What Is Intuition, Exactly?

Intuition is your “gut instinct”—that inner knowing that often defies logical explanation. I see it as an “inner compass” trying to guide us toward our best lives.

Intuition is connected to what I call the “Essential Self”—the core of who we are beneath the conditioning and expectations of the culture. By learning to tune in very closely to your inner compass, you can make decisions aligned with your true nature and life’s purpose.

Unlike the analytical mind, which is always weighing pros and cons, intuition speaks through:

• sensations of the body
• flashes of insight
• a deep sense of “rightness”

In other words, the voice of social conditioning manifests itself as a stream of thoughts in the head, while inner wisdom often appears as emotions or physical sensations in the body.

Most of us make decisions by paying attention to external signals and standards. We follow cultural standards of “excellence” and ignore any protest from within.

In my Wayfinder Life Coach Training we focus on listening to the inner pull before we set goals, and then we listen continuously as we set about achieving them. This, I believe, is how nature designed us to navigate the world.

The Biggest Blocks to Intuition

Why do so many of us struggle to hear our intuition?

The answer, in a nutshell, is culture: We are socialized to rely solely and completely on our logical, rational, left-brain thinking and to conform to cultural norms.

This often leads to:

• Overthinking and “analysis paralysis”
• Fear of making the “wrong” choice
• People-pleasing and ignoring our own needs
• Constant busyness and distraction

However, if we want to continue living on this particular planet, we must switch to a way of thinking and living that has never before existed—because the conditions we now face as a species are utterly unprecedented.

What this means is that no culture on Earth can give us full instructions on how to embody this new consciousness. Every culture provides hints, but none by itself could possibly be complete.

So how does one steer a path that does not yet exist? Since there is no cultural map, we have no alternative but to rely completely on the internal compasses we all carry inside us.

The good news is that we can learn to clear the cultural static and tune in to our intuitive wisdom. All it takes is practice.

5 Steps to Make Intuitive Decisions

Let me tell you a secret about that really big decision you’re trying to make (you know the one). I’ve coached thousands of people through big decisions, so I’ve seen how it works.

Ready? Here it is: You have already made that decision.

Your brain may not have told you yet, but it’s true!

You don’t have to decide. You just have to access the part of your mind in which the decision has been made. If you can get that brilliant, busy brain of yours to calm down, you’ll find your answer waiting peacefully inside you. It’s been there all along.

Here are 5 steps to help you find it:

1. Get still.

   Take a few minutes to sit in a quiet place, knowing that during that time, you don’t have to take any action at all. Breathe slowly and deeply. Give in to relaxation—it’s the doorway to your intuition

2. Remember a time in your life that was peaceful and enjoyable.

   It might be just an hour you once spent on the beach, or a job you loved, or hanging out with a loved one.

3. Focus on the feeling in your body as you recall this peaceful time.

   Let yourself melt into it. Feel its temperature, its texture, its location: is it in your head, your legs, your gut? Don’t force it or change it. Just enjoy it.

4. Imagine a light appearing in the center of your chest.

   Focus on peace and notice how the light increases in size and brightness as you relax.

5. Vividly imagine what will happen as you make an important choice.

   As you imagine, watch to see whether the light you are radiating grows or shrinks, gets brighter or dimmer, or changes color. The light will change depending on the decision your essential self has already made.

   If your true self wants to move forward, the images will be bright and beautiful. If they seem dim or unpleasant, your true self has already decided to go another way.

Whatever choice you may be facing right now, this exercise can help you gain clarity, satisfaction, and even wonder.

The Difference Between Intuition and Fear

One common concern I hear from clients and Wayfinder trainees is how to tell the difference between genuine intuition and fear-based thinking.

True inner wisdom is so different from what’s drilled into us by most authority figures that we tend to go functionally blind to it. But even if you can’t recognize your own inner wisdom, you can notice what it isn’t.

Here are some key distinctions:

Intuition:

• Feels calm and centered
• Comes in flashes of clarity
• Often defies logical explanation
• Persists over time

Fear:

• Feels anxious and contracted
• Involves repetitive, obsessive thoughts
• Can usually be traced to past experiences
• Often fades when examined closely

How to Develop Trust in Your Gut Instinct

As the poet Goethe once wrote, “As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.”

When we become more compassionate and respectful toward every aspect of our inner life, we will automatically begin to trust ourselves more.

Here are a few key things to remember as you work on strengthening that trust:

Start small.

Test your intuition on low-stakes decisions before applying it to major life choices.

Keep an intuition journal.

Record your intuitive hits and see how they play out over time.

Be willing to make “mistakes.”

Sometimes a less-than-ideal choice still leads to unexpected growth and learning.

Notice synchronicities.

When you tap into your intuition, you’re able to pick up what the universe is actually saying to you, and you may start to notice synchronicities…or what I like to call “God winks.”

Integrating Logic into Your Intuitive Decision Making Process

While intuition comes first, I don’t believe we should discard logic and reason altogether. The key is finding a balance between the analytical and the intuitive.

When trying to decide whether a choice is wise or not, don’t start by searching your mind for rational arguments. Instead, hold each option in your attention and feel its effect on your body and emotions.

3 Questions to Ask Yourself When Making a Decision:

1. What would I choose to do if I knew I couldn’t fail?
2. Which choice feels most energizing?
3. If I fast-forwarded 5 years, which option would I be glad I chose?

These questions bypass logic and help you access your intuition.

Often our initial gut reaction is the most intuitive before our analytical mind kicks in. Practice noticing and honoring that first thought or feeling about a situation.

When something’s wrong for you, you’ll feel constriction and tightness, whereas the wise choice leads to feelings of liberation, even exhilaration.

Once you’ve felt this wisdom, you can enlist your logic to fill in the practical details. This integrated approach leads to choices that are both deeply aligned and practically sound.

Trust Yourself

Reading your inner compass takes practice and a willingness to trust yourself on a deeper level. But the genius, power, and magic that come from connecting with your intuition can truly transform your life.

Your inner wisdom is always there, waiting to guide you. If you’re ready to strengthen your connection to your intuition and want to practice intuitive decision-making, consider going deeper with my Wayfinder Life Coach Training program.

Remember: Feed your mind, but feel your heart and trust in your truth. It will be the best investment you’ll ever make.