9 Ways To Develop And Strengthen Your Intuition

Have you ever sensed a feeling of ‘you just know’ towards a person or a situation but couldn’t explain where it came from? Or have you tried using your ‘gut feeling’ when caught in an uncertain situation that needs a quick decision? If yes, that is your intuition at work.

However, intuition is more than an inkling feeling. It is our guide to a deeper understanding of ourselves, others, and life. It also plays a significant role in how you grow in wisdom and self-awareness to help you become resilient when dealing with challenges. To awaken this power, you have to learn how to develop and strengthen your intuition. So let’s dive deep and learn more about this gift — its definition, benefits, and how to use and nurture it.

What Is Intuition

All human beings are intuitive. Intuition is part of our nature, not a special gift given to the chosen ones. While it is true that there are highly intuitive people, it doesn’t mean that others are not intuitive at all.  Our soul is innate with the ability to hear and understand in terms of feeling or energy. This is why when you go inside a room with people, you can feel the different energies of one person from the other. You know if one is light-spirited or carrying something heavy in his/her heart.

Intuition is a human’s ability to feel or sense energies from the environment or nature, people, and situations without the interference of the logical mind. It is having a deep feeling of strange ‘knowing’, unexplainable by our scientific minds, and is often correct and leads us to a better understanding of people or events.

Some common intuition experiences are:

• Feeling that something is about to happen and would later realize what it is about when it comes.
• Can scan or gauge (somehow) other people’s energy
• A flash of unexpected thought of someone and that person appeared or communicated to you unexpectedly.
• Sensing that someone needs you and when you check out on that person, he/she probably needs a friend.
• Having a feeling that something is meant for you.

Intuition is an invisible and mysterious force inside us that guides, protects, and communicates what we should and should not do when making decisions.

Intuition is difficult to describe through words because it is not a scientific or cerebral concept but an experience. It comes from the quiet inner voice that speaks to us when we need an answer or guide. Sometimes, I refer to it as my ‘spiritual twin’ because it’s like a separate spirit aside from my own but is deeply connected within my core and never leaves my side.

Why Is It Important To Develop Your Intuition?

A strengthened and developed intuition makes us more aware of how the energies around us move and work for us. It guides us in all areas of life and serves as a companion in discerning life choices.

1. Intuition helps us to make wise decisions in life.

Wisdom comes from a deeper understanding of what we know and believe that helps us to make fruitful decisions and actions. It is through intuition that we can access wisdom. A developed intuition gives us better perspectives on assessing situations and the wisdom we need to deal with them.

“A wise man is a he who listens to his intuition.” ~ Maddie S.J.

2. Intuition connects us to our true self.

Intuition is the doorway to understanding the nature of the universe and our true self. It is the ear of our soul to hear beyond murmurs of physical reality. A developed intuition connects us to spiritual truths that our five physical senses cannot. It gives us a better understanding of who we are and the purpose of our existence.

3. Intuition is our lifetime companion and friend.

When we are alone, intuition is the voice and the force inside ourselves that speaks and entertains us. Whenever you find yourself without anyone by your side, your intuition is that ‘one-call away friend’. When you have a strengthened and developed intuition, you will never feel alone because you know that it is always with you, ready to listen and guide you at all times.

4. Intuition helps us read and interpret signs from the universe.

In an interview, the well-known writer Paulo Coelho was asked what is one thing that everybody should learn. His answer was, “One should learn how to read the signs”. People speak to us through the mouth, and the universe speaks to us through signs. A developed intuition makes us capable of interpreting signs, both positive and negative, which guides us to make better life choices, which path to take, or change plans if necessary.

Listening and Trust

Intuition is all about listening and trust. If you know how to listen to what your inner voice says and put it into action, you will uncover your full potential.

Listening. Intuition is the inner voice that whispers to our spiritual ear through flashes of thoughts. To develop your intuition, you must learn how to listen to your inner voice and become familiar with it. Meditation, journaling, and spending alone time for introspection are some of the ways that you can practice to connect with your intuition.

Trust. Your intuition will not work for you if you don’t trust it. You may hear or feel something but if you don’t trust and act on it, the purpose of intuition to help you will be in vain. Trusting your intuition means putting the instructions of your inner voice into action, without allowing fear to interfere.

9 Ways To Develop And Strengthen Your Intuition

Developing and strengthening your intuition is like aiming to have a bodybuilder physique. You can only achieve toned and hard muscles if you stretch, lift weights, and work out consistently. You have to use and exercise your intuition every day.

1. Meditate

Intuition lives in the silence of the mind. Our external world fills our minds with unnecessary thoughts. When the mind is polluted, it is difficult to hear the inner voice. In meditation, we shut off the noises of the world. Meditation is a powerful way to empty, calm, and quiet your mind. If this is your first time to meditate, you can use pre-recorded guided meditations to help navigate your thoughts.

You can also meditate without guided meditations. Sit on crossed legs, close your eyes, and breathe in rhythm. Remove distractions such as smartphones and other gadgets. Free your mind from all worldly concerns. Do this for at least ten minutes a day. The goal of meditation is to silence the noise in your head to give way to your inner voice.

2. Spend alone time to introspect

Introspection is thinking inward to examine your thoughts and feelings. When you introspect, you are inviting your inner self to take over your frontal self or personality that you portray when dealing with other people. Dedicate regular alone time with yourself, look back at your life, reflect on your experiences, and observe how they changed you over time. In this way, you are practicing to listen to the whispers of your soul and get to know yourself more.

3. Journal

Journaling is writing your thoughts and emotions in an unrestricted way. Write without fear and hesitation about what you think and feel. This exercise will help you recognize the voices inside your head, and writing them on paper makes you honor their presence. It makes you feel like you are talking to someone real but invisible to the naked eye. (Note: I am currently working on a free course on how to use journaling for healing and developing intuition. To stay updated on the availability of the course, join my mailing list.)

4. Spend time with nature

Nature is a powerful life force on earth. Its energies are everywhere and always speak to us. From simply looking at the sky and inhaling the currents of the atmosphere to intentionally feeling the history of an old tree, you will feel the mood of the earth. You may even sense what the tree had gone through over its lifetime. Spend time with plants, flowers, animals, and the ocean, and try to talk to them in your mind. Listen to its whispers and try to interpret the thoughts they impressed on you.

5. Consult your inner voice all the time

Intuition is always present and awake. All you have to do is summon them. When you consult your inner voice all the time, hearing it will become easier as if it is a normal part of life. This is how I befriended my intuition. I ask almost everything, wait for an answer in my head, and obey the voice. I even consult my inner voice about what clothes to wear, what food to cook, or which bus to take. Involve your intuition in your daily life.

6. Follow your inner voice all the time

The key to developing and strengthening your intuition is to always follow what it says. When you follow it all the time, you will learn how it works for you and how to navigate it. You will gain confidence that it always works for you. Intuition is not always right but it is never wrong. Following your instinct reveals clues on what you should do and not do, but it will never work against you.

7. Use your imagination through creative arts

Imagination comes from intuition. When you cultivate your imagination, you are also stimulating your intuition. Try painting, writing, or dancing. Tune in and trust the guiding voice in the process of creation. There is no wrong way in creating new things. Using your imagination will help you turn off your logical mind and allow your intuition to flow freely.

8. Wear crystals and tune in with their energies

Wearing crystals and tuning in with their energies is one of my favorite practices to develop and strengthen my intuition. Crystals are part of nature because they come from the earth. Each crystal has a unique energy frequency and vibing them will increase your ability to sense and differentiate energies. 

9. Play with tarot cards

Tarot cards have a variety of uses and one of them is treating it like a friend that you can consult if you need guidance or clues. A message from a card reading will encourage you to think beyond the surface. It enhances your intuition’s listening and dares you to trust the readings. Oftentimes, card readings do not directly speak of the message. You have to participate in the correct interpretation by connecting the dots which is also a good practice to develop intuition.

Do you know other ways how to develop and strengthen intuition? Share them in the comment section and let’s talk about them. 🙂

Final Encouragement

In ancient times, intuition was one of the most revered human abilities because it was the only guide they could rely on. There was no science and concept of extensive logical thinking back then. They used their intuition to tune in with nature, their bodies, and inner knowing to understand, learn, and evolve. We are where we are today because our ancestors knew how to listen and trust their intuition. This way of living is still alive and works for everyone. If you learn how to develop and cultivate your intuition in all areas of your life, your perception of life and how it works will change from ordinary to extraordinary and more fulfilled.

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