Paying Attention to Your Intuition!

 About the Author:  Kate Olson, CPC, CHt, is a Life Coach, Integrative Master Hypnotherapist, EFT & NLP Master Practitioner & Trainer and Reiki Master located in Seattle, Northern Lights Life Coaching www.northernlightscoaching.net & Embrace Change Hypnosis & NLP
www.embracechangehypnosis.com.  Kate offers workshops & classes, as well as, individual and group coaching. Her emphasis is on assisting clients in finding Path, Purpose and Peace. Kate focuses on integration of mind, body, spirit wellness. It is her mission to help clients find joy through connection, creative expression and change facilitation. She is passionate about creativity, travel, personal growth and enjoying life. She has another  wellness-related business offering Salt Therapy, Salt Works Saltariums. Salt Therapy offers an all natural treatment solution for respiratory and skin problems.​ All three businesses operate as Dba's under Total Well Resources, LLC.  She is also a radio show host on Contact Talk   Radio, www.ctrnetwork.com/embracechange hosting "Embrace Change with Kate & Michelle".  She is a       speaker, writer and event facilitator.  

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      Intuition is one of our greatest gifts and most valuable tools and learning how to be aware of and pay attention to it is one of the best things you will ever learn. We know so much more than we think we do. Our senses our constantly taking into, processing and storing information and we do this on a sub-conscious level so quickly and automatically that our conscious mind has a hard time keeping up. What exactly is intuition and why is it so important for us to pay and attention and connect with it? See the dictionary definition below:
 
the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning.
"we shall allow our intuition to guide us"
synonyms:
instinct, intuitiveness; More

a thing that one knows or considers likely from instinctive feeling rather than conscious reasoning.
plural noun: intuitions
"your insights and intuitions as a native speaker are positively sought"
synonyms:
hunch, feeling (in one's bones), inkling, (sneaking) suspicion, idea, sense, notion;

 
In his article in Psychology Today, “What is Intuition, And How Do We Use It?”, Francis Cholle, August 31,2011, defines it this way:

Instinct and Intuition, as I define it, is this:

• Instinct is our innate inclination toward a particular behavior (as opposed to a learned response).
• A gut feeling—or a hunch—is a sensation that appears quickly in consciousness (noticeable enough to be acted on if one chooses to) without us being fully aware of the underlying reasons for its occurrence.
• Intuition is a process that gives us the ability to know something directly without analytic reasoning, bridging the gap between the conscious and nonconscious parts of our mind, and also between instinct and reason.
 
      With these definitions in mind then how can we understand intuition and its importance in our daily lives and why we need to be aware of and use it whenever we can. Well, the truth is conscious reasoning only account for 20% of our brain power, while sub-conscious is 80% of our brain power. In his article listed above, Francis Cholle makes his case that we are doing ourselves a disservice if we only use logical reasoning or the conscious part of our brain in our decision making. We need both parts of our brain and its full power in order to make the best decisions for ourselves. The conscious mind works in a very linear way and is limited, though relentless, in it’s reasoning ability and resources. The sub-conscious mind crosses the dimensions of time and space and pulls information together in a very non-linear way leading to what the conscious mind can only call hunches or “information it has no explanation for”, while, in fact, it is information that has been mined, in much the same way a computer works, from your own mind’s resources Having this added knowledge accessible to us is so valuable, seen if we cannot readily say where it came from or why we think or feel the way we do. 

     If using both our logical reasoning and our intuition can lead us to better decisions and outcomes, how can we be more aware of and access it more easily. Listed below are some ways to become more in touch with your basic instincts, intuition or gut feelings.
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1. Write! Keep a journal of your random thoughts, feelings, ideas and associations that occur to you. It does not need to make sense or seem relevant. Doing this will open up your connection to your sub-conscious. 
2. Turn off judgement, of yourself and others. Allow the dialogue to happen with the input of your inner-critic and see what flows. 
3. Connect with nature. This seems to connect us to our core and that animal instinct that is an innate part of us. 
4. Allow yourself some solitary time. Solitude shuts off the outside noise and connects us to our inner most thoughts and feelings. 
5. Find a way to connect to your emotions. Sometimes a place, music, art, literature or art can help us do this. 
6. Create! Creativity brings out our most basic purpose and most instinctual connections to our inner being and expression of self. 
7. Be in Alignment! Seek authenticity, clarity and congruence in all that you do! 

     The late Steve Jobs said this about intuition, “more powerful than intellect.” We know the he must have relied on something beyond mere reasoning for his many innovations.
Whatever we call it or however we define it, if we can harness the power of intuition we will be setting ourselves up for better decisions and more successful outcomes. According to Carolyn Gregoire, in her article, “10 things Highly Intuitive People Do Differently”, Dec. 06, 2017 in the Huffington Post. highly intuitive people use all of the habits listed above. They also rely on their dreams, practice mindfulness, are highly observant of their surroundings, listen actively and attentively, get plenty of rest and listen to their inner voice and their bodies, tend to be positive and let go of negative thoughts easily. In truth we are all intuitive and sometimes more than we know, but the trick is listening and connecting to that “Spidey Sense”!
     I, personally, am fairly intuitive, however, like most people I find myself denying or trying to reason my way out of paying attention to my intuition on a fairly regular basis. I have almost always been glad when I do pay attention to my intuition. Sometimes I wish I had listened sooner and then other times I wish I had listened to those little signals while I am paying the consequences. How about you? When was the last time you had that gut feeling, inner-voice or “Spidey Feeling” about something? Did you listen and follow it?
     Right now, I am dealing with a quandary about listening to intuition that I don’t yet know the outcome on, but I went with it.  We shall see. I am also dealing with an instance where I ignored it a little longer than I should have. I finally decided to listen and I feel pretty happy that I did. I think it will pay off big time as time goes forward. The last major instance where I listened to my intuition, despite arguments to the contrary saved me from being scammed out of a thousand dollars in a scheme that thousands of other good, intelligent and well-meaning people were taken in by. I feel blessed that my “inner voice” gave me a strong warning and I paid attention. I am getting more in touch with my intuitive side all the time and the suggestions listed here will help you in doing that to. It isn’t something that happens all at once, you just slowly start becoming more comfortable in following that “feeling” when you get it and knowing that it is what is best for you, regardless of what “logic” or other evidence may tell you.