Imagine if you had a secret superpower that let you always make the best decisions for yourself. Wouldn’t that be awesome? Well, it turns out you do have such a superpower. It’s called your intuition, that little inner ‘hunch’ within you that gives you a feeling about what decisions to make. And the best thing about intuition is that there are ways to sharpen it. Here are five simple steps for doing just that.
Master your inner critic: The first step towards mastering your inner critic is becoming aware of when it rears its head. Pay attention to when it pipes up and what it’s saying, then consciously and lovingly choose to close the door on it and then choose a loving thought instead. Having an inner critic isn’t a bad thing, but sometimes it’s too powerful and biased for its own good.
Go with your gut: Your body is the temple of your intuition, and with practice, it can become a finely tuned instrument to convey its wisdom. All the tiny, involuntary sensations you feel within your body like the flutters in your belly are actually your intuition trying to tell you something. Next time you need to make a decision, pay attention to how your body is reacting, tune into that feeling and follow what it’s telling you.
Pick a card: Shuffle a deck of your favorite cards while silently asking a question you’d like answered. Then, without thinking about it too much, pick the card you’re drawn to most. Flip it over and see what it has to say. What wisdom can you draw from the card? Is there any way you can apply that wisdom to the present moment?
Dare to dream: Your dreams are a fertile feeding ground for the seeds of your intuition to take root. To tune in to the power of your dreams, try keeping a journal next to your bed. When you keep track of dreams over the span of a week or two, you might be able to identify patterns that tell you something about the current state of your life, which will help you make decisions in the future.
Go on a date with Mother Nature: Immersing yourself in nature is maybe the best way to quiet down the chatter in your mind and to allow the inner space for your intuition to flourish. You’ll be amazed at how clear your decision-making ability can be after spending time in nature.