It’s been called the “highest form of intelligence” and “the path to true happiness”… We all have it but it can be buried under busy, stress, fear and rational thinking.

So, what is intuition?

Intuition is your internal GPS, your compass that guides you, often known as your sixth sense.

It is the inexplicable feeling that helps you sense something that is not clearly obvious…

…It is the nagging feeling in the pit of your stomach that tells you that something is not right…

…It is the little voice that whispers to you, that you should do or avoid doing something…

…It’s the goose bumps.

Intuition is, in essence, the connection to the subconscious. It’s how the subconscious and conscious minds communicate and bring together experiences, understanding, instinct and intellect.

Carl Jung, founder of analytical psychology, called it pre-existing knowledge and wisdom, and said it is resident in every one of us but often suppressed. He labeled it as one of four major functions of the mind along with sensation, thinking, and feeling; and that by balancing all of these we have the ability to maximise our potential.

The benefits of reconnecting to your intuition

• Enhanced creativity – helping you step out of your comfort zone
• Increased self-knowledge – the most direct path to the true you
• Better decision-making – combining rational thinking and gut feel
• Greater physical health – more self-aware of your needs and lower stress levels
• Improved mental well-being – aligned with who you are – feeling calmer and happier

“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
– Albert Einstein

Intuition is a skill to be honed

Often people are so busy they have simply gotten used to ignoring their intuition in favour of rational thinking. People are not born with an equal sense of intuition, some are more intuitive than others.

We can however develop and reconnect to our intuition:

• Take note of nagging feelings – ask yourself: Is it fear or is it intuition?
• Clear your mind – meditate or simply spend time in nature
• Give yourself time to pause – you may find you are saying ‘no’ more often to practice self-care instead
• Tap into the transition between wakefulness and sleep – this is a practice that Einstein and many others used -it is that moment of clarity that pops into your mind before rational thinking and the racing mind whisks it away.

Successful entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Richard Branson and Elon Musk have credited part of their success to their intuition as well as numerous other top CEO’s. If it works for them – it may be worth giving it a try.

Watch replay of Reconnecting to your intuition.

Mantra for the week: I trust my gut