Have you ever been in a situation that just doesn't "feel" right? Or met a person who makes you uncomfortable, but you can't really put your finger on why? Even though these instances might not be able to be explained by science or logic, they're just as real - your intuition is speaking to you. So what is intuition anyway? Some describe it as a "gut feeling" or a sixth sense, while others describe it as the opposite of rational or analytical thought. Because our brains are constantly taking in and processing information on levels we're not always conscious of, when we tap into more of this information it can help us make clearer decisions. It's also a useful way for us to measure our deepest intentions, motivations and feelings towards the people and situations in our lives. But like anything else, intuition is more effective when we're able to develop it and therefore trust it.
Ways to Develop Your Intuition
1. Pay Attention. We have a huge amount of outside stimuli and distraction in our society, which can often overshadow our inner wisdom. If we're constantly listening to the outside world, it makes it that much harder for us to listen to ourselves. In order to develop our intuition, we must learn to recognize and listen to those small inner promptings which are our intuition. We can enhance our ability to do so with breathing exercises, meditation, or just by being still and connected to our bodies. For example, you may have a "feeling" about which route to take when you're traveling somewhere in your car. But because it doesn't make logical "sense" for you to take this different route, you ignore the feeling, only to find out there's construction or an accident which could have been bypassed if only you'd "listened to you gut".
2. Practice Makes Perfect. Once you begin to identify these inner promptings, begin to follow them and make a note of the results. You'll begin to understand the difference between random urges based on non-intuitive factors like emotional wants, and true intuition. While using our intuition, we should feel calm and grounded, as if there is an inner knowing. We should not feel scared, tense, or paranoid.
3. See the Signs. There are often repeated synchronicities available to us, which our intuition can pick up on. For instance, you might hear the title of a particular book mentioned two or three times by different people in the space of a few days. You could look at this as a coincidence, or you could identify this as an instance where your intuition is telling you you would benefit from reading the book. Test these signs out and see where they lead you, which again will help you learn to discern the useful information from the not-so-useful.
4. Be Creative. Having a creative outlet helps you use the part of your brain that is less analytical and more rooted in the subconscious. Being in touch with your feelings as opposed to your thoughts will help you develop your intuitive side, and will help to relieve the stress and pressures we take in through the outside world.
