Are you feeling lost and directionless, or maybe you’re in a place that doesn’t feel quite right, and you’re unsure of what comes next? You might be seeking answers externally and coming up short. In this blog post, I shared my step-by-step guide on how to connect with your intuition.
I’ve also got three easy-to-follow practices for you to try out. Consider these your warm-up exercises to kickstart your intuitive connection.
We also discuss the importance of turning inward. You must connect to yourself and begin doing the inner work to understand what you truly want.
This is the key to finding a meaningful and fulfilling career that provides a sense of freedom.
What is Intuition?
It’s an internal compass that guides us, often defying logic and reason.
Intuition can present itself as a gut feeling, a whispering voice in your mind, or a sensation in your heart.
Often, people describe it as ‘listening to their heart.’ It’s this inherent sense of understanding that bypasses logical reasoning.
From a more practical lens, I can think of it as the part of me that always feels calm, peaceful, and loving, regardless of external circumstances. The part of me that always knows the next right step.
Then from a more spiritual lens, I think of it as my ‘higher self’, a powerful connection to the universe and its wisdom.
It’s like a piece of God within me, guiding me.
It’s that gut feeling, that quiet voice, and that sense of knowing without needing a reason that clarifies my path through life.
The Benefits of Connecting with Your Intuition
Without my intuition, I wouldn’t be living the life I have now—traveling, running a successful business, and savoring my daily freedom.
The benefits of tuning into my intuition boil down to two essential things: guidance and love.
Firstly, my intuition acts as a guiding light, illuminating my path forward.
During a pivotal period when I took a leave of absence from my residency, I made a habit of writing to my intuition daily, seeking direction.
At first, the responses were vague, but gradually, I began to receive answers.
These weren’t detailed roadmaps but rather subtle nudges toward what truly mattered: love, passion, and authenticity.
These vague yet profound responses guided me to make the bold decision to leave residency.
Despite external doubts and questions about finances, I remained calm and confident.
It wasn’t about being brave or reckless; it was about tapping into a calm and wise part of myself that reassured me I was on the right path, regardless of uncertainty.
Learning to connect with my intuition has been instrumental in understanding my desires, guiding me toward my true calling, and providing a steady stream of unconditional love.
Common Blockers on How to Connect with Your Intuition
There are a couple of things that can block us from tapping into our intuition.
Especially as healthcare professionals, we’ve been trained to prioritize logic and skepticism.
While critical thinking is essential in our field, it can sometimes overshadow our intuitive insights.
Albert Einstein’s quote resonates deeply here:
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift. And the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
The focus on reason in our society can make it hard to accept things we can’t explain.
When we attempt to connect with our intuition, doubts often arise.
We question the validity of our experiences, wondering if we’re merely imagining things or if we’re truly connecting with something meaningful.
This skepticism can create barriers to accessing our intuition or trusting the guidance it offers.
Another significant blocker is busyness.
In our fast-paced lives, finding moments of silence and stillness can be rare.
We need to make space for nothingness, a concept that goes against our culture’s obsession with constant activity.
It’s essential to overcome these barriers and connect with your intuition by creating moments of stillness and calm in your everyday life.
You can enhance your intuitive insights and start to rely on the guidance they provide by slowing down and quieting your mind.
How to Connect with Your Intuition
Cultivating Openness
The first step is cultivating openness, which is the antidote to our skeptical minds.
To connect with your intuition, you need to surrender and approach it with openness, willingness, and curiosity.
Instead of dismissing the idea of intuition, try opening yourself up to the possibility of it.
Say to yourself, “I wonder if I have an intuition. I wonder if there’s wisdom within me.”
When I was feeling lost during my residency, I found solace in prayers of surrender.
I didn’t know exactly who or what I was praying to, but the act of surrendering opened me up to guidance beyond my own understanding.
You can make this tangible by physically getting into a posture of surrender, like kneeling with your palms open and facing up, signaling your readiness to receive help and guidance.
Cultivating openness is about being receptive and acknowledging that you don’t have to have all the answers on your own.
It’s a powerful stance that invites intuition to guide you on your journey.
As you begin your practice of connecting with your intuition, remember to approach it with an open heart and mind.
Embracing Silence
The next step in honing your intuition is embracing silence.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit, I used to struggle with silence a lot (and still do!).
I constantly filled every moment with noise – podcasts while getting ready, phone calls during walks, music in the background.
Even something as simple as getting my nails done felt uncomfortable because it meant sitting still without distractions.
Embracing silence and stillness can be tough, especially when our minds are always buzzing with internal chatter.
But here’s the thing: it’s exactly what we need.
To start with, I recommend practicing 15 minutes of silence each day.
What does that look like?
Well, it could be meditation, but let’s skip the guided sessions for now.
Instead, think of it as simply sitting in silence, comfortably propped up with your eyes closed, focusing on your breath or the sensations in your body.
When thoughts pop up (and they will), gently acknowledge them with a mantra.
My favorite one is “There are the thoughts, and here I am.”
It’s like leaning back in a lawn chair, observing the thoughts without getting caught up in them.
If sitting still isn’t your thing, that’s okay too.
You can embrace silence while in motion. Try to skip listening to podcasts during your drive to work or leave the headphones at home for a silent walk.
Just marinate yourself in that quiet space. This isn’t about forcing intuition to show up; it’s about creating the space for it to emerge naturally.
Connecting with Your Body
The third practice to enhance your intuition involves reconnecting with your body.
Our intuition communicates through our body, but many of us, especially in healthcare, have become like floating heads in a mental control tower. We are detached from our physical selves.
To truly connect with intuition, we need to be present in our bodies instead of being lost in thought.
Here’s a simple practice to kickstart this connection:
close your eyes
turn your attention inward, and ask,
“What am I noticing inside of me?”
Pay attention to physical sensations—your heartbeat, stomach activity, hunger, throat sensations, or muscle aches.
The goal is to identify at least three sensations, establishing a connection with your body.
While these practices might seem straightforward , they have a profound impact.
It might seem too simple to make a difference, but trust me, it does.
If you want to explore embodiment further, I highly recommend checking out Tara Brach’s work.
She offers insightful talks and meditations that can help you reconnect with your body on a deeper level, blending scientific and spiritual perspectives in a truly transformative way.
So, if you want to tap into your intuition, remember these three fundamental steps: openness, silence, and connection with your body.
Cultivate openness by embracing curiosity rather than skepticism.
Dedicate 15 minutes each day to silence, allowing your intuition to emerge from the quiet.
Connect with your body by tuning in to physical sensations daily.
These practices lay the groundwork for a deeper connection with your intuition, guiding you toward greater clarity and fulfillment in your career and life.
If you’re eager to accelerate your intuition skills and access the wisdom within, I invite you to listen to this week’s podcast episode for a deeper dive into this topic.
And if you’re ready to take the next step, book a free 30-minute career clarity call with me. We’ll begin the process of tapping into your intuition so you can experience true freedom and fulfillment in your career and life. Click here to book your call.
