What is Intuition?

Intuition, sixth sense, whatever you like to call it, is that ability to just ‘know’ about a situation, a decision or perhaps a person. We have become very reliant on looking at the facts and the data rather than recognising that our sixth sense is telling us something. Even so, when was the last time you had a hunch or feeling about something? Did you follow it or ignore it? What was the outcome?

Have you ever thought about someone and the phone rings and it’s them, or you bump into them? Have you ever thought about a problem and then a song comes on the radio which seems to reflect your situation? Do you notice coincidences?

Do you ever know what someone is going to say before they said it? Do you pick up the ‘vibes’ of a building or room? Do you get fleeting thoughts that seem to come from nowhere? Your intuition told you that. Carl Jung refers to the ‘collective consciousness’ which we can all tap into, and by becoming consciously intuitive we can enhance our practical lives, every aspect of our lives in fact. It is knowing without knowing why we know.

Richard Branson, prides himself that when he gets a new idea, he goes with it, rather than consulting the accountants. He is a typical example of a successful entrepreneur who would probably use the term gut instinct, rather than intuition, but it doesn’t matter what you call it. The British Army recognises the value of intuition to the extent that they send potential officers out into what they call ‘jungle fortnight’ with no equipment, they have to rely on their wits, just as our forebears did. The idea is for the soldiers to learn to recognise their intuitive messages and notice what is going on around them.

Why is intuition important?

Intuition can give an additional edge to your decision making, in the workplace and in your personal life. George Soros, one of the most successful investors of all time, earning $650m in one year, more than anyone else ever. He has written about his success and says that even though his performance beats statistical probabilities again and again, the way it works for him is that he ‘knows’ when his logic is going wrong and uses that intuitive cue to check his funds, admitting that this is not the most scientific way to run a portfolio. In fact his cue is extreme backache, but he listens to his intuition and his success cannot be denied.

I’m not suggesting that by using intuition you will suddenly find that you make a fortune, but by becoming familiar with your intuition and how it speaks to you, you’ll find that over time you will learn to trust it. Our conscious mind (or ego) will always try and block the intuitive, you know the ‘buts’, ‘ifs’, can’ts and so on. I have been working with intuition for many years and I know that it works. However that’s the point, I know because I have learnt to trust it, and continue to work with it every day.

What facilitates intuition?

First and foremost positive intent and an open mind. The ego loves to jump in and block intuitive thoughts, that’s silly, that must be wrong, that’s outrageous! Belief that you are able to recognise your intuition is also important. Practice. Over the years I have researched and worked with numerous approaches to intuition, and the thing that strikes me is the consistency of approach which is so important. What we are doing when developing our intuition is allowing our subconscious to ‘speak’ to us unencumbered by conscious fear based thoughts. Intuition can be developed like a muscle and of course we have to use common sense with it – not everything can be ‘a sign!’

One very important aspect is also the ability to really listen and observe what is going on around you. If you think about it, we have a tendency to ‘half listen’, we are all so busy, and we fill in the gaps and make assumptions. Yet by taking the time to really look and really listen, we can all pick up information which had not been apparent yet could be very helpful. I’m not saying sit in a meditative state and contemplate all day, but there are some very useful, simple tools which can help your intuition to develop and quite easily. Intuitive people also tend to see the connections between things and events which others don’t necessarily see – having an open mind and what Leonardo da Vinci termed as ‘a curiosity’ about life also facilitates an intuitive way of thinking.

Finally, expectation – for your intuition to work you must expect it to. Expecting that you will easily manage a task, having positive thoughts and attitudes allows intuition to flourish. If you believe you will fail, you probably will.

Intuition is personal

What I mean by that is that everyone picks up intuitive signals differently – we are all unique individuals. Think of something positive which you really love, how does that make you feel? Contrast that with something negative which you really dislike and how does that make you feel? Sometimes the response can feel very strong depending on the situation and our belief systems, other times it will feel more subtle but it will be there all the same. It can manifest through any of the five senses, even taste – where do you think the expression ‘that leaves a nasty taste in my mouth’ comes from? When you have an intuitive feeling, listen to it, it is probably right.

Also pay attention to any pictures or symbols which come into your mind as you think about the positive and the negative. By doing this you are building up an ‘intuitive vocabulary’, personal to you, which will, over time, enable you to notice, and work with, your intuition.

Allow your impressions to incubate

Remember that you may get different impressions, so allow it all to assimilate until it ‘feels right’ before drawing your conclusion. Separate the process of reporting impressions and interpretation because it is all too easy for the ego to jump in and make a judgement. Your body is responding to signals that your mind can’t make conscious yet.

7 steps to developing your intuition

Have a positive intent and an open mind
Notice your impressions
Notice connections and coincidences, particularly if you have a particular decision to make
Integrate your impressions before jumping to conclusions
Trust
Keep a record and also note what was happening at the time
Use your common sense

Practice every day

Some of these tips may seem more frivolous than others but each one, if practiced regularly, will help your intuition to develop. Mostly you can do these at times when otherwise you wouldn’t be doing anything much.

When you are at the traffic lights, intuite when they will change to green.
Will the car ahead of you turn left or right at the next junction?
When you are meeting a friend for dinner, will they be on time, what will they be wearing, what will they order?
Will the train be on time and if not how early or late will it be?
What will be the main headline tomorrow morning?
When your phone rings, tune into who it is on the other end.
When you are waiting for the lift, how many floors will it stop at before it arrives?
People watching: When you are travelling or in a restaurant, pick a person and try and anticipate their next move.

I’m sure you get the picture now and you can add some of your own.

Ask a question of the day (keep it simple and unambiguous) in your mind then notice what happens and what your impressions are.
Set a colour of the week and notice how many times you see it and in what context.
Notice how you feel in each of your five senses when someone says ‘no’ to you.
Notice how you feel in each of your five senses when you have a success.

Always work to build your symbolic intuitive directory, which is personal to you.

The good news is you can programme your intuition.

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