In a world where we are taught to follow the rules, play it safe, fit in, etc. its hard to remember how to just be yourself. We are taught from a young age how to do things properly, unless you were one of the lucky few who had parents who allowed you to discover things for yourself rather than show you precisely how.  We all have our own way of being in this world and somewhere along the line in a society built on for the most part conformity (think traditional educational system) we lose ourSelves. We forget that we know. We doubt our ability to think for ourselves. We look to others all too often when we already have the answers. Then when we are asked to let go, be free and do as we wish, we feel stuck. Comparing ourselves to past experiences where we were shown what to do.

What if we connected with that part of ourselves that knows. Not that we know everything, that is not what I am saying, but rather that we know more than we think.  The other part of the equation is of course trusting this. Trusting that “not knowing” as we embark on something creative is okay too. In fact, the more we are comfortable with the “not knowing” the more we are able to let go, follow our intuition and connect with our inner wisdom.

A quick Google search of the definition of intuition gives us this:

in·tu·i·tion

In this sense trusting our intuition is trusting that we do know even when conscious reasoning says that we do not know.  It is a matter of feeling versus reason.  The guttural response we feel that cannot be explained. The pull toward something without a rational explanation. When we use our intuition we are following our unconscious  and  instinctive knowledge to guide us.  This is inner wisdom. It is sometimes difficult to connect with when we are too busy with thinking mind, AKA monkey mind.  We end up judging and evaluating most of our experiences so much so that we get stuck there in our thoughts.  Instead of just experiencing them we think about and ponder and think and ponder and the next thing you know are no longer present in the here and now, but are preoccupied with nonstop thoughts of our mind.

Though intuition is a kind of knowing it is also often experienced as a “not knowing” in the realm of the mind. Knowing of the mind is more factual, deductive, tangible. Intuition on the other hand is feeling something but without quite being able to put your finger on it.  You sense it rather than think it. You feel it rather than plan it.

Every time I run my Painting With Your Muse Workshop I am humbled by the unique processes of participants. I am reminded of the importance of following our intuition and how it opens portals to our creativity.  When is the last time you practiced trusting your intuition? When is the last time you remember pushing your intuition aside for more rational thinking? Don’t judge yourself, that is not the point. Rather take note of when you were able to allow yourself to follow your intuition and when you felt stuck.  What was happening? How did it feel as you were going through it? How did you feel afterwards?

My challenge to you is to tune in to your inner wisdom by noticing when monkey mind takes over where it is not needed. Tune into your creativity by feeling your way through rather than thinking your way through. Trust the process.