Sometimes, I ask leaders what has made them successful?
Many do not mention intuition at all, even though they might claim the importance of their inner wisdom as they make decisions.
What is inner wisdom?
Inner wisdom is a tool for quick and ready insight
It’s a gut feeling, a sixth sense, an inner knowing, an instinct.
It’s a hunch, a stillness, a quiet inner voice.
Inner wisdom is not a magic switch you can turn on when you need counsel.
Yet your intuitive mind tells your logical mind where to look next.
Too many THOUGHTS...
We each have 60,000 thoughts a day. We may feel it is impossible to follow or control our thinking.
We can hear our thoughts. We can acknowledge them.
Many times we don’t act upon them. Instead we set them aside.
Without knowing it, we are making decisions all the time, moment by moment .
We want to get it right.
We may have trouble tuning in and trusting ourselves.
When should you tune in?
· when there is insufficient data
· when you need to make a decision quickly
· when there is too much information
· when the data is inconsistent
· when your individual or group vision has become confusing.
· when you’re stuck
You can use your intuition to come up with the right answers while you use your logic and skills to improve what you already know.
What is your intuitive self?
We are all born with intuition. Some of us can tap into it more easily than others but the more you practice using it, the better you will be.
Using your gut is like working your muscles when you exercise. As you use it, you’ll get stronger.
Each of us has experienced it. We need to learn how to listen to ourselves and act on our intuition.
Our intuition tells us the truth of who we are and what we can do.
Our intuition can help us find direction and purpose.
Exercising Your Intuition:
STATE – State your problem, circumstance, or situation. Frame the problem in a form of a question.
PAUSE – Take a break from thinking about your problem or concern. Enjoy down time enjoying yourself. Just allow yourself to be.
OBSERVE – Watch yourself and observe your thought and action patterns. Do not judge or make assumptions.
SURRENDER – Remember, you cannot force your mind to find new insights. They will come when you least expect it. Let go of the what ifs and the what should. Do not let these thoughts cloud your mind.
KNOW- If you need more information about your problem, circumstance, or situation, get it.
ASK – Ask open ended questions. What can I do about this? What else do I need to know? These types of questions will spur intuitive insights.
LISTEN – Listen for the answers. Be willing to be surprised by what you discover.
WRITE- in order to get CLEAR and take out a pen and paper and write down your thoughts and solutions. Which one FEELS best to you? Pay attention to the first option that comes to mind, since research shows that our first impression are often the best, since they are not contaminated by fear, anxiety, and wishful thinking.
TRUST – Trust what you discover. Take a bold step forward. Keep checking in and asking questions.
TRUST AGAIN – Trust the process with certainty to give you clarity in a circumstance. If you have to make a quick decision, go with your first impulse. Go with your gut. Go with your inner wisdom.
Trusting your gut is not magical or mystical. Instead, it is recognizing the language and sensation of what you know and what you are consistently acting on.
Lead From Within: Trusting your intuition will help you have respect for your inner voice, let go of resistance to change, conquer fear and doubt and find the inner strength to move from procrastination, confusion, and stagnation to a world of clarity, action, and confidence while expressing who you truly are.
Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.
Eileen
11. Mar, 2012
Hello Lolly,
This is very helpful information and a method for leaders dealing with the rush of 21st century life. Too often the instintuitivel message is ignored, and we rely on what we can measure, know congitively and absolutely.
Whereas, intuition is smarter than everything else, because it is the result of a combination of cognitive function/rational thought, emotional and social intelligence and experience, combined powerfully to help us to ‘know’ what is going on and what to do. I call this the ,being of leadership.
Love the tips on how to access this subconscious knowledge!
lollydaskal
11. Mar, 2012
Eileen,
I agree our intuition is smarter than everything else. Now all we have to do is TRUST our gut and see where it takes us.
Thanks for stopping by.
Lolly
lollydaskal
12. Mar, 2012
If you are not listening to your gut ..you are not listening to your heart.
Listening to your inner wisdom takes courage! Because your inner wisdom has no fear!
It is completely neutral and it takes on forgiveness of the past and it has confidence of the future.
With your inner wisdom leading, there is no unsure step and not even a blind corner.
Your inner wisdom is neutral and there is no emotional attachments.
Think of it this way: Your inner wisdom is simply the messenger.
What will you do about that wisdom?
Will you trust it?
Will you take action?
That is up to you….
Lolly
Xavier Nathan
11. Mar, 2012
This is truly a wonderful post. More and more peopel are beginning to realise that their intellect is only a very small part of what makes them who they are and the at the real power behind their lives is their subconscious. I will share your post. Thank you.
lollydaskal
11. Mar, 2012
Thank you Xavier for your great comment.
lollydaskal
12. Mar, 2012
The language of your inner wisdom. grows stronger when you acknowledge it.
Using and listening to your inner wisdom is an active activity. When going along with your inner wisdom
it has a interesting way of setting you up in the right place at the right time for something to happen that
will give you great joy.
Lolly
Trent
11. Mar, 2012
Lolly, great insights on intuition. I use it daily for things as simple as asking out loud where something is if I have lost it at home to making a decision on my business. I took Psychology in University and I recall one lesson a Professor taught us. Apparently they took a group of people and recorded them saying a simple sentence. Then they hooked their skin up to electrodes. Then these people had to listen to a number of people (15?) on headphones say this same sentence, including their own recorded version. Then they had to decide which voice was theirs.
Surprisingly, people weren’t great at this, they were only right about 30% of the time. Alternatively, their skin’s reaction to their own voice was 100% correct every time!
It made me realize intelligence goes beyond the brain’s conscious efforts to deduce things. The whole body plays role in intelligence, and I believe this is where intuition comes into play. Listen to your gut, and the rest of your body too!
lollydaskal
12. Mar, 2012
Be who you are not, not who you think you should be, If you desire something, go forwards it. desire is a clue as to your path and to your inner wisdom.
Judy Martin (@judymartin8)
12. Mar, 2012
Lolly,
What a wonderfully inspirational post to wake up to . We see ourselves as such complex beings. And we are to some degree. But when we take the time to simplify, really go inside in a contemplative way, I feel that intuitive self has the answers – plain and simple. We need to take the time to be quiet. Wonderful post, @Judymartin8
lollydaskal
12. Mar, 2012
Judy,
Your gut knows everything that is important and we need to learn to trust our gut.
The gut choice is the most specific choice you can make for yourself at any given moment it will fuel our passion.
Our gut is knowingness is not psychic and its not mysterious. Everyone continually experiences this knowingness.
The obstacles to acing on these messages arise when fear comes into play and we doubt our innate wisdom.
This inner wisdom is something we all hear. All we need to do is quiet ourselves and listen, stay calm and allow the steady voice of your inner wisdom to speak to us. Its waiting.
Willingness leads to knowingness.
Lolly
lollydaskal
12. Mar, 2012
Our inner wisdom is telling us we need to make changes it main concern is not going to be what brings us comfort. it knows what is ahead. and it has the courage to propel us towards our future. But in order to move in this direction of our truth, our best self, the live we want to lead. We must trust our inner wisdom. We must allow our inner wisdom to guide us -to move us forward.
Remember its matters not what you decide but how you make decisions.
Go with your inner wisdom …. Its the only thing you have..
Lolly
LaRae Quy
12. Mar, 2012
Hi Lolly
In my experience, people’s first reactions are always closest to the real thing. If we pay attention to our first reactions and thoughts, we have a closer understanding to what is really going on with us. The problem is when those reactions are not the ones that we want to acknowledge! It’s OK to decide not to move forward with them, but as you point out, the only way to better understand ourselves is by acknowledging them in the first place. It brings us a place of greater authenticity – and power – since we’re in touch with our true emotion.
Thanks for sharing.
LaRae
Valencia Ray MD
13. Mar, 2012
Enjoyed your post Lolly. They are all good points. Intuition can be so difficult to trust because we are so conditioned as a culture to focus on external “voices of authority”. I’ve come back to my intuition on purpose and I continue to build my intuitive muscles. I find that, and as the research also reveals, quieting my “logical” mind allows more insights to come up. Also to your point, asking questions and not “knowing” already the answers stimulates insights. If we knew it all already, there would be no room for “innovation”. Too much “logic” represses the creative process. We need both to work together in collaboration, not either/or. Thanks for sharing!
Dan
13. Mar, 2012
“Listening to your inner wisdom takes courage!
Because your inner wisdom has no fear!
It is completely neutral and it takes on forgiveness of the past and it has confidence of the future.”
These are such beautiful words! Yes, this is so.
And often the reason we can feel subtle guilt or regret for playing it small. We know the messenger has spoken!
I love it!
Abdulaziz
14. Mar, 2012
In Arabic we are calling the beutiful words; Pearls,
Thanks,
David Gomes
14. Mar, 2012
This is at the root of all great wisdom traditions. Once we begin the journey of turning inwards, we realize the wisdom of the ages has always been within, waiting for us.
I like to tell my clients to turn down the volume of the world each day so they can hear the voice of wisdom inside themselves. Your blog is really quite fabulous. Thank you for all your wonderful ideas. I’m happy to pop in and say hello ….hello
Jan
14. Mar, 2012
Hi Lolly,
thank you for this inspiring article.
You’re right, i think 🙂
We already know. Our inner wisdom is there even on a level of cells.
The problem is our ego when it gets to power.
It steps in between of our heart and our actions.
All the doubts, fears, insecurities are just protective mechanisms of our ego keeping us aside from releasing our souls, inner callings.
Thank you for your inspiration.
You really can have the appeal to the heart.
Jan
14. Mar, 2012
Hi Lolly,
thank you for your inspiring articles.
You’re right, i think 🙂
I am sure we always know, by our hearts. It is just the ego that steps in between and stumbles upon it.
We already know it on a cellular level.
Ego cries with fears, insecurities, doubts and whatever else it can do to paralyse us not to express our deepest wisdom – soul.
This wisdom is divine and sacred, it is so intuitive, so crystal clear and takes us exactly where we need to go & what we need to be.
At least I think 🙂
Thank you for your inspiring and refreshing blog posts and twitter messages.
You are really gifted and very often you can appeal to the heart.
Thank you,
Jan
Jonathan Low (aka JLow)
25. Mar, 2012
Hi Lolly!
Thanks for the post and thank you everyone for developing her conversation even further!
Intuition is such a beautiful specimen and I’d like to add a few thoughts if I may.
Whilst intuition can be triggered by the conscious mind, a lot of its’ processing power is nested in the unconscious. And the unconscious mind is MUCH more reliable (e.g. heart beats without you thinking! Except when you come across immense beauty of course). Intuition…is reliable! =D
What I found awesome about your post was the bit about exercising your intuition! A beautiful template for building the muscle. And we can be so creative in the way we do it!
This is what it looks like for me….
1) Sitting on my backside and closing my eyes
2) Relaxing my whole body and concentrating on 10 deep breaths.
3) Stating the question
4) Gradually drifting and drifting till I almost forget the problem and question…
What then happens is, during the day, a random “Ah hah!” moment comes. Which is such a fulfilling experience…like the first time your dart hits the bullseye and you wonder “How?” =)
Hope you all express it in your own fascinating ways,
JLow
lollydaskal
25. Mar, 2012
Jonathan
I LOVE the way you build YOUR intuitive muscle.
I have taken notes.
Thanks for sharing.
Lolly