Follow that Hunch! 3 Foolproof Ways to Take Your Intuition to the Next Level

by Dr. Idara E. Bassey

Have you ever had an uneasy feeling about a person or a situation and ignored it to your detriment? Have you ever been uncomfortable about a course of action, but plowed ahead anyway and regretted it? These types ...Follow that Hunch! 3 Foolproof Ways to Take Your Intuition to the Next Level

Have you ever had an uneasy feeling about a person or a situation and ignored it to your detriment? Have you ever been uncomfortable about a course of action, but plowed ahead anyway and regretted it? These types of feelings or "knowings" which have no basis in objective fact provide valuable information and are collectively known by the term " intuition ." Following our intuition refers to our ability to secure knowledge outside the traditional framework of rational though. If we choose to pay attention to these "nudges" and consciously sharpen our ability to integrate them into our thinking, we can begin to bring more creative approaches to bear on situations that are near and dear to us as well as those that impact a greater number of people. Here are three great ways to take your intuition to the next level:

1.) Honor the silence-it has been said that the only voice our inner self has is silence. Granted the realities of modern life may make such quiet moments hard to come by. However, in committing to take some time everyday (even if it is only five minutes) to hear yourself think will greatly assist you in your desire for greater access to your intuitive self. It is only when you commit to taking a "break" from your five senses that your "inner senses" are enhanced. Like a muscle that grows stronger each time you use it, your ability to turn within gets easier the more you do it.

2.) Follow through on your insights-when you begin receiving intuitive guidance, make an effort to "acknowledge" it in some way by initiating action based on the insights you receive. Start off with situations where the stakes are comparatively lower. Say, for example, one morning you are leaving your house to go to work and you get a sudden urge to take your umbrella even though there is not a cloud in the sky. Try taking your umbrella and seeing how the day unfolds meterologically-speaking. When more time has elapsed in your practice, you may wish to to see how applying intuitive insights plays out in situations of greater significance to you, for example a vexing work issue or a personal situation that has been bothering you for a while. Each time you "acknowledge" the guidance you receive you increase your receptivity to additional insights and improve your overall level of discernment.

3.) Seek support-since September 11th, I have seen a growing interest in learning about intuition and in publicly engaging in conversation on this topic. I advise my clients who wish to develop and strengthen their intuitive capabilities to consider spending more time around people of like mind to discuss and share their experiences in this regard. There are a number of public forums where such interaction is welcome- meditation circles and spiritually-oriented workshops are among the many options that are available. Professionals, such as spiritual counselors, metaphysical practitioners and intuitives of all kinds and specialties have studied and trained specifically to assist others in their quest to develop their intuitive skills. Many are also able to offer expanded interpretations of insights received.

We can all benefit from new and alternative sources of information and guidance. The times we are living in are presenting us with a host of new challenges, and the level of consciousness that created such challenges is not the level of consciousness that will alleviate or resolve them. In enlisting the aid of our intuition in our lives we naturally expand our frame of reference. If more and more of us proceed in this fashion, we will move that much closer to bringing fresh and much needed innovative thinking to the greater whole.