Ways to Listen To and Trust Your Intuition

Ways to Listen To and Trust Your Intuition
(Nadezhda1906/iStock)
12/28/2015
Updated:
2/12/2016

“The only really valuable thing is intuition.”—Albert Einstein

Do you listen to your intuition? I trust mine and try to listen, but sometimes I wish that little voice would explain itself more clearly to me.

I hear whispers when I need a clear, strong statement.

I have learned that a good way to learn what that voice is saying is through quiet and stillness, and that’s sometimes not easy to get. My life, like yours, includes many distractions with calls, emails, job and family responsibilities, TV, gossip, and more. I find that all of these distractions dim my inner voice. That’s why the inner voice is sometimes compelled to scream or throw things, or worse—grow silent.

How do we tune in to ourselves? Every day we pick up information from our environment but we don’t use it all; we consciously and unconsciously choose what to take in and what to discard. Why do we turn away from some messages that the voice whispers?

I think it is because of fear.

What if it is just fear whispering in your ear? How do we tell the difference? That is a question I have asked myself more than once.

Connect to Your Intuition for the New Year (nsilcock/iStock)
Connect to Your Intuition for the New Year (nsilcock/iStock)

So what is the answer? I’m not sure, but the older I get, the more I feel the power of my own intuition.

I’ve ignored my intuition and that has proved to be a mistake. I wish I had paid closer attention in the first place. My initial gut reaction is usually a good one, even if it causes me some anxiety.

When I am truly conflicted or perplexed, I try to take some time free from all distractions and sit in silence, so I can hear what my intuition is telling me.

Often, I will write my question(s) down first and then focus on that question. This means I have to silence my phone and computer or put my phone in a drawer so I am not tempted to run away from my own mind. Distractions can be powerfully attractive! Sometimes I get an answer and occasionally … I actually have moments of brilliance!

Do you trust your gut? How high is the volume turned up on your intuitive skills?

Jennifer Dubowsky, LAc, is a licensed acupuncturist with a practice in downtown Chicago, Illinois, since 2002. Dubowsky earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from University of Illinois in Chicago and her Master of Science degree in Oriental Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College in Boulder, Colorado. During her studies, she completed an internship at the Sino-Japanese Friendship Hospital in Beijing, China. Dubowsky has researched and written articles on Chinese medicine and has given talks on the topic. She maintains a popular blog about health and Chinese medicine at Acupuncture Blog Chicago. Adventures in Chinese Medicine is her first book. You can find her at www.tcm007.com

Jennifer Dubowsky is a licensed acupuncturist with a practice in downtown Chicago, Illinois, since 2002. Jennifer maintains a popular blog about health and Chinese Medicine and In 2013, Jennifer released her first book, Adventures in Chinese Medicine: Acupuncture, Herbs and Ancient Ideas for Today.
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