A couple of years ago, while working in a school, I noticed a child struggling with his interactions with his peers. In my experience, it was unusual behaviour; he was hitting other kids and using lots of threatening words. This was understandably upsetting to those around him, and he needed to stop.
After checking in with the children who were upset, I was able to sit quietly with him. He looked at me as though he was anticipating me to tell him off. I asked him if he wished to engage in an activity he usually loved. He looked at me, a little confused. We sat together in silence; I could sense he had strong feelings, and I wanted to let him feel settled and at ease with my presence, as I felt it was the best starting point. Without prompting, he shared it was his birthday.
Curious, I asked him how his morning had started and whether he was doing anything for it. He answered that his morning was the same as every other day, and he wasn't doing anything for his birthday. I listened and nodded my head. I didn't ask him why not or exclaim oh no, as this would have felt imposing; my intuition led me to be with him as he was at that very moment.
I then asked him if he would like us to play a game with the other children and perhaps even sing Happy Birthday. His whole demur lifted, and he responded with an enthusiastic yes! Then, without prompting, he started talking about how he had hurt other children, how he was sorry, and how he should go and apologise. He did this, and his peers accepted his apology. We played his favourite game—limbo—and sang Happy Birthday! He beamed!
With hindsight, I can see how allowing him the space to regulate himself supported him with his emotions. I can acknowledge that it was through being non-judgmental that he could feel accepted. Then, asking a question non-related to the incident gave him space to express himself, which helped identify an underlying need to be seen.
To be in tune with another, you need to be in tune with yourself. When the incident first happened, I noticed my protective persona bubbling inside. I wasn't okay with his actions, but I sensed an emotional reaction from me would not benefit anyone. Thankfully, I was able to trust my instincts and sit with him. If I had followed my agenda and told him that his behaviour was unacceptable, I am unsure how this would have benefited him on any level.
Although this may not prevent future incidents with this boy, I felt his apologies were genuine, and he was self-motivated. Most importantly, he was able to experience support when he needed it.
I understand that we may not always be able to do this, and perhaps the application of intuition looks different to you in your workplace, but there are key elements that I believe are universal.
Being present
Being aware of yourself and your feelings
Allowing space for expression
Being non-judgmental
Being curious
Being non-imposing
Being self-aware of your agenda
Being comfortable with silence
Listening
Trust in yourself
Being at ease with your body - relaxed
For further tips on enhancing your intuition, read below! As you will see, many are based on self-care and awareness. What if the more compassion and kindness you have for yourself, the easier it is to honour your intuition?
TIPS
✨ Spending time in nature. If you are like me and are fortunate enough to be close to nourishing walks, odds are you will appreciate how much of a difference a gentle walk can make to your well-being. Nature is scientifically known to help eliminate stress and clear the head. When you feel clearer, tuning into yourself and nurturing your intuitive voice is easier.
✨ Listen to your body. You must honour yourself; the more you listen, the easier it becomes to develop your instincts. Listening to your body means paying attention to your body's needs, such as resting when you need to and eating when you are hungry. This may sound pretty straightforward, but it becomes much more difficult when you are used to responding to other people's needs first.
✨ Practice listening to your body without judgment. Sometimes, we judge ourselves without even realising it. For example, if you are feeling pain or discomfort in your body and it is interfering with what you want to do, this can be extremely frustrating. You may find yourself comparing yourself to another or wishing you were different. Instead, take a moment to listen to the wisdom of your body with compassion.
✨ Practice present awareness. This will help you deepen your understanding of yourself and others. Being present is incredibly powerful. When present with another, intuition becomes a natural part of the process.
✨ Trust in yourself. As we go through life, we can have experiences that cause us to lose trust in ourselves, sometimes without us even being consciously aware of it. Start by asking yourself now if you trust yourself and see if you get a response. If the answer is yes, wonderful! If the answer is no, spend some time trying to understand the cause and whether you need some support.
✨ Spend time doing what nourishes you! It sounds easy, but sometimes life can get in the way of the simple things that recharge our souls. Remember what makes you laugh, and give yourself lots of breaks. Spend time with those you feel like you can be yourself with.
✨ Give yourself space to reflect. By giving yourself space to reflect, you can better understand your emotions, motivations, and goals. This practice can help you make more informed decisions, set meaningful priorities, and cultivate a sense of mindfulness in your everyday life. Whether it's through journaling, meditation, or simply carving out time for reflection, it can lead to profound personal growth and a greater sense of self-awareness.
✨ Develop your listening skills. Talk less, listen more to those nearest and dearest to you. Notice when you catch yourself wanting to interrupt. Give the person you are with the time and space to express themselves fully. Building this will improve the quality of your connections and support you in developing your intuition as you start to notice a lot more happening than the words being expressed.
With love,
Michelle X
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