7 Ways to Develop your Intuition

Zilvold Coahing & Training Blog Intuition
14 min read

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The other day, it was sunny, and I was biking home in an unfamiliar neighborhood in Rotterdam.

“Take a left here!”.

An inner nudge told me to take a left at an intersection. I hesitated because it was only a narrow path, so I continued straight. “Take a left”, urged the inner voice. “Yes, yes!” I said out loud, and I turned my bike around. I biked onto the narrow path. Then, the path became even narrower, and I wondered if I was even allowed to bike there, as it appeared to be a pedestrian path. The path led along a train track and soon ended at a road that was familiar to me. I realized that this path was a major shortcut on my way home. By the way, it also led me to a shop I was looking for! A framing workshop.

More than twenty years ago, I drove through Joshua Tree National Park with my parents in the United States. The sun set, and we began searching for a parking space. When we got to the first parking lot, I asked my father to continue driving. The next one “felt” better.

The next parking lot was only a few kilometers away, and we got out to admire the setting sun. A few more people were also enjoying this beautiful event. We walked around, and the other group came walking toward us. Immediately, I recognized an old high school friend I hadn’t seen in nearly ten years. In the middle of the desert!

What a coincidence! Or was it the result of my following my feelings, my heart, an inner nudge, voice, or my intuition?

Intuition Psychology

Intuition is also known as a gut feeling or a hunch. It is often considered magical, but according to psychology, it is the ability by which hunches are generated by the unconscious mind that quickly searches through past experiences and acquired knowledge.

Daniel Kahneman discusses two systems of thinking in his book, “Thinking, Fast and Slow.”

The second system is slow thinking. Making conscious decisions and solving difficult math problems takes attention and effort. For example, we also use it to control our behavior when we are angry.

The first system is the quick-thinking system. It contains quickly available knowledge, such as important telephone numbers or the capital of the Netherlands. System 1 requires little effort and is used to make quick decisions. For example, we intuitively quickly know how someone feels based on a facial expression.

Examples of intuition

My wife once lost a ring in a stream. We searched for the ring for a long time, and just before we wanted to give up, I had the feeling of looking behind a stone. There was the ring!

Sometimes we listen and act in a way that everything works out fine, and at other times we don’t. Then we can find ourselves in a stressful situation. We humans can become overly rational and guided by logic. When things go wrong (and blame something or somebody else), you might want to take a step back and reflect on what has happened, what you’ve learned, and what you’ll do differently next time. Then you enter a growth mindset.

Benefits of intuition

Intuition can help you in your life. It can help you make choices, protect you, avoid stressful situations, and even lead to special encounters. The key is to be aware of it.

Techniques to develop your intuition

1. Wake up!

The first step is waking up and becoming aware of our feelings. Life demands a lot of attention, and we are distracted by external events. Then we are less aware of our own body. Intuition is about integrating inner feelings with external events.

2. Gather experiences!

Intuition is based on experience. Gather experiences. Travel, meet people, read, and learn. Be aware of the people and nature around you. Listen, look, and feel when you meet people and walk barefoot on the beach. Don’t think about the things that went wrong in the past or all the problems you still have to solve in the future. Go all in and experience. Your intuition improves as you have more experiences because you have more knowledge.

3. Keep a diary

It helps to have a notebook at hand and keep a diary to become more conscious of how life speaks to you. In the diary, you not only write down important experiences but also how you felt at certain moments. Were you happy, relieved, angry, scared, or nervous? Also, write where you felt that in your body. I often get headaches when I’m under pressure, my heart feels like I’m in love when I feel fulfillment, or my stomach hurts when I look up to something. I also write in my dream journal. It is a wonderful way to collect stories!

4. Meditate

Meditating helps to become more aware of your body and your thoughts. There are countless guided meditations available on the web and on Spotify. The key is to breathe calmly. I wrote about block breathing before. That is, inhale for five counts, hold your breath for five counts, and exhale for five counts. Repeat for about 2 minutes, and you will be more aware of your body and thoughts. It can also calm you down.

I contemplate daily, which helps me better understand my inner and outer experiences. Additionally, I chant a mantra that helps me connect with a universal, loving force. That power helps me listen more effectively to my intuition and act accordingly to what is good for the whole.

5. Start the day with an intention

An intention can help you be more aware of your intuition. Recently, I heard a beautiful podcast. Rodney Jones was the guest, and every morning he asks the universe (God, spirit, the universal power), “What do you want to show me?” It’s about being open to those moments where you can learn and serve life to the best of your ability.

6. Check

It’s not always smart to act impulsively on an intuition. Test your intuition by thinking (briefly) about it, researching, or discussing it with others.

And sometimes, you have an uneasy feeling about someone you meet. Do not react immediately, but be curious; try to get to know that person better by asking questions calmly and listening attentively. Is your gut feeling confirmed? Then kindly say goodbye.

The quick check

If I have to make a decision quickly and don’t have time for this, I quickly check it with my body. I have a simple technique you can use alone or with someone else. You stretch out your strongest hand. While you are thinking of an option, with the other hand, try to push your outstretched hand down as it resists.

Do the same while thinking of another option. The best option is the option where it took you the most effort to push down your strengthened hand. Then more energy or power went through your body as you thought of that option. Try it if you are faced with the choice of eating a bag of chips or an apple.

7. Start your day with your WHY

The power of your WHY is that it enables you to do the things that give you a lasting feeling of fulfillment. Your WHY is your contribution that affects the world. It is positive, action-oriented, and generative.

-> Reading tip: Examples of WHY Statements

Pronouncing my WHY helps me elevate my mindset from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. It’s about letting your thoughts work together with your gut feeling. It allows me to work better with my intuition: to take the right (left) turn, no longer go trail running on a slippery, steep path, or keep searching for my wife’s ring.

Do you want that too? I can help you discover your WHY, or purpose. Please read this article for more information about a WHY session, and contact me today to schedule a FREE intake.

What experience have you had where you were guided by intuition? What do you do to develop your intuition? Have you ever neglected your inner voice or nudge? What happened? Let me know in the comment field below. The other readers of this article. and I are looking forward to reading from you!

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Charles Bill
Charles Bill
29 July 2022 12:31

Great post, thanks! There’s a some strong evidence of the power of intuition on life and in business in Malcolm Gladwell’s “Blink”. We refer to the intro chapter “The statue that didn’t look right” when we run training on hypothesis-based problem solving.