Unseeing and Unhearing

Have you ever sat in front of your television watching a film and then suddenly realized you haven't taken in anything that happened over the past half hour?

Have you ever been reading a book and then suddendly realized you have been turning the pages but not really read anything?

Probably in most of those cases it was because you were half asleep.  But not always.  Sometimes it is because you have focused on something else.  Perhaps something important you have been working on.

Or here is one probably the male partner of a couple will recognize.  Has your partner ever been in conversation with you, got some standard grunts and vague answers from you, but you didn't really hear anything she said - or perhaps didn't even really notice she was talking to you at all?

Recently I just finished reading a "weird fiction" novel called "City and City" in which two cities are intertwined and the residents of one city have to "unsee" and "unhear" the residents of the other city.  Maybe you have read this too.

Why do I mention this?

Because unfortunately it is all too common for each of us to "unsee" and "unhear" things.  It is all too common for us not to notice what is going on around us.  We become so focused on our own problems, on what it is we want to achieve, that we miss all the signals around us which, if we only took the time and trouble to look and listen, would actually get us where we want to go far quicker than any of the strategies we can come up with by ourselves.

Different people call those signals different things.  I call them intuition.

You have probably learned since an early age to "unsee" and "unhear" those intuitive signals, just like the residents of Besźel and Ul Qoma in China Miéville's novel "City and City" have learned to "unsee" and "unhear" the residents of the other city.

Probably at some point in your childhood someone told you to "stop dreaming".  Probably they told you that you have to use logic to find answers to your problems.  And so that is what you have done ever since.

The answers are out there waiting for you to see them, which you can do most easily by daydreaming, and which you can do simply by stopping this "unseeing" and "unhearing" that is ingrained in you and that society regards as "normal".

Now is the time to stop "unseeing" and "unhearing".  Take some time every day to sit quietly and listen to the intuitive voice within you.  See what that inner being wants to show you.

The first time you do this you will probably not see or hear anything.  Only a voice telling you not to be so silly and to get on with your work!  Not just the first time, in fact, but probably many times.  You have a lifetime of "unseeing" and "unhearing" to reverse.  So be patient.  Don't expect immediate results.  But also be ready for any results that may come.  Sit quietly and allow your intuition to get to work.  Daydream, and see where you are taken in your dream.  This is not a waste of time at all, but a very good use of time.  A way to use your intuitive side rather than just your logical side.

Take back your natural intuitive power.  The power that was stolen from you by people telling you not to daydream.  The power that can provide all the answers you need to achieve whatever you want to achieve!

Intuition Works

Have you ever had a powerful feeling that something is not right, and then moments later a problem surfaces?

Have you ever felt you should take a certain action, taken it, and then found it was exactly the right thing to do even though there was no apparent logic behind it?

Have you ever met someone you felt was very negative, even though they hadn't said or done a thing that should have made you feel that way?  Or the opposite - when you met a person you just knew it was right to form a friendship or relationship with them?

These are all examples of intuition working for you.  We are all intuitive, and the voice of intuition is talking to us all the time if only we would listen.

Some people may say that all the examples I have given are pure coincidence.  That they are a bit like the feeling you get that when you wait in a queue at the supermarket, the queue next to you always  goes faster, or no matter which lane you choose in a traffic jam your lane always goes slower.  I recognize that those feelings arise only because it is the times things like that happen that are memorable and we forget all the times the opposite happens.  Or, at least, most of us do - although really positive people react in the opposite way, and remember the times things went in their favour rather than moved against them.  But I contend that this is not the case with the above examples.

I agree they are not scientific, and I cannot prove to you that intuition is really working in those situations, but this is not intended to be a scientific treatise.  Trust me, if you start to become more aware of the inner voice of intuition you will find it really does work for you.  You won't be able to prove this is the case, but proof doesn't matter here - all that matters is whether it works and whether your life can become better if you listen to your intuition and follow what it is telling you.

I don't think it really matters why this works, but for the sceptics among you here is one reason you can consider.

Life is often too complex for us to be able to take the time to think about the evidence our senses have taken in, analyze it all, and then come to a conclusion about the best way forward.  This has been the case for millions of years.  When we lived in the wild and our very survival depended on recognizing a predator was tracking us we had to act very quickly.  We didn't become aware of the predator because of some magical ability.  We used our normal five senses.  But the recognition of the danger came unconsciously and automatically, far faster than we could analyze the data and decide what action to take.  Before we even knew why, we were taking action to avoid the threat we hadn't yet consciously appreciated.  That was intuition at work.

Just as we had that ability millions of years ago to avoid being eaten by a predator, so today we have that same intuition which can help us in so many different situations.  It can help us avoid danger.  Probably not the danger of being eaten alive, but perhaps the danger of being drawn away from the path we have chosen to follow in life and which is the right path for us to take.  It can help us achieve what it is we want to achieve.  Probably not capturing an animal to use as our next meal, but moving towards the right relationship, finding our real purpose in life, obtaining the wealth we desire.

Maybe you have always told yourself you are not intuitive.  If so, you are wrong.  We all evolved from the same primitive people who needed the power of intuition to survive.  Those who did not have it did not survive long enough to procreate.  So I can guarantee that intuition was passed down to you.  All you need to do is recognize it is there, start responding to it, and nurture and develop it.

Work on improving your intuition in any way you can.  Every action you take to improve your intuition will reap far more benefits for you than you can ever imagine was possible.  The work you do to encourage your intuition will leverage your efforts to create the right life for you and to enjoy the lifestyle you so much want to enjoy.

How intuitive are you?

Stop a moment, without reading any more, and try to answer this question honestly.  Do you have any intuitive ability at all?  Is there even such a thing as intuition?  Answer these questions and then return to this article.

........................................................................

Let me guess.  If you are male, did you answer that intuition is more of a female trait?  Wrong!  Intuition is not gender specific!  That is as incorrect as saying that females can multi-task and males cannot.  You believed that old wive's tale too?  Well, more on that in another blog!

Did you perhaps say that you do not have the gift of intuition?  Wrong again!  True some people seem to have the gift of being intuitive naturally and others don't.  But all actually have the gift - it is just more carefully hidden in some than in others.

Did you say that you are more of a left brain than a right brain person?  Well that really has nothing to do with intuition and creativity, no matter how often you may read online that it does.  If one side of your brain is more dominant than the other, that has very little to do with whether you are more rational or more intuitive.  Different abilities do tend to be associated with different sides of the brain, but this can vary from person to person, and also if someone suffers damage in one brain hemisphere it has been found they can transfer some of the functions associated with that side to the undamaged side.

Whatever reason you may have given to show why you are not really intuitive is actually totally wrong.  You are intuitive.  All of us are intuitive.

The definition of intuition is the ability to acquire knowledge without the use of reason.  This is a skill we need as a species.  If we had to reason every issue to the Nth degree we could not survive as a species - we would be killed by every major danger that arose before we had decided what to do about it.

Intuition is a very powerful ability when you use it properly.

If you run a business you may already be aware of this.  It is usually the first thought that comes to you that is the right one.  Especially when trying to assess people.  Most of us then spend the next few hours or days trying to justify logically, with the power of reason, what we already knew without any reason at all.  That is the power of intuition in action.

Have you ever noticed that you just have a feeling that something is not right?  You don't know why you have that feeling, but it is there deep within and it is very powerful.  When you ignore it, then something seems to go wrong.  Has that ever happened to you?  The next time you get that feeling, just walk away.  The feeling is right.  Something within you has recognized the danger even though there is no apparent logical reason for it.

Trust me in this.  You DO have the power of intuition.  You CAN use it, and use it very effectively.  But just like a muscle, you need to keep using it to make it more powerful, to take it to the point where you can gain great benefit from it.

Now that you know this, start listening for that inner voice.  Take note of what your intuition is telling you.  Use it to find what you should really be doing, what your true desires are, how you can develop yourself and become a better person.  All that knowledge is already there inside you, ready to come to the surface through the process we call intuition.

How to Develop Your Intuition

by

Melissa Kitto

You've heard the idea about developing your intuition, but why would you want to? Your intuition is a very practical tool to have in your life. If you are not using it, you are missing out.

My son Liam is 5 1/2 months old and I have found that my intuition comes in very handy when dealing with a baby who is not old enough to communicate verbally yet. When I trust my intuition I can take a lot of the guesswork out of parenting an infant. I have an answer for all those questions: "Is he hungry? Why is he cranky? Is he ready for a nap yet?" Etc etc!

In fact, your intuition is your best asset for success in all areas of your life. Your intuition guides you to be in the right place at the right time, doing what is right for you and your family.

So, how do you improve your intuition and learn to trust it more? Here are some tips to get you started.

1. Listen to the still, small voice inside.

You know the one. It's that really quiet inner voice you have within. If you are very busy and very rushed, you won't be able to hear your inner voice. It's the part of you that knows what's best, and is always speaking to you. You just need to slow down enough to hear it. This doesn't mean you need to stop and meditate for 30 minutes. Who has the time? You just need to stop for a second in the midst of your day and take a deep breath. Re-connect to your inner truth. Listen to what your inner voice is saying to you.

2. Pay attention to your hunches and impressions

You are a soul with a body, not a body with a soul. You are energy. Because you are energy, you are like a radio transmitter constantly picking up thoughts, feelings and impressions all day long. Many of these hunches and impressions come from your team of spiritual helpers or angels. There is a lot of wisdom in these impressions that you receive. You could pick up a feeling, a thought, a knowing or a vision.

These impressions are very subtle. So subtle in fact that if you don't take the time to pay attention to them, you will probably not notice them, or dismiss them very quickly.

Become more observant and more aware of your inner communication. When you get a hunch, write it down. Consider if that's a good idea for you. Follow through and take action on your hunches and you will be amazed what can unfold in your life. You just need to pay attention.

3. Feel - Think - Act!

As a soul, when you are in balance you naturally go through the cycle of Feel - Think- Act. First you feel something, or pick up a hunch or inspiration. This impression will just come to you, you don't need to create it or make it up. It's more about observing what is present within your feelings.

Next comes Think. This is where that logical, thinking mind comes in and starts organizing you to take action on the feeling you had. If you're out-of-balance, this is where you start over-thinking! If you tend to analyze and dissect everything, or talk yourself out of things, then you never follow through on your intuitive impressions.

Use your thinking mind to get your organized and directed, not to talk you out of your ideas. Do you have a running mental dialogue of self-criticism? Thoughts such as "I'm not ready" "I'm not good enough" or "I'm worried about what others will think" do not serve you. All they do is put you in a stuck place. Start to notice when those negative thoughts run through your head and replace them with positive, encouraging thoughts about yourself.

Once you're organized, then comes the Act. It's time to follow through and take action on the ideas you have organized for yourself. This is where you experience the fun and fulfillment of accomplishing your goals.

4. Stay Relaxed

The key to being more aware of your intuition is to be relaxed. If you are tense, stressed and trying to get too much done you will not be aware of what your intuition is telling you. As a Mom, there is no doubt you are busy and you have a lot on your plate. But you don't have to be still to be relaxed. As you complete your daily activities, practice feeling relaxed and still within. Know there is always a solution to any problem you face, and if you stay relaxed enough an answer will come to you through your inner voice.

Any time you feel stressed, take a deep breath, close your eyes and feel the love and peace that is in your heart. It will bring you right back to the present moment.

About the Author:

Melissa Kitto, the Angel Guidance Coach, will show you how to tune in and communicate directly with your angels and experience the JOY of living your unique life purpose. Visit http://www.CommunicateWithAngels.com to receive your FREE Special Report, the 3 Secrets to Communicating with your Angels.

Heal Your Self Esteem

by

Sandy Tashi Hounsell

Our true sense of self esteem that is wholly sustaining and enriching comes from within. It is not something that can be bestowed on us that is outside of us, or is something that can be taken from us by others.

Life experiences can erode our sense of self esteem. So too our personal belief systems and behaviours can and do, perpetuate a lack of self esteem in many instances.

But a real lasting, meaningful and empowering feeling of our own true worth is intrinsic to each and every one of us. We are of Source, created from love, coming into being, at our very beginning, as a spark of universal life force - S.O.U.L. Created without condition; endowed with free will and the ability to create from within our selves, from our core centre of being.

When we accept that thought and allow it to frame our personal thinking we can soon realise that everything that we are, everything in our lives is created from us. That means that we are each limitless and powerful in our ability to both manifest and create.

It is when we consciously create from our core centre, we create with loving intent that results in loving, positive outcomes. Our sense of self esteem is then no longer in doubt. We only see our self as love!

If you are not feeling that sense of self esteem, here are 10 tips that you can adopt right now to help you come to know yourself as true and meaningful:

1. Maintain Presence. Be present with your self in all of your thoughts and actions each and every day, by seeing and feeling yourself at the centre of your world. Become consciously aware of you in each moment. That way you get to consider your own feelings and how you feel about something before you take any action. And you never lose sight of who you are.

2. Acknowledge. Acknowledge your feelings whatever they are. Do not dismiss one single part of yourself. That way you become more trusting of your feelings, your thoughts and who you are and no longer doubt.

3. Cease the judgement. Don't exercise any judgement or criticism over how and what you feel. That way you give your self both the option and chance to heal.

4. Stop the chiding: Stop blaming yourself or finding fault. Instead journal on why you do that and keep asking as you dig down to find the root cause. Then decide, if you wish, to heal it.

5. Have fun: Each day do something that creates a giggle inside. Then feel the giggling spread throughout your entire body. It's a lovely sound when we hear our cells laughing. And a lovely feeling we feel our cells smiling.

6. Learn something new. Become inspired by way of learning something new that you are passionate about. Or take up that hobby you have always promised yourself. Just make a start!

7. Go Within. When feeling down withdraw into your heart chakra by focusing on a rose there. As you slowly open the petals set the intent that as each petal opens, you open yourself to love. Ask that your Soul flow into the darkest places and fill them with your Soul's divine presence, so that you feel safe, secure and trusting of who you are.

8. Assert yourself lovingly and compassionately. Everything that we do; everything that we are is created from within each one of us. So when you learn to create your thoughts and actions from a loving mindset, you naturally create loving outcomes that are uplifting for all.

9. Remember who you are: You are S.O.U.L ( Source of Unconditional Love, Source of Universal Life Force). That means that you are internally very powerful, strong and limitless. Ponder on the words. Meditate upon that thought and so allow the love of your Soul to lovingly and naturally transform your thinking and your life.

10. You are truth: Be guided by your own intrinsic truth by paying attention to your intuition and so be less affected by external distractions or by the judgement of others.

About the Author:

Sandy Hounsell founder of Soulawaken is on a mission to clear the toxic dustbin that is holding people back from stepping forward into the vibrant, healthy joyful lives they deserve.

Sandy hosts complimentary monthly webinars, sharing invaluable soul wisdom helping you live from your most truest self, your soul. Join her by registering here and you will be provided with all the details in plenty of time: http://soulawaken.com/webinar-registration-form/.

You can also take advantage of her free eBook, "Living Without Fear Or Limitations', 32 pages packed with over 100 tips and insights and a deeply healing meditation, "Opening To Love", by going here: http://bit.ly/10LO47c

Always Make the Right Choices

Last month I introduced my blog readers to the remarkable and gifted personal development coach and entrepreneur, Katie Freiling.

I have found she has some wonderful and powerful insights, which is why I make no apology for showing you another of her videos, and will no doubt show you some more in the future too.  In this one, Katie will show you in a very clear way how you can ALWAYS make the right choices in life:

Intuitions about Romance

by Judith Orloff M.D.

When we're looking for love (or under its intoxicating influence), we often miss seeing extraordinary signs and messages that pop up in our daily life to give us clues as to whether we're on the right track. However, if you can slow down enough to recognize and listen to your intuitive intelligence, it can reveal truth, warn you of danger, or help you understand people and relationship situations in new ways.

From Second Sight, here are five types of intuitive experiences you may encounter, and what they can teach you about your love relationships.

Body signals.

Your body has many ways of getting your attention. It could be goosebumps when a date feels just right or says something about you that rings "true." Or it might be your hair standing up on the back of your neck when a creep replies to your online dating profile.

How to use it in romantic relationships.

Most commonly referred to as a "gut reaction," your body's response to the world around you is often instant--quicker, in fact, than your conscious thought. Next time you sense your body is trying to alert you to something, check in with it. Are your shoulders tense? Is there a knot in your stomach? Or do you feel energized and excited? When you learn to read your body signals, a whole new type of information will be available to you. What's more, you may be able to avoid getting involved with destructive, unhealthy lovers, or be curious to pursue a really good guy who, at first blush, doesn't seem to be your "type."

Déjà vu.

This is when you feel as though you've had this exact conversation before with someone--even if it's someone you've just met--or you've been to this place before and know what's around the corner and up ahead, even though that's impossible.

How to use it in romantic relationships:

Instead of thinking it's strange and then moving on, don't let the experience go unremarked. Discuss it with a trusted friend, or write it down. Bringing a déjà vu experience that happens in the context of a relationship into the open energizes it, acknowledges its significance, and enables you to find out what it's trying to tell you or where it's trying to lead you. When it comes to romance, déjà vu can be a powerful affirmation that you're doing just what you're supposed to be doing in the moment. Or conversely, it may be a way of telling you to pause, think, and reflect on where you are right now, before proceeding ahead willy-nilly into a relationship you'll regret.

Synchronicity.

This is the experience of perfect timing, such as when you're thinking about a song right when you hear it on the radio, or the computer guy you found in the yellow pages turns out to be someone you had a mad crush on in college.

How to use it in romantic relationships:

Stay aware and look for synchronicity everywhere. Such moments let you know that you're in the flow--in the right place, at the right time. See if you can uncover its hidden significance. Were you meant to bump into this old love? Is the song "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" trying to tell you something about that "bad boy" you're crazy in lust with at the moment?

Seeing beyond.

This is when you're tuned in to an event that's happening right now, but in a different place. For example, you think of a long-lost boyfriend, and then he sends you an email in that instant. Or, you call your guy at work and ask him to pick up a pizza. Turns out there was a deadly accident on his regular route home.

How to use it in romantic relationships:

Your entire body--not just your brain--acts as an intuitive receiver, so the more conscious you become of your whole body, perhaps through a discipline like yoga, the more likely you are to tap into realities outside of your immediate setting. They will come to you in snapshot-life flashes--a taste, smell, sound, or a feeling in your body. Jot down your impressions. The better you get at tuning in, the clearer the messages will become. When two people are really "clicking," such experiences become even more commonplace, such as having intuitive flashes about your lover's health, or about where you two might be living in five years.

Intuitive empathy.

This is when you "pick up a vibe" from another person. For no apparent reason, you suddenly sense a person's deep loneliness, or you feel hostility coming from a person who is smiling at you.

How to use it in romantic relationships:

Being sensitive to other people's nature is a valuable skill--but it comes with perils. If you feel drained after meeting someone at a party, for example, pay attention so you can avoid giving him your phone number. Learning to "read" other people's feelings will improve your romantic relationships, as long as you don't "take on" others' moods and emotions. For example, when you can sense your boyfriend had a bad day, or is tense after talking on the phone to his mom, you can ask him questions to get him emoting. Such empathetic communication deepens and enhances love partnerships.

Listening to Your Inner Voice

Five Pathways to Listening to Your Inner Voice

by Claudette Rowley, Coach, Consultant and Author

Is your life out of sync with your priorities?
Do you feel like you're a hamster running on a wheel?
Have you forgotten who you are?
 

If you answered YES to any of these questions, read on. Learn to listen to your inner voice - the essence of who you are - by following these five steps:

1.  Check in with your heart.

Social conditioning teaches us to be logical and "use our heads". When you only use your head, your experience of yourself and the world is limited. You miss out on the vital information the rest of your body, heart and soul is giving you.

Benefits: The same neurological tissue found in the brain is found in the heart. The heart is a second "brain" and our emotional center. Listening to your head and your heart is crucial to good decision-making about your life, your business and your relationships.

New Focus: Put your hand over your heart and focus there - what is it telling you?

2.  Connect with your body.

Your body gives you a tremendous amount of useful information that you may not be conscious of. For example, when your mother-in-law visits, does your stomach tie up in knots? When your boss yells at you, do your shoulders turn into stone? When you feel passionate and alive, does your chest feel warm and open? When we ignore the body's message, we lose out on valuable information designed to let us what works for us and what doesn't.

Benefits: For many people, fear manifests as a tightness in their chest. This is valuable information, especially if you aren't aware that you are afraid. Your body alerts you to what makes feels passionate and what doesn't. The body is a fount of wisdom designed to tell you when you're on the right path and when you aren't.

New Focus: Notice the messages your body is giving you right now. Try a self-massage to find areas in your back, neck or shoulders that are tense or knotted. What other areas of your body feel tight? Which ones feel relaxed and loose? Use this information as another key to listening to your inner wisdom.

3.  Listen to your intuition.

Intuition is simply knowing something without knowing exactly how you know it. Connect back to a time that you had a "gut feeling" about something - the job that you knew you shouldn't take, even though it looked good on the surface or the relationship that just felt right for you. That's your intuition talking to you.

Benefits: Gut feelings are a wealth of information. Remember, your intuition is never wrong, although your interpretation of it may be incorrect. When your intuition calls to you, trust it. Practice makes perfect when it comes to using your intuition effectively.

New Focus: The next time you need to make a decision, check in with your intuition. Experiment with trusting it. When you follow your intuition, what happens? When you hear it and disregard it, what's the outcome?

4.  Notice your self-saboteur*.

Each of us has our very own special saboteur. The saboteur is the voice in your head that says, "You are not good enough." "Who do you think you are?" "If you take this new job, everyone will find out what a fraud you are." The saboteur's job is to "protect" you from taking risks and making changes.

Benefits: Learn to distinguish between your voice and the saboteur's mumbo-jumbo. Notice how the inner critic drives the choices and decisions you make.

New Focus: Simply notice the negative voices playing in your head. Notice the times when they crop up. Recognize that the voices aren't you and they aren't true. Learning to separate your own voice from that of the saboteur is a powerful and life changing tool.

5.  Identify limiting beliefs.

We each carry a set of beliefs that we live by. Certain beliefs you hold consciously, while others are mainly unconscious. Beliefs develop out of past experiences and our interpretations of those experiences. Some of the conscious and unconscious beliefs that you develop limit your ability to grow and move forward in your life. For example: One of your goals as a successful entrepreneur is to make a lot of money. You discover that you have a belief - a limiting one - that it's wrong to make a lot of money. Until you begin to alter your beliefs about money, it will be more difficult for you to achieve that financial success you desire.

Benefits: Learning to notice a limiting belief allows you to become conscious of it, and then change it. Releasing a belief that limits you puts you back in the driver's seat of your life. You, rather than an old belief, make the choices that are right for you and allow you to fulfill your potential
 

Ways to spot a limiting belief:

• You tell yourself that you only have one or two choices in a situation, or "no choice" at all.
• Your inner critic expresses his or her opinion. The inner critic's opinion is generally based in a limiting belief.
• A decision may appear to be black and white to you, or an either/or situation.
• You have decided that "this is the way the world is."
• You make a decision based on fear.
• You feel constricted and notice that you lack clarity about a specific situation.

New Focus: How does a particular belief allow you to attract what you really want in life? How does it prevent you from attaining your goals? When you reach an obstacle in your path, make sure that it's not an old belief in your way.

 

When important questions like "What do I want?" or "What's the right choice for me to make?" surface in your mind, consult your inner voice. You possess the answers you need to live a life that feels successful and fulfilling. Listening to your inner voice can lead you on a path that feels deeply satisfying. Your business and personal lives will flourish with this new level of trust in yourself.


*Based on the work of Richard Carson in Taming Your Gremlin.