How to Awaken Your Intuition?
Unlocking Your Inner Wisdom Through Mindful Surrender, Purpose, and Reflection
How to Awaken Your Intuition
A lot of modern-day life has us scrolling on our phones, absorbing countless bits of information that may be relevant—or irrelevant—to us. Quite simply, our brains are used to a constant commotion and cacophony of data arousing our neurons, to the point that we have become acclimatized to the numbness of information overload. How, then, do we sharpen our ability to perceive information we cannot see?
I am talking about intuition. It is true—intuition is a silent nudge that comes from within the body. I repeat: it does not come from a cluttered mind. The body has a language of its own. It speaks from within. And the key to unlocking it is mindful movement.
Many times, when I am perplexed about an issue for which I have no logical reasoning, I turn my attention to the body. The body has memory of its own; it has its own wisdom.
Last week, in my Yin Yoga practice, I came across a brilliant yet subtle way to de-escalate a conflict that had arisen at my workplace. I didn’t think about it—I didn’t have to. The answer followed my movement. It was not just movement accompanied by overpowering music—it was movement with mindful intention. Mindful intention matters when making decisions. It is commonly said by mystics that the outcome of an action is directly correlated with the intention behind it. After all, that is the energy you put into it.
If you ask me how to awaken your intuition, I will highlight three important areas that you can address in your daily life to receive fruitful outcomes.
1) Surrender to the Universe
In Christianity, believers hold that the steps of an individual are ordered by God and aided by the Holy Spirit. In Islam, Muslims are taught the concepts of predestination and divine decree—a belief that there is a single, universal God who is already in control of what a human being has not yet perceived or even conceived of doing. It is often described as God ordering one’s steps, with the exception of the concept of individual free will.
In mysticism, there is a belief that the universe is a living force that guides the human being through powerful states of flow called intuition. Surrendering to the universe means trusting that there is a living, breathing, vital force beyond your limited perception that constantly protects, nurtures, and guides you.
Now you may ask: how do you surrender to the universe?
- Make and affirm intentional affirmations at specific times of the day.
The most potent times are after midnight, early morning before dawn, mid-afternoon, the evening before sunset, and nighttime. Within these time brackets, the universe is shifting its energy. Energy waxes and wanes—it flows in magnetic waves. When we make and affirm intentional statements at these intervals, we align with the frequencies of the universe and learn to surrender more fully to what is.
- Take mini showers throughout the day.
By mini showers, I mean taking a ten-minute break at work—or several short breaks throughout the day—to wash your face, ears, eyes, arms, and feet at the bathroom sink, simply to refresh your body. I know it may sound unusual, but water has a purifying quality that can help heal emotional stress and, on a practical level, revive the mind, body, and soul.
- Take several short pauses of gratitude throughout the day.
By gratitude, I do not mean merely journaling a few things you are grateful for. I mean practicing visceral gratitude. Gratitude is a verb, not a noun. For you, gratitude may mean going for a walk, making coffee for a colleague, practicing self-care, or connecting with your parents, friends, spouse, or pets after work. It can also mean taking a moment to send a heartfelt prayer, thanking the divine, and creating a life force of energy that radiates from within and transcends the finite barriers of space and time.
2) Living with Purpose
Research has repeatedly shown that having a meaningful life reduces rates of depression and anxiety among men, women, and children. More challenging than the COVID-19 pandemic itself is the ongoing crisis of declining mental health in many people.
People struggling with depression and anxiety often report feelings of helplessness and a lack of purpose, among many other challenges. Living with a strong, committed sense of purpose helps bring meaning to small table conversations at work or dinner-time conversations with family. Nothing is “menial chatter”—everything carries meaning.
For example, as an aspiring yoga coach, I look for ways yoga can connect to other aspects of daily life. Living with purpose can also mean wholeheartedly believing in a philosophy that supports you. Some people find purpose in organized religion. Some in their passions. Others in their capabilities.
Passion is about streamlining your life force in an organized way so it does not get wasted wandering aimlessly without direction. If you live passionately, you will have the vitality to withstand difficulty.
3) Reflection, Reflection, Reflection
The sages have said that a moment’s worth of truthful, intuition-led reflection is better than a hundred years of learning. What this suggests is that deciphering the deeper meaning of an experience carries more weight than simply doing something without reflecting on its purpose.
In religious traditions, reflection is a method of studying Holy Scriptures that adds deeper dimensions to divine guidance—it makes it personal and relatable. Reflection is equally important in everyday life, as it helps uncover deeper truths beneath surface-level experiences.
Studying Biblical or Rabbinic literature is one way to understand the significance of daily life, as we are often surrounded by signs of the divine. However, even if you simply grab a notebook and begin writing down your thoughts and feelings as they arise, you may begin to notice patterns. In doing so, you give voice to your inner world and begin to understand the frequency of your thoughts.
You do not have to reflect alone—there are support groups for that. You may also go to a therapist to reflect on your week’s experiences or visit an intuitive guide in your community to explore your life through a different lens. There is no judgment in how you choose to reflect.
Returning to the basics, the body’s intuitive wisdom can also guide reflective movement. Reflective movement is conscious, intentional movement that helps the body clear mental noise and attune to inner awareness. The body has a story; it speaks for itself.
Therefore, collaborative sports can be a form of meditation. Spending time with a friend weekly can be a form of reflection. Going on a nature hike can also be a form of reflection. Reflection helps develop discernment, allowing the body to instinctively recognize what feels aligned and what does not. It also strengthens intuition by revealing patterns from the past and processing insights the conscious mind may have missed.
Therefore, by surrendering to the universe, living with purpose, and reflecting consistently and deeply, we can awaken and strengthen our intuitive awareness.
For more information about intuition, daily spiritual practices, and thriving in a multidimensional perspective, feel free to reach out to me at: amnatariq1108@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!
