Even today, it’s still all too common to link high sensitivity with negativity and challenges - both for ourselves and those around us. We often get stuck in the cliché of the overly sensitive, hyper-emotional, fragile person who just can't cope. But let's flip that narrative! High sensitivity comes with a hidden superpower: a strong connection to our intuition. If we tune into it, this inner wisdom can really help guide us through life. It becomes our personal GPS. Intuition is something everyone has, but highly sensitive people and empaths seem to have a special knack for it. However, it can be tricky to trust because following your intuition requires clarity and a bit of courage.
So, what exactly is intuition?
Intuition is like getting a download of knowledge straight into your mind, without any effort or deep thinking. No, it’s not supernatural! It’s just your unconscious mind working its magic - sorting through past experiences and memories super fast, and serving up an answer with amazing confidence. You know those gut feelings or hunches we all get? That’s intuition at work. It’s that little voice that whispers what you should do, even if it doesn’t seem logical. It often shows up as a sudden insight or an undeniable gut reaction that makes everything feel clearer and lighter.
Our brains are wired with this amazing tool to help us make decisions quickly and efficiently. It helps us free up mental energy to focus on new things and learn more effectively. Although intuition isn’t always 100% right, it’s incredibly valuable.
So, intuition isn’t something you learn; it’s something you already have. But it does need to be nurtured and developed. Intuition is basically sensory info that our brain picks up but doesn’t quite register consciously. Our brain processes it and makes decisions without us realizing it. Intuition taps into our sensory "data bank," constantly picking up tiny details and adjusting to changes around us. The most intuitive people are those who’ve sharpened their senses the most. Emotions, which come from our senses, are key to developing this intuitive ability.
Intuition is a special kind of knowing that skips right past our mental filters. There’s no such thing as a good or bad intuition - just intuition itself. The hard part is learning to recognize it amidst all the noise of our emotions and thoughts.
Here are four signs you’re in touch with your intuition:
1. It feels like the idea pops up out of nowhere.
2. You know something is true, but you can't explain why.
3. It feels so obvious that you have zero doubts and act immediately.
4. By following it, you notice that life improves, and good things start happening.
Intuition doesn’t have a schedule - it can pop up anytime! The trick is staying aware of your feelings so you can hear it when it speaks. That’s the tough part. To really tap into it, you need to create a sense of inner calm, far away from the storm of overthinking, worries, and fears.
How can you recognize your intuition?
There are many ways it might show up, though they can vary. The more in tune you are with yourself and your emotions, the easier it becomes to spot when intuition is knocking. Here are some examples:
- A powerful warmth or clarity in your body, especially in your solar plexus.
- You feel a buzz of positive energy, almost like a vibration.
- Chills or shivers run through you from head to toe.
- You get a strong internal warning, even though everything around you looks fine.
- A quiet inner voice nudges you in a certain direction.
- It just feels right, like a certainty.
- You get a flash of an image, thought, or feeling that seems important.
It took me a while to figure out that this little inner voice wasn’t just my mind rambling, but my intuition speaking. Not only has it made me feel more at ease, but it’s also given me valuable insights. The hardest part was learning to trust it fully and let go. For instance, when I made a major career change to align with my values, I had to set aside my fears. My mind was screaming “be reasonable,” but deep down, I knew this change was essential. What we often forget is that our intuition is linked to something bigger - it has access to knowledge beyond our conscious mind. It’s like getting messages straight from your soul, and it knows what’s best for you.
So, how do you develop your intuition?
Here are four tips to help you bring it more into your life:
1. Believe in your intuition.
We’re so used to relying on logic and reason that we often ignore it. But the more you believe in and trust your intuition, the stronger it gets.
2. Listen.
Your intuition comes as quick, spontaneous flashes, totally different from the drawn-out process of logical reasoning. To catch these flashes, you have to be present, free of doubts and fears. Take care of yourself - get enough sleep, eat well, and relax. Practicing mindfulness is also super helpful.
3. Trust it.
I get it, this part can be tough. But make a promise to yourself to trust your intuition for a set period of time—a week, a month, whatever works for you. If you ignore it, it’ll fade, and you’ll find it harder to recognize.
4. Don’t ask for other people’s opinions.
Intuition isn’t something you can explain logically, so others won’t be able to give you useful feedback on it. They haven’t felt what you’ve felt, so trust yourself—even if it feels like you’re on your own.
Highly sensitive people and intuition
Highly sensitive people are incredibly intuitive. They’re like sponges for the energy and “vibes” of people and places. But here’s the kicker - they often struggle to trust their own intuition. Why? Well, two big reasons stand out.
First, they might not even realize they’re intuitive because intuition feels abstract, and they might dismiss it as a random thought.
Second, they’re often criticized for thinking differently and being emotional, so they start doubting themselves and their instincts. It’s easy for them to brush off their intuitive nudges as just another quirk.
Because they feel so much, highly sensitive people sometimes mask their true selves to fit in. Intuition shows up as subtle signals - small bodily responses or gut feelings - but they might not realize it’s their intuition speaking. How many time have you regretted ignoring that gut feeling when you knew something wasn’t right? Instead of beating yourself up, be kind to yourself. No one teaches us how to listen to our intuition, just like no one teaches us how to manage our emotions. Life is all about learning as we go.
There are other traits that make highly sensitive people ignore their intuition:
- They don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.
- They struggle with setting boundaries.
- They can be manipulated if they lack confidence.
- They absorb other people’s emotions, which can make their own feelings harder to detect.
So, what’s the solution? The answer is discernment. Intuition doesn’t lie, even though it’s not foolproof. If something feels off - if your body reacts negatively - trust it. Intuition speaks through your feelings, not your emotions. If you get a strong sense about someone, even if you can’t explain it, believe it.
And if you’re still unsure how to connect with your intuition, try this little experiment: Have you ever glanced at the clock and noticed it’s 10:10 or 333, maybe even several days in a row? These are called synchronicities, and they’re not just random coincidences. It’s your intuition nudging you, telling you to pause and listen. When you start noticing these moments, you’ll begin to trust your intuition more, inviting even more of these “grace-filled” moments into your life.
Let your intuition guide you when making decisions. It’s drawing from resources that you might not be consciously aware of, and it’s aligned with your true self.
Personally, I’ve made the choice to trust my intuition. It’s been a huge help in key moments, and every time I’ve ignored it, I’ve regretted it!
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