Trusting Your Intuition
I’m sure it is very often a friend, or a family member has told you to listen to your gut, I know I have say it many times.
Recently I met one of my best friends for breakfast and while we were enjoying a delicious cup of coffee she suggested to go and have the palms of our hands read for fun. Embracing the spirit of adventure, my friend and I decided to go and do it! As we listened, one thing the reader said resonated deeply: “You have great intuition and should trust your gut more often. It seems you know what you should do, but you keep ignoring it. Listen better to your intuition.” Her words instantly triggered a flood of memories from the past two decades, and I knew exactly what she meant.
I’d never intentionally done this before, though there was a moment in my life when, without seeking it out, someone approached me and told me something truly remarkable about my future in a spiritual way. I can honestly say that, since meeting that woman 20 years ago, events have unfolded almost exactly as she described.
And my question is, why when I know my gut is right I do completely the opposite? Intuition is our immediate understanding of something; there’s no need to think it over or get another opinion, we just know and it is very unique to each person.
Trusting our intuition is the ultimate act of trusting ourselves, right? But sometimes, there is something that gets in our way and we miss the opportunity. Here some reasons why:
Overthinking: Since listening to your gut is defined as the ability to understand something instinctively without the need for conscious reasoning, overthinking is one of the biggest enemies. Putting excessive thought into every decision and walking through countless scenarios can lead you away from your intuition, especially when you are overthinking to rationalize or justify something.
The programming of our identity: This happens when we operate from quick judgements that the brain automatically makes based on past experiences instead of based on reason or actual experience. As a result, we block ourselves to tap into the experiential nature of intuition.
Fear: Fear is also a sensation we get in our gut and sometimes we get confused. How do we recognize what is what? Fear usually brings anxiety and darkness, and intuition feels reliable, compassionate and affirming. When you really want something badly: This could be to be loved, acceptance, validation, confidence … that strong desire to fill in something that is greatly missing in your life.
So what you should do to get the best of your intuition flowing again?
Slow down: we rush and multitask in everything we do in our lives, so take a step back and allow your mind to clear and live each moment as it is without thinking ahead. Slowing down helps you with the process of assimilating information more efficiently, so clear the way and declutter your mind to make space for intuition.
Listen and feel the sensations in your body: Intuition is grounded with the sensations inside of your body, so learning to recognize what’s going on within your body is important to develop your intuition. Like when you are angry, your body gets tight, your heartbeat rises, your body temperature gets hot and you have the need to scream. Learning creating awareness of how the body reacts when we go through the different emotions. Meditation helps creating this awareness.
Learn to know yourself better: What is important for me? What are my non-negotiable boundaries? How do I want to feel in my life? Be curious about what you need, and you want. Concentrating on these needs helps to more easily connect with your intuition.
Isn’t it amazing! We all have an intuition, but to develop it we need the awareness and meditation to understand it.
Another thing she told me that made me smile was: “Do you write? and I said sometimes … I have a space where sometimes I like to express myself and I write. She smiled back at me and told me: continue writing”.
If the palm reader's words to me are true for you too, you already know exactly what your next step needs to be—you’ve just been waiting for permission to trust it. The next time you feel that quiet, compassionate nudge in your chest, will you let your mind talk you out of it, or will you finally stop and listen?
As Albert Einstein once said, “I believe in intuitions and inspirations...I sometimes FEEL that I am right. I do not KNOW that I am.” Trusting yourself may not always be easy, but with practice and self-awareness, your intuition can become one of your greatest guides.
Wellness to your health,
Virginia Lara
