Learning to use the power of intuition to make decisions is an important practice to develop in general but it is more important now than ever before because we are living in a time of great uncertainty. For many the suggestion that you tap into your internal whisper and use it to make decisions doesn’t sound rational. Most people would disregard it as a “woo woo” spiritual concept because we’ve been conditioned in the western world to place more value in the power of the rational mind. Logical decision-making gives the illusion that you’ve given careful consideration to facts and science. By contrast, following the voice inside, your inner knowing, or gut-feeling seems fallible, whimsical, or even flighty.
Relying on our inner knowing is just what we need when our world feels volatile and uncertain as it does now. It can help you manage information overload, adjust to ambiguity, and rapidly changing circumstances. For so many of us our anxiety right now is in overdrive because no one knows what to expect next. Our decision-makers are flying blind. Questions currently abound about whether it is safe to reopen our economies, for how long, and with what restrictions. Even if decision-makers deem a practice safe — you may be questioning whether you are willing to accept the inherent risks for yourself and your family. The results of a Pew Research poll just last week confirmed this thinking when two-thirds of respondents indicated that they are concerned we will reopen too quickly — our government wants to reopen, but our people feel less sure.
We are accustomed to looking out into the world for answers. How do you proceed when no one really knows? Most of us will respond by overthinking and gathering more data points but ultimately we wind up feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty. This is precisely when we need to rely on our own internal guidance and filter out the noise. It’s a powerful tool that can be utilized in any decision-making opportunity but is particularly helpful when you simply feel overwhelmed. Using intuition can mean the difference between being in control of life and letting life control you. If we listen closely to the voice inside us we have all the answers we need to make choices and feel confident that we are doing our best for our families and for ourselves.
We all have intuition — our ability to utilize it grows as we nurture it. We nurture it by taking time to reflect, journal, meditate, and provide space for ourselves just to be and feel. The way I know how to utilize intuition is to sit still, close my eyes, and breathe in and out deeply. Random thoughts will pop in and out, like my shopping list or the next “to do” in my calendar. I acknowledge those thoughts and then get back to my intention of sitting still and focusing on my breath. When I finally feel still enough I think about the important questions on my mind. I pay attention to how I feel with my thoughts. My initial reaction is significant because it’s all too common for my mind to jump in and provide input. That spontaneous and immediate reaction to a thought is my internal knowing speaking to me.
When we learn to harness and apply intuition we are able to make decisions faster and more comfortably and create outcomes that are truer to ourselves. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, nervous or anxious try listening to your internal knowing. But only if it feels right.
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