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Intuition—that flutter in your stomach, that gentle, loving voice in your head, or that strong feeling you get—can be utilized like a trusted mentor once you learn to recognize it. Honoring that inner voice or feeling can be one of the most powerful steps we take in our lives.

There’s a reason it’s been called a “gut feeling”: Some people actually feel a flutter or tingling in their stomach when something is just not right or when it’s extremely right. Others, though, get an inner feeling that they just can’t shake. Still others may hear a word or phrase in their head that gently repeats, nudging them along. Researchers have proposed intuition-related information processing theories such as Cognitive-Experiential Self-Theory (CEST), but intuition largely remains a mystery.

Whatever form your intuition takes, you may want to learn to trust it. It can protect us from harm and help us live our lives. Numerous anecdotes spring to mind of people who decided at the last minute not to take a car ride only to later find out that the decision may have saved their life; or maybe you felt a little nudge during an important job interview that led you bring up a topic that seemed to seal the deal in landing a job that propelled you into your career. Those in certain professions, such as nursing, have found that intuition assists them in providing enhanced care to their patients.

So how do we know when it’s our inner voice or just our conscious mind getting in the way? This may be tricky to learn and often only comes with the practice of tuning into ourselves. While certain researchers believe the development of intuition may be a long process, it may not take as long as you might think.

Enhancing and Growing Your Intuition

If you think you are oblivious to your intuitive messages, don’t despair; there may be ways to enhance your intuition. For instance, intuition often is stronger after exercising and meditation. Also, those who want to delve into the intuition path a bit more might want to try starting an intuition journal. This is a way of keeping track of the times when listening to our intuition worked—and in what form those messages arrived. It can help us to recognize and distinguish our intuitive nudges from times our pesky conscious mind is interfering. This may also assist us in listening to and following our intuitive nudges in the future.

Reducing Stress May Help You Access Intuition. You may find that there are lifestyle factors that assist you in receiving your intuitive guidance, such as the reduction of stress. In fact, stress in Western cultures could be considered to be a pandemic. Reducing stress to improve mood and mental health may improve intuition. Studies have demonstrated that anxiety and depression impair intuition. Thus, lowering stress and anxiety may assist in accessing intuition. For instance, meditation is often considered to be a stress-reduction technique, and at least one study has found that meditation enhances intuition.

 

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Additionally, there are numerous ways to lower stress such as yoga, sound healing (sound bath), being in nature, and other meditative practices that may serve to open up a porthole to your intuitive self waiting to emerge. It is unclear at this point why lifestyle factors my assist in this process. However, research has demonstrated that the body (particularly the heart and brain) appear to be involved in the receiving and processing of important intuitive information.

Intuitive Messages vs. Psychological Disorders

Intuition can protect us from harm and help guide us to take positive steps in our lives. However, it is important to distinguish between intuitive messages and possible signs of psychological disorders, such as when someone hears voices that tell them to harm themselves, others, or animals. In such a situation, the individual would need to immediately seek psychological counseling. Intuitive messages, though, are generally positive messages rather than those of a destructive nature. Real intuition involves an individual learning to tune in to their inner self’s messages designed to help or guide them in some way.

So, go ahead. Listen to that loving inner voice designed to help you in your life path. My gut tells me it will make a positive difference for you.