Intuition or Impulsivity?

Intuition is always something that I’ve struggled with understanding, to be honest. According to the dictionary, it’s an immediate understanding without reasoning. When I first read that, I was like I do that all the time already…but what I really do is act impulsively, defined as acting without thinking. The difference in those definitions is UNDERSTANDING vs acting and without reasoning vs. without thinking.  Two completely different things, yet I’ve been living as if they were the same. Like when I impulsively buy that expensive thing without thinking, and telling myself that my heart was leading me to it to try to reason that I needed it. Have you ever done that? You buy something, immediately feel guilt, and try to reason with yourself to make it okay. That’s the opposite of intuition though. If I were truly acting on my intuition, I would notice that nudge saying you don’t need that. Intuition is understanding WITHOUT reasoning, so if I need to reason to make my decision make sense or to prevent the feeling of guilt, I wasn’t following my intuition after all. 

Listening to your gut is really hard to do when your mind is constantly racing and you are always busy, and that’s where I stay a lot - in the busyness and chaos of life! But, I’ve found myself lately wanting to just slow down. I feel my body telling me it needs more rest. My intuition has been yelling at me to stop and really take a look at what my priorities are, but my brain just says to keep pushing on like I’ve always done. It’s hard to break the habit of busyness, especially when you’ve always felt that you thrive in that state. Maybe I did at one point, but when you live in that state for too long, your body starts screaming for you to stop! Add to that the struggles of postpartum life - the hormones, less sleep, keeping another human alive, you know…all those things that come with motherhood - and your intuition starts to do a little more than just send subtle signals! 

But, hearing/noticing your intuition and actually listening to it are two different things. For so long, I’ve said I just don’t hear the holy spirit talking to me. But as I’ve begun to reflect on it, I think I do hear holy spirit speaking to me often, but I just don’t recognize it or take the time to truly listen. I’m too busy to stop. I’ve got my own agenda and often just pretend that I allow the spirit to lead me, when really it’s my impulsivity and desires in play. 

So, here’s to acknowledging this and creating space and time to truly LISTEN. Here are some tools that I plan to use to activate my heart space and allow the holy spirit to work through me...

🧘‍♀️ Quieting the Mind 🧘‍♂️ To hear your intuition, you need to quiet the noise of everyday life. Practice meditation, mindfulness, or simply spend time in silence. How do you create space to hear your inner voice? 

📝 Reflect and Journal 📝 Journaling is a powerful tool to connect with your intuition. Write down your thoughts, feelings, and any intuitive nudges you receive.

🚶‍♀️Spending time in nature supports intuitive living. Enjoy a Nature Walk 🌳 Take a walk in nature and immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and smells around you. How does being in nature affect your mood and energy levels? 

🌅 Establish Morning Rituals 🌞 Start your day with mindful and intentional practices that set a positive tone. Whether it's meditation, journaling, or a healthy breakfast, create a morning ritual that feels right for you. 

🌙 Create an Evening Wind-Down Routine 🌛 Wind down your day with calming activities that prepare you for restful sleep. Incorporate practices like reading, gentle stretching, or a warm bath.