Many people probably know the feeling when you feel in your gut that you are doing the right thing, or when you realise that a person is cheating, even though everyone around you is telling you that he or she is honest. The motivational speaker talks about cases when you can and should trust your intuition.

HOW INTUITION HELPED ME

When I became an adult, I went travelling around the world for a year. All I had with me was a rucksack and a thirst for adventure. I met all kinds of people along the way, and I developed a sixth sense that told me who I could trust and who I should be wary of.

I remember getting a lift from a fellow traveller on the train. It turned out to be a long car or bus ride from the railway station to the hostel where I was supposed to meet my friends. It was a Saturday, buses rarely ran, and taxis were unaffordable. My parents would have been horrified to hear that their daughter had jumped into a car with the first man she met.

But I could see that the man genuinely wanted to help, and my intuition did not deceive me
I travelled around Europe, Africa and Asia. Several times I met people who seemed unreliable, and I tried to stay away from them. My intuition didn’t fail me then or in the years that followed as I built businesses around the world.

WHEN YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO YOUR INTUITION

People today have become fearful of strangers and wary of unfamiliar situations. They are unable to distinguish between a real threat and one that exists only in the imagination. Constant fear limits the ability to assess risks, reduces insight and reduces the number of opportunities. It is important to stop being afraid and start listening to your intuition. Here are the main points to pay attention to.

1. ‘I can.’

If you know deep down that you can do what you are afraid of, don’t let fear stop you from doing it. Prepare yourself, forget your doubts, trust your gut and start taking action.

2. ‘There’s something wrong with my body.’

Most premonitions are accompanied by physical sensations, from goosebumps to difficulty breathing. These are signals that something wrong is happening. Don’t ignore them.

3. ‘I am in danger.’

Everyone has unconscious radars that draw our attention to people and places that may threaten safety. Sometimes we feel bad in the company of those who are negative towards us. If it feels like staying away from them, do so.

4. ‘That’s the way it should be.’

It sounds strange, but the less you analyse the pros and cons, the more likely you are to make the right decision. And the more prepared and seasoned your action is, the less likely you will be to be satisfied with it in the long run. When it comes to solving large complex tasks (buying a property, changing activities), we analyse too much, and the fear of making the wrong decision prevents us from making the right choice.

5. ‘They need help.’

Intuition not only helps us avoid danger, but also allows us to feel that others need help. Compassion, like fear, is a primal emotion that enables us to read faces and understand non-verbal messages. Do you feel someone needs help? Don’t be afraid of looking foolish, take action.