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Your Personal Owner's Manual
Author: April Hunter
Make good decisions every time. When a problem arises in which you must find a solution; whether it be about family, friends, career, home or otherwise, you must make a choice. Sometimes our choices may concern something as simple as what to pick up from the grocery, other times these decisions can be potentially life-changing. How do you approach a particular person, what do you say, or how do you react? What is the proper course to take in any scenario? The business model has developed a process for decision making which comes from an analytic perspective. Conduct the research and predict the various outcomes. Make the final decision based upon the most desired result in view of the most manageable effort. If your choice, when implemented, doesn’t achieve that much sought-after goal, then refine, modify or choose another possible solution. Potentially, this mechanized process can continue on indefinitely. That is not to say that repeated effort is not valuable; Thomas A. Edison conducted up to 10,000 separate experiments before hitting upon the one which lead to great improvements in the incandescent light bulb. His saying “…one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration” is an extremely fitting philosophy for the business of decision making. But let us consider an alternative to this mechanical method, one which bypasses this particular route of trial-and-error. Rather than process-driven, I suggest a more natural course of decision making.
Instead, you can depend on your own intuitive knowledge as a guide. You do not have to follow a recipe, a pattern nor someone’s how-to steps. Find comfort in relying in your inner-self to lead and direct you in decisions and how you should move. Make it your choice to listen to that voice deep within and not an artificial process. Though that process may indeed lead to an answer or to a truth, it may not lead to your truth. Your truth is within you…that which you can hear, feel and therefore follow. Your actions and words must respond to what your SELF tells you. Answers can flow much more freely without depending upon detailed plans and preparations.
So what is the intuition? It is a knowingness that is not based in logic; it is a wisdom and intelligence that does not originate in the mind. It perceives that which cannot be seen, feels that which cannot be touched, and hears that which makes no sound. Your intuition is personal and specific; when used to make decisions, it will guide you to the correct answer suited for you and no one else.
Wish to learn to hear that inner voice? Here are some suggestions and exercises to help in trusting and developing your intuitive self.
1. Find a place that is quiet and peaceful. Just relax. (Eventually, your voice will speak to you even in the noisiest, most congested and frenzied of environments.)
2. Ask yourself a question then wait for a response. Do not look for the answer; know it is inside of you. Do you hear, see or feel anything? Do not discount seemingly unrelated or random thoughts; they may have much more relevance than you think. Be free and let these thoughts, feelings and visions flow.
3. Be patient with yourself. These insights may not come immediately. Knowing and trusting your intuition may take time. But with patience, you will find it will come.
4. As much as possible, lean more and more on this part of yourself whenever you have to make a decision. You will be happily surprised with the results.
Trusting your intuition can help in simplifying your life. Initially, this was a difficult task for this writer, but it doesn’t have to be for you. My natural inclination would be to constantly revert back to an analytical prerogative. But because I desired to develop this part of myself, I pushed forward. In time, I found it became easier and easier to trust. I did not have to second guess myself, solutions to problems appeared clearer. I saw that my intuition knew and could be my guide; my owner’s manual to life. Let me assure you that once you begin to develop that inner trust, all there is to do is to listen and follow.
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April Hunter is an artist, writer, poet and mother who emphasizes the mind, body and spirit connections in life.
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