Giving Into Intuition
Pretty early on into my ventures as a digital nomad, I started playing a game with myself that became one of the most valuable exercises I have ever engaged in.
I noticed that as I was traveling I would often feel a pull from deep within me. Often it was telling me to leave at a certain time, or take a detour from my chosen route, or to pull over for seemingly no reason. Sometimes I would follow the call, but other times it would feel like a chore. I was often tired or hungry, and simply did not have the minerals to go galavanting off chasing the will of the universe.
After a few weeks of this happening however, I decided to lean in a bit harder. I was exploring Mt Saint Helens and it was nearing a long day. I had been desperate to get a picture of the glorious volcano with some water or greenery in the foreground, but large portions of the area are pretty arid and so, it had not materialized. I found an area on a map that looked promising, but as I pulled in, it became apparent that the area that had been shown on the map wasn’t as it seemed. Somewhat deflated, I got in my car and committed myself to the long drive home.
As I started the drive, I noticed a different road. “Go there” a little voice inside me said. So I turned in, found a car park, but decided it wasn’t going to give me what I wanted, so turned around and continued my trip.
You have to understand, this had been an exhausting day, I had been driving for 5 hours at this point and had another 3 hours ahead of me. But as I drove away, that little pull inside me got stronger. “Trust me … go back! … you were so close!”. This exact moment was the moment I decided to lean into my intuition. After 10 minute, I turned the car around, and went back to the car park.
As I pulled in, I noticed a different area I hadn’t seen before. As I got out my car, I felt a pull to a trail. It looked like a proper trail that would go for miles. “Not now!”, I thought. I was so tired, I couldn’t face the thought of a proper walk, and didn’t think I had the time. But I had decided to lean in, and so I did. Just 10 minutes, I promised myself.
As I walked, I suddenly came across a huge lake. It was absolutely beautiful, covered in greenery, with people swimming and playing with inflatables throughout the area. Their joy was infectious, and when the voice told me “just a little further”, I continued to lean in.
And then, just 10 minutes into the walk, the scene presented itself. Mount St Helens broke out above the water and the greenery. It was the view I had been hoping for the whole day. It was magnificent. I was so tired that I nearly wept. Not only was the view wonderful, but the energy of the families and people relaxing and enjoying the day energized me.
As I started the drive home, I made a vow. “Ok, Universe”, I thought. “If we’re going to play this game, let’s play it”. I made a promise to myself that no matter how tired or fed up I felt, if I felt the pull, if I felt the call of my intuition, I would follow it.
Engaging with my intuition with this commitment and curiosity turned into a string of awe-inspiring experiences, but also helped me to hone my connection with myself. Instead of denying the gut feeling I felt so often, leaning into it unequivocally every time helped me to forge a relationship with it.
Eventually, I could look back at my experienced over the last 6 months and start to see a complex tapestry of ‘breadcrumbs’ left by the universe. Every call that I answered led me in a new direction, and each of those directions had serious impact on the people and experiences that were drawn into my world.
I will delve in more into the world of universal breadcrumbing, but for now I will leave you with this challenge. If you were to commit to one week of listening without restriction to your gut. To the niggling voice in the back of your mind. To that spark of curiosity and desire that was dropped into your mind. … What do you think you would find?
Stay curious, ladies.
Love and gratitude,
Mara
