Commentary
Our society teaches us to look for answers to our problems outside ourselves. We take pills, read self-help books, talk to psychologists, and attend church in search of answers to what ails us. We have not been taught how to listen to our own intuition.
Have you ever had a feeling that you should or shouldn't do something and you ignored it only to find out later that the feeling was accurate? We have a lot of wisdom and knowledge within our hearts, but we have not learned to trust ourselves. We, instead, believe that others are wiser and smarter than us because they are rich or on TV or in roles of authority.
Intuition is found in the heart, not the brain. Intuition often defies the logic of the rational mind, and instead, comes from the heart. We have been taught that the analytical mind is smarter than the intuitive heart. We have been told the feelings get in the way of making a professional sound decision. In fact, we are often encouraged to ignore our feelings and our gut instincts.
Listening to our intuition takes practice. Not every feeling is accurate. Sometimes we let our desires and our conscious mind color our listening. Usually it is that very first feeling that is the most accurate. Once the analytical mind enters the equation, the intuition is altered and changed. Listening to your intuition is listening directly to your subconscious. You know the answers to many of your challenges deep inside. You need to learn how to listen for the answers.
Creative leaders are often more in touch with their intuition, but even they need to learn to listen to what is said and trust what they hear. As writers and painters, we make choices that involve our intuition. Why did you create that character or use that color? Many times we have no rational reason for what we do and that is okay. We need to trust that somewhere deep inside we know what is best.
"Your intuition knows what to write, so get out of the way."
— Ray Bradbury, American Novelist
Sometimes our rational mind is a barrier to our creative output. Our intuition makes mental leaps that our rational mind does not understand. Our rational mind plays the role of the naysayer. "You can't do that. That don't make sense. It's not rational. People will laugh." If we listen to our rational minds, we will lose some very creative ideas brought to us by our intuition.
Learn to listen and trust your intuition. It may not make sense to the rational mind and that is okay. In fact, if the rational mind is too resistive to an idea, it probably means it is a great idea. The more the rational mind resists, the better the idea. Our educational training has taught us to trust our rational mind, not our intuitive mind. To follow our intuition, we must be able to step outside our comfort zone and go where few others have gone.
"Great thoughts always come from the heart."
— Marquis de Vauvenargues, French Writer
The heart is powerful, intelligent and intuitive. Most of us have been taught that our intelligence resides in our brain, but this is only partially true. Logical and analytical thinking occurs in the brain. Intuitive, sensitive and compassionate thinking occurs in the heart. Often, though, we let our logical brain override our heart. We need to learn to listen to voice of our heart as it reveals a deeper truth. Reason may dominate our thinking, but compassion should govern our actions. While the brain is busy analyzing the options, the heart knows intuitively what road to take.
Years of experience have taught me that my heart knows the answer often before the brain has finished its analysis. I have learned that it is better to trust the small voice inside my heart then the loud voice inside my head. Do you trust your intuition? Are you listening to the voice within your heart?
The Intuitive Heart
In his book, The Intuitive Heart, Henry Reed teaches a six step process for listening to your intuition.
Learn from your breath. Focus on your breath.
Make the heart connection.
Invite a memory.
Tell your story.
Search the heart for wisdom.
Learn from the feedback.
"Years of experience have taught me that my heart knows the answer often before the brain has finished its analysis." <--- This is the thing, experiences make one learn n grow. Everyone has to go through the same cycle until we learn our lessons.
In my opinion, even if we were taught about intuition n listen to our heart in school, some people might still fail. The same as any subject we were taught in school, isn't it?
Do you trust your intuition? Are you listening to the voice within your heart? <--- I have learned to trust. See my reply to another writer's response below ⬇️
https://open.substack.com/pub/janetgoh/p/trust?r=27diq3&utm_campaign=comment-list-share-cta&utm_medium=web&comments=true&commentId=55995181
Trusting your gut feeling is one thing I've learned after watching so many true crime documentaries. It needs to be taught more, more so than being polite when your intuition tells you to run. As the old but gold saying goes, "better to be safe than sorry." This also applies when choosing your path in life. The logical may not be the right answer, and sometimes the heart knows this before the brain.