A friend made the offhand comment that she wished she could be more like her dog Rex, in that Rex spent his days doing precisely what he wanted to do, whether it be running and jumping or puttering around the house. She was joking, but it got me to thinking about animals and how they aren’t encumbered by logic and use their instincts to not only get by, but to survive.
After the tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands in Sri Lanka and India in December of 2004, National Geographic reported of the many eyewitness accounts made by those who saw animals in those areas react and flee to higher locations moments before the tsunami struck. According to National Geographic, elephants screamed and ran for higher ground, dogs wouldn’t go outdoors, flamingos moved out of low areas and zoo animals rushed into their shelters. It was as if those animals sensed danger was coming.
Some scientists chalk it up to the fact that animals have to be more alert than humans because their worlds are more primitive and dangerous, so they recognized that something was amiss moments before disaster struck. But that’s precisely what it means to be intuitive. You’re alert to your feelings about whatever situation you find yourself in, and act based on those feelings whether that means leaving a crowded venue because you feel uneasy about being there, or confiding in someone you just met because you instinctively know you can trust them.
Intuitive Action Item: Next time you see an animal, watch how it responds to its environment. It’s alert to sounds and movement and when it senses danger it runs. That might seem like a simple notion, but how often do you simply act based on your gut urges without stopping to think about what you should do next?
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
It's Really Nothing New...
When I first started this blog, I wondered if people would think it was a stretch to approach life intuitively, living moreso according to one’s internal sense of knowing rather than using logic or always doing things the way we’ve been taught. But the e-mails I’ve received in the last week have made me realize that a lot of people are already living intuitively in some areas of their lives, even if they haven’t consciously identified that that is what they are doing.
One person said she realized she felt stifled working 9 to 5, which was one of the reasons she became an entrepreneur. Another said he applied intuition to his job in sales; he has hunches about which potential customers to approach and nine times out of ten that person ends up making a purchase. Another e-mailer uses her intuition when she cooks. She just knows what spices and herbs to use and she says her family and friends can testify that the end result is always a tasty one.
When we think about the many times we’ve instinctively known the answer or the areas of our lives where we trust our sense of what we know, it’s easier to trust ourselves when we’re not so confident about the outcome.
Intuitive Action Item: Think about areas of your life in which you’re already living intuitively. These will be the areas of your life that just seem to flow and where you’re most confident in your ability to excel. In doing so, you’ll find that intuition is already working for you, and while you’re at it, drop me an e-mail because I’m interested in hearing what you find.
One person said she realized she felt stifled working 9 to 5, which was one of the reasons she became an entrepreneur. Another said he applied intuition to his job in sales; he has hunches about which potential customers to approach and nine times out of ten that person ends up making a purchase. Another e-mailer uses her intuition when she cooks. She just knows what spices and herbs to use and she says her family and friends can testify that the end result is always a tasty one.
When we think about the many times we’ve instinctively known the answer or the areas of our lives where we trust our sense of what we know, it’s easier to trust ourselves when we’re not so confident about the outcome.
Intuitive Action Item: Think about areas of your life in which you’re already living intuitively. These will be the areas of your life that just seem to flow and where you’re most confident in your ability to excel. In doing so, you’ll find that intuition is already working for you, and while you’re at it, drop me an e-mail because I’m interested in hearing what you find.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
What’s Luck Got to Do With It?
Living intuitively means letting go of control and being open to new experiences, opportunities and ways of doing things. A self-professed control freak, I’ll admit I’m having a little trouble with that aspect of it, but evidence mounts that I should stop focusing so hard on life’s destinations and pay more attention to the ride.
A psychologist did a study in which he compared the practices of those who considered themselves to be lucky with those who believed they were unlucky. What he noticed: Unlucky people were more tense and tended to focus on achieving specific results, which led them to miss unexpected opportunities. In other words, I’m so consumed with impressing my boss at a business lunch that I ignore the person sitting next to me who had actually mentioned a job opening that would have been more in line with my goals.
Lucky people were more relaxed and open to new and different experiences. As a result they were better able to see opportunities that were there, rather than miss out by seeing only what they were looking for.
Intuitive Action Item: Next time you go to a business meeting or social event with a goal in mind, make a conscious decision to notice something interesting about everyone you talk to. You’ll pay more attention to the moment and might be surprised by what luck comes your way.
A psychologist did a study in which he compared the practices of those who considered themselves to be lucky with those who believed they were unlucky. What he noticed: Unlucky people were more tense and tended to focus on achieving specific results, which led them to miss unexpected opportunities. In other words, I’m so consumed with impressing my boss at a business lunch that I ignore the person sitting next to me who had actually mentioned a job opening that would have been more in line with my goals.
Lucky people were more relaxed and open to new and different experiences. As a result they were better able to see opportunities that were there, rather than miss out by seeing only what they were looking for.
Intuitive Action Item: Next time you go to a business meeting or social event with a goal in mind, make a conscious decision to notice something interesting about everyone you talk to. You’ll pay more attention to the moment and might be surprised by what luck comes your way.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The Secret to Oprah's Success
Some people think of intuition as being the stuff of psychics and gypsies gazing intently into crystal balls but in reality, such successful business people as Oprah, Bill Gates, and Donald Trump have credited intuition with helping them make profitable decisions, says Larry Dossey, author of The Power of Premonitions.
Intuition, Dossey explains, is when you know something instinctively without needing logic, analysis or evidence to back it up. It’s sensing that a new product line is going to be a hit even if the ones before it failed. It’s feeling that a layoff is around the corner even if your boss says things are going well. It’s having a suspicion that someone is lying when they swear they’re telling the truth.
Everyone has had those moments when they had a good or bad feeling about something, but people like Oprah, Gates and Trump acted on those instincts even when they went against popular logic. As a result, they often came out leading trends rather than following them. The U.S. auto industry is in shambles partly because automakers failed to see what was around the corner; they didn’t anticipate the shifting needs of their customers in a changing world. I wonder how many auto execs are now kicking themselves for not paying attention to intuitive guidance.
Intuition, Dossey explains, is when you know something instinctively without needing logic, analysis or evidence to back it up. It’s sensing that a new product line is going to be a hit even if the ones before it failed. It’s feeling that a layoff is around the corner even if your boss says things are going well. It’s having a suspicion that someone is lying when they swear they’re telling the truth.
Everyone has had those moments when they had a good or bad feeling about something, but people like Oprah, Gates and Trump acted on those instincts even when they went against popular logic. As a result, they often came out leading trends rather than following them. The U.S. auto industry is in shambles partly because automakers failed to see what was around the corner; they didn’t anticipate the shifting needs of their customers in a changing world. I wonder how many auto execs are now kicking themselves for not paying attention to intuitive guidance.
Monday, May 18, 2009
The Best Way to the Wrong Choice
I always pay attention to my first impressions. I don’t always follow them, but when I don’t, I typically come to regret it. While I’ve been advised to come up with lists of pros and cons before making decisions, I find that doing so causes me to go back and forth and think about something so much that my mind goes into a sort of overdrive and I end up doing nothing.
Now it seems that science is starting to question the value of those lists when it comes to decision-making. According to researchers with Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, when decisions are simple, making lists and thinking it through may be the best way to choose a course of action because there isn’t that much to consider. But when decisions are complex, your rational mind can’t take in as much information as your intuitive mind can, putting your logical mind at a disadvantage.
Even more interesting, the researchers say your list-making can actually lead you to make the WRONG decision. You may consider certain bits of information to be more important than others leading to faulty reasoning and bad choices.
Intuitive Action Item: While you may not be ready to throw away your lists completely (I still go back and forth on that), check in with your gut and put your first impression in either the Pro or Con column. In time, you’ll see if your first instinct was right, making it a low-risk way to test whether your gut is in fact leading you in the right direction.
Now it seems that science is starting to question the value of those lists when it comes to decision-making. According to researchers with Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, when decisions are simple, making lists and thinking it through may be the best way to choose a course of action because there isn’t that much to consider. But when decisions are complex, your rational mind can’t take in as much information as your intuitive mind can, putting your logical mind at a disadvantage.
Even more interesting, the researchers say your list-making can actually lead you to make the WRONG decision. You may consider certain bits of information to be more important than others leading to faulty reasoning and bad choices.
Intuitive Action Item: While you may not be ready to throw away your lists completely (I still go back and forth on that), check in with your gut and put your first impression in either the Pro or Con column. In time, you’ll see if your first instinct was right, making it a low-risk way to test whether your gut is in fact leading you in the right direction.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Breaking the 9 to 5 Rhythm
I was telling someone about my blog and she asked me how often I intended to update it. My first thought: Mondays through Fridays since those are workdays. But then I stopped myself. If I'm truly living intuitively, should I force myself to set up rules to determine how spontaneous I can be? Maybe - like today - I'll feel like writing on a Saturday. And maybe on Tuesday I'll feel like reading a book in the park.
Studies have shown that everyone has an internal method of timekeeping and this inner clock controls our Circadian Rhythms or changes in mental and physical activity throughout the day. Some studies, such as this one from the International Journal of Value-Placed Management, suggest that the changes in our personal rhythms affect how efficient we are at different times. For example, if you're a morning person, you'll be most efficient if you get your work done early, while afternoon and evening people will be most productive at the end of the day.
So the 9 to 5 workday, Monday through Friday, might be intuitive for someone who's Circadian Rhythms happen to coincide with it, but for many of us, sticking with a 9 to 5 schedule is like swimming against the tide. While everyone can't go into work and demand a different schedule, many employers are open to flexible hours. Also, many of us who've been laid off or are now working for ourselves as consultants have the ability to consider our ideal work schedule as we consider future opportunities.
Intuitive Action Item: Spend the next couple of days paying attention to when you have the most energy. Is there a time of day when you feel most alive or have the urge to get things done? That's your body's way of telling you it's ready to work, or it's up for the challenges and tasks you need it to perform. Likewise, when do you feel sluggish or have the desire to take a nap? Instead of shrugging it off to the fact that you should have gone to bed earlier, think about whether you can instead adjust your day to accommodate your internal timeclock.
That will be your first step in acknowledging that when it comes to your life, you really do know best.
Studies have shown that everyone has an internal method of timekeeping and this inner clock controls our Circadian Rhythms or changes in mental and physical activity throughout the day. Some studies, such as this one from the International Journal of Value-Placed Management, suggest that the changes in our personal rhythms affect how efficient we are at different times. For example, if you're a morning person, you'll be most efficient if you get your work done early, while afternoon and evening people will be most productive at the end of the day.
So the 9 to 5 workday, Monday through Friday, might be intuitive for someone who's Circadian Rhythms happen to coincide with it, but for many of us, sticking with a 9 to 5 schedule is like swimming against the tide. While everyone can't go into work and demand a different schedule, many employers are open to flexible hours. Also, many of us who've been laid off or are now working for ourselves as consultants have the ability to consider our ideal work schedule as we consider future opportunities.
Intuitive Action Item: Spend the next couple of days paying attention to when you have the most energy. Is there a time of day when you feel most alive or have the urge to get things done? That's your body's way of telling you it's ready to work, or it's up for the challenges and tasks you need it to perform. Likewise, when do you feel sluggish or have the desire to take a nap? Instead of shrugging it off to the fact that you should have gone to bed earlier, think about whether you can instead adjust your day to accommodate your internal timeclock.
That will be your first step in acknowledging that when it comes to your life, you really do know best.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Fighting My Ego
Anyone who has ever attempted to live life intuitively knows your biggest obstacle is yourself. This morning, I woke up pumped with excitement about living authentically -- viewing life as an adventure that will take time to unfold. I signed up with Twitter -- follow Intuitive Girl's updates throughout the day at http://twitter.com/IntuitiveGirl.
And then, my ego reared its ugly head. Why was I wasting precious time this morning wondering how I can get followers on Twitter when I should be coming up with ideas for my editors about how small businesses can run more efficiently and how people can keep their jobs in a down economy. After all, that's what I'm known for. Why mess with what has been working?
But was it really working? I don't know, I've been bored with my work for a while and feeling like everything about it was pointless. And the economy falling apart tells me that a lot of things people have been doing in life aren't working, which means the articles magazines and newspapers have been putting out year after year are no longer relevant. So why not try something different? Yesterday a friend and mentor who is a spiritual life coach (http://visionsoftheheart.org/VisonsoftheHeart.htm) told me to just write and see what happens. It's scary, but with so many industries breaking down and so many systems no longer working, I guess now's the best time to jump off the sinking ship. Into the deep end.
And then, my ego reared its ugly head. Why was I wasting precious time this morning wondering how I can get followers on Twitter when I should be coming up with ideas for my editors about how small businesses can run more efficiently and how people can keep their jobs in a down economy. After all, that's what I'm known for. Why mess with what has been working?
But was it really working? I don't know, I've been bored with my work for a while and feeling like everything about it was pointless. And the economy falling apart tells me that a lot of things people have been doing in life aren't working, which means the articles magazines and newspapers have been putting out year after year are no longer relevant. So why not try something different? Yesterday a friend and mentor who is a spiritual life coach (http://visionsoftheheart.org/VisonsoftheHeart.htm) told me to just write and see what happens. It's scary, but with so many industries breaking down and so many systems no longer working, I guess now's the best time to jump off the sinking ship. Into the deep end.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Intuitive Living
I didn't expect to start a blog, but it fits into my new desire to live intuitively. All around me, I'm seeing and feeling the breaking down of a world that didn't work. Where people lived for money and prestige yet felt empty and unfulfilled. Still, the money and the greed and the debt and the fear kept them chained to the jobs they hated, the relationships that smothered them and the habits that numbed the boredom.
I'm a journalist who has been writing about money and business and careers, but I never wrote stories about what I really think, such as that budgets are limiting and goals inhibit us from letting the lives we really want unfold. Since the economy has taken away some of my business, I've decided not to simply replace lost clients with more of the same. Instead of writing the same stories over and over again I'm going to incorporate my intuition into my writing, just as I change my life so that it is controlled by the inside out instead of the other way around. I'm going to write about living from the heart and how people can learn to listen to their own ideas and feelings -- and trust them. I'm going to write about the world I see, as well as the world I only know to be there, where spiritual guidance helps us along the way.
I'm going to spend some time living intuitively, writing about living a more holistic lifestyle and basically letting my life lead me to the destination IT wants me to reach. Follow my journey or, better yet, join me!
I'm a journalist who has been writing about money and business and careers, but I never wrote stories about what I really think, such as that budgets are limiting and goals inhibit us from letting the lives we really want unfold. Since the economy has taken away some of my business, I've decided not to simply replace lost clients with more of the same. Instead of writing the same stories over and over again I'm going to incorporate my intuition into my writing, just as I change my life so that it is controlled by the inside out instead of the other way around. I'm going to write about living from the heart and how people can learn to listen to their own ideas and feelings -- and trust them. I'm going to write about the world I see, as well as the world I only know to be there, where spiritual guidance helps us along the way.
I'm going to spend some time living intuitively, writing about living a more holistic lifestyle and basically letting my life lead me to the destination IT wants me to reach. Follow my journey or, better yet, join me!
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