Have you ever had a gut feeling about something – positive or negative – that gives you an extra insight into a particular situation?

Maybe it’s something related to work.  A feeling that there might be a problem that will come up if you follow (or don’t follow) a specific course of action?

Perhaps you’ve just got off the phone with a friend or family member and they sound okay and say everything’s alright, but you “just know” that’s not the case.  Or maybe you have an uneasy feeling in your stomach?

Was there a time where you said to yourself, “I knew I should have done that, or “I should have done that.” 

When you heard the phone ring, did you know who was going to be on the line before you answered?  Or  just knew what route to drive in a strange setting?

These insights, or immediate cognitions that give us the ability to acquire information without the use of direct knowledge or without rational thought or reason, is INTUITION.  Intuition are beliefs we have about things, people and situations that may not even be justified, accept to ourselves and our gut.

While everyone has intuition, some people are more conscious of these feelings and how to respond to them,  or better yet, how to interpret the information they receive or feel into positive action.

In the time of the cave man, often humans had to live by their intuition – in order to stay alive, find food and avert danger.

Getting in touch with this part of your consciousness can also help today.  In business, in your personal life and in dealing with decisions as they come up.   It’s important to use all the information that’s available to us – from study and research, history, logic and reasoning… and intuition.

How do you get in touch with your intuition processing powers? 

1. Well, how do you feel? What’s the energy in the room? Are you feeling relaxed, breathing normally?  Feeling well or is your gut tight?  Does your skin crawl?  Do you feel drained or get a feeling of foreboding that something negative is about to happen?

When you’ve weighed the obvious, consider your gut feelings.  Listen to that “gut” reaction in your stomach.

2. If it’s something you want to know, ask yourself questions and listen to the first answer that pops into your head.  Try to quiet all the other chatter that fights this dominant thought or feeling.

3. Get  some meditation tapes and books. Learn how to meditate to clear your mind. Meditation allows you to clearly and succinctly identify your thoughts and feelings and it also has a myriad of health benefits.

4.  Get Creative. It’s  been documented that exercising your right brain by getting in touch with creativity (such as painting, dance and other creative outlets) can help you lead a pathway to your intuition.

5.  Journal your thoughts.  It might not be a bad idea to write down your intuitions and then see what transpires.  Becoming aware can help you build your confidence and your ability to connect with your gut.

For some great books that enhance intuition, consider:

Practical Intuition, Laura Day

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, Joseph Murphy

Developing Intuition:  Practical Guidance for Daily Life by Shakti Gawain

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success and The Book of Secrets:  Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life both by Deepak Chopra

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