Hi,
This is Teresa Conte and welcome to today's podcast,
The Art of Inner Knowing,
Nine Steps to Develop Your Intuition.
We've been living in the midst of change,
In a time of uncertainty,
Leaving many of us wondering what will happen next as we move into a new phase of life.
Although we may feel unclear about our direction,
We can choose to take a breath and open to something new.
As always,
I'd like to begin today's talk by sharing a quote.
This one comes from Shatki Gawan.
She said,
There is a universal intelligent life force that exists within everyone and everything.
It resides within us as deep wisdom and inner knowing.
We can access this wonderful source of knowledge and wisdom through our intuition,
An inner sense that tells us what feels right and true for us at any given moment.
And now,
The Art of Inner Knowing,
Nine Steps to Develop Your Intuition.
Have you ever struggled when trying to figure things out only to experience greater conflict and confusion?
If so,
You're not alone.
The mind seeks security and control,
But the more we struggle,
The further we drift from the answers we seek.
Many years ago,
I had a dream that I was in the ocean,
But instead of swimming,
I was drowning.
I was living in Seattle,
Washington at the time,
Unclear about my future and what to do in my next phase of life.
For instance,
I was trying to figure out where to live,
Whether to complete a course of study I had recently begun,
And whether to continue in my profession or find a new line of work,
Among other lingering questions.
Can you identify?
As I observed the dream,
I saw myself clearly and vividly as if watching a movie.
My arms were flailing about above me as I was trying to stay afloat.
I was far from shore,
With nothing and no one in sight to rescue me.
I was panicking,
And the more fearful I became,
The more difficult to stay above the choppy water.
As I watched the dream unfold,
I could tell that my energy was weakening and saw myself periodically sinking beneath the water's surface.
Then,
Out of nowhere,
A thought occurred to me as if in big capital letters,
STOP STRUGGLING AND FLOAT.
I heeded the message,
And as if coming to my senses,
I laid flat on my back and let my arms relax and lay quietly beside me.
Suddenly,
The water became clear and calm,
Although still far from shore,
I could see land and knew that I was safe.
I could see the dream in my mind's eye as clearly as if it were yesterday,
A powerful lesson.
Although I still forget my arms occasionally flail about as I try to figure things out,
I know there is an easier way as I let go of the struggle I find it.
Many of us are grappling with similar questions today,
Where to go and what to do as we move into a new stage of life.
There are answers,
Dreams and desires that are still alive and active within us,
Waiting for the chance to rise to the surface and guide us.
But we must first learn how to listen in order to move above the choppy emotional waters.
I'd like to share a journaling practice with you that consists of nine steps.
I've been using this process in my personal life for many years as well as have shared it with clients and in my intuition development workshops with promising results.
If you like to journal or are willing to give it a try,
The following nine steps may provide you with some clarity and insights.
If you'd like to write the process down,
Feel free to pause the podcast while you get a paper and pen or come back to listen again.
So,
Here we go.
Step number one.
Set aside some quiet time away from external distractions.
I like to give myself at least 15 or 20 minutes of uninterrupted time.
Step number two.
Have a pen and paper handy.
Step number three.
Take a few deep breaths and let your mind and body relax.
You might find it helpful to create a ritual or mood like lighting a candle or playing some soft music in the background.
And be sure to silence your phone.
Step number four.
Close your eyes and think of a situation that's been troubling you.
It may be a relationship,
A work situation,
A financial dilemma,
Or other concern.
Nothing is too big or too small.
Step number five.
When you're ready,
Open your eyes and write the following sentence across the top of your page.
What does my higher self want to communicate to me about this situation?
Feel free to replace higher self with intuition,
Inner knowing,
Or another phrase or word that resonates with you.
Step number six.
Take pen to paper and write whatever comes to mind.
Be open to the information you receive.
And just to know that the answer may come in the form of an image,
A word,
A feeling,
A sentence,
Or a paragraph.
Whatever appears will feel clear and certain in your body and won't be judgmental or wordy.
If you're tempted to direct or change the wording,
Stop and take a breath,
Letting go of preconceived expectations or the need to get it right.
And here's a tip.
When I get stumped,
I find it helpful to say the following phrases aloud.
I am willing to listen and I hear only the truth.
Give that a try,
Then relax and return to the process.
Step number seven.
When you're done writing,
Sit with your answer.
If it's the voice of your intuition,
You will feel a deep sense of peace and your answer will feel certain and right.
Step number eight.
Is there an action or next step you can take to implement your inner guidance?
If so,
Write it down.
Step number nine.
One final tip is writing down the results of the guidance you follow.
It will help you develop greater trust in your intuition.
Lastly,
Don't worry if nothing happens or if the process doesn't work for you the first time or two.
As with any skill,
The more you follow your intuition and see the results,
The stronger it will become.
If you decide to try the practice,
I'd love to hear your comments.
Wishing you a most wonderful day.
With love,
Teresa.
