Intuition (aka that “gut feeling”) is something we are all blessed with. The trouble is that most of us do not know how to recognize our intuition or to hear what it is trying to tell us. Intuition is defined as, “immediate knowing without reasoning or inferring”; it is the ability to understand something without conscious reasoning. People often describe the sensation of intuition as “pit of stomach feeling”, or “light bulb moment”, where you have a random idea/impulse out of nowhere.
That random impulse to drive a different route home or to call a friend you haven’t spoken with in years, or the nagging feeling that you need to start taking better care of your health. These are all examples of intuition. But most of the time, we ignore these impulses, or we confuse them with anxiety or worries.
How is intuition different from anxiety? When you think about an anxious thought, it usually brings about that uncomfortable feeling in your stomach and may make your heart beat a little faster and your hands shaky/sweaty. Intuition is much different. When you have a “nudge” from your intuition, it will bring about a sense of calm, a sense of “I just know”. Think: “anxiety screams, intuition whispers”.
What if I don’t know how to hear my intuition?
My best advice to get to know your intuition is to spend intentional time alone with no distractions at all. This can sound overwhelming, so I suggest starting small with 3-5 minutes (trust me, it will feel much longer than that). This is different from structured meditation. In this “alone time”, you will just observe your thoughts and how you are feeling in relation to those thoughts. You can even journal during this time and write these thoughts/feelings down. Learning to trust your intuition is something that develops more and more over time.
Once you are more aware of your internal thoughts and feelings, you can start “following” that intuitive guidance more. This applies to all areas of your life, but especially with your health. Your body is very smart- it knows what it wants and needs- and when we listen to our intuition, it will tell us. For example, a craving for red meat could indicate you are low in iron, or simply allowing your body to rest rather than exercise on days where your body asks for rest could prevent burnout or injury. This can also apply to cutting back on/quitting habits that you know aren’t in your best interest (like alcohol overconsumption).
Ultimately, your intuition is your best friend, and getting to know it more will have countless benefits for your overall wellness.
