Malcolm Gladwell writes about it in his book “Blink”. Carl Jung talked about having intuitive thinking and intuitive feeling type personalities. Einstein recognised the concept of intuition when he said “All great achievements of science must start from intuitive knowledge. I believe in intuition and inspiration…. At times I feel certain I am right while not knowing the reason” in an autobiography. Others talk about it as the brain in your belly. What they all agree on is that we possess something that’s more than our knowledge. More than our rational and logical thinking capability.
Intuition and Limiting Beliefs
However, many of us don’t, or can’t, hear our intuitive thoughts or voice any more. We’ve tuned out of it. Some adjusted life expectations and goals to what loved ones told us we could or couldn’t do. Maybe everyone in your family are doctors, engineers, teachers or architects. Maybe you were told to get a sensible job because what you were really interested in “wouldn’t make you enough money”? Maybe you were told somewhere along the way that you weren’t particularly good at something so you just gave up.
What’s interesting is that we are given deficiencies by people around us as well as picking them up ourselves. Maybe mum told us we couldn’t do something because it was too messy. Maybe there wasn’t enough money in the family to pursue something. Maybe an art teacher said we were no good at drawing. Maybe a PE teacher didn’t encourage us enough to keep trying. There are so many more examples. None of these “limiting beliefs” belong to us. Yet we hold on to them like they do. They replace the voice of intuition in our heads and tell us what we can and can’t do.
Tapping into Your Inner Voice
So we’ve picked up these limiting beliefs and continue to believe them. How do we get rid of them? What ones do we get rid of. Here’s 3 ways to start.
1. Acknowledge what you have got – skills, talents, knowledge, things that come naturally to you. Write them down. You might “struggle” with ball sports but kick ass at a Zumba class or anything that involves dancing! You may not be “good” at drawing, but you love decorating or colouring in. Listen to your inner voice as you complete your list of what you can do.
2. What do you need to think or believe about yourself first, before looking to others for acknowledgement. When we doubt ourselves, we leave plenty of room for others to doubt us too. If we have strong beliefs about ourselves and our capabilities, then others will follow suit. Think positive thoughts about yourself and others will think positively about you too. Go around feeling sorry for yourself and negative about the world, and you will be surrounded by pity and hopelessness. Find that inner voice that can help you reinforce thoughts and assurances of what you believe and feel about yourself, then look to the outside for others to acknowledge it too. Don’t be looking somewhere else for affirmation you need from yourself first.
3. Feed yourself. Let go of your grievances, resentments, and hostility. The past is the past. You can’t change it, but you can change how you let it influence your present and your future. Holding onto grudges, staying angry, hating the world is only doing damage to you. Yes, someone hurt you. Maybe it was intentional. Maybe it wasn’t. Listen to your inner voice about what you are supposed to learn from that situation so you can be better now and in the future. What shame did the other person or situation awaken in you that you are now hiding from? Where and over what did they hit a nerve? Your reactions have more to do with you than what the other person said or did. Dig deeper. Tap into your inner voice to hear what really got your upset/annoyed. Listen to your inner voice, and heal yourself first, recognise your vulnerability so you can move forward in a more wholehearted way.
Practice Mindfulness
It’s going to take some practice to learn how to hear your inner voice, but it will be worth it in the end. Find a place where you can go to stillness. It might just be 10 mins to find clarity. Switch off all media devices. Find a comfortable position either sitting or lying down. You can do this in your desk chair. You can do it at night before you go to sleep. Find 10 mins in your day where you can be uninterrupted and tap into your inner voice.
Take deep breaths and notice how your body relaxes more with each one. Notice thoughts coming into your mind and fly away again. Be aware of the noises around you but don’t let them distract you. Listen to your inner voice that will begin to appear in the silence. Notice what your inner voice, your intuition, is pointing you towards. Maybe something is weighing on your mind and you now know the next step you need to take. Maybe that inner voice is telling you something you are scared of but know it’s the right thing to do.
Focus on what you are doing and be clear on why. Don’t wait for the how. You will know how as and when you need to. Recognise your body sensations too. Notice when you feel at peace or agitated. Know that it’s a different way that your intuition is talking to you.
What Next?
Be the CEO of your own cabinet of advisors. Take thoughts and opinions from others into consideration, but take the time to tap into your own wisdom and follow your own heart’s desires. In just 10 mins a day, notice how much more you begin to follow what you feel is the right thing to do or say. And if you are not so sure, then maybe coaching is something for you to explore.
Let me help you tap into your inner voice and learn more about how it can help you in your life’s journey. Learn more by reading more blog posts, and by contacting me directly to set up your first free coaching session. Listen to what your intuition is telling you. You’ve found my website/blog for a reason. What are you looking for next?
Photo credit: Vintuitive via Foter.com / CC BY