Balancing Our Intuition and the Five Senses- Part 1

Decisions are based on information we gather from the environment, other people, past experiences, personal beliefs, gut reactions, and so on.  What kind of information we take in depends upon our personality. Our personality influences what we naturally notice.  Do we focus more on our internal world or the outer world?

There are some personalities that are naturally better equipped to connect with the internal world, using a sixth sense, and those that are naturally better at relying on the outer world using the five senses. According to the Meyers- Briggs personality inventory, based on the work of psychologist C. G. Jung, this ability runs on a continuum:

Sensing ------------------------------Intuition

There is no right or wrong way to be on the spectrum, it just means that we may lean toward one end or the other.  This is referred to as our ‘preference’.  Individuals who are intuitives rely more on their personal energy.  Individuals who are sensors rely more on the 5 senses to give them information about their surroundings.  What does that look like in real life?  Here is an example:

An individual attends his/her first meeting with a mental health professional.  When the sensor is asked about his/her impression of this professional, the individual answers:  “Well, he/she was dressed professionally, the office was clean/neat, the couch was comfortable, and she spoke in a very calming voice.  I am going to schedule another appointment.”  The sensor is very concrete about the next step which is to schedule an appointment.  When the intuitive is asked the same, he/she answers:  “Well, I felt very relaxed after I started to share my story.  I got a good feeling about her ability to help me and I left with a sense of connection.  I am going to continue working on my issues with this person.” The intuitive is a bit more vague about the next step which is to ‘work’ on ‘issues’. As you can see, the sensor makes a decision based on what he/she can see, hear, touch (3 of the 5 senses).  The intuitive makes a decision based on the energy he/she experiences in the room.

In order to determine where we are on the spectrum, we can do the following:

Be aware of our everyday language – notice words like feel, sense, gut, vibe, etc. and words like taste, touch, smell, hear.

Consider a recent decision- ask what our decision was based upon. Did we focus more on our sixth sense and our internal world? Did we focus more on what we could see, touch, hear, smell, taste in the outer world?

Check out the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)- www.meyersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics.

In the next chapter we will explore how sensors can develop intuition and make more balanced decisions in life.

Being More Responsive and Less Reactive

“Don’t just do something, sit there.”

                                           --    Slogan from Al-Anon Family Groups **

**Al-Anon Family Groups is a worldwide organization committed to the support of friends and family members of individuals who abuse alcohol.  This is a free membership that welcomes all individuals, regardless of race, culture, gender, or denomination.   www.al-anon.org

Whistling winds, snow-covered window screens, weather updates, and the knowledge that our regular routine will be interrupted.  For some of us, winter weather conditions may cause anxiety about power outages, safety of family members, or getting to work. For others, there may be the frustration and disappointment of cancelled plans.  Still, for others, the winter months may offer an opportunity to stop and just take notice of what is happening around them, to feel humbled by the forces of nature, and to take special care of themselves.

It can be enlightening to think about how winter weather conditions change the normal routine. Do we resist the change or work with ‘what is’?  Like the weather, life in general can be unpredictable and, at times, messy. When we do not accept that something is out of our control, we tend to react rather than actively respond.  Reacting can cause us to:

• Feel a sense of urgency/anxiety.

• Act without thought.

• See few options.

• Focus on fixing what is ‘wrong’.

• Experience tension/tightness in our body.

When we feel out of our control, we try to gain that control back by immediately doing something.  Taking time to think, reflect, notice where our feelings are taking hold in our body, and release them in a healthy way, empowers and enables us to respond in an active (not REactive) way. When we actively respond we tend to :

• Feel a sense of calm alertness.

• Act with true clarity.

• Focus on the opportunity to learn/grow.

• See a variety of options.

• Experience a lightness in our body, especially in the neck and shoulder areas.

A popular phrase used in schools to promote safety when crossing a street. is “STOP, LOOK, LISTEN”, which the Al-Anon Family Groups applies to making decisions and acting on them. In order to reinforce this phrase, we can write it down and post it in a strategic place, such as the car, the bathroom mirror, or the refrigerator. These words can also be used as our cell phone or computer wallpaper.

May we all find the willingness to embrace opportunities which require us to ‘Stop, Look, Listen’ before taking action.