Each of us is equipped with this remarkable ability to make choices specifically for us, but most of us don’t know how. Why? Because we lead with our monkey brain and drive right past our second, much wiser center of consciousness.
The Mind Is A Blunt Tool
Solving complex issues and finding clear direction inside our heads is pretty inefficient. Here’s why:
- One, the brain, our primary center of consciousness, is built for survival first and is not the most sophisticated tool for critical thinking at its core. The brain is impulsive, negative-biased, simplistic, reactionary, and overgeneralizes by default.
- Two, thoughts are like smoke. You literally cannot see them, and because they exist only in our heads we often identify with them. So how can we look at thoughts objectively and make sense of what is really going on?
- Three, most people are unaware of, or ignore, their most powerful resource – intuition – our second, wiser center of consciousness.
Ever Had A Gut Feeling?
You know, that rare, unshakeable, crystal-clear sense of what to do in the moment that electrifies your body? That’s intuition, your unique internal guidance system, and it’s actually available all of the time if you learn to listen for it.
I discovered mine in deep meditation when I finally quieted the monkey brain. The instructor asked me to visualize my ultimate goal in life by letting images come to me rather than actively trying to think of the answer. Calm and still, though confused, I sat there in silence for a long while. Then, at a trickle pace, images started to come to me, and with clear recognition, my body lit up as if I had stuck my finger in a socket. I knew exactly what these images meant and the path I was to follow.
I’m No Unicorn
Now, before you assume, I’ve just come back from an ayahuasca trip, that is not the case. As Dr. Joe Dispenza describes, our ability to have transcendental experiences does not require psychedelics. The receptors for these compounds exist within our brains, which means we can tap into this ability naturally, on our own. I’ve dug quite a bit into this concept of intuition with works like Melody Wilding’s “Trust Yourself” and Tosha Silver’s “Outrageous Openness,” as well as many conversations with people who’ve experienced gut feelings.
The more I looked, the more I found this ability to actively tune into our intuition. As I continued my meditation practice and daily journaling, those gut feelings became more and more regular. I was learning to listen for them, and the more I followed these cues, the more my life began to flow.
Intuition Hack: Get That Crap Out of Your Head
The key to tapping into intuition is deeper awareness – learning to quiet the nonstop chatter of the monkey brain and listen beyond your surface level of everyday consciousness. Meditation, media fasts, time in nature, and mindful physical activities like washing the dishes can all play a role.
The biggest tool I have found is writing in my journal. There is a freeing feeling when I empty my thoughts onto paper. My mind stops repeating itself, and I can objectively look at what I’ve written. I can also observe how my body reacts, especially when I ask questions. Do I light up, have a neutral feeling, or a sense of pulling away? That’s intuition having its say. If I light up or feel a strong push, that’s a “yes.” If I feel a heavy pull-back sensation, that’s a “no.” If there’s a neutral feeling, it’s either inconsequential or the answer is not yet available.
Everyone experiences this differently, so learning to tune into your body will reveal your unique sensations.
Don’t Overthink It
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
Albert Einstein
Second guessing is the monkey mind trying to regain control and keep us “safe.” Our intuition often pushes us out of our comfort zone into unfamiliar territory, which the survival software doesn’t like, so doubt and fear will always creep in.
Learning to push past our hesitation and trust our gut is an ongoing challenge. Start small, take it slow, and observe what happens. All of this is probably sounding a little crazy to you, but I am confident that the more you practice this skill, the more you’ll find your unique ability to know what is right for you. The more profound answers we seek are all inside; we just have to become better listeners.
Love to you all,
Barton
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