Tip #1. Cultivate Mindfulness

Cultivating mindfulness in your relationship with others involves being consciously aware of all aspects of the interaction, while understanding the dynamics at play. This involves actively listening to comments, questions, and the topics discussed. But most importantly, it requires you to look closely at your emotions.

Are you left feeling uneasy? Uncomfortable? Upset? Disheartened? On edge?  Stressed out?  Defensive?

If you are then, your emotions are trying to tell you something regarding this person. Listen to them. They’re intuitive signs that something’s not quite right with that person or our relationship with them. This leads us to tip #2 ……..

Tip #2. Reflect on Your Emotions

Are you feeling uneasy because you’ve been triggered because of past trauma?

If in the past you had a family member who would constantly put you down in the most subtle (read passive aggressive) ways, maybe you will have an exaggerated, and inadequate response whenever someone else provides you with constructive criticism.

Or perhaps someone in the past would take every single thing that you said, posted online, or texted them and twist it, so whenever someone disagrees with you, you automatically become triggered.

These are all trauma based responses, and they don’t provide you with accurate intuitive hunches.  Instead, they steer you away from your wise inner voice. Which brings us to tip #3…….

Tip#3. Become Self-Aware of Your Traumatic Experiences

Part of recognizing your intuition is knowing yourself innately, deeply and thoroughly.

Do you know what triggers you the most?

Can you connect your individual triggers with specific past  traumatic experiences?

Failing to resolve your unconscious, unhealed, and unresolved issues  means you will act from a place of trauma instead of a place of intuition.  You have to heal your shit. I’ve found that understanding, self awareness, inner child work, and lots of therapy have helped the unconscious issues lose their grip on my psyche. That detrimental influence has ceased to manifest in my behaviors and I can’t speak to how important of a spot healing takes in nurturing your intuition.

Tip #4. Embark on a Healing Journey

Healing is a uniquely personal journey for each of us.  I know that my journey has definitely taken a non-linear path. I think for me, the most important thing I’ve learned is to understand your pain, integrate it, and in some way subdue it. Looking at your scars, battle wounds, and achy parts and applying soothing balm prevents your pain from surfacing unexpectedly.  (Read up on inner child work if you haven’t already–it’s LIFE changing).

Once you are able to heal your past trauma, you no longer are confused–is it your extreme trauma response?  Or is it your gut feeling?  It’s clear that it’s your intuition.  But I caution you….your intuition is the voice of experience. Do not ever force yourself to trust someone that makes you feel strange just because you’re determined not to let past trauma dictate your life.

True healing involves a delicate balance—dancing between honoring the lessons learned from past experiences while allowing your intuition to guide you towards healthier connections and choices.

Tip #5. When in Doubt, Take a Beat

If you’re feeling uneasy or unsure about a specific person or situation, take some time off in a silent place where you can connect with your inner voice. Personally for me, the best way to connect is through meditation.  Meditation doesn’t have to be sitting cross legged on the floor humming, it can be sitting in nature, taking a walk, or even taking a bath.  Just a quiet place where you can be with your thoughts.

Meditation helps because it calms you down, and your intuition actually has a higher chance of flourishing amid mental peace and stillness. In effect,  meditation takes you to a space of awareness —a space where you learn to recognize your intuition separate from thoughts based on fear or trauma.

Tip #6. Listen to the Signs

I once met someone that gave me a bad gut feeling. We’re talking bad juju, bad vibes, and an all around uneasy feeling. I worried I was overreacting, so seeking reassurance, I requested a sign—something unassuming, not readily found in everyday places.

“If this relationship isn’t meant for me, please God, show me lemon anywhere.”

I am not even kidding, but an hour later, my Target delivery order arrived at my house.  In the bottom of one of the bags, was a lone lemon.  I hadn’t ordered ANY lemons with my grocery order but lo and behold, the Universe was giving me a sign.

I was dumb as hell though (and full of skepticism and stubbornness), so I dismissed this perfectly clear sign and chose to persist in the relationship.

Days later, my sweet, persistent little intuition came knocking on my door even harder than before.  I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I once again asked for the same sign: a lemon. This time, the Universe was on it.  It wasted zero time. Literally within minutes, I saw an Instagram post that was decorated with lemon drawings. The Universe loves some undeniable synchronicity and I couldn’t ignore my inner voice anymore. They had to go.

Conclusion

The more I learn about intuition, the more I want to know.  Paying attention to your intuition can set you up to welcome all sorts of positive people, experiences, and opportunities in your life. If you find yourself with uncertainty surrounding a specific individual or situation, self reflect, meditate, and ask for signs. It’s crucial to trust your intuition if anything feels unsettling. Keep in mind that your intuition is a whimsical instrument capable of steering you toward relationships that are both nourishing and satisfying.