The only real valuable thing is intuition.”

-Albert Einstein

Consider the power of your intuition.

Imagine living the life you were meant to live; a life free from doubt, uncertainty, regret, and self-consciousness; a life full of purpose, love, and harmony.

Intuition is a gift we are all given. By harnessing the power of your intuition you create avenues to improved health and personal relationships as well as financial success. Intuition is a sort of inner guidance system that is always pointing us in the direction of our true purpose. At the various intersections of our lives, when faced with what choices to make and which directions to go in, we have all heard things like “listen to your heart” and “follow your gut.” But what exactly is intuition and how do we use it?

The dictionary defines intuition as “quick and ready insight;” and “the act or process of coming to direct knowledge without reasoning or inferring.” It is derived from the Latin word “inter” which means “to see within.” It is an understanding, a sensing of the truth without explanations. Intuition is the knowledge of something without the use of reasoning or the five basic senses. The theologian Florence Cove once said “Intuition is the spiritual faculty that does not explain: it seemingly points the way.”

To follow your intuition is to be in the flow with the divine current of your life. Ignoring your intuition is like swimming against the tide.

“I feel like there are two people inside of me – me and my intuition. If I go against her, she will screw me every time, and if I follow her, we will get along quite nicely”

-Kim Basinger

Ones intuition does not change. If you ignore it or do not listen to it, it still remains there, like a loving, patient parent gently guiding their child. When you learn how to hear, see, understand, and use your intuition, you add a certain ease and flow to your life. Listening to your intuition is as helpful as a sailor being aware of and listening to the tides and currents of the ocean. The more you practice using your intuition, the more you begin to trust it. This trust grows in strength and takes you to a place where it is no longer necessary to waste time agonizing over decisions or procrastinating with taking various actions. As your confidence in your intuition grows, you experience your life synchronistically and with more of a sense of purpose.

Intuition cannot be forced, it must be allowed. It can range in intensity from a small inkling, to a sudden “aha” moment, to a deep knowing. Intuition can be presented to us in many forms such as thoughts, feelings, emotions, and even dreams. To receive messages from our intuition it is helpful to calm the chatter of the mind; to “…eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.”(-Hans Hofmann) Meditation helps to calm the mind and various creative activities can assist you to get into the flow where you will more easily recognize messages your intuition is sending you. The more we rely on intuition, the clearer its messages are heard.

Starting today, begin practicing the art of listening to your intuition. In doing so, you will be honoring your true self. Be grateful for and treasure this link you have to creating your best life possible.