Listening to Intuition

In a past life, I scoffed at what felt like lofty, “woo-woo” phrase like listen to your intuition. I was so disconnected from my body that I did not know what that meant, let alone how to do it. Where was the instruction manual for listening to your intuition in a world that does not value the whole person? It felt too vague. It also seemed like it would require me to be vulnerable in a way that I resisted in order to stay safe. Why bother?

Where was the instruction manual for listening to your intuition in a world that does not value the whole person?

It has taken many seasons for me to even begin to know the well of wisdom your intuition can hold. One of the loudest being becoming a parent. A fierceness and a knowing welled inside me as I grew this human. I knew what I had tolerated would not be enough for this kid. I may have allowed myself to be swayed by this noisy world but I had to be sturdy for my child. I knew that preaching about listening to your intuition was not as effective as modeling it. And so I tried. It was not until I tuned out a lot of the advice I had not asked for that I began to find our groove. We have always vowed to be flexible in our parenting and only do what worked for us and that usually did not look like what other folks were doing. Not by any fault of theirs or ours, we just had different comfort levels, schedules and, frankly, different babies. That will never cease to blow my mind - babies do not all come out the same y’all. They have personalities!

I started to hear those soft “no’s” a little more clearly. I started to question who and what influenced the critical voice in my head. Was it me or someone else’s projected standards, priorities, or values? Quieting those voices helped me to hear my own. I will forever be grateful that practicing what worked for our family tuned me into my unconscious knowing.

I started to question who and what influenced the critical voice in my head. Was it me or someone else’s projected standards, priorities, or values?

Now, when I am rushing to meet a deadline or resisting rest I am able to better distinguish what is truly valuable to me. Can the deadline be pushed so I can sit down to dinner to connect and nourish my body? Do I need to go to bed so that I can be fully present with my clients tomorrow? I still can’t always hear what my body and soul need in the moment nor am I qualified to give advice, but comparing where I am today from having no sense of what an intuition was feels like a huge leap. As I work to eliminate “perfection” from my vocabulary, I remember that I am still learning. When I have an interaction where I do not honor myself, it helps me to recognize how I show up the next time.

-Priscilla

June Community Concept: Listening to Intuition

As Tricia Hersey of The Nap Ministry says, our bodies are a site of liberation. Our bodies also hold a deep, innate wisdom. When we tune into to our intuition and listen to those gut feelings that rarely lead us astray, we can trust that our bodies know the way and will keep us safe. As Black + Brown women, there are many forces and systems that want to keep us disconnected from our bodies, but as the experts of our own lived experience, we know what is best for us.

Spend time in a place that reminds you of your inherent worth, encourages you to deepen your embodiment and prioritize your self care + healing. Let our peaceful space hold you as you expand with ease. Join our community at renderfree.com/membership.