Many of us are used to asking others for their advice and guidance when we are having a difficult time making a decision. But what about asking ourselves?
By this stage of the “happiness tip” series, I’m thinking that you know a lot more about yourself than you did when you first started. You’ve learned a lot about your brain and how it works, you’ve probably discovered some specific triggers that make you feel contracted and you’ve explored many techniques on how to stay happy for no reason.
So it’s about time that you also start learning to trust yourself and your own intuition. There are many ways that you can tap into your wisdom.
- Try writing your thoughts down. When you are perplexed by something in your life, write down your thoughts about it. Allow yourself to write whatever comes to mind. Avoid censoring, correcting or second guessing yourself. Just write. If you find yourself lost, think about your intuition as a really good friend. What would that friend ask you? What information does that friend need to understand your situation better? What hopes, dreams, desires, or fears have you not expressed to this friend? Take the time and really get into it. This technique works because it’s like we are acting as our own really good listener. You know there are some people who you can talk to and they don’t really give you advice but you just seem to work stuff out for yourself when you talk to them? This type of person acts like a really good sounding board. You know the kind of person I’m speaking about? Well, we have that kind of friend inside of us too. We just need to get in touch a little more often!
- Another technique you can use it to randomly select a book and then randomly select a page from the book and just read the page. I know it sounds really out there but you’d be surprised how random actions like this can get you thinking in a different direction than you have before. And that’s the point right? If you’re stuck making a decision, you have to change the way you think or you’ll remain stuck. How about just trying it and seeing what happens? No one is watching, I promise! I use this same technique in a slightly different way. I have a small pack of tarot cards that someone gave me as a gag gift one year. I open the pack, pick the 4 cards that represent the past situations, the present situations, the future and what things to consider. It’s funny how every time I do it, I think to myself, “Wow, I never thought of it that way!” The cards don’t predict my future. They just expand my thinking.
- You can also try looking for a sign. If you believe in God or the Universe or Buddha or whomever, then you can always ask for a sign. I do this all the time. I have certain signs that are consistent for me. If I see a Kingfisher in the park, I know it’s going to be a good day. If I see two, I brace myself for a stunning day! It does’t mean I don’t have good days when the Kingfisher doesn’t show. It just means that this rare little event means something to me. I make my day special because of a cute little blue bird. People use “looking for a sign” to buy property, choose a car, change careers, and even spouses! The point is that you are opening up your mind to accept other types of communication, no matter where they come from.
This week’s happiness challenge is to start trusting in your intuition. Choose one of the techniques above or another one of your own design and just go with the flow. As I always say, just notice. Notice what you experience without judgment. Notice how you can trust yourself to make the big decisions you need to make. And as you already know, there’s a whole universe out there supporting whatever you decide!
To your happiness,
Lindley