We have all heard of intuition. But do you really know what it is and how to tap into it to help navigate your life? We all have this incredible gift that can be truly powerful in helping us make life-changing decisions that can lead us to higher levels of living in all areas.

You see, we are all unique in that we all have our own goals and values in life. We also have unique histories, talents, and strengths that shape who we are. Everyone has their own definition of success and everyone has a different formula for their success. But you can can gain a better awareness of yourself and tap into your own intuition, which I call the “inner compass,” to help you make decisions.  

What does your “inner compass” feel like? There are many ways to describe what intuition is (a knowing without reason), but I like to focus on the feeling of your “inner compass.” Have you ever had a red flag in a relationship or when meeting someone? Did you feel almost nauseated or did your heart skip a beat? That may be your “inner compass” talking to you. You’ve heard the sayings:

“What is your gut telling you?”

 “I have a gut feeling that …. “

“My heart is hurting because ….”

It can literally show up as a sensation in your body. For me, as I mentioned earlier, my intuition can cause heart palpitations or a nauseous sensation. I truly feel it in my gut. By the way, the gut has been called the second brain … there are millions of neurons in our gut. No wonder some decisions may make us “feel sick.” For others, their “inner compass” may present as “Godbumps” or a tingling spine. And for others, it comes as simply a confirmed knowing about something that may or may not make sense.

But for some, it may be hard to distinguish between what our “inner compass” is trying to tell us versus what our brains are trying to tell us because of past experiences and present biases – clouding what direction we should go in life and cause feelings that may seem like intuitive hits but are essentially strong assumptions that may or may not be true. That is when logic and reason may be helpful.    

Here are 3 steps to help you grow your “inner compass” while goals-setting to build a path to achieve them.

1. Identify what you need in life to feel fulfilled.

Many of us rely on external clues to tell us what “success” is. We compare ourselves to our friends, family, or the influencers filling up our social media feeds.

The first step to recognizing your own inner compass, is to look internally rather than comparing yourself to others.

• Take some time to yourself. Carve out some time in a quiet space. Be prepared to write down your thoughts as they come to you, to help keep you focused.
• Make a list of activities that make you happy. What daily or weekly activities make you feel happy and fulfilled? Chances are, there will be a few common factors that stand out to you (such as leveraging your creativity, accomplishing tasks, or helping others).
• Picture what your “success” looks like. Envision what “success” means to you. This may include achievements in your career, family life, or learning a new skill. Try to develop your own ideas, rather than thinking about how others define success.

Now, you should have a better picture of your personal goals and how your strengths and values are incorporated.

2. Identify any factors in your life that prevent you from achieving your goals.

There are a few common challenges that hold us back from achieving our full potential. This is where you may need to examine whether your “inner compass” or past experiences and present biases may need to be delineated. These may include:

• Your own assumptions. Do you assume that you’re not good at a certain skill? You may be underestimating your own abilities. This is also fear, which is limiting and could hold you back.
• Your environment. Our immediate physical environment can have a real impact on our mood and productivity. You don’t necessarily need to pay for expensive spa visits; small changes to your space and the products you use might influence your overall happiness.
• Negativity from others. Are there people in your life who don’t truly support you and your goals?

Pay attention to the feelings that come up. While going through this exercise, do you get excited about something or does your gut tell you that something may not be possible? Is your gut telling you to add something – or take something away? Is it truly your gut, or are your assumptions and biases getting in the way? If you don’t know … what does your rational mind tell you about what you can and can’t achieve that is not coming from fear.

You may not be able to remove these influences entirely. But there are ways you can grow into confidence in your abilities and truly change your mindset about what you can accomplish in life. You can develop tools, such as personal affirmations or reminders, that replace negative voices with your own, positive voice.

You can maintain control and overcome these challenges. Your own priorities and inner compass should always take priority.

3. Break down your goals into short-term steps.

Big transformations often rely on small, daily changes in your routine. So come up with a game plan that includes short term goals, and a method for measuring your progress.

Fortunately, you don’t have to do all of that alone.

Are you looking for someone to lead you down their path, or help you find your own?

If you’re looking for a little guidance on this journey, I am here to support you. I don’t believe in developing one strategy and applying it to everyone: my goal is to help you create your own plan and stick to it.

That’s why I work with each of my clients one-on-one to help them discover their own inner compass.

Ready to get started? Let’s talk!