What is intuition?
How do you measure it? Is it smoke and mirrors? Is it fog, here for a moment, gone the next?
Or is it tangible enough to BE something purposeful that we should pay more attention to?
I am not the first person to advise you to use your intuition. Nor will I be the last. The question is - will you listen? Or, maybe the question is, WHO will you listen to?
Intuition is intangible, but it's real.
Intuition is like a whisper, which we too often ignore.
Intuition is that sense of "yes" or "no" that flutters in our heart, when we're approaching a big decision in life.
One way to look at it is to compare it to the voice of reason in your ear, directing you to not date that loser. Or, to take that risk and buy that red lipstick.
I am not poking fun at intuition, though it may seem so. These two examples are humorous to a fault because they demonstrate reality. We've all had that feeling inside making us wonder if we should date so and so. And, when we're lusting after that red lipstick, which is not something we would ever have considered in our youth, our intuition nudges us to go for it.
Give that Feeling Inside Its Due
When it comes to our small business, our next big idea, our purpose in life, we ignore our intuition to our own detriment.
I would like you to think of your intuition as a super power. While we share this essence with all humanity, it's not a woman-thing as some will try to tell you, truth is, we, as women, have a deeper sense of it. We, as women, allow it to sway our decisions. We, as women, learn to appreciate it, over time.
Research studies prove the existence of this mystery essence. From Karen Young at HeySigmund, we learn:
Researchers at Leeds University analysed a hefty pile of research papers on intuition. They concluded that intuition is a very real psychological process where the brain uses past experiences and cues from the self and the environment to make a decision. The decision happens so quickly that it doesn’t register on a conscious level.
The "cues from the self" part of this explanation strikes home to me.
While the intuition of our childhood, which helped me when I was eight and a young man pulled over to the curb as I was walking home, offering me a ride, to which I said no, and kept walking, the intuition as an adult woman helps me make serious decisions that can change my life. Of course, had I gotten into that car, my life would likely have been changed dramatically, but I feel it was more fear - yes, I was afraid of this 'kind' young man and wanted nothing to do with him - that saved me. Intuition was a voice saying, "you don't want do get in that car" and fear was a voice saying, "you don't know him, tell him to go away."
Trust Your Gut
As my life went forward, I learned to trust my gut.
Granted, I'm not always led along the right path. I admit it. Even our intuition gets it wrong sometimes.
For instance, on one job I had, the only job I really loved, I was courted by one of the partners. That might not seem so bad except that he was married.
My intuition told me to he was worth the risk. My intuition told me he was truthful, and I could take the chance. My heart agreed, saying, "He isn't happy at home. He's getting a separation."
Of course, he did not get a separation. He wooed me into a relationship that was wrong from the get-go. And, in the end, I lost the job. I was let go when the other partners found out. I was deceived and mistreated and no, nothing bad happened to him. His wife took him back with open arms (even as I discovered I was among many young women he misused). The partners at the business accused ME of luring him into the relationship, even as they knew he'd done this before, with other office managers.
Today, I remember all of that and berate myself for misreading my intuition. Was it telling me to choose him over the job, because, as sure as the sun comes up every day, this was going to be a job changer. Or, was it saying, "Tread slowly. Tread carefully." I know the answer now. Back then, I created the answer I wanted to hear.
In cases where emotions rule, intuition often loses out to imagination. I imagined the outcome I wanted. That gut feeling that perhaps I should step back and be more careful was there, it just wasn't strong enough to overtake my heart.
Psychology Today tells us,
Second, we ignore what our heart and gut are telling us. There are 100 million neurons and every class of neurotransmitter in your gut used to process external stimuli and send signals to your brain. Your heart also receives input and sends out signals. The brain translates these signals so we can make decisions and act. It also edits, censures, and resists some of the data it receives especially if emotions are triggered.
The italics of the last sentence are mine.
Intuition is a Super Power
If we take the time to learn how to listen to our intuition, to treat it as the super power it is, imagine the wonderful things we could do with our lives?
What would you do? What is your intuition telling you right now? Are you ready to listen?
On a call recently, I talked with another smart, talented woman and the subject of retreats came up. Retreats that we take alone, with just ourselves. I'm talking about a weekend away from home or work, where you take long walks, commune with nature, perhaps, or just sit and write in your journal.
These are moments to tap into our intuition and learn what it's trying to tell us. Where is it steering us? Is it directing us along a path we are not comfortable with? Why would it do that? Is it time to step off the path of what we know and venture into new adventures and experiences?
Is our intuition telling us we can't or shouldn't do this alone? Who else could take this journey with us? Who has experience and insight to share, about this new venture?
It is a super power. If we tap into it properly, if we accept that it exists and its goal is to guide us, not solve our problems, just guide us through them, perhaps we can make progress towards that ultimate goal - happiness and good health.
Ready? Go!
Sign Up for SMART NEWS and share with your smart women friends. We are in this together. Collective women's minds and intuition can change the course of history. I believe this. If you do, too, click the link and get smart news in your email box every Friday night.
Comments