234: 11 Practices to Strengthen Business Intuition (Part Two)
Oct 20, 2023
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In this podcast, the speaker shares strategies to strengthen business intuition. They discuss the importance of a 'whole body yes' and listening to your core self. They also explore trusting your gut and the freedom of writing. The podcast touches on embracing uncertainty and finding joy in the present moment. Lastly, they discuss practical exercises for developing intuition.
Pay attention to persistent thoughts or feelings as they can indicate important insights and guide decision-making.
Embrace fluidity and let go of the need for rigid plans to create space for trust and openness to possibilities.
Deep dives
Strategies for Strengthening Intuition
In this episode, the host discusses various strategies to practice and strengthen intuition in business. One strategy is to pay attention to how you feel when interacting with someone and note any yellow flags, even if they aren't bright red. An example is shared where the host had a strange encounter with a neighbor whose answers seemed evasive, indicating a lack of genuineness. Another strategy is to listen to your head, heart, and gut for decision-making. The importance of identifying different parts of oneself and recognizing which part is speaking is highlighted. The host shares her personal experience of embracing her identity as a writer and letting go of the need to have all the answers. Additionally, the benefits of writing freely by hand and the practice of morning pages are discussed.
Intuitive Blurting and Permission to Disagree
The episode emphasizes the importance of offering intuitive insights to clients or friends with a willingness to be wrong. The host shares her experience of blurting out random ideas during coaching sessions and how it often leads to new and interesting directions. The significance of creating a context of permission, where clients feel comfortable disagreeing or providing their own insights, is highlighted. The host also shares examples of clients being grateful for the unexpected ideas and perspectives. The concept of "tell me where I'm wrong, but..." is discussed as a way to preface intuitive statements and encourage open conversation.
Embracing Fluidity and Letting Go of Rigidity
The episode encourages embracing fluidity and letting go of the need for rigid plans. The host shares personal stories of navigating uncertainty and the benefits of living in the present moment. The importance of finding a balance between having a vision and staying open to evolving plans is emphasized. The host encourages listeners to experiment with having fewer rigid plans and shares her own journey of learning to go with the flow. The episode concludes with a reminder to trust intuition, even when there is no rational explanation, and to make decisions based on trust and openness to possibilities.
“As long as we settle for thinking inside the brain, we’ll remain bound by the limits of that organ. But when we reach outside it with intention and skill, our thinking can be transformed. It can become as dynamic as our bodies, as airy as our spaces, as rich as our relationships—as capacious as the whole wide world.” —Annie Murphy Paul,The Extended Mind
In this second half of a two-part solo series, I’m sharing 6 more strategies that have helped me build (and trust) my intuition at increasingly subtle levels. If you haven’t already, be sure to listen to Part One here first.
As always, I would love to hear from you! How do you practice the skill of following your intuition? Leave a voice note for a future listener-submission episode at http://itsfreetime.com/ask.
🌟 3 Key Takeaways
When making a decision, look for a “whole body yes,” that includes your head, heart, and gut. Or take a page from Internal Family Systems (parts psychology): Which part of you is speaking/steering? How can you ensure you’re listening to your core self / highest self?
Pay attention to persistent thoughts or feelings: For example, after you have drafted a piece of writing, to remove something, or change something. Notice and give credit to how you feel when interacting with someone, seeking additional information if needed. Note “yellow” flags even if they aren’t bright red.
From Penney - Let go of needing things to be nailed down in advance. “You can still have a vision and goals, you can still make plans, but let it all be fluid. Visions and plans evolve constantly. Affirm to yourself: “I know what I need to know exactly when I need to know it.” In any given moment, there’s just one piece of information, one urge, one action, that’s a perfect fit.”
📝 Permission
Follow your next intuitive hit when speaking with (or coaching) someone. Ask, “Is it okay if I share something that just came to me? You can tell me I’m completely off-base . . .” See if what you shared (an image, a metaphor, a “hit” of guidance) resonates. Even if it doesn’t, it might move the conversation in an interesting direction as the person bounces off of what you said.
✅ Do (or Delegate) This Next
Make one decision this week based on a muscle test: it could be whether to say yes or no to a meeting request, whether to reach out to someone, or what topic to write about next. Stand up and close your eyes. Frame a question that results in yes or no by starting with: “Is it in the highest good for . . . ?” Notice if your body naturally leans forward or recoils back. That’s your intuition speaking to you: forward means yes, backward means no.