I want to let you in on a secret. Are you ready? My secret is that I really listen to my intuition. My intuition is how I became a a psychiatrist. Have you heard the story? I woke up one morning before having done any clinical rotations with an epiphany that I was going to be a child psychiatrist after believing I was going to be a pediatrician since the age of 3. I have learned over the years that when I quiet my mind and let it guide me, great things happen. Things just seem to flow. It’s like my muscles get more relaxed and the colors around me get brighter. I’m currently sitting on the patio of one of my favorite lunch spots jamming to Beyoncé as the music quietly plays. It’s the perfect spring day, and I am that person that sits in a restaurant with a laptop and an iPad out.
Why am I even talking about this you may be wondering. Well, your wish is my command, so here’s the answer. When I let my intuition guide me on when to slow down or get grounded, it always…like always…pays off. There has been so much chaos going on from funny things like Monique’s “bonnet-gate” to more serious topics like Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from the French Open over the need to protect her mental health. On top of that, we are still dealing with the death of black people at the hand’s of police officers, active voter suppression, systemic racism, violence against Asian and Pacific Islanders, a pandemic, among other things. You can literally say all of the things have been happening.
So what does intuition have to do with this? Your intuition is another way to dial into that self-awareness with your own personal emotional barometer. It’s critical to be in touch with yourself to know when you may be at risk for feeling overwhelmed, stressed, sad, anxious, or irritable. Consequently, intuition is the unsung hero to your mental health because it is often overlooked.
- Intuition can give you signals that you need to check yourself before you accidentally wreck yourself or allow yourself to get wrecked.
Your intuition is sending signals to you from information that your subconscious has picked up on or that your spiritual center is communicating to you. It often seems to be steps ahead of your conscious mind, so it can help you avoid missteps or help you know that you need to take action or change course.
- Your intuition can guide you to what you actually need.
As your intuition is gathering all of this data for you, it can not only signal to you about your emotional state or current situation, but it can guide you to what you actually need. It can give you clues on how to make choices that will improve your mental health, soothe your mind, improve your joy, and connect with others in a healthy way. In times of feeling off balance, it can not only signal to you that you need some help, but it can guide you to the help that you need.
- Your intuition has your best interest at heart.
Your intuition is unabashedly Team You! It doesn’t have any conflicts of interest because it is all yours. Your intuition always wants you to win!
The challenge is that adulting beats into us to look at “the facts” and to only believe things that we can “see.” Our intuition is not always logical and is not controlled by fear. I encourage you to start practicing being still and quiet enough to hear that little voice of your intuition. Then, be brave and start listening to it. It’s ok if you start with baby steps. It can lead you to exactly what you need. In a time when our emotions can be all over the place and overwhelm is a feeling that is all too familiar, our intuition can give us the inside track on restoring peace, calm, and joy. It can also assist us in finding the path to live in our purpose. I can’t wait to see where you intuition takes you!
For more helpful tips on how you can be better, do better, and live better, listen to my podcast, Better with Dr. Ericka, at www.BetterThePodcast.com. Until next time, this is Dr. Ericka and have a better day!
