How to Connect with Your Intuition
Intuition is your ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning. Most people get far too caught up in their thoughts to recognize their intuitive hits and that’s a real shame. You’re intuition is a sense of KNOWING, without any logic to “back it up.” It’s that FEELING that something’s right or wrong, fitting or unfitting, safe or unsafe.
When you’re disconnected from your intuition, it can be near impossible to know what you should do in important situations. Should you move in with the guy you’ve been seeing? Should you take that job offer? Should you go to that event that’s thousands of miles and a hefty plane ticket away?
How can you answer FULLY and COMPLETELY from your heart and soul when you’re too busy weighing the pros and cons or thinking about the how-tos and what-ifs?
Check in with yourself.
Checking in with your intuition is a matter of checking in with your body and energy. What do you feel when a big decision or opportunity is presented to you? Not what you think you feel or think you should feel. What do you PHYSICALLY FEEL?
Is it a sensation of physical resistance? Some tension in your chest and shoulders? A slightly nauseating ball in your stomach? Or is it an open and airy energetic feeling? Do you feel light? Flutters in the heart? Do you feel pulled in one direction or another? Most importantly, did you have an instant response from the depths of your soul that you may have thought your way out of?
The important part of checking in with yourself is to recognize what you feel immediately after something is presented to you. If you take too long to assess your reaction, you’re going to start over thinking it. This is completely natural, but it’s not very helpful when trying to connect with your intuition!
The sensations that you feel in your body will have a direct link to the answer that you’re seeking. If you know the difference between feeling open, light, compelled, drawn towards, etc… and feeling resistance, tension, heaviness, unsettled and physically ill… you’ll be able to extract guidance from checking in with your body and what you’re feeling.
If you’re someone who goes straight into your head, this will take time. Start by pausing when something is presented to you instead of reacting verbally. Pause. Check in with your body. Note what you’re feeling immediately and begin to trust and honor those responses.
How do you know if you really know?
First, it takes trust and true connection to yourself. This will come with time and practice. Be patient and don’t beat yourself up if you can’t always make that connection. I promise that with practice, you’ll find yourself making most decisions with ease and grace, which will lead to greater happiness and synchronicity in your life.
As for really knowing? The old saying rings true: When you know, you know. Simple as that, though it can be frustrating to hear if you’re unsure that what you know!
So let me say this… if you’re questioning whether or not you really know something, you’re over thinking it. Chances are, if you’re not sure if something’s right for you, the answer is probably no, it’s not. Because when something is really, really right for you, you know it with every fiber in your being. Your senses are automatically heightened and the physical response is undeniable. Same with really knowing that something’s not right for you. You KNOW. If you ignore that immediate response and start over thinking and weighing options, you’re just going to confuse yourself.
Take action now…
What’s a decision that’s been weighing on your mind lately? Take a moment to check in with your body and see what it is that you feel in response to this decision. Don’t think about it. Don’t take to much time to check in. Pause. See what you feel and make note of it. Share in the comments below and let me know what insights you’ve gained from this simple exercise!
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21 comments
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Jean
Stephanie~I love this! It’s so true that when something feels right, you feel it in your bones…Isn’t it great when you have that kind of feeling? And, your body soooooo knows when you’re lying to it.
Love your juxtaposition of Karie Hill’s original site/new site that you did. The improvements are outstanding–while you retained her whole vibe. Congrats! You’re a wonderful designer, Stephanie.
XO
Jean
Jean
I mean, Stephenie!
Stephenie Zamora
Yes, that is the best feeling in the world… you’re right that your body knows when you’re lying! And thank you for the kind words on Karie’s site. :)
Don’t worry about the name misspell, happens all the time. ;) Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! xo
Bernardo
Dear Steph,
I love your post today as I know the power of trusting your inner guidance and even more importantly taking action on it. I guess it’s one of those things that the more you open yourself to feeling the more consistent and precise your messages become. The less you pay attention to it the more you ultimately suffer. Thank you for your actionable and honest message, When you know you know :) Love it.
A big hug to you Steph,
-Bernardo
Stephenie Zamora
“I guess it’s one of those things that the more you open yourself to feeling the more consistent and precise your messages become. The less you pay attention to it the more you ultimately suffer.” Yes, yes, YES! Love this Bernardo. Thanks for reading, sharing your thoughts and being the amazingly supportive friend that you are! xo
Karie Hill
Connecting with my intuition has been huge this year, especially starting my own business. Our body doesn’t lie to us when we listen to it. Great post!
Stephenie Zamora
This year was a big one for me as well… and it started with listening to my gut around attending RHH Live last year. Amazing what can happen when you take the time to check in with yourself and honor that response. :)
PS – You need a gravatar pronto. The people (me) want to see your pretty face when you comment!! xo
Eva @ Four Leaf Clover
Great article, Stephenie! It’s sad to me that we’ve lost that gut feeling. It seems to get more and more quiet the more generations that we have.
I remember one thing that stood out the most to me in the movie Avatar was how much they follow their gut and it leads them wherever they go and with whatever they do. Humans used to be like that, too, and for some reason we’ve quieted it as much as possible.
I’m trying my best to trust myself and even wrote about it over on my blog. It’s one of those things I wish was taught in schools growing up!
Stephenie Zamora
You’re right Eva, it is really sad that we’ve lost touch the way we have. I don’t think it’s impossible to get that back though, but it does take time and conscious practice. Thank you for the comment and I’m off to check out your post! xo
Eva @ Four Leaf Clover
Being conscious of it means we’re that much closer to getting there and your post explained just how beautifully.
I don’t want you to get lost on there, it’s been a while since that post, so here’s a link: http://fourleafcloverblog.com/?p=3315 :)
Kristina @CorporateFashionista
Stephenie – You’re so right! Doubt means don’t (even when it comes to buying a pair of shoes – that’s what I always say to clients ;-D). I follow this approach myself, but sometimes I find I get off track because I am overthinking things which ultimately leads to indecisiveness and then just pure frustration. At this stage, it is a clear sign that I am not trusting my intuition. Thanks for the reminder, sharing your insights and tips too! Very helpful!
Stephenie Zamora
Thank you Kristina! Ha, I love what you say to your clients and it’s so true! Overthinking is the worst and you’re right about it leading to frustration. I’m so glad that you mostly (I know I slip up too!!) follow this yourself. It makes life so much more enjoyable. xo
Ashley
Thanks for this post Stephenie! I’ve been working on it this week. I really liked this part –” Checking in with your intuition is a matter of checking in with your body and energy. What do you feel when a big decision or opportunity is presented to you? Not what you think you feel or think you should feel. What do you PHYSICALLY FEEL?”
I can think of more than a couple of big decisions I made in the past, that went against my physical reaction. I think part of it for me, is that I felt rushed. I felt really pressured to get it right, and like my 20s are so pivotal that I better make things happen.
There were times when I wasn’t happy with my situation, and the answers just weren’t coming fast enough for me! I could only wait so long before comparing myself to someone else I would read about or hear about doing something amazing and pushing to take action to remove myself from whatever unhappiness I was dealing with. Must do BIG things Now seemed to be the silent mantra playing in my mind.
I really don’t think I’ve been in touch with my intuition since I was a kid. I’m listening now though =)
@Eva I loved what you said about the movie Avatar! What a beautiful representation of how things should be.
Stephenie Zamora
Thank YOU for the thoughtful comment Ashley! When you’re feeling pressure to “get it right,” whether internal or external, you’ll usually end up going against your gut and doing what you THINK is the right thing to do. Fortunately we can always learn from those experiences!
And YES, it’s really hard to be patient with yourself when you’re trying to make changes in your life. A lot of the times it requires a “step back” and that brings up a lot of issues with our ego!
Glad to hear you’ve been checking in with your body and working to reconnect. I know you’re going to be so in tune with yourself in no time at all. xo
Nichole Kellerman
Your intuition is always right…always :)
Thanks Step for this awesome post xo
Stephenie Zamora
Yes it is. Thank YOU for sharing and commenting! xo
Hannah Marcotti
I always feel it in my gut. This was beautiful, thank you!
Stephenie Zamora
Hannah, I am so in love with your new pictures! Beautiful! And I’m so glad to hear you’re connected with your gut. :) Lots of love to you! xo
Freea
Stephenie,
Thanks for this post…This was great timing for me to be reminded of all of this. One of the best things I ever did in my life, was beginning work with a Somatic Counselor, who did lots of work around this type of thing. She was GREAT and it really changed my life. I used her help with my career path, and soon after I began doing the work, things magically just started falling into place. She had a great line actually which was
“The DEVIL is in the detail” , and I tend to be a very detailed over thinker, so I really need this kind of work in my daily life to let go of over-thinking and trying to control everything. It is not easy for me, but when I do, life is so much easier and the resistance dissolves and things flow so easily. Thanks again!
It’s good to be detailed oriented and to be analytical, but if you are not finding balance and don’t know how to use these attributes as the gifts they are meant to be, and they begin to stifle and hinder your progress and forward motion…It’s time to seek balance and tap into these things you mention! It’s an art really!
Stephenie Zamora
Hi Freea, thank you so much for your comment. Things definitely flow easier when you stop resisting by over thinking! It is an art! It’s a wonderful place to be when you’re able to truly listen to your body and intuition at all times. Takes work, but is absolutely possible. And you’re right that being detail oriented and analytic are both good attributes, just not always necessary. :) Love to you! xo
Barbara
What you “think” you feel is your fear told as a positive lie to keep you from following your heart. What you know is your heart.
So whatever you “think” you feel, add “not” to that thought to make it negative and you will know your heart…not your head.
“You are not a horrible person.”
For love, “you are not afraid to love them.” Then hold the person close and say “I do love you.” That will lock them into your heart. Keep doing it so they stay there. Do it with your children. Most importantly NEVER pull away to argue. Touching while talking makes your heart safe to you will not hit each others fears.