Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you thought, I knew this would happen!? Maybe someone betrayed your trust, or a plan you had a bad feeling about blew up in your face. Or, on the flip side, maybe you landed your dream job after following up with an acquaintance you ran into at a party, just because you had a feeling the connection could lead to bigger things.
We all have an inner compass that guides us through life. It helps us recognize bad vibes, and also helps us identify when something is good for us. That energy—that inherent knowing—is your intuition.
Our intuition is very different from our intellect. Of course, our brain is also out to guide us. But our brain likes to play it safe. Usually, it helps us pick the most convenient and easy option—but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the best choice. We evolve by stepping out of our comfort zones, by doing things that aren’t always rational—and our intuition is that little feeling that pushes us there.
When it comes to navigating your career, your intuition can be an incredible asset. It can help steer you away from a potentially difficult (or crazy!) boss, or guide you toward asking for a promotion. It can help you identify a dream client, or know when it’s time to quit that job and move on to pinker pastures.
As someone who spent my 20s in a corporate setting before starting my own business, my intuition has become my right-hand woman. I worked for MTV for eight years, and during those eight years, I began blogging. Eventually, I decided to become a certified life coach. Then, I started writing my books. Although I loved my side hustle and wanted so badly to make it my full-time career, my brain told me to stay at MTV and “play it safe.” My brain was being her typical, rational self, guiding me to remain in a stable job with benefits and a 401(k).
My intuition, however, was begging me to leave. It took two long years of battling between my rational mind and my intuition before I finally listened to my gut and quit my job. And it has been the best decision I have ever made.
A lot of people imagine those who are guided by their intuition as hippie-types, spending hours each day in lotus position. But it’s not like that at all. All of us have the ability to use intuition to live our best life. Here, four strategies to help you follow your gut to greatness.
Make time to feel. We spend so much time polling others for their opinion, reading articles on what we “should” do, and obsessively discussing our lives. But when is the last time you sat alone with your thoughts? I’m not the best at traditional meditation, so for me, heading out to a local bar and having a glass of champagne by myself gives me time to listen to the thoughts that often get silenced by the noise of others. Treat yourself to lunch, or take a long walk in nature—just do something that gives you some time and space to not just think, but to feel.
Start writing what you’re feeling. Get a cute journal, light a candle, and take some time to free write. Free writing is an exercise where you simply write down whatever thoughts flow into your mind. There’s no pressure, no planning, and no spell check. Remember, nobody will see this but you! Free writing helps us evoke thoughts we may not even realize are buried deep within.
Get your sweat on! Exercising is an excellent way of getting in tune with your inner vibes. Breaking a sweat and allowing yourself to be in the moment will help you clear out all the junk in your head and get in touch with your gut. A mantra that I love is “get out of your head and into your body.” Remember, intuition is a feeling, so get moving!
Drop your limiting beliefs. We all have certain beliefs that have been ingrained in us. Maybe you’ve always thought, I’ll never be fit and healthy! Or, I will never be able to do what I love for a living! Those thoughts are B.S., and the sooner you can release them, the sooner you can start to listen to your gut and take action toward living life beyond your wildest dreams. Write down all the beliefs that hold you back, then crumble or burn the paper. As you destroy the paper, tell yourself, “I let go of what holds me back and invite a better world.” This simple ritual will help you let go of what limits you and begin to design a new life for yourself filled with positivity, love, and magic.
Try some of these strategies this week, and see how it feels. Remember, becoming intimate with your intuition takes time. Be patient, and enjoy the journey!
Photo by Christopher Campbell.
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