Trust your hunches.
They are usually based on facts filed away just below the conscious level.
Dr. Joyce Brothers
Our minds are constantly chatting away telling us what to do, how to do it, what to choose, when to do it, where to go, etc. Unless we are meditating or 100% in the present moment (which tends to happen in spurts), our thoughts run rampant.
Ironically, it is usually those thoughts that we listen to when making decisions and choices.
Yet, ever once in a while, our thoughts are interrupted by a 'gut feeling' or some internal red flag in our body. Subtle as it may be, it let's us know that something is going on.
'Make a right turn here' is written on the directions but 'something' other than our thoughts is signaling us and tells us that a left turn would be a better choice. So which one do we choose? - - - the piece of paper or the 'knowing' inside of us?
Despite our usually 'spot on' intuition, more often than not, we choose to ignore it and go with the mind chatter - if the instructions say make a right turn, that must be correct.
Recently, a client relayed a story about a committee that he joined to affect a change in his neighborhood. He was specifically asked to head up one of the sub-committees. As soon as he was asked, somewhere inside of him, the message was: "Don’t commit at this time." Then the thoughts began….
- They will think I'm a slacker if I don't do this
- Perhaps heading a committee will be fun and make me more productive
- It will take too much of my time, etc.
Ultimately, he chose to decline and listen to the inner knowing. It turned out to be a very wise decision based on circumstances that consequently unfolded. Something inside of him clued him not to go ahead despite the thoughts that tried to rationalize the decision.
Sometimes, when I'm ready to leave the house, I get a fleeting sensation that I've forgotten something. Then I take stock of everything I'm holding and ignore that momentary feeling. Sure enough, the shopping list or some other item is still on the counter when I get home.
When going to the supermarket without a list because I only need a 'few things,' I walk past the aisles at the back of the store reading the signs. Occasionally, I pause at an aisle to recall if there's anything I need and then move on. Inevitably, that pause means I need something from that aisle but my thinking gets in the way and says 'keep moving, you only need one more thing.'
These may be simplistic examples, but in truth, they represent how we listen to the chatter and have a tendency to ignore the 'gut feeling' BECAUSE WE CAN'T ...RATIONALIZE, ...REASON, OR ...ANALYZE IT IN OUR MINDS.
The more aligned we are to ourselves – the more balanced and centered we are, the more we recognize and trust our inner knowing and allow it to guide us.
We need to be more mindful of that pause, hesitation, or sensation rather than dismissive as we usually are. If there's a signal from within, believe that it's there for a reason. The first step is to practice acknowledging it.
Think of a time when you had to make a decision and it turned out to be a fabulous choice. (taking a job, choosing a school, buying a house, etc.) What created that final moment of choice? Was it all of the 'should I or shouldn't I' thinking or was it something from inside that ‘let you know’ what choice was best for you at that moment in time.
INVITIATION TO EXPERIMENT: Instead of dismissing that 'gut feeling' or inner knowing, believe that it arises for a reason and learn to trust it.
- When someone comes to mind, get in touch with that person
- When you see or read something that reminds you of an idea you had, take an action on it
- Pay attention to vocal cues, physical sensations, body language, and hesitations
Very best regards,
marion@lifecoachinggroup.com
© 2004-06. All rights reserved. Marion Franklin, www.lifecoachinggroup.com
Comments? Feedback? lllfeedback@lifecoachinggroup.com
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