Have you ever just known that something wasn't quite right but couldn't explain why?
Have you ever had a gut feeling that wouldn't go away?
Have you ever sensed when some one was lying to you, and then found out you were right?
If so then you are tapping into your intuition. Intuition may be defined as a direct knowing without the conscious use of reasoning. It has also been called our 'sixth sense'. Everyone has intuition as we are all born with this natural ability but some of us are born with easier access to it than others and we can all develop and utilize our intuition further to help us on life's pathway.
When you say things like: 'It just hit me out of the blue'; 'It struck me like a ton of bricks'; or 'I just had to go with my gut feeling', you are talking about your intuition.
You may experience it as a physical sensation or an emotional feeling. You may have an image or picture come to you in a dream or hear a name or phrase in your head. These are all modes through which we receive intuitive insights. They come through our senses, as well as our general sense of knowing.
When we are stressed out, we lack access to our intuitive answers. Have you ever had a day where you felt you were banging your head against a brick wall or felt blocked at every turn? That is what it's like when you have blocked access to your intuition.
You can receive intuitive insights when you pose a question to yourself, forget you asked it, and then let yourself receive an answer when you are relaxed. You may wake-up refreshed and remember an important message from a dream or you could be taking a walk or even daydreaming in the shower when the answer 'hits you'. When you are 'in the flow', life becomes much easier. When you tap into your intuition, everything feels just right.
No matter how intuitive you are already, it is always possible to increase access to your intuition.
Improving Your Intuition
You can refine your intuition and bring it alive again or increase its strength by giving it the time and patience it deserves to develop it. Below I've included some simple things you can try to help you notice, refine or increase your intuition. Each person has a unique journey and not every exercise will work for everyone, so try some or all of the exercises and see how you get on.
Who's calling? Keep a notepad next to the telephone and over the next couple of weeks pause before answering the phone to write down the name of the person you believe is calling. Don't second guess. Write down the first name that pops into your head or the first person you see in your minds's eye. Answer the phone. Were you correct? By repeating this exercise over and over you are essentially working the muscles of intuition. They will become stronger, clearer and more receptive.
What's in your mail? Each day try to guess what mail will be delivered through your door or into your mailbox. Guess the number of total items, then break them down to advertisements, personal letters, bills, etc.
Call & confirm. Have you ever noticed that a name of a loved one or friend will suddenly "pop" into your mind completely out of the blue? Or maybe you notice a particular name in printed text, the media or in the newspapers over and over again? The next time this happens pick up the phone and give them a call. You'll be surprised by just how many that will say, "I was just thinking about you."
Introductions to new people. The next time you meet someone new make a mental note of how your body feels, reacts, what you sense, think about this person. Did you experience a sense of happiness? Did you simply "know" they were a perfect fit for your company? Or did the hairs on your neck stand up in warning? Did you feel a falling sensation in your stomach? Jot them down when you get home and refer back to these feelings later to see if your instincts were correct.
Writing your answers in a daily journal, as well as your general thoughts and feelings, can also be helpful when doing these exercises as you can look back and see how much improvement you've made over the weeks.
Have you ever just known that something wasn't quite right but couldn't explain why?