**All links are at the bottom of the post, footnote style**
I Almost Got Raped Because I Ignored My Intuition
Seriously, it was scary. I decided to start paying attention to my intuition after this day.
Here is the story.
I was going about my daily duties (heheh, she said doody). Last stop, the local grocery store.
I have a delightful habit of looking people in the eye when I pass them. I love to nod, smile and say “Hi!” or “Good Morning!” I did this in the parking lot, happily trotting towards my car. My mind was on the tomato soup and sourdough bread I planned to eat once I got home.
That’s when the man walked passed me. I smiled and said hello. He smiled back.
That was that.
I got in my car and started driving home.
Halfway Home, I Had a WEIRD Feeling Wash Over Me and a Voice in My Head Said “Don’t Go Home”
Did I follow that advice? No. I did not. I pushed it aside because I had no idea why it came up.
I should have listened, my dear reader, I should have listened.
As I got out of my car, and closed the door, I felt someone standing right behind me, in MY OWN driveway. I jumped (startled), then looked up.
It was the last guy I had smiled at IN THE SAFEWAY PARKING LOT! Holy h*ll! He had come up behind me and stopped next to my passenger door, six inches from me.
I could feel his breath as he said hello.
In an instant I felt a hot wave of fear flush over me. “When you walked by me in the Safeway parking lot, you seemed like such a nice person, I wanted to meet you” he said.
I laughed nervously and looked around. No one in sight. This was before cell phones too. I took a slow uneasy step away. He moved forward to meet me. He was saying something, but it was swirling in my brain and not quite landing.
He asks me something about my cheery attitude. Huh? I’m coming into focus.
I had to think fast, how do I get this guy to leave? Was he going to hurt me? I’d heard about rapists who start out this way… acting as if everything is normal.
My mouth was bone dry, but I managed to engage in his conversation.
We chatted lightly AS IF THE SITUATION WASN’T EXTREMELY CREEPY.
Thinking as fast as I could, I told him I was flattered, and said “I’d better go inside soon because my boyfriend is home and he’ll be wondering why I haven’t come in yet.”
I didn’t have a boyfriend. In fact, I lived alone. But I figured it would stop him from following me inside.
“Just so you know, my boyfriend tends to be the jealous type, so its probably best we don’t continue talking. It was very nice to meet you; you seem like such a nice guy.”
I managed to squeak out a smile.
To my deep relief, he left and thankfully, I never saw him again. It worked out for me, but in an alternate-reality universe, I’m sure I got raped and killed, and then killed again. Thank gawd I’m in this universe, phew!
Trying to shake it off, I then recalled the internal warning not to go home. THAT was intuition talking.
I promised myself forevermore I would pay closer attention to the tiny voice inside me. The one that warns me or gives me the feeling that something is happening that I should pay attention to (And the one who whispers that three chocolate shakes in a row is not likely to end well).
Now, when intuition shows up, I heed the warning, no matter how silly I feel, no matter how minor it is, no matter how ridiculous it makes me look, and no matter what someone else is telling me; I pay attention.
That’s my story, and it was tense, so shake it out and listen…
Intuition Is not Always a Warning, Sometimes It Brings You Great Fortune!
Spanx billionaire Sara Blakely asked the universe for “a clue” about what to create for a profitable business. She’s the one who brought us comfortable ‘shaping’ underwear for women. And she’s made a pretty mint out of a pretty cool idea. (1)
Everyone thinks her story started by cutting the legs out of a pair of control-top pantyhose to wear under her white pants, but the REAL STORY started long before that.
In her online Masterclass she tells how she purposefully set an intention, by writing in her journal and asking for an idea that would make the world better. She asked, waited, and then tuned in to her intuition.
When it tickled her brain, she took it seriously and then took action. (2)
Trusting her intuition started her on the road to becoming a very wealthy woman. That’s why her motto is “Trust Your Gut!”
My motto, (thank you for asking), is “Pass the Butter!”
Uhh wait, maybe it was “I’ll Pass on the Butter!”
Hmmm… I need to rethink that.
What Is Intuition?
Intuition is an awakening to information that is not obvious from the knowledge that you’re getting through your other five senses (touch, taste, sight, sound, and smell).
Intuition is a sensation in the body, or a fleeting thought in the brain. It comes from inside. Some get it as a random-feeling impulse. Some get it as a message that just pops in the brain out of no where.
Some, like Sara, get a feeling in their gut.
I both felt and heard my intuitive life-saving thought. I did not notice that guy following my car (read the intro story if you skipped it, you naughty skimmer).
Intuition told me it might not be safe to go home, and I’m not just talking about facing the mold in my bathroom.
Where Does Intuition Come From?
No one knows for sure, but there are lots of fun theories.
Some believe its a bunch of hooey altogether.
Some say its their guardian angel, or a whisper from God, or a message from the universe.
In yoga, the third eye chakra between your two eyebrows is connected to intuition.
It’s called the “inner eye” and is the chakra of intuition, wisdom, and our sixth sense. Yogi’s say this is where your higher self lives. So your higher self is sending you messages.
If you prefer a logic-based explanation, some believe that it’s our subconscious connecting the dots by picking up on very subtle clues in our environment, or from the body language of others.
Evolutionarily speaking, this is a thoughtful theory. We’ve had to tune in to our environment, senses, thoughts, feelings, and past experiences to survive for thousands of years.
Our ancestors who survived because of those subtle skills, passed them on to us.
Imagine this scenario.
It’s April 19th, 10,0000 b.c. You are bustling along, busily thinking about getting to the water hole, and wondering whether or not Grog will have a clue as to how to arrange those pelts in your new cave. It’s an upgrade from your last cave, with it’s high ceilings, open-concept layout and beautiful stone interior.
You can’t wait to build your first fire.
Without being aware of it consciously, your nose picks up a slight scent of bear in the air and your eyes glance past a freshly broken branch.
The subconscious mind—ever aware of trying to keep us alive—subtly signals you to go back to the cave to safety.
You get a gut feeling you should go back, so you do.
This is intuition talking and it’s a mental short-cut.
Be double aware! That cave might actually belong to the bear, in which case, trouble’s-a-brewin. He may have you arrested for breaking and entering.
Whether we heed the intuitive feeling or not, it may be a life or death decision. **Cue scary music!**
Additional Science-y Explanations for Intuition
If you like science-type explanations, you may also enjoy these ideas. Quantum physics may be the reason for an intuitive thought or feeling.
Since everything, according to quantum physics, is made up of energy, we get a signal through the interconnectedness of things.
This is called “quantum intuition” and frankly the science is a little over my head, but it involves ideas of past, present and future all being present at the same time.
Be aware that it’s a concept, not a scientifically proven fact. (3) (4)
Similarly, another view known as “retrocausality” suggests that the future is set in stone and we have some hint of sensing the future.
In theoretical physics, this is explained as a particle running backwards through time to where it is entangled with, and affects it’s partner particle.
This is all very fancy way to saying that the energy of the future is affecting the energy of right now and we pick up on that.
No one has yet proven this to be the case, but it IS an interesting idea. (5)
Why Do They Call Intuition a “Gut Feeling”?
Researchers, who obviously have very cool jobs, have discovered a vast neural network of 100 million neurons lining our entire digestive tracts.
We have TWO brains, one in the gut and one in the head. (6)
The one in the gut is believed to regulate a lot of our emotional responses, so it makes a lot of sense that intuitive thoughts come with gut feelings.
This is why it’s a fabulous idea to be “in tune” with your body and notice how it feels.
The term “feed your brain” takes on a whole new meaning, now, doesn’t it?
How To Develop Intuition? Here Are 9 Ways to Get Jiggy wit It.
Live in the Now:
Notice what you are doing at every moment. This takes a lot of practice and can be freakin’ hard to keep up because our mind wants to distract us.
Try doing this even with the boring moments of your day, like sweeping the floor or scrubbing your white-wall tires with a toothbrush. Staying very aware of your surroundings can also make you aware of yourself and your thoughts.
Let’s practice.
What are you doing right now?
How about now?
And now?
Don’t let your mind wander….snap it back to… now.
C’mon soldier! Keep up.
How now brown cow?
Okay, good practice.
Be the Observer:
I’m not talking about becoming a peeping Tom (or peeping Tami, or peeping Turtle). I’m talking about observing yourself as you go about your day.
Separate mentally from yourself so you don’t freak out when you see yourself watching re-runs of Star Trek while eating 10 PB&J sandwiches in a row (That was me in my 20’s).
Being the observer takes imagination, which helps connects you to your intuitive side.
Meditate:
There are lots of different ways of meditating. They all have benefits of relaxing the mind so it can connect with the universe or the divine or to yourself or to your intuition.
Quiet Time:
Shut your mouth first of all.
No, I’m just kidding.
Turn off all of your devices, turn off the music, and send your kids to grandma’s house and your yappy dog to the doggy day spa. It’s time to have a quiet hour, or day.
Noise cancellation headphones and noise isolation headphones are exquisite, and can’t be beat for connecting with yourself without having to send everyone away. (7)
A.J. Jacobs, the self-experimenting investigative writer hipped me to these types of headphones. He experimented with wearing them everywhere for a month and he loved it so much he kept doing it. (8)
If you want to super charge this experience, check out isolation tanks, where you float inside a tank with black-cat darkness. I could have said pitch-black darkness, but most people like cats better than pitch. (9)
I’ve heard its a bit spooky and wonderful for insights. Gotta try it one day.
Practice Empathy:
Get in touch with other people’s feelings (and your own) regularly.
Anytime you interact with others, or hear a story about a person or animal, pretend for a few moments that you are them. Imagine what they might be feeling at that moment.
Intuition comes often as an emotion, so if you can identify emotions when they pop up out of the blue, you’re a step ahead, sailor.
Journaling:
Journaling is an excellent way to reflect inwards and capturing random thoughts that you didn’t even know you had.
Ten minutes a day of writing, either on paper, on your computer, on a cell phone or on a voice recording device allows you to reflect on what is going on inside you.
Reread your notes to catch messages you should be paying attention to.
Get into the Flow:
Flow is experienced when you’re practicing a skill that you are good that also challenges enough to engage your brain.
Usually there is a feeling of timelessness where you can be in flow for hours and not notice the time that went by. Art, music and writing are classic flow vehicles. Making snow globes, soap carving, and extreme ironing are less classic flow vehicles, but can be just as effective. (10)
Exercise:
Exercise stimulates and energizes the body, and help to relieve stress. Stress can often block your ability to connect with yourself emotionally.
Am I at number 9 yet? I lost count. Here are a few more.
Do Drugs
Pharm Out! I mean, Far Out, man!
Altered states is what I’m talking about here, and I don’t want to get into trouble for recommending it, so let’s just say, for the sake of thoroughness, you are being informed.
Historically, some peoples, like indigenous tribes have found that certain altered states can help magnify intuition.
A common option is psilocybin, a.k.a. mushrooms. There are others of course, like LSD, mescaline, and Hawaiian Baby Woodrose. (11)
You think I’m joking on that last one, but I’m not. No, I hadn’t heard of it either.
This is shutting off your brain on purpose by using an alternate state of consciousness.
If you decide to give it a try, be careful man. And do your homework. And make it happen on a trip to countries like Jamaica, Holland, or Peru, where it’s not illegal. Oh, and take me with you. (12)
Let Your Mind Wander
Do something where you don’t use a lot of your mind and you go into automatic mode…like showering or cleaning dishes or watching your favorite hot pink underwear spin round and round in the dryer.
Okay, I Can Practice, Michelle, but When Does the Intuition Kick In?
It could happen in the next five minutes. Intuition happens naturally and you need to notice it and honor it as important. Whether or not you head the feeling or advice is up to you.
Here are a couple of ways to recognize intuition when it shows up:
Notice More Often
Let’s talk a little more about noticing, because tuning in is a lot of what is behind the practices listed above. Don’t knock it ’till you’ve tried it.
Pay attention to a shift in feelings especially when there is no outward reason for it.
Maybe someone new just walked into the room. Or you enter a space and you notice that is filled with someone else’s energy. Notice if you don’t feel well around someone on a regular basis.
Notice physical feelings in your body when discussing something. Is a headache coming on? Stomach ache? Tightness in your throat?
Tapping or touching parts of your body that hurt while tuning in to your emotions can trigger a flash of intuition as well. (13) (14)
Brainstorm
When you are working on a specific question, grab a piece of paper and let every answer you can think of spill out of you as fast as you can write. Don’t edit, don’t say to yourself ‘that’s ridiculous,’ don’t stop. Keep going until you can’t think of any other wildly crazy answers to your question.
Now take a break, breathe, get a Scooby snack and come back.
Pay attention to your internal reaction while reading through your list. There may be something in that pile of weirdness that tickles your “aha!” center.
Think Symbolically
Look for the symbolic meanings of your dreams-imagine you are every character in your dream, and pretend you are that character. When you are putting yourself in their shoes, why are they there? What message are they bringing to you?
Sometimes inanimate objects or settings (cityscape, house) are also “characters.” Try pretending you are those objects too.
Your dreams may be sending you some messages you haven’t picked up on.
Look for Clues
Remember to look and listen for answers to your questions, Just like Sara Blakely, the billionaire, did.
Keep an eye out in your environment and see if you notice anything that speaks to you.
Have a Decision to Make and Need Intuition to Help?
If you are excited after reading this (fabulous) article, and want to see if you can get an answer quickly, you may want to try one of these three bonus exercises:
Decision by Intuition Exercise 1:
Ask a question out loud or in writing and then immediately start writing with your subdominant hand without thinking about what you’re going to write. Just start writing.
I did this once, a million years ago, when I was a wee lass and was surprised by the result.
I can’t recall my specific question. I think it was something like “I’m feeling lost, what should I do?” and my answer, written with my left hand was “I want someone to brush my hair.” It doesn’t sound like it’s related, but I was reminded that my mother used to brush my hair and when she did, I would feel loved. I translated this to mean I needed to work on connecting with others more and also I needed to work on my self care, which is something I STILL work on to this day. Maybe it really meant I needed a hair cut. Not sure.
What’s in it for you? Better decision making for one, and it helps to develop self confidence as well. More money, and maybe fewer unexpected tickle attacks, if you’re lucky.
Decision by Intuition Exercise 2:
Ask a question and then pick up a book or magazine near you and open it up to a random page and put your finger down. Look at the image or sentences in that spot. Does it say something to you? Does it hold any meaning?
Decision by Intuition Exercise 3:
Put your hands behind your back and pretend that you are holding a decision in each hand. Pick a hand and hold it in front of yourself, opened up. Imagine that this is the decision you end up with….does it “feels disappointing?” Try the other hand. Which decision feels better?
These are not hocus-pocus woo-woo exercises, they are meant to help connect your inner world with your outer world. Something inside may give you a clue and help you make connections you’ve not thought of before.
If the outcome is unfruitful, or unsatisfying, no worries. Keep an eye, ear, or brain cell out for the message. It will come.
How Do I Decide Whether or Not to Follow My Intuition?
Trusting your intuition is a practice.
Sometimes you’ll intuit that you left the stove on. You walk over and its fine. It’s not on. Your intuition was “wrong.” Or was it? Maybe there was another reason you needed to walk into the kitchen.
That’s happened to me lots of times. I’ll go check to see if I turned off a light and see my grocery list sitting there, realizing I almost left without it.
People are often happier with decisions that are made with facts + intuition than merely facts alone. Before making a big purchase or making a big decision, check in with your gut.
Check in with your intuition, and if it says “yes!” you’ll be doubly comfortable moving forward with your decision to decorate your bathroom ceiling with expired credit cards.
Live Juicy, Joybird,
Links
8 A.J. Jacobs “Drop Dead Healthy”
11 Psylocybin
12 Countries For Altered States
Photos
Hello Stranger: Ibadah Mimpi
Driving Home: Dylan Spangler
Creepy Guy: Brote Studio
Ripples: Pixabay
Yoga: Prasanth Inturi
Cave: Denniz
Action Balls: Pixabay
Green Door: Pixabay
Belly: Kindel Media
Kite: Ron Lach
Meditate: Schvets Production
Journaling: Pixabay
Mushrooms: Visually Us
Kick: Samarth Singhai
Dream Cloud: Luis Quintero