Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir Talks About Intuition, Attention, and Inner Alignment

Jul 23, 2025

In this insightful discussion, Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir, an Icelandic thought leader and documentary director, explores the profound concept of 'InnSæi'—the sea within. She emphasizes the importance of listening to our intuition amidst modern distractions. Hrund shares how journaling can uncover personal patterns and enhance self-awareness, crucial in managing burnout. She also highlights the necessity of aligning productivity with personal values, urging listeners to harness their attention for greater clarity and decision-making.

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INSIGHT

InnSæi: The Sea Within

The Icelandic concept "InnSæi" means "the sea within," embodying a dynamic, flowing unconscious accessed by intuition.
It also means to "see within" oneself and to navigate life using a strong inner compass.

ADVICE

Cultivate Intuition Through Awareness

Become self-aware and explore what your intuition feels and sounds like to reconnect.
Use moments of calm by focusing on sensations, like feeling the soles of your feet, to access intuition in busy environments.

ADVICE

Use Journaling To Align

Journal daily in a stream-of-consciousness style to clear your mind and reveal recurring thoughts.
Review journaling patterns to understand inner voices, energy levels, and better align with your intuition.

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What does it mean to truly listen to your intuition—and why is that more vital than ever in today’s overstimulated world? In this episode of A Productive Conversation, I’m joined by Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir: Icelandic thought leader, author, and director of the documentary InnSæi: The Power of Intuition. Her new book, InnSæi: Icelandic Wisdom for Turbulent Times, explores the art and science of tapping into your deepest knowing—and how to protect it from modern noise.

We discuss the Icelandic concept of “InnSæi,” which translates to “the sea within,” and unpack what it looks like to live and work in alignment with that quiet inner compass. From managing burnout to navigating complexity with grace, Hrund’s insights offer a refreshing call to reconnect with the deeper wisdom already within us.

Six Discussion Points

What “InnSæi” really means—and why it goes far beyond the word “intuition”
How to recognize and rebuild trust in your own judgment
The danger of becoming biased against your own intelligence
Why attention is the key to accessing intuition (and how to protect it)
How journaling reveals patterns that intuition already senses
Finding alignment in a world that demands speed, certainty, and results

Three Connection Points

This conversation with Hrund reminded me how easy it is to lose track of our inner compass in the noise of modern life—and how powerful it can be when we stop, breathe, and listen to the quiet voice within. Her work beautifully bridges the poetic and the practical. I hope it helps you, as it did me, recalibrate what productivity really means.

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