have to do to reclaim your intuition, is begin stealing away moments to sit in silence.
- Wake up earlier, and create a morning routine of sitting in silence for a few minutes
- Take a walk outside
- Sit and watch the clouds
- Drive in your car without the radio on
- Practice yoga
- Take a shower
- Stargaze
- Work in your garden
- Try a repetitive hobby, like beading, or knitting
Next, ask a simple question where the outcome doesn’t matter too much. Here are a few examples:
- What will my husband order for dinner at the restaurant?
- Will my friend wear her red shirt, or her blue shirt to her meeting?
- What book will my book club choose this month?
- How long will it take before my teenager will clean that dish in the sink?
- What time will my mother ask us to come for dinner?
Finally, listen for the answer. What is the first thing that pops into your head? It will feel like a guess at first. Keep practicing until you notice you are getting more and more of the answers right. You may not get the exact, right answer, but were you close? Did your husband order the tuna instead of the salmon? They’re both fish. Did you guess your friend would wear a red shirt, but instead she wore something in the same hue, like pink, mauve, or maroon?
Some people feel their intuition as their own voice in their head. Some people hear another voice guiding them. You may feel a flutter in your stomach, get chill bumps, or feel a tightness in your chest, for example. I’ve even heard people say they have a metallic taste in their mouth as their intuition. You have to play around a while to see how your intuition comes to you.
Start Trusting Yourself
Over time, as you notice you are getting a lot of answers correct, you can ask more important questions. When you begin to answer more life altering questions, you will want to listen to your intuition, but do some of your own research. Like, when your doctor prescribes a medication, and your intuition tells you to wait. Do a little research on the side effects of the medication. Ask your friends if they have experience taking that medication. Get a second opinion. Check for natural alternatives and do the research on those.
Now, you can ask, “Was my intuition correct? Or was it just a fear of the medical system in general?”
Maybe your intuition says now is the time to sell your house. That’s a huge step. Do your research. Where will you live afterwards? Is this the right time in the market? How will this affect other family members?
You can read online market reports, speak with a realtor in your area, and speak with a realtor where you are thinking of moving. Check with the bank to see about a loan for a new mortgage. If your intuition was correct, everything will fall into place easily, or your conviction to sell will grow as you research.
Some day you may be able to just trust that little hit of intuition you feel, but it’s okay if you always feel the need to back it up with a little research. That’s being smart!
So, what do you think? Will you test your intuition? If you did, what did you find out? Let me know in the comments.
Want to learn more about finding time to yourself, and time to listen to your intuition? See my mini-course called, Transformational Morning Routine for Empaths.
