Follow Your Intuition

The mind and the body are connected, so why do we spend so much time denying it? You know, like that feeling you get when you're about to make a decision that is out of alignment with your purpose? Questioning yourself can make you feel uneasy. Have you ever tried to quiet that voice inside of your head that whispers, "You know that this isn't for you, this isn't what you really want." and just push through because of what you think you're supposed to do? Are you guilty of denying your intuition?Well, no worries! I'm in the same boat. For me, 2016 was the year that I denied my intuition. I found myself in a graduate program that I had rushed into with unclear goals. Even though I could not envision how getting a masters degree in public administration would help me in my career, I still enrolled.  I know, I know! But I'm a bookworm and I just wanted to go back to school again, okay?! Anyway, for my whole time attending, I felt nervous, stressed, uncomfortable... kind of like trying to fit into a shoe that's half a size too small. 2016 was also the year that I decided to work for a certain magazine because I was so taken by their diversity initiatives, only to find out that they were a giant fraud. My intuition had been elbowing me in my side from the beginning, but again, I chose to do what was expected over what was right for me.And then I chose me.Starting Spoken Black Girl was a huge step towards choosing me and beginning to listen to my intuition. The blogger/entrepreneur journey is scary because it runs on intuition, some kind of 6th sense that will guide you if you listen. But listening to your intuition can be difficult.Our lives are governed by so many rules, rules about how we should find happiness, how to find success, love, fulfillment, you name it. We often fail to realize that each unique journey requires its own unique rulebook. In other words, we have the key to our best selves right now. We have the answers, but our minds are usually too clouded by the judgments of others and the very real fear of taking a chance on ourselves, believing that we are perceptive enough to distinguish what will nourish our souls from what will drain us.The state of your mental health can also affect how well you pick up on intuition. Both anxiety and depression have a way of making me think small. My view of the future becomes obscured, there's only here and now and endless exhaustion. I undervalue myself and therefore undervalue my feelings and thoughts in order to go along with whatever is written next in the borrowed rulebook. As a person living with anxiety, I take care to separate fear from intuition.Is the voice saying "I have a bad feeling about this meeting?" or "I'm scared of the unknown elements of this meeting. It could go badly." Does it sound like your truth or just plain old anxiety who we all know is a straight-up liar? It can be hard to tell. Practicing mindfulness and meditation often helps me get in touch with my intuition when I need to feel centered again.My favorite memories come from occasions where I took a chance on myself and listened to my intuition.Think about it like that part in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince when Harry took Felix Felicis. The potion might have been nicknamed liquid luck, but I think it should have been called liquid intuition because it basically gave Harry the confidence that he needed to follow the little internal hunches and clues that people usually ignore. To be fair, Harry is a pretty pompous dude (like when he insisted on going to save Sirius at the ministry), but I digress.The point is that following your intuition is the closest that we come to freeing ourselves from the need for constant control.  Free yourself from the belief that you know it all, that you can plan out your life in exactly the right way. Sometimes you just have to be present. Feel what you're feeling, notice your breath, and become conscious of your body and mind. Don't ignore the signs that life gives you. They are usually huge, glaring, and obvious. Pursue the opportunities that speak to your purpose. Not everything will be for you, even if your rational mind insists that it is. Sometimes you just have to listen to your gut.

Do you believe in following your intuition?