4 steps to intuitive living.

by

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intuitive living is sometimes street-yoga.

Ive blogged for a million years & penned a bazillion posts.

Even with all my prolific’nessment (<—technical term) and rebranding there are two posts I’m most frequently asked about: intuitive eating and intuitive exercising.

Readers are consistently curious about the steps I took to relinquish control and learn to trust myself.

  • Yeah I parent (playfully &) intuitively (with thanks to my village who’s helped me solidify my “gut”).

Recently, after a reflective intermission of sorts, I became conscious of the fact intuition plays a bigger role in my life than even that list.

The majority of what I do is the direct result of mindful, intuitive living.

I make life-choices only after completing a process of tapping into my instinct and listening to what my gut instinctively knows is the correct answer for me.

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intuitive living isn’t impulsive living.

This way of life has become so (waitforit) intuitive it was challenging to break down my thought-process & decipher how I arrived where I am today.

Not to mention the fact I’m still firmly the mindset of resisting that rear-view mirror. The time invested in reflection was uncomfortable, but provided clarity I needed and answers you’d asked for.

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Step 1: I spent time IN my body.

This is also when I transitioned to gluten-free (although I wouldn’t realize for years gluten was what I’d eliminated). With hindsight, it’s clear I’d always felt symptoms, I just lived so firmly *outside* my body I’d never noticed/felt a thing.

The exercises I did during this phase are ones I return to now when I find myself careening toward FEAR-BASED living.

I focused on my inner senses.

I skipped the mirror for all but the swiftest of hair brushing.

I s-l-o-w-e-d until I became aware of the inner-workings of my body.

I consistently challenged myself to define how my body felt (stressed? electrified? serene? exhausted?) without attention paid to how it appeared.

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I didn’t live in this body

Step 2: I began to hear what my body was saying.

As I progressed I demanded more of myself.

Each time I faced a choice I’d stop, focus inward, and really hear what my body instructed me to do.

I tapped into my ‘gut’ (Gavin DeBecker explains this well) and s-l-o-w-l-y a sense of intuition emerged.

I experienced my body intuitively offering answers I’d have previously sought from others. What job to take? Who to date? Where to live? When I consciously chose to pay attention to my innate knowledge–I began to ‘feel’ my intuition/gut emerge.

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I was building connection–with myself.

Step 3: I heeded my body’s response.

This was the most terrifying and the most rewarding step.

In the spirit of “leap and your net intuition will appear” I quashed my urge for paralysis by analysis and plunged forward.

I practiced my new body-whisperer skills. I acted on my gut response/intuition.

It felt weird, awkward, contrived, frightening and incredibly, tremendously freeing.

I remember these first experiences clearly because I still re-read the journal I used to capture my feelings. (<—-tip alert! tip alert!).

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it felt amazing to let go.

Step 4: I launched a meditation practice.

I knew a meditation routine was key in helping me tap into my intuition. I was aware meditation would clear my mind & help me focus.

I’d also read about how meditation provides the intuitive part of our brains the silence it requires to “see” what’s really happening around us.

I’d heard about how meditation calms our minds so we’re capable of rising ABOVE thinking.

It all sounded promising, but I was busy. I had no time for meditation. I made time. I created zen moments wherever I could.

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opportunities to meditate are everywhere.

#1 + #2 + #3 + #4.

That is my experience of making my way toward mindful living.

Excruciating, exhausting, exhilarating, enlightening.

And you?

  • In what part(s) of your life do you already live intuitively?
  • What tips can you offer to help others ease the transition to mindful living?

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Comments

  1. I’m grateful to see this. Some of it is the Christmas coming but I’m feeling really stressed and not mindful at all.

  2. Something I’ve been struggling with as of late. I think, in my attempt to invest more into my blog, I find that all my non-work hours have become devoted to building it out and networking more. And it can just go on FOREVER. There is no end. I have to decide to unplug and turn it off.
    Because, while it’s on and while I’m going and (not) moving and sitting in front of this screen, is when my intuition is at it’s lowest. It’s when I eat more. It’s when I don’t really feel all my inner-workings. It’s when I’m not reflective of what my body needs or wants.

    Saving this post for future. When I need a reminder that my life is OFF the computer screen!

  3. I love how you had to stop and really reflect on the “hows” and “whys” because how often do we even do that? More so, I avoid it! I too want to become a meditator. I know I will love it but when? I your answer is clear = whenever.
    Thank you! xo

  4. I remember when you wrote something similar a while back. It is interesting for me to similar words now, when I am in such a different place. I still have work to do, but I am so much farther in that journey towards doing just this.

  5. I’m trying to do what I need to do this week. It’s rough when you have so few choices regarding food, sleep and exercise but I’m wycwyc-Ing it!

  8. I have participated in the yoga/meditation aspect of life since I was in my early 20s in the 70s. I started listening to my body at 16 when I knew in high school I didn’t want to be sluggish and non-athletic as I got older. I moved 2000 miles away from “home” as I knew where I “belonged” with my career and interests outside of my career. I have helped onto these things in spite of others attempting to sabotage my choices at times and am in a happy, content place in my early 60s. Now…up to the gym to hit my mat and the weight room….THEN I can focus on meal prep for the rest of the week and classroom prep/report writing for the days I work this week. Get rid of the “have-tos” for the paycheck in order to reap the benefits of the “want-tos”!

  11. You are an inspiration Carla – your intuitiveness inspires me – I am never in the moment enough to tap into myself. I have some time off over Christmas/January and I’m going to use it to be more intentional about looking inwards.

  12. I’d say with regards to fitness, I live intuitively. With food as well. My intuition has been screaming for me to leave my job but I have a boy who will be going to college in a year and I have to do what a mom does. With my new diagnosis tho, I may cut back. Stay tuned.

  13. Time, Hear, Head, Launch; these are terrific directives from a terrific teacher. It is easier for me to be in the present recently and I am enjoying it!

  15. I struggle with being mindful vs caving to habits. I suppose noticing this at all is progress. Then there’s the whole issue of “flowing” in my work vs meeting deadlines.

  17. You make it make sense, Carla. So much of it comes down to quieting down and listening to ourselves at every level, doesn’t it? Thank you for showing us the way!

  19. I constantly work at living intuitively. I have a very active mind, and often times its pace completely exhaust me. This post was an excellent reminder to continue to comment to doing so.

  20. Great post. I think people try to resolve to do things come January 1st, but there is so much pressure from the calendar to stick to it. The resolution comes from the outside instead of the inside. You have to be ready for it before you can accomplish it. I’m so glad you made time for it in your life.

  21. I think I need to get out my book and take down some notes. I definitely struggle with firstly making choices I want to make rather than those that others want me to make (sounds so absurd to say it out loud). I also struggle with paralysis by analysis big time!!

  23. I heard Jennifer Polle and Christie Inge talk about intuitive living (and intuitive) decision making once. It was just after I’d made my seachange almost 4yrs ago and I wasn’t second-guessing my decision but wondered (sometimes) how I was able to do so in such a resolute fashion.

    And then I realised… Although I may prevaricate with little things, on the big stuff I go with my gut… (I live intuitively!).

    xx

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