Ready to Boldly Go?

Every day I work with people who either don’t believe they are intuitive or admit they are but have an exceedingly hard time trusting it. I feel such a deep tenderness towards my clients who are on this learning curve. We’re all trying to access our inner voice in a society that marginalizes it so thoroughly we don’t even have an adequate language to talk about it accurately. And who would want to embrace a part of ourselves that is largely seen as reclusive, unstable, unreliable, or even dangerous?

Of course, it’s not a requirement that you be intuitive to consult an Intuitive. And it must be frustrating to hear an Intuitive talk about the easy and natural relationship we’re meant to have with our intuition when it can be so fraught with challenges. Easier said than done, Lady. Right? But nothing makes me happier than picking the cobwebs off someone who has sincerely tried to access our most natural resource and yet has gotten wrapped tight in an endless cycle of doubt and fear.

I learned early on that my work was not only to demonstrate what I could see and feel for people but also if I valued my gift I needed to share it in a way that would make it a more natural experience for everyone. My intention is always that you leave me feeling empowered and more comfortable listening to your gut as you navigate the challenges of your life. I want you to understand that you are known and seen in a way that reaches beyond the details of your life and the struggles you encounter, and that your heart is held by a caring energy that flows within and between all of us. If I can show you how to access that energy, you naturally begin to live more meaningfully. The grandest version of yourself begins to emerge.

If the Universe is always expanding, then possibly it follows that the world needs us to grow into our best selves as well. Despite our attempts to quash that still small voice, many do answer the call. But there are a few things that you’re doing right now that will make listening to your own intuition nearly impossible.

So knock it off, ok?

1. Stop calling your intuition names.

If you always introduced me to people as “my weird friend Susan”, or constantly referred to me as “bizarre”, or “freaky”, I would probably avoid you too. But that’s exactly how we talk with each other about our intuitive experiences. Labeling them this way discredits them immediately. By categorizing intuition as unusual, we keep it off to the side and away from what we consider normal.

Instead, try being nicer to your intuition. Include it in your daily life. Consider that it wants to help you with the little stuff in addition to the big stuff you deal with every day. Watch your language around it and see how it responds. A little bit of kindness goes a long way.

Hint: Use “interesting”, “amazing”, “fascinating”, “helpful”, “grounding” instead. Much better words.

Also: I might secretly like it if I was your weird friend Susan. But you get my point.

2. Stop arguing with it.

There are some people who are lucky enough to be able to recognize when their intuition is active, and that is huge. Just knowing when you are receiving information is a big first step for most of us. But then these same folks spend literally hours and hours of their precious lives ruminating on whether the information they’re receiving is their imagination or wishful thinking. From the simplest gut check to a detailed precognitive dream, if you focus solely on trying to vet the guidance you’re receiving, the less you’ll actually understand about it. Plus you’ll be exhausted and cranky.

Instead, try settling into the information you’re getting. Intuition feels differently in the body than our mental machinations do. It’s a heavier, calming experience. If you can identify your intuition, just accept it with gratitude.

And intuition is never wrong. Ever. Sometimes our interpretations of it are, but the good news is that if you’re already identifying as an intuitive person, you are also equipped with the ability to understand it. (The good news is also that even if you don’t think you’re intuitive, you are). Relax and let situations unfold. You can learn a lot from your experiences to further interpret and use what you know.

3. Stop thinking you’re crazy.

People who trust their intuition implicitly make decisions that at times seem rash or risky to the rest of the world. But here’s the thing: without exception, I have never met anyone who could be dissuaded from what they knew or believed if it was sourced intuitively. In short, once you know what you know, you can never unknow it. Not surprisingly, one of the biggest ways we try to silence intuition is to suppress it. We’re really committed as a society to keep it from happening in the first place.

Drawing equivalences between mental illness and intuition is not only ignorant but also insulting to both categories of human experience. I should point out here that of course someone could conceivably struggle with mental illness and be intuitive, but you’d never know they are two independent experiences of the mind by paying attention to stereotypes. Being afraid other people will think we’re a mentally unstable nut because we believe in visions and messages is the most effective way to shut ourselves down.

Instead, have compassion for yourself and for others. All of us live in a world that is desperately afraid of intuitive people and their abilities. If you feel you have to justify your mental competency to explain how you understand what is unfolding in your life, chances are that’s energy wasted on people who have already judged you. The proof is in the pudding anyway. Use your intuition and your life will get better. Trusting yourself is the best investment you can make into living efficiently. Other people may not understand the choices you make but eventually, you won’t long for the approval of those who are still living mostly in fear.

4. Stop with the bad manners already.

Intuition does not respond to demands. If you walked into a coffee shop, cut to the front of the line and then interrupted the barista to bark your order at them, you probably wouldn’t receive very good service, would you? Well, guess what? Your intuition has impeccable manners and does not like being mostly ignored until you’re having a crisis and then having to immediately respond to your demands for answers right now.

So rude.

Instead, be polite. Say “please” when you ask for guidance and “thank you” when you receive it. Try developing a relationship with your intuition that’s based on continuity and appreciation. Practice gratitude for the tidbits you get every day. That will lead to bigger and more detailed “downloads”. If you’re willing to receive the information you get with a full heart, it makes it easier to live a life of flow and ease. You won’t be grasping for information because it will come to you all the time.

5. Stop needing proof.

Once in a while, you will receive information that you can neither make sense of nor put into any context that seems relevant to your life. In fact, before I start a client session I make sure to tell my clients that what they should be hoping to hear at some point is something that makes absolutely no sense to them whatsoever. And that’s because the seeds of what is unfolding in our lives may be planted but still too young to sprout above ground. I can pick up on those seeds and see how they will grow, but there might not be any signs in the present day that indicate at all what is going to happen. It’s challenging when the information I get points farther into the future than either I or my client is comfortable with. It can occasionally take months or years to manifest. So we don’t always understand how the information we’re given applies to us. But if it comes to us, we need that information. Not to worry. It becomes clear.

Instead of trusting your intuition because it makes sense to you right away, try trusting it will make sense when you need it the most. There are times when you will need to use it immediately in situations that affect your health and safety (“SWERVE!”). If you wait until the tow truck arrives, that’s hardly the point, right? Other times it may take a long time to understand. But your intuition will never mess with you. It’s always seeking to strengthen your relationship to it. Give up ever needing to get confirmation and you will receive a lot more guidance overall.

6. Okay, six things: Stop making your intuition fight with logic.

Hey, fellow nerds out there! Just because you can figure something out or form conclusions using common sense or logic doesn’t always mean you should. Remember, even Spock was half human. Sometimes your intuition will override what you’d normally perceive about a person or situation. Hands down the most difficult dilemmas I help people with are those where logic would dictate they draw a commonly held conclusion or feeling about a person or situation (examples: the highly recommended babysitter everyone in town uses is great, a job offer looks awesome on paper, someone who is in a position of authority is beloved), and yet they just can’t get there. Something doesn’t feel right.

Instead, take the pressure off. If you get your info faster empirically, go with that. But if your intuition keeps tapping you on the shoulder, listen. Intuition may be trying to save you time or money, or clue you into information that isn’t readily available. Logic and intuition work best when they work together. Don’t send them into a cage fight to the death.

After all, as Captain Kirk said, “Intuition, however illogical, Mr. Spock, is recognized as a command prerogative.”