Is It Fear... Or Intuition?
by Lynn A. Robinson
It often strikes me how much courage it requires to follow your intuition. How often have you come up with a wonderful insight, a creative idea or an "outside of the box" plan for success only to have it shot down by naysayer? "You can't do that." "It won't work." "No one has ever done it that way before." These are only a few of the remarks I've heard. The worst part is when the comments originate in your own mind! It's a part of you experiencing a fear of change, arguing against taking a risk.
Intuition is always encouraging you to open up, try something new and be the best you can be. It consistently points the way to success. We all want a sure thing, a guarantee that the risk we take will work out okay. But life isn't like that. It requires that you develop faith and courage so you can grow big enough emotionally and spiritually to live your dreams. It's not always easy. Someone once said, "You'll never stand on the mountaintop unless you've stood in the valley."
Here are five ways to help you build your courage.
Challenge One Fear at a Time:
Most of us get scared because we're overwhelmed by the enormity of the task ahead of us. It's helpful to think of it as a term paper you had to do when you were in school. How can you break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces? Make a to-do list of items that need to be accomplished. You'll feel better as you cross things off that list and see steady advancement toward your goal.
Keep Your Sense of Humor:
What's the worst thing that can happen? Write it out and then make it even worse so it becomes an exercise in the ridiculous. I have a colleague who calls the part of her that is always worrying, "Fearful Freda." She says it helps to think of Freda as a friend who just needs a little compassion and encouragement.
What’s the Best that Can Happen?
You've dealt with the worst that can happen. Now, what's the best? Use the power of your emotions and your ability to visualize to create a best-case scenario. What picture comes to your mind when you imagine achieving your goal? While focusing on that, add color, texture, sounds and smells to your image. Amplify the positive emotions you feel. In your mind's eye, see and feel encouraging friends around you congratulating you on your success. As my friend, singer and speaker Jana Stanfield, says, “What would you do today if you were brave?”
Manage Your Self-Talk:
Try an experiment. Bring to mind a stressful event in your life, then close your eyes and say the words "I'm so overwhelmed; what can I do?!" several times and with intense feeling. Note your feelings. With the same event in mind, say the words, "I'm open to new possibilities." Or "I know I'll be shown the best way out of this situation." Now how do you feel? Do you notice that the first sentence makes you feel shut down and anxious? The second and third statements probably made you feel open, hopeful and produced an expectation of positive change. Everyone talks to themselves. If your inner dialogue is making you feel bad, change it.
Trust Your Intuition
There is a part of you connected to Divine Wisdom, All-That-Is (or whatever you call God), that wants you to succeed. By meditating, sitting quietly or going for a calming walk, you can more easily access this Inner Wisdom. Ask your intuition open-ended questions. "What's the best way to heal this relationship?" "What could I do for work that would be fun and profitable?" Listen for the answers. They'll come through feelings, words, physical sensations, symbols, dreams or just a simple knowing. As you begin to listen to your intuition and follow its wisdom, you'll find that all the courage you need is inside you. You just have to ask.
Lynn A. Robinson is a leading expert and best-selling author on the topic of intuition. She is also a professional speaker and intuitive consultant who teaches individuals and businesses how to use their untapped intuitive abilities to change their lives and grow their companies. She uses her own highly developed intuition to provide powerful, transformative insights for her clients. She has written six books on intuition that have been published in over twelve languages. Her latest books are "Trust Your Gut: How the Power of Intuition Can Grow Your Business" and "LISTEN: Trusting Your Inner Voice in Times of Crisis." Her popular Intuition Newsletter has become a must-read for thousands. She can be reached at 800-925-4002 or Lynn@LynnRobinson.com.
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