How do I increase my intuition?
Intuition is knowledge that does not come from our rational mind. Intuitive information is factual, non-emotional and has a sense of “just knowing”. You probably have experienced intuition and used expressions like “I don’t know how but I just know it” or “I have a sense that….”. It may also come to you as an insight, a dream or a random thought that just appears. In spiritual terminology, intuition is the voice of God whispering direction or knowledge to you that surpasses human understanding.
The following are some simple ways to develop or strengthen Intuition:
1. Prayer/Meditation/Centering: The easiest way to increase your intuition is to take quiet time to be still and listen. It is when the mind is not cognitive that it becomes easier to hear “God’s Whisper”. This state of non-cognition is readily available when one is in a state of prayer, meditation or a centering activity. If you have historically found it difficult to quiet your mind because it is constantly racing, listen to track II of the Journey Back to Self CD. There is a centering meditation that can easily assist you in coming to that place of stillness.
Before you enter into a meditative state, ask a specific question to a problem then empty your mind of thought or agenda and wait for a spontaneous response. Wayne Dyer suggests a prayer as simple as “I don’t know how to deal with this, I’ll move my ego and let You handle it” The answer may or may not come immediately but persevere the “whisper” may occur at another time when your mind is still. Times when your mind is especially receptive is before you go to sleep or upon awakening. Intuition will also arise while you are taking a shower, driving, exercising, painting or doing any activity where your mind is relaxed and quiet.
2. Body/gut feel: Pay attention to how your body feels; it will give you clues to intuitive leadings. When a course of action or an idea is on target, you will feel relaxation in your gut or even your entire body. When it is not the proper course of action, you will feel tension within you no matter what your mind is telling you. Often times we ignore the body tension and respond to what we think we “should” do which is like trying to push a square peg into a round hole. While you may achieve the results that you wanted, it will usually come through a lot of work and at a high cost.
If on the other hand, you pay attention to your gut and defer an action that creates inner tension, your energy will free up. You will notice that you develop greater inspiration and move in unexpected but delightful directions. The key to increasing discerning intuition is to get out of your head and pay attention to how your body is feeling about a specific course of action. If the body is tense and uptight, perhaps you need to step back and ask for further guidance.
3. Practice using it: Intuition is like a muscle, the more that you use it, the stronger it will become. Pay attention to your intuition and begin to act upon it. Practice with small unimportant activities that incur little risk. When you get a sense to call someone or send them a note; do it. Notice the subtle tension that you will feel about making that contact, then the relief once you have completed the task. When you are driving in a car and you can take two different routes, ask your intuition which road you should take and do it. (Sometimes you will actually learn that there was a traffic jam on the other highway). Another fun activity that develops intuition is to guess who is calling you when the phone rings. You will begin to tap into deductive reasoning, which is another form of intuition, and will actually begin to guess correctly.
4. Body Wisdom: Trust your inner wisdom when it comes to your health. Gather all the medical information in as objective a way possible then pay attention to how your body feels when you are given medical advice. If it is not feeling “right” slow down and do more exploring. Dr. Judith Orloff, an intuitive psychiatrist, reports that she always listens when her patients tell her that their medication has to be increased, decreased or changed. She trusts their body wisdom.
As patients, we often default inner wisdom to the medical profession. If the medical advice does not “feel” right continue searching else where. I have had this experience with both of my daughters and with my own health. In each case, we had complicated symptoms and the doctors were stymied. The advice that they were giving us just did not seem right and was not working. I continued to seek out additional medical advice until I found the correct solution. In one daughter’s case, the answer actually came when I was praying and my mind was in that “non-cognitive” state. I got the sense that I should research the side effects of the medication that she was taking, even though two doctors had told me that her reaction could not be caused by the drug. Since my gut was telling me otherwise, I contacted the manufacturer and upon further research, I took her off the medication and her symptoms went away.
5. When in doubt do nothing. In her graduation address at Miss Porters School in Farmington, CT, Oprah said “Wisdom dictates when you are in doubt, if it is possible, do nothing”. This has been one of my maxims in life regarding intuitive wisdom and direction as I balance cognitive knowledge with intuitive leadings. When I have important decisions to make, I try to gather, as objectively as possible, information about the subject or course of action. When I get the information, I put it in my “inner” pot like the ingredients for a stew and place it on the back of the stove to simmer. Sometimes this simmering takes weeks, months or even years. Unless I have a clear sense of direction, while I might stir the “stew” from time to time and even add more ingredients, I do nothing and continue to let it simmer. While it has been frustrating, I have learned that amazing richness comes during the simmering and the results are better than my wildest dreams.
6. An Intuitive example. My CD and this website is a great illustration of the “Intuitive process” at work and I have used most of the above techniques. My professional identity is that of a counselor and hypnotherapist. I never planned to record a CD or have a web site. When I “let go” of preconceived ideas about my professional limitations, I connected with the Divine and became open to “intuitive hits”, infinite possibilities and, creative ideas.
After my Sabbatical I was very in touch with my intuition and the Journey Back to Self program literally flowed on paper. Once the program began to be presented, people requested copies of it and asked me to record it. I did not have a clue how to do any of this, so I put my ego aside and asked for Divine help. The advice and assistance that I received from the “Universe” was amazing! It included random help from sisters in law, daughters and even my hair dresser. The right person would emerge with advice and assistance just when I needed it! The website and Self Help tips became an extension of the “ministry” and a 16 year old boy, who I still have never met, materialized to create this beautiful website. The journey continues as I begin to create a holistic resource page and a blog page for you to write comments. Only God knows what is next. I just pay attention to the intuitive leadings and use the above techniques and enjoy the ride which has been effortless and fun.
Reflective Exercise:
Recall one time when you listened to your “intuition”. What were the results? Feel free to share your experience in the comment section. We would love to hear about it!
Choose one Intuitive technique you will use this month.