Last year my five year old niece wanted a sled for Christmas. Now Santa probably gets thousands of requests for a sled, but how many does he get from children in New Zealand? Christmas in New Zealand is a time for barbeques and beach days. It doesn’t even snow in winter where Sophie lives.
One of the glorious things about children is they listen to their heart; they don’t second-guess their intuition or worry about making a mistake, they just go for it.
The other day Sophie’s 3 year-old brother George was asked what he’d like to do when he grows up, his answer: make peanut butter (or peeny butter, as he calls it). George will reassess his career choice one day but sometimes our own hunches are as seemingly ludicrous as wanting a peanut butter factory – yet they’re exactly what we should be doing!
Have you ever had a wild hunch, followed it andΒ later seen how it made perfect sense?
There are two things you should know about ‘the hunch’.
Firstly, the more space you have in your life, the more hunches you’ll get; they tend to speed up in frequency and intensity in proportion to the amount of quiet time you have – which is why you have more over the holidays.
Secondly, if your new idea involves doing something different to what you normally do, or what people around you are doing, your mind WILL do everything it can to stop you from following through.
It’s not your mind being bad, itΛs just the nature of your mind.
Your mind is unenthusiastic about new ideas because your mind hates change; change is terrifying for the mind. In fact your mind will employ every sneaky trick it can to stop you from adopting new behaviors or beliefs.
Telling you things like “I’m, too old,” “I’m too young,” “I’m not smart enough.”
You have your own super sonic in-built guidance system
We hear so much about intuition but often we don’t take it seriously. Instead we listen to our mind and dismiss our gut feelings.
The most productive and satisfying way to move through life is to follow your heart. That gentle voice within you is the ticket to living the life your heart desires.
This is why understanding the true nature of your mind is such a powerful thing.Β because until you do it will stop you from taking the leaps you really want to take. It will also have you believing a lot of self-critical mind talk and feeling resentful, angry or dissatisfied.
(You can read more about the nature of your mind in my book 7 Secrets Your Mind Doesn’t Want You to Know)
So how does ‘following your intuition’ work?
Remember how I said your mind wants to see the whole plan laid out? Well, the truth is you donΛt need to know every step; in fact, rarely will you know every step. All you need to know is the step right in front of you.
When you next get an inclination to do something, whether it’s a big thing or a small thing, take notice of it, and seriously consider doing it. Think of it as experiment if that helps.
But what about my mind?
Think of your mind as the fine-tuning mechanism rather than as the knower of all things wise. For example, once you’ve decided to fly to Botswana for Christmas, then let your mind help you figure out how to buy a ticket and what clothes to take. (Your intuition is also very helpful in matters like this too)
Over the past couple of years I made a conscious effort to listen to my hunches
I didn’t worry if I couldn’t see the full picture and as a result the changes in my life and the speed they’ve happened have been far greater than ever before.
It didn’t always make sense, but I did it anyway
For example, I sold my house not knowing if I would ever be able to afford to buy one again or where I was going to live. In fact, I spent the next 9 months living in a small van with my two dogs trying to figure that out.
Another radical hunch I followed was to hire a life coach for the first time. It cost me more than I’d ever spent on anything (aside from my house), I’d never spoken to the woman, I didn’t even take her up on her 60-minute free consultation. I just signed up, paid up and felt perfectly calm while I did it. (At the time I found spending more than $50 on a pair of shoes worrisome).
Then, I flew to LA. Why? Because ‘it felt like a good idea!’ This might not seem that unusual, tons of people fly into Los Angeles every year, but ask anyone who knows me and they’re like, what, you, LA? On top of that, I didn’t know anyone, I had virtually no plans, just a hunch.
Then there was the random phone call that changed everything.
One day after a long bike ride I was sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea when the thought popped into my mind to call a woman I’d met a couple of weeks earlier who said to contact her if I wanted to join her for a walk.
I didn’t feel like a walk and I was pretty sure she had only said it to be polite, but my hunch to call her was so strong I put my tea down looked heavenward and said,”All right, I’ll do it.” Later that night I went to a dinner party at her house, which is where I met my husband.
And the list goes on.
The next time you get an idea, that feels right’ even if every neuron in your head says you’re crazy like a wolf, I say – go for it.
I didn’t use to live this way, but having seen what happens when you do, I try to as much as I can – despite what my mind tells me sometimes! We are all Sophie’s and George’s. We’ve just become accustomed to giving way more importance to the thoughts in our head than they deserve.
What does your Christmas penguin on a sled look like? And do you have the courage to take that first step?Β Go on – you’ll be pleased you did!
Hi Lisa
Loved the article. Laughed out loud at the “peeny butter.” Such a simple answer and yet so powerful. Us adults need to remember that simplicity and not question it.
Happy holidays and enjoy them to the fullest, I know you will. Let’s chat in 2013!
Blessings, Joan
Hi Lisa,
Im new to your posts but they are always thought provoking and worth reading.I bought your book because I loved it and read itall the way through at the bookstore.Thank you for being so nice! I told my therapist about you she likes you too
Thanks Joan, and Happy Holidays to you and yours too!
Hi Lisa
I actually followed a hunch and when back to college this year (I am 40, by the way). It was hard, my mind was trying to tell me 100 reasons not to do it! But I’ve been there for 6 months now & I love it.
Ah, cool! Yay for doing things at 40 too – I too am a 40’er – and ignoring your mind. Best wishes with your studies. How fantastic. And thanks for saying hi:) Lisa X
Exactly what I needed to read at this moment. Isn’t it funny what comes your way when you ask for it? Thank you! X
Hi Jade,
My pleasure:) And yes, isn’t it funny how that happens! So often too.
Lisa XX
I really loved this article. I found it funny when you said we tend to have more hunches over the holidays. It’s interesting that when we get these hunches, we get a “gut feeling”. We have serotonin neurotransmitters not only in our brains, but also in our gut.
I think following our intuition makes our life less complicated and at the same time, less robotic because we become more in tune with our actual feelings about things.
Thanks Tara:) And well put!! Definitely makes my life less complicated. Not that I manage to do it all the time – but always such a pleasure when i do. X L.
JUST KEEEP ON POSTING…..what ever hunch made you starting to do it. Blessings from November-rainy Berlin, Germany.
Matthias
Thanks Matthias in November-rainy Berlin! Lovely to hear from you:)
hi Lisa,
thanks 4 the post I love it.
Lisa I haven’t gotten my copy of ur book(seven secrets your mind doesn’t want u to know)
stay bless!
Thanks Denis:) Will email you re book, thanks for letting me know.
Lisa
Love your emails. How true that we are all Sophie’s and George’s. As a Sophie with a brother George I can instantly relate;)
Hi Sophie with a brother George! How cool. Thanks for your note:)
As you have done before Lisa, it is like you write about exactly what I have been struggeling with the past week or so. And funny enough, just as start writing this, i accidently press a buttom so that my mail pops up, and there is a just recieved reply from you about the survey π
Thank you again for this!!
You’re welcome, Liesel:)
Just what I needed to hear….your emails have been sychronicity to me!! Thank you so much. π
It really is my pleasure. Best wishes to you, and thanks for your note:)
Hi Lisa
This is spooky I’m at work and decided today I want to travel in March and April (probably zo and nz) but I have to get the all clear with work. Then I get an email from my boss for a year end review and this email from you! A friend needs to move out end feb and may want my place for a couple of months!
Nice! What a morning! (We’re heading down that way Feb/March, to Oz too, which I haven’t really been to – am pretty excited). If you want any tips on holidaying in NZ, drop me a line!
That’s oz by the way!
Ha! I was trying to figure out what that was, but of course, “Oz!”
Thanks!
Anytime!
I continue to love your posts every week, THANK YOU!
Thanks Candice. It’s my pleasure!
Its true that when the chatter stops I’m calm. Intuition? Nothing yet. Is my wanting intuition hazing the signal? Just wondering and waiting.
Hi Matt – and my apologies for tardy reply!
Intuition is a funny thing – and not as mythical as you might think. In fact, every time we get an idea to do something, say if you’re walking down the street you don’t know very well, and you suddenly think, I’ll cross over here, this is your intuition. I suspect you have lots of intuitive thoughts but you don’t call them that, or see them in that way??
Sometimes we can feel frustrated when we don’t have clarity around something. I’ve come to respect that period of confusion as part of the process. And yeah, trusting that you will get guidance when you need it helps too.
I’m working on an article that explains this in more depth, but hopefully that clears it up a bit? Cheers, Lisa
hi .. i felt good reading your article.. i feel like following my hunches..
am doing my masters and feeling miserable.. wanted to leave it but my father insists on carrying on.. as according to him its necessary for the jobs.. etc.. shall i try convincing him again to let me leave my course..??
With all respect – I have no idea. That sounds like I’m being facetious. I’m not. The thing is, only you know what’s best for you. One of the challenges of growing up is tapping into that part of you and learning to trust it. Not always easy!
Your articles are great to read. I like them a lot. I get something that I must know to live successfully when I read them. Thank you.
Thanks Ruchira! Nice to have you here:)
Your articles are absolutely wonderful. This article is exactly what I needed to read. It explains what actually has been going on in my life. I have been going with the flow, not worrying about the next step. Everything falls in place. Thanks again I β‘ reading your articles
It’s my pleasure, Shay:)
I love hearing that you’ve been doing this – thank you for your inspiring note:)
Love this article, it makes my heart smile π the longer I’ve been travelling the more I have felt ‘magic’ as I call it or intuition influencing my life for the better. You are a true inspiration Lisa and so thankful for all that you share π xx
Lisa,
Thank you so much for writing and sharing this! Have you found that now, looking back, you’re sort of in love with your time in that van with the dogs?
I just moved to LA two weeks ago, which felt like a fairly crazy thing as I was leaving all family, a good job, etc. – but there have been so many cool coincidences and serendipities now that I’m here. Oh – and I just booked my first commercial. π
Please keep writing and thank you again for sharing yourself with us,
Dakota
Hi Dakota,
Thanks so much for your note. And congratulations on booking the commercial. Very nice!
I’ve come to realize, living in a van has different connotations here than it does in New Zealand. Back home, most people think it’s cool, as they are many wonderful places to park up. And I’m kind of an outdoors girl anyway. But, I don’t know, it was still tough. But also privileged. I didn’t have to work and I could potter about. A mixed time! But all good.
Here’s to serendipitous events that lead to moving to one of the biggest cities in the world! A fascinating place.
Lisa
XX
Hello Lisa
Thank you so much for your posts. I find them really inspiring and encouraging.
with love
Kate xx
Hi Lisa
A great article really!
I am attending a course which is just a great way to change our lives, in a radically different way! My Teacher also talks about intuition so much that we have started believing our inner voice. Prayer is what we talk to God and Intuition is the God calling back! And we have ignored Him all the way through our lives till the very moment when our quota of suffering is over. And there you meet somebody who can guide you on this road. Not really spirituality with lots of jargon, but simply present moment awareness and witnessing does it all with regular meditation practice to calm our minds and then we can really hear the Intuition- Voice of the Inner Tutor!
Thank you so so much:)
Dr. Aniket
Isn’t it an amazing thing to learn to use. Not at all woo woo or hard either is it, once you know what to look for. We’re just so darned practiced at ignoring it. Thanks for stopping by and best wishes with your course=)
So funny because my hunch is New Zealand and everything is coming together so quickly and easily..it’s eerie! Finally ended unhappy relationship and getting the house ready for sale!
Good luck with the change!! Thanks for saying hi:)
I love your example of how you found your way to LA. I love how you show it took time. and how you were patient with the process, living 9 months in your van, wow. and then moving over to LA not knowing anyone. That takes real courage. Moving to a new country takes courage, let alone doing it without knowing anyone or having anyway of staying here. I love, love the way you met up with your husband. what a wonderful story of living by following your intuition. I am working with a wonderful tarot deck that has an image of a being looking down at their stomach at a beautiful green maze centered on their abdomen. This image reminds me that we all walk a unique path, and we carry the maze right within us. we each have to walk the labyrinth of our own life. and what a joy it is when we do this. I honor your courage. I am living that way more too. I ended up in totally new place to me too. and loving it. You are a bright light.
It is a maze isn’t it. And since it’s our maze we are so much better following our map! Took me a while to realize this. And I think we naturally all fight against it a bit. Wonderful to read your message this morning and to hear that you also ended up in a totally new place! Warm regards, Lisa
Hi Lisa,
I’ve just discovered your blog a few days ago and I’m now reading through all your posts – I wish you would write more! π I’m looking forward to learning more about your new book, too.
I love this post especially, your story is so inspiring – and I agree, it shows a lot of courage on your part. Following my own map is a great image, I like that. I’ve followed other people’s maps for way too long. Seems crazy now that I think about it …
I feel so overwhelmed and confused by my thoughts (my mind) at the moment – this probably explains why I am quite a bit lost in my own maze. There are so many things I’d love to (and feel I should) figure out … but probably my mind must first calm down a bit.
Thank you for the inspiration!
Michaela (Germany)
Hi Michaela, and thanks for your note:) As a fellow try-and-figure-everything-out-er, I get it! The discombobulated times are often not the much fun – spending a year in a van in New Zealand is pretty cool, but it was also tough because I didn’t know what I wanted to do, where I wanted to live and so on. Best wishes to you. And thanks so much for saying hi.
Warm regards
Lisa.
Just what i needed. I’m trying to move halfway around the world. I feel like this is the only thing i need to do right now. I get so many rejections because of my nationality.
Just this morning i got this email: Unfortunately due to you being from the Philippines the system automatically declines you as it is extremely hard to get a visa. We are unable to help you with this either.
I feel like its not fair. But my intuition tells me i can do it. And so i will.
Thank you Lisa.
Loved this – spot on!! Aligns very will with some recent stuff I learned – ahem, am learning – about intuition. Thanks for reinforcing this message strongly.
Besides, I loved the humor in: “What does your Christmas penguin on a sled look like?” and will be sharing this post. Thanks for sharing your heart <3 with us and many blessings always!