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Helpful Tips for Developing Intuition - Learn Proven Techniques Used by The Most Intuitive Minds in the World

Dale Sellers, President
LifeLeap Institute
(Contents © )

Have you ever considered how your mind works? Do you ever question what determines how you perceive and function on a day-to-day basis? Most of us can agree there are biological, psychological, and sociological factors involved with how our minds operate. All of these factors contribute to who you are and how you function as an individual. At the same time, have you ever considered if there is also a unified factor that exists in your mental makeup?

You may be asking, “What the heck is a unified factor?” Well, when we say unified factor, we mean the part of your mind that is connected with the rest of the universe.

There is empirical scientific evidence that states there is something (call it what you will) that interpenetrates into all of us and into everything. This consciousness encompasses all of time and all of space. David Bohm, a world-renowned physicist and one of Einstein's associates, stated from his research in quantum physics that, "everything interpenetrates everything else" and "deep down in the consciousness of man is one." In other words, we are not as separate as many of us believe that we are.

"It (the total content of the cosmic computer) is universal and can be had at any moment by any person. Many things (out there) don't exist for us, not because they are unreal, but because (in here) we have not shaped the brain to perceive them."

-Deepak Chopra, M.D.
Former Chief of Staff,
New England Memorial Hospital
Internationally recognized
authority on holistic health

Because of this unified aspect of our mind, we as individuals have great potential in the way that we can function on a daily basis. As we become more aware of this unified aspect, one of the potentials that become possible is intuition. Major research from top universities such as Duke, Stanford, Princeton, as well as the Pentagon and the CIA, have confirmed the existence of extraordinary intuitive abilities (see more research).

What is Intuition?

The standard definition is "knowledge gained of something without the use of reasoning or the five basic senses". Throughout time, many of the great achievers have spoken of successful decisions they made based on hunches, insights, visions, and gut feelings.

“The reaction, which is now beginning in the West against the intellect in favor of feeling, or in favor of intuition, seems to me a mark of cultural advance, a widening of consciousness beyond the too narrow limits of a tyrannical intellect.”

Carl G. Jung, forefather of psychology

As a professional consultant, throughout the years I have trained people in all walks of life how to develop and utilize their intuitive abilities - people like law enforcement officers, sales professionals, mental health counselors, students, and even children in runaway shelters.

I believe intuition is an innate ability that everyone has that allows people to access otherwise unknown information. With proper training and practice, I have seen many individuals take advantage of this wonderful gift.

Are You Intuitive?

We have all had experiences involving intuition. A common occurrence is to think of someone we have not seen or heard from in a while and then shortly afterwards, out of nowhere, this person shows up in our lives. Many of us have dreams while sleeping and then shortly afterwards find ourselves in the same specific situation in our waking reality.

Another common experience happens when we are walking, for example at a shopping mall, and we feel a pull to look in a certain direction out of our field of vision. Then it happens - we turn and lock eyes with someone who was staring at us  from a distance. Of course, they often look away quickly when they realize they are intuitively caught. It's hard to just dismiss these situations as  biological factors (scents, sounds, etc.), especially when the other person is a hundred feet away.

What Are The Benefits Of Intuition?

As we begin to rely on this unified aspect and become more receptive to information received intuitively, we advance mentally, emotionally, and spiritually at a much faster rate compared to an individual who limits himself/herself to just information obtained from the five senses. This applies to every aspect of our lives (relationships, family, finances, awareness, happiness, etc).

There is a bank of greater intelligence that is accessible to everyone. This intelligence exceeds far beyond our limited personal reasoning. An example of the benefits of utilizing this greater intelligence could be a situation that occurs commonly in intimate relationships. Say for example, that an individual becomes jealous of their partner and they cannot figure out why or what to do to make the jealousy go away.

By being receptive to intuition, to this greater intelligence, they not only have a greater probability of seeing the reason that they are jealous, but also a greater chance at coming up with a solution to the issue. Most of us could probably appreciate that.

That is much more efficient than repeating the same pattern of being jealous until it finally tears the relationship apart and then finding ourselves once again in a new relationship in a similar situation.

Communication With Others

Greater communication with yourself as well as greater communication with others can occur as you become more open to intuitive insights. The potentials are very appealing. Imagine being able to look at someone and instantly know things about them that you can't determine except by using intuition:

• How they really feel, not just how they appear to feel

• What the reasons are behind their emotions

• What they have been through in life

• The challenges they face

• Their talents

• What they are attempting to communicate with you

Imagine specifically knowing when you need to telephone someone that you care about that needs support. Imagine knowing the most appropriate thing to say to someone that you are talking to – even someone you just met for the first time. You can start to see the intensity of the intimacy that is reachable with others and how meaningful heightened intuition can be in your life.   

If things generally seem to work out smoothly in your life, you're probably already fairly intuitive (although you might not recognize the intuitive experiences when they occur). If this is the case, you might not need to put that much attention on this aspect of life we call intuition. We should point out at the same time that “functioning well” is a relative term. If you compare yourself to one of the great achievers of our times, you might see how you could be more creative, successful, and aware.  

“Often you have to rely on intuition.” - Bill Gates


On the other hand, if you just keep making decisions that seem to create undesirable effects, you might want to consider trying something different. There may be a way of functioning in which much of the suffering you are going through can be bypassed.

Some Elements Involved With Intuition

We all have random experiences of intuition, but to actually induce this type of experience, to call forth this higher level of intelligence at will, it may take a little more practice for a lot of us. Based on research from field-studies conducted by Princeton University and other credible sources, in order to access intuition, many of us will have to develop:

• The skill of being quiet mentally and emotionally so that there is actually room to listen

• A less limiting model of reality which actually allows the ability of the mind to perceptually skip across time and space

• An openness to the outcome (play with intuition like a game)

• Concentration

• Open-mindedness about life (when we are biased, we tend to block intuition)

• The ability to overcome our fears, doubts, our limited perceptions from past conditionings

• The boldness to take small risks, more and more

• Receptivity to receiving intuitive information

• The ability to focus our attention intensely

• The ability to pay attention (perceiving from an advanced level of awareness)

In your pursuit for the experience of intuition, you discover ways to open yourself up to this unlimited insight. One of the most effective paths is to just have fun with it, play with it. You will be much more successful if you play with intuition instead of working hard at it. Many of the great thinkers throughout time would agree that every aspect of life is more enjoyable if you are operating from the “playground of your mind.” 

Developing Heightened Perception

Paying attention is one of the simplest ways for you to start to become more open to receiving intuitive insights. When we say paying attention, we mean stepping back and seeing everything from a distance. When you are a fish, it’s tricky to get a greater understanding of what the water is unless you jump out of the water occasionally. If you think about it, a fish that jumps every now and then, has to perceive the underwater life a little different from the rest of those guys.

Anyway, you can apply paying attention in many ways. When you have a thought, instead of just thinking it and then reacting to it, step back and watch it go by, like a line of words on a blank movie screen or maybe a bubble floating by. This allows you to begin to perceive at a higher level instead of just “being thought”.

Like an artist that is painting a huge painting - when the artist is up close to the painting, it is difficult for the artist to see anything except what is right in front of his/her face. When the artist steps back ten feet, it then becomes possible for him/her to perceive the painting for what it is, to see the whole product.

Another excellent time to play this game of “paying attention” is when you have an emotion. Step outside of it and take a look at it. Observe where the sensation is within your body. What shape is it? If you had to give to a temperature, would it be hot or cold? Is it dense or spread out? Where does it exist in relation to the rest of your body or the room you are sitting in?

You have to play with these games of paying attention in the same way that a little toddler plays with a new toy. The toddler doesn't think a whole lot about it - he hasn't even learned how to think yet. He is more joyful, creative, and open to discovering the toy for what it is. There is actually no “him” that is playing with the toy. “He” (the conditioned, programmed intellect) does not even exist yet. It is more like "the experience of the toy” for the toddler. The toddler probably has little memory of the toy, just an encounter of the toy in the “present” moment.

It is in this space beyond your thoughts (or better yet, in between them), the space beyond your emotions, beyond the boundaries of your body, that a greater awareness of who you are lies. It is also in this space that the gifts of intuition exist. You may receive a passing thought out of nowhere, an emotional sensation, or image of something. This is how the intuitive process begins.

More Games To Play

The best way to start playing these fun games is to take small risks beginning today. It is like a new hobby that you have a desire to learn. You have to get out there and start practicing. The more persistent that you are, the better results you will attain.

Go ahead and accept that when you play these games of intuition, you will be inaccurate at times, maybe a whole lot at first. At the same time, the process is like tennis or any other sport. If you get out there every day and play with it, you will get better and better.

Here are some more fun games you can play:

When the phone rings, before you pick it up, see if you can guess who is calling. If no one comes to mind, just make something up. You might be surprised at the results. 

When you are about to meet a friend somewhere, focus your attention on that friend before you see them and make an attempt to “pick up” how they feel or what they are thinking about. When you finally see them, check your clarity by asking them how they are doing.

When you experience a strong emotion or pain, step back and pay attention to it as mentioned before. Then ask your intuition what insightful message this emotion or pain might be telling you? What is the possible lesson this event is trying to teach you?

When you meet someone for the first time, see if you can “pick up” any intuitive information about that person. While focusing on them, ask yourself what this person does professionally, are they married, where they live, etc. Check your results by having a casual conversation.

As you begin to operate more consciously with intuition, you might not get many accurate insights at first. As you play with this new awareness though, expect to start relating to situations in your life with a different perspective - one that probably will be much more fulfilling, exciting, and beneficial.

*The techniques mentioned in this article are simple and light techniques meant to serve only as an introduction to the intuitive potentials that we all have. At the same time, if you do happen to experience any discomfort as a result of these techniques, stop doing them or at least moderate their use.