How to Make Decisions Using Your Intuition
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
The famous quote above was originally attributed to one of the most widely-acclaimed minds of the 20th century, Albert Einstein. Einstein was famous for his ground-breaking contributions to science and modern intellect, but what is not so known about him is that he was a great believer in intuition.
The quote above highlights how we live in a world which no longer values intuition in the same way we once did. This rational mind is also known as the conscious mind – it is what we use to think, do our daily chores, debate with others, and formulate plans. Anything to do with thinking can be attributed to the rational mind.
The intuitive mind is also known as the subconscious mind, and it is where our creativity stems from. It’s where our emotions and feelings lie, and it is what ultimately drives us. It lies at the very core of our existence.
Does Everyone Have Intuition?
Yes, everyone has intuitive feelings and thoughts. And guess what? They are all different.
In an ideal world, the intuitive mind would have the ‘feeling’ or ‘vision’ for what is best for you and the rational mind would then implement the strategy or take action to make this happen. However, this is far from an ideal world!
Lots of people are talking about “mindful living” these days. Social media is plastered with messages about following your heart and using your intuition, but what does a mindful lifestyle look like day-to-day? How do you remember to tune into that little voice that speaks just barely above a whisper from somewhere inside your gut?
Why Is Intuition Important?
Once we learn how to recognize and use our intuition, it opens up a powerful source of information that contributes to our greatest potential for happiness.
When we look within to find our answers and guidance, we can overcome the habit of blaming our outside environment for our unhappiness and we can find the source of true happiness which is being kind, thinking of others, and directing our life towards the path of love.
Without our intuition, our ego can take over, causing us to make decisions based on immediate gratification that won’t get us closer to our real goals and achievements. Your intuition will guide you to make decisions with information your waking consciousness is not yet privy to.
That means those gut feelings you get - good or bad - that come up seemingly without reason will make sense one day. Perhaps you’ll find out that there was a bridge that collapsed or someone got in a car crash when you decided not to go. It will affirm again and again for you that intuition is real and very helpful for our life.
Intuition for Beginners: How to Use Your Intuition
So the question is, how can you use your intuition to make important decisions?
Knowing we are on the right track is something that matters to a lot of us. We don’t want to end up with feelings of regret and this is where our intuition can help us.
Firstly, it’s important to determine what your intuition actually is. It tends to be some kind of ‘feeling’ or ‘sense’ that something isn’t right. It usually has no rational explanation. It simply is.
Let’s say, for example, that you’ve met a new romantic interest and this person is everything you could have dreamed of: funny, charming, sweet, intelligent, etc. However, even though this person seems to fit your ideal view of what a partner is, you can’t shake this feeling that something isn’t quite right.
You brush it off and dismiss it as paranoia – only to discover some weeks later this person has a history of conning potential love interests out of money and doing a disappearing act.
What does Intuition Feel like?
That feeling you got that something wasn’t right was your intuition trying to warn you.
Your intuition is able to get beyond appearances and outer shells. It can penetrate what lies beneath and then it will attempt to alert your rational mind so that you can take action. However, the rational mind sometimes simply doesn’t want to know!
That’s why it can be difficult telling the difference between intuition and paranoia. It’s something I struggled with for a long time. In the end, I came to the conclusion that paranoia is triggered by a sort of panic-mode where you find yourself asking, “What if this?” and “What if that?” while intuition is information that comes into your mind out of nowhere.
It can also take the form of a gut feeling, hair standing on end, crawling feelings on the arms and legs and any other strange sensation.
Where Does Intuition Come From?
Intuition is accessed through your energy field and Third Eye chakra. The chakras interact with a constant flow of information or imprints from the energy that is around you. You get sensations and feelings from this communication. When you feel something, don’t ignore it.
Rather, take some time to sit with the emotion and ask where it’s coming from and what information it’s trying to make you aware of.
Our Chakras & Intuition
We can also see images in our Third Eye or know things from the field of interconnected energy. When the intuition is really developed, we can contact guides that can offer telepathic communication as well. The pineal gland, which is located in the brain, is activated through meditation and opens us up to intuitive insights.
Together, the Third Eye chakra and Crown chakra allow us to access information from higher realms of consciousness. The more we raise our frequency by dealing with and clearing lower vibration energy (from negative emotions), the more we can tap into our intuition.
There are streams of information that you can access once you raise your vibration high enough. We can access them by taking care of our mind, body, and soul so we feel good.
The Senses
Your intuition is primarily linked to your five senses, so when something happens to trigger unusual activity in your senses, this is often a sign of your intuition trying to get through to you.
Many believe that these are the four main types of intuition that tie to different senses…
- Clairvoyance (seeing images in the Third Eye chakra),
- Claircognizance (having a sense of knowing something),
- Clairaudience (hearing something), and
- Clairsentience (feeling something in your body).
For example, a lurching feeling in the stomach when someone says they are going to do something can be your intuition warning you that what they are going to do something that won’t work out for them. Intuits can also get flashes of things about to happen, hear voices warning or advising them, or have a strong sense of just knowing something.
How to Strengthen and Nurture Your Intuition
So, how can you nurture your intuition so it can grow and help you in your daily life? Below are some methods you can use to strengthen your intuition.
1. Meditate
This is the most important one. A chattering mind is often the result of an over-active rational mind. When you are able to silence your mind, you are able to receive messages from your subconscious loud and clear. Practice at least 10 minutes of meditation a day, with or without music, with your eyes closed and with a lit candle in front of you.
2. Crystals
There are certain crystals, such as labradorite and the shamanic dream quartz, which can help heighten your intuition. Sleeping with them under your pillow or wearing them helps strengthen your psychic abilities.
3. Cut Back on Processed Foods
...and up your intake of vegetables, fruits, and legumes. Diet plays a role because what you put into your body has a direct effect on your energy levels.
The fresher and organic the produce, the healthier your mind and body. The healthier the mind and body is, the easier it is for the soul to get information across to them. It’s a bit like having a blocked drain, I suppose. How is everything meant to function properly if there are blockages?
4. Open Your Third Eye Chakra
The Third Eye is located between the eyebrows in the middle of your forehead. I have found that using a crystal such as shamanic dream quartz or amethyst by placing them on the Third Eye and then envisioning a pulsating purple light expanding around it is helpful in opening up the Third Eye.
Try this: A 3-Minute Third Eye Opening Meditation
5. Trust Yourself
This is more difficult than we realize! You have to learn to trust your intuition. This means letting go of your rational mind every now and then, and this can be a scary thing to do! Remember, the rational mind always believes it knows best and it can be very stubborn in handing the gravel to someone else.
Conclusion
Intuition is an incredible gift and in very recent times, its importance has been making a comeback.
Both the intuitive and rational minds are gifts to humanity to help us move towards a path of happiness and well-being. If we can achieve a balance between the two, we will surely find this path.
Related Article: Gut Instincts: How to Find Your Intuition & Trust Your Gut
