Like courage, optimism and mindful presence can be cultivated, so too can our connection to intuition. In fact, everyone—every body—holds this wisdom; we’ve just forgotten how to listen. Here are 10 ways to turn up the volume on this trustworthy inner voice:
1. MEDITATE. Messages from intuition tend to be quiet—much quieter than your mental chatter. Create space to explore what lies beneath the analyzing, planning and rehashing.
2. USE YOUR SENSES. Intuition is often called a “sixth sense”, more subtle than the other five. That’s why paying attention to our other senses is a great way to develop the sensitivity required total into this more elusive one.
3. NOTICE YOUR DREAMS. When the cognitive mind is busy, it can override the subconscious mind—a wellspring of intuition. Conversely, when you are asleep space opens for the subconscious mind to unveil itself in the form of dreams.
4. INVITE CREATIVITY. Allowing free-following movement in any form (drawing, writing, dancing, singing…) is another way we bypass this analytical aspect of our mind. In doing so you also get in touch with your bodies—and the sensations, energies and feelings it holds.
5. TRY IT OUT. Getting a sense that it will rain tomorrow even though the weather forecast says it won’t? Have a feeling a friend has good news to share? When you feelings about what might happen in the future, write them down and then check later to see if your hunch was indeed intuition.
7. CONNECT WITH YOUR BODY. Intuition speaks through the body so the more you cultivate somatic awareness, the more sensitive you become. If you get an uncomfortable physical feeling when you’re trying to make a decision, pay attention. Do you feel light or heavy? Got a sick feeling in your gut? It could just be the result of stress responses activated by false fear, but it could also be your intuition ringing loud and clear.
8. TAKE A BREAK. Get away. Slow down. Spend a day in comfort with nothing planned. When you’re overly busy, it’s hard to be sensitive to the quiet voices of intuition. Try clearing your schedule and see if your intuition pipes up.
9. VISIT WITH NATURE. Being in the natural world—away from technology and other distractions—can open up the kind of intuition once needed when we as a species lived outdoors and relied upon it to keep us safe.
10. LEARN FROM THE PAST. Recall a negative experience from your past (ideally something fairly recent that you can easily picture). Before this thing happened, think back to whether or not you got any feelings that urged you to steer clear. You may remember a gut feeling indicating something wasn’t right. Or perhaps you had a foreshadowing dream or a vision. If so, did you pay attention or did you talk yourself out of it? Try to recall as many details as possible and how you felt in the experience. The more you can get in touch with those quiet cues, the more likely you’ll hear—and head to—them next time.
11. FEEL MORE (THINK LESS). The mind thinks, intuition feels. If you’re not sure whether you’re listening to your fearful mind or your trustworthy intuition, see if you can differentiate whether you’re thinking or feeling.
