5 Ways To Boost Your Intuition—and Achieve Your Goals

As we clink glasses and toast to the New Year, it’s only natural that we set goals for ourselves.

“This is THE year,” we say as we watch the ball drop. “This is the year I’m going to really GO FOR IT.”

And so you set a goal. You make a commitment to write that book you’ve been thinking about for years, or finally get in shape or launch that new business idea. And the year starts off with so much promise.

But by February, about 80% of people give up their New Year’s resolutions, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Why?

Because they have stopped listening to their intuition.

What is intuition? It’s that inner voice inside of you that guides you through your life. If you’ve ever had a “gut feeling” or a “hunch” to apply to that job or talk to that stranger, that’s your intuition. It’s a powerful force, and if you listen to it, it will lead you to accomplish your goals and live out your dreams.

Women have particularly strong intuition. Scientists have many theories as to why this might be, such as the idea that female ancestors needed to be more tuned in to emotions and their environment to protect their babies and survive. Others theorize that because women have historically had less social power, they’ve spent more time observing the behaviors of those in power, and because of that are more tuned in to their emotions.

Whatever the reason is for female intuition, the fact is this: It is real, it is powerful and it is the key to achieving your goals and getting the life that you want.

But if you tune it out, which so many of us have learned to do, you’ll struggle to keep your commitments. Instead of feeling joyful and fulfilled, you may feel lost and empty.

So, how do you tap into your intuition and stick to your goals? Here’s 5 ways to strengthen your intuition so you can finally get what you really want:

1. Block off 30 minutes and sit in a quiet room with no distractions.
Listen to your heart. What is it telling you? If this is difficult, take time out to do this exercise regularly. Your inner voice will grow louder over time.

2. Be a little more mindful every day.
Mindfulness has become a buzzword over the last few years, and it can sound a little intimidating at first, but it’s actually very simple. All it means is to take some time out regularly to pay attention to what you’re actually doing in the moment. That can mean enjoying how relaxing that nice long shower feels, or staying off your phone at a party and only paying attention to the conversation around you and the experience you’re having in that moment.

3. Turn off the distractions.
Today, we have distractions coming at us from all sides. We have texts and emails coming through our phone, many public spaces like the gym or bars have the TV on at all times and we often distract ourselves by listening to podcasts or music through our earbuds or getting lost in a movie or great TV show.

As much as I love podcasts and can’t live without my phone, I try to spend some time each day without these distractions. Having a constant stream of noise in your life will quiet your intuition and make it impossible to hear.

4. Make a commitment to honor yourself first. We all have outside pressure in our lives.
When you were young, your parents may have pressured you to attend a certain college or pursue a certain career. Today, you may feel pressure from your friends or coworkers to act a certain way, regardless of how that makes you feel.

Make a commitment today to listen to yourself and honor yourself first. A life where you only live as others want you to live is only going to make you feel more disconnected and dissatisfied. Listening to yourself can be a tough lesson to learn, but it is necessary—and only gets easier with time.

5. Make a Manifestation Board, and hang it up in your house as a reminder of who you are, what you’re passionate about and what you want.
Cut out pictures from magazines that resonate with you and remind of your goals, and arrange them on a piece of poster-board with pictures of yourself and the people you hold close to you. Paste words that speak to you, or even type up your goals on a piece of paper and add it to your board.

 

For a quick tutorial on how to create your Manifestation Board, and to see a few of my own, check out the video below:

Stay True Video Series • Episode 01: Creating Your Dream Vision Board by Loren Slocum Lahav

Hang up your Manifestation Board in a place where you will see it every day, so you are reminded to stay true to who you are and stay focused on achieving your goals.

Until the next time, Stay True!

— Loren Lahav