How To Get The Most Out Of Your Intuition

Let’s get one thing straight right away: Everyone has intuition.

Intuition can be one of the most powerful, life-changing tools we have access to, but only if we know how to use it.

It’s true that some people are naturally more intuitive than others, similar to how some of us are gifted at singing without any formal training. And even if you don’t consider yourself to be an especially intuitive person, it doesn’t mean you can’t grow that soft skill.

So, if the intuition regularly evades you, don’t assume you were born without one.

Learning how to use your intuition and getting the most out of this resource requires consistency and willingness to put in a little work, but the benefits are tremendous.

Have you ever noticed that your intuition chimes in from time to time when you’re not necessarily trying to use it, but when you have a big decision to make, intuitive feedback is nowhere to be found?

Most people make the mistake of only engaging with their intuition when there’s a lot at risk—maybe you’re putting an offer in on your first home, trying to decide between two amazing job offers, or feel like it’s time to end a troubled relationship but are struggling to find clarity.

In order for you to really maximize your intuitive ability, you need to use it on big and small decisions. The more comfortable you become using your intuition in situations that don’t entail a lot of pressure, the easier it will be for you to call on it when stress is high.

Think of the intuition like a muscle. If you use it once every few months, it’s not going to be very strong. However, if you engage your intuition a few times per week and start to familiarize yourself with how it feels when you flex it, you’re going to be more comfortable using it. After all, what do some of the greatest athletes in the world do to ensure they can stick their routines or plays in moments of high-stress? Repetition.

Although I built a business around my intuitive ability, I didn’t always know I was highly intuitive. When I was in my early 20s, I decided to take a class that was all about intuitive development because I was at a crossroads in life and had a feeling it was something I should do. (Spoiler alert: It was my intuition speaking.)

I spent my entire life thinking I was making stories up in my head about the people, places, and things around me. I was an avid reader as a child and figured I just had an active imagination that grew with me into adulthood, so imagine my surprise when I discovered these thoughts and feelings were not made up, but actually accurate and pertinent information.

Most of us expect intuition to hit us over our heads with an image or thought that literally stops us in our tracks, but a vast majority of the time, this is not how information comes through. Some of us receive intuitive information visually, meaning we might see events unfolding or experience undeniable images, but the majority of people experience intuition as a sense of knowing or feeling.

When you’re trying to access your intuition, don’t get too attached to how you think the information should come through, because it might already be showing up as a subtle feeling or knowingness that is easy to dismiss.

One of the telltale signs of intuition is that it’s quiet. Unless you are in a life-or-death situation, the voice of your intuition will probably be soft and easy to miss.

Life, for most of us, is extremely loud; we’re being pulled in five different directions at once at work, forget to eat lunch, and sit down at 7 p.m. to collect our thoughts for potentially the first time since our morning coffee. Don’t expect to hear your intuition if you’re not creating moments of quiet in your day.

I didn’t go from sitting as a student in an intuitive development class to running a business where I use my intuition to advise people overnight; this skill takes time to hone. Be consistent, practice with all different scenarios, and get curious about how intuitive information specifically comes through for you.

Getting comfortable with this tool can take time, but it’s certainly worth the investment.