Hi all!

Today I want to discuss why listening to our intuition is essential for a fulfilling and happy life. Intuition is a knowing deep within us, that transcends conscious reasoning. It can also be referred to as a ‘gut-feeling’ or ‘that little voice’ that speaks to us when something doesn’t feel quite right. Humans already have the ‘flight or fight’ response embedded inside them, that warns of imminent threats/dangers. Our intuition is more specific, making itself known before a big decision, when meeting a new person or simply to guide us when we are unsure about something.

Listening to your intuition requires great skill, practice and a willingness to put your own needs first. The more you connect with what it’s trying to tell you, the louder and more frequently it will speak. When we ignore our intuition, it’s usually because we are scared. For example, when I was 20, I was in a relationship with somebody I knew wasn’t right for me. I wasn’t in love and quite frankly, I wanted to change everything about him. I knew deep down that I was only with him because I was lonely but I refused to acknowledge my nagging inner wisdom telling me to get the hell out. Because of this, I prolonged it for two whole years. That’s time I’ll never get back! If I had listened to that voice, I wouldn’t have even gone on one date with him. Unfortunately, low self-esteem leads to poor choices. Deep insecurities go hand-in-hand with not paying attention to our intuition.

I like to view my intuition as a guide, rather than a feeling. When I’m receptive to it, we work together to create the best life possible. If I suddenly became very unhappy in my job, my intuition would let me know. Rather than brush it off, I would take heed of its message, either by speaking to my manager or looking for another role. By taking these necessary steps, I would automatically be happier and back on the path to peace. The same goes with friendships. Since my self-love journey began, I have had to let go of a lot of people in my life that were negative, destructive and altogether hazardous for my mental wellbeing. My intuition would be screaming, telling me these people did not bring out the best in me, weren’t happy for me or enhanced my life in any positive way. Now I am surrounded by the most supportive, nurturing friends & work in a job I love. I travel every chance I get, am in the most wonderful relationship with a man (who is soon to become my husband) and my spare time is filled with nourishing activities that make me happy.

My life now reflects how closely I collaborate with my most trusted advisor. As mentioned, the more we practice listening, the easier it becomes. My intuition chats to me about the little things too. In October, I am getting married and for the ceremony, we are required to pick four songs. One to walk down the aisle, two for the signing of the certificates and one for the closing ceremony. We were 100% certain on three of them but the last one I had picked didn’t feel right. I could’ve left it. It wasn’t the end of the world, nor the song I was walking down the aisle to, but I listened to what my intuition was telling me and removed it from the set list. A few weeks ago, I was reading somebody’s blog and they played ‘Bloom’ by The Paper Kites. I listened to it and knew in that moment it had to be part of the set list. I played it to Francis and he agreed. Now I feel 100% about all four songs and couldn’t be more grateful to my inner guide for helping make our special day that bit better. That is what our intuition does. It tells us to enrol in that course, take a year off to travel, join that gym, marry that person, have children, buy that house, avoid trusting that colleague, don’t invest in that particular stock, learn a language, apply for that job and more. It wants the best for us. It’s primary purpose is to steer us in the right direction. All we have to do is allow it to take the wheel.

I know it can be scary to connect with our guide. It’s confronting knowing deep down that somebody isn’t right for us or that our life will truly begin once we move to another country. Be prepared, because you’re going to be faced with some things you don’t want to hear. The moment we accept what our intuition is telling us, the moment it becomes real and this is why so many people (including myself in the past) shut it out for so long. Some never listen and then wonder why they are so unhappy. As they say, when in doubt, go without. After my dreadful relationship of two years ended, I was given the opportunity to see how far I’d come. Somebody new was interested in me and I was struggling to feel even a flutter. They were so nice, we went on a couple of dates but when they began to push for something more serious, I pulled out a pen and paper and began writing a pro/con list as to why we should be a couple. Halfway through my scribbles, my intuition piped up (in a rather sarcastic tone) and said ‘the fact that you have to write a pro-con list tells you everything. If they were right, no list would be necessary!’ I couldn’t believe that I was about to repeat the same pattern! I threw down my pen, contacted the person and let them down gently. When I finally met Francis, my intuition sung ‘this is the one, this is the one’ and I never had a moment of hesitation.

This insightful friend pushed me to get my books published. It encouraged me to start my blog. It urged me to go to New Orleans, which led to my meeting Anne Rice. It roared ‘yes’ when Francis asked me to marry him. It told me to go for a new job in my organisation. It warned me not to trust certain people. It said ‘you don’t like Reiki that much, stop doing the course.’ It whispered in my ear ‘before you have children, travel to Europe with Francis or you won’t get to go for a very long time.’ It told me that our wedding had to be vegan or it wouldn’t be authentic to us. And what do you know? My intuition came through once again! It’s just that deep knowing. You know this is the dress you want to wear to your party. You know this is the University you want to go to. You know this is the career you’re after. You know this is the home of your dreams. It all feels so right.

A few ways you can connect with your intuition 

Meditate (sit in silence, making mental notes of the recurring thoughts that arise).

Grab a pen, paper and just write. Write what you want, traits you look for in relationships, places you want to travel to, careers you want to explore and activities you enjoy doing. Do these wishes match your current life? Act accordingly!

Get real & brutally honest with yourself. Either write or mentally reflect on all the times your intuition was trying to tell you something and you didn’t listen. It has always been there, just waiting for you notice.

Ask yourself tough questions and pay attention to the feelings that follow. For example: Does this job make me happy? Do I see a future with my current partner? Am I content with my life? Scary I know but this is the start of something wonderful.

If you’re still unsure, talk to people you trust and know you well. Ask them if they think you’re living as your most authentic self. You might be surprised at what they say.

Read self-love books! I highly recommend ‘Radical-Self Love’ by Gala Darling & ‘Adventures for your Soul’ by Shannon Kaiser.

Embrace what your intuition is trying to tell you and know that it’s speaking to you for a good reason. It’s trying to save you. It could prevent you from walking down a dangerous alley or getting into a car with a drunk driver. It could ensure you don’t waste years of your life with the wrong person, in the wrong job, in the wrong city with the wrong friends. If you just tune inwards, your life will magically open up. Trust and love yourself enough to reflect on your heart’s desires.

Peace & Love xoxo

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