works, and then use it! Unless you allow your intuition a regular role in your decision making, you will never trust it, and you will never benefit from it.

• Keep your journal on a daily basis and look back on it regularly to reevaluate your results. Look at the factors that resulted in successful decisions, and use them again. Looking back on your successes will also help boost your confidence in your intuitive abilities.

• Challenge yourself by doing intuition exercises. For example, go to an area of your town or a city where you have never been before, and without asking for directions or using a map, rely on your intuition to find your way home.

• Taking risks is great way to develop your intuitive skills. Doing something you fear heightens your awareness and therefore stimulates your intuition. Whatever you do, be sure to reflect on how you felt at the time. What sort of emotional and/or physical cues did you feel? Would

At some time, each of us has had a gut instinct. It’s a moment when we just know something feels right, but too often we discount these instincts or intuitions as lacking any basis in fact. However, most successful business men and women will tell you that when you ignore your intuition, you limit your decision-making capabilities.

Often, we must make decisions based on imperfect or incomplete knowledge, such as when we are developing sales forecasts or analyzing a competitor’s behavior. In these instances, using our intuition becomes imperative.

Many of us actually fear using our intuitive powers. We have come to rely on hard data to make our decisions. We think that relying on our intuition is unscientific and fickle. In reality, intuition has a strong factual basis. Our intuition is the result of our years of experience in dealing with business situations. Flashes of intuition are often accompanied by physical or emotional cues. Many experts believe these cues are an attempt by our subconscious mind to bring those experiences to the forefront.

Here are some techniques that will help you get in touch with your intuitive feelings:

• Find a quiet area in which to calm yourself and relax completely, then try meditating or using other relaxation techniques. This will help to heighten your awareness of your physical surroundings and of yourself. Don’t force yourself to try to have an idea; let it come to you naturally.

• Concentrate by using word association games or problem-solving exercises. Once an idea does come to you, focus on it, then, practice keeping your attention focused on the idea, letting your mind explore it.

• Learn to listen to the opinions of others and to examine how you feel about their ideas. By collecting ideas from other people, you increase the number of experiences upon which you can base your intuition.

Unlocking our intuitive ability isn’t enough. For many of us, the difficult part is learning to trust our instincts enough to make use of them. We are so accustomed to dealing in hard facts rather than feelings, that relying on our intuition can feel as if it requires a perilous leap of faith. To help us establish faith in our intentions we need to keep a journal to record our intuitive experiences.

You should record in your journal every time you use your intuition. If you never seem to use you intuition, consciously choose to do so a few times, starting with small decisions so you feel more comfortable with trusting yourself.

Keep track of where you are when you make an intuitive choice and how you feel at the time. Be alert for the physical and/or emotional cues that may accompany flashes of intuition, such as sweaty palms, a pounding heart or a feeling of euphoria.

Next, analyze the results of your intuition. Were your instincts right? If so, how did you feel? What actions did you take? What were the circumstance surrounding the event? Do the same analysis for your “failures.” Were there any special conditions or feelings surrounding the event?

Now look for a pattern. Are there certain physical locations, such as your office or a park, where your intuitive powers are more effective than others? These are the areas where you should do most of your intuitive thinking. Are there physical cues that accompany “good” versus “bad” intuitions? These signs will help you determine the accuracy of your intuitions, or when to trust or distrust them.

To continue the process of gaining trust in your intuitive abilities and of increasing the accuracy of your intuitions, consider the following suggestions.

• To make intuition work, you must make a concerted effort to use it every day. Don’t talk yourself out of an idea before thinking it through. Convince yourself that your intuition works, and then use it! Unless you allow your intuition a regular role in your decision making, you will never trust it, and you will never benefit from it.

• Keep your journal on a daily basis and look back on it regularly to reevaluate your results. Look at the factors that resulted in successful decisions, and use them again. Looking back on your successes will also help boost your confidence in your intuitive abilities.

• Challenge yourself by doing intuition exercises. For example, go to an area of your town or a city where you have never been before, and without asking for directions or using a map, rely on your intuition to find your way home.

• Taking risks is great way to develop your intuitive skills. Doing something you fear heightens your awareness and therefore stimulates your intuition. Whatever you do, be sure to reflect on how you felt at the time. What sort of emotional and/or physical cues did you feel? Would y

ny experts believe these cues are an attempt by our subconscious mind to bring those experiences to the forefront.

Here are some techniques that will help you get in touch with your intuitive feelings:

• Find a quiet area in which to calm yourself and relax completely, then try meditating or using other relaxation techniques. This will help to heighten your awareness of your physical surroundings and of yourself. Don’t force yourself to try to have an idea; let it come to you naturally.

• Concentrate by using word association games or problem-solving exercises. Once an idea does come to you, focus on it, then, practice keeping your attention focused on the idea, letting your mind explore it.

• Learn to listen to the opinions of others and to examine how you feel about their ideas. By collecting ideas from other people, you increase the number of experiences upon which you can base your intuition.

Unlocking our intuitive ability isn’t enough. For many of us, the difficult part is learning to trust our instincts enough to make use of them. We are so accustomed to dealing in hard facts rather than feelings, that relying on our intuition can feel as if it requires a perilous leap of faith. To help us establish faith in our intentions we need to keep a journal to record our intuitive experiences.

You should record in your journal every time you use your intuition. If you never seem to use you intuition, consciously choose to do so a few times, starting with small decisions so you feel more comfortable with trusting yourself.

Keep track of where you are when you make an intuitive choice and how you feel at the time. Be alert for the physical and/or emotional cues that may accompany flashes of intuition, such as sweaty palms, a pounding heart or a feeling of euphoria.

Next, analyze the results of your intuition. Were your instincts right? If so, how did you feel? What actions did you take? What were the circumstance surrounding the event? Do the same analysis for your “failures.” Were there any special conditions or feelings surrounding the event?

Now look for a pattern. Are there certain physical locations, such as your office or a park, where your intuitive powers are more effective than others? These are the areas where you should do most of your intuitive thinking. Are there physical cues that accompany “good” versus “bad” intuitions? These signs will help you determine the accuracy of your intuitions, or when to trust or distrust them.

To continue the process of gaining trust in your intuitive abilities and of increasing the accuracy of your intuitions, consider the following suggestions.

• To make intuition work, you must make a concerted effort to use it every day. Don’t talk yourself out of an idea before thinking it through. Convince yourself that your intuition works, and then use it! Unless you allow your intuition a regular role in your decision making, you will never trust it, and you will never benefit from it.

• Keep your journal on a daily basis and look back on it regularly to reevaluate your results. Look at the factors that resulted in successful decisions, and use them again. Looking back on your successes will also help boost your confidence in your intuitive abilities.

• Challenge yourself by doing intuition exercises. For example, go to an area of your town or a city where you have never been before, and without asking for directions or using a map, rely on your intuition to find your way home.

• Taking risks is great way to develop your intuitive skills. Doing something you fear heightens your awareness and therefore stimulates your intuition. Whatever you do, be sure to reflect on how you felt at the time. What sort of emotional and/or physical cues did you feel? Would

ive ability isn’t enough. For many of us, the difficult part is learning to trust our instincts enough to make use of them. We are so accustomed to dealing in hard facts rather than feelings, that relying on our intuition can feel as if it requires a perilous leap of faith. To help us establish faith in our intentions we need to keep a journal to record our intuitive experiences.

You should record in your journal every time you use your intuition. If you never seem to use you intuition, consciously choose to do so a few times, starting with small decisions so you feel more comfortable with trusting yourself.

Keep track of where you are when you make an intuitive choice and how you feel at the time. Be alert for the physical and/or emotional cues that may accompany flashes of intuition, such as sweaty palms, a pounding heart or a feeling of euphoria.

Next, analyze the results of your intuition. Were your instincts right? If so, how did you feel? What actions did you take? What were the circumstance surrounding the event? Do the same analysis for your “failures.” Were there any special conditions or feelings surrounding the event?

Now look for a pattern. Are there certain physical locations, such as your office or a park, where your intuitive powers are more effective than others? These are the areas where you should do most of your intuitive thinking. Are there physical cues that accompany “good” versus “bad” intuitions? These signs will help you determine the accuracy of your intuitions, or when to trust or distrust them.

To continue the process of gaining trust in your intuitive abilities and of increasing the accuracy of your intuitions, consider the following suggestions.

• To make intuition work, you must make a concerted effort to use it every day. Don’t talk yourself out of an idea before thinking it through. Convince yourself that your intuition works, and then use it! Unless you allow your intuition a regular role in your decision making, you will never trust it, and you will never benefit from it.

• Keep your journal on a daily basis and look back on it regularly to reevaluate your results. Look at the factors that resulted in successful decisions, and use them again. Looking back on your successes will also help boost your confidence in your intuitive abilities.

• Challenge yourself by doing intuition exercises. For example, go to an area of your town or a city where you have never been before, and without asking for directions or using a map, rely on your intuition to find your way home.

• Taking risks is great way to develop your intuitive skills. Doing something you fear heightens your awareness and therefore stimulates your intuition. Whatever you do, be sure to reflect on how you felt at the time. What sort of emotional and/or physical cues did you feel? Would

ow did you feel? What actions did you take? What were the circumstance surrounding the event? Do the same analysis for your “failures.” Were there any special conditions or feelings surrounding the event?

Now look for a pattern. Are there certain physical locations, such as your office or a park, where your intuitive powers are more effective than others? These are the areas where you should do most of your intuitive thinking. Are there physical cues that accompany “good” versus “bad” intuitions? These signs will help you determine the accuracy of your intuitions, or when to trust or distrust them.

To continue the process of gaining trust in your intuitive abilities and of increasing the accuracy of your intuitions, consider the following suggestions.

• To make intuition work, you must make a concerted effort to use it every day. Don’t talk yourself out of an idea before thinking it through. Convince yourself that your intuition works, and then use it! Unless you allow your intuition a regular role in your decision making, you will never trust it, and you will never benefit from it.

• Keep your journal on a daily basis and look back on it regularly to reevaluate your results. Look at the factors that resulted in successful decisions, and use them again. Looking back on your successes will also help boost your confidence in your intuitive abilities.

• Challenge yourself by doing intuition exercises. For example, go to an area of your town or a city where you have never been before, and without asking for directions or using a map, rely on your intuition to find your way home.

• Taking risks is great way to develop your intuitive skills. Doing something you fear heightens your awareness and therefore stimulates your intuition. Whatever you do, be sure to reflect on how you felt at the time. What sort of emotional and/or physical cues did you feel? Would

works, and then use it! Unless you allow your intuition a regular role in your decision making, you will never trust it, and you will never benefit from it.

• Keep your journal on a daily basis and look back on it regularly to reevaluate your results. Look at the factors that resulted in successful decisions, and use them again. Looking back on your successes will also help boost your confidence in your intuitive abilities.

• Challenge yourself by doing intuition exercises. For example, go to an area of your town or a city where you have never been before, and without asking for directions or using a map, rely on your intuition to find your way home.

• Taking risks is great way to develop your intuitive skills. Doing something you fear heightens your awareness and therefore stimulates your intuition. Whatever you do, be sure to reflect on how you felt at the time. What sort of emotional and/or physical cues did you feel? Would you do it again?

Tapping your intuition will help you make better decisions on and off the job. Intuition should be an integral part of every businessman or woman’s repertoire. The more you learn to cultivate your intuition, the more accurate it will become and the more easily it will come to you.

Copyright©2006 by Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.