What If You Were Intuitive?Written by Steve Gillman
You Already Are IntuitiveThink back to a time when you had a hunch about something. That was intuition. It is nothing more than your mind using more than what you are consciously aware of. But how do you trust your intuition? How can you improve it and use it? First, understand what it is. Gary Kasparov can play and beat best chess computer. How is this possible when computer can calculate positions many moves further ahead than he can. It is because of his intuitive grasp of game. Experience allows him to combine analysis with a "sense" of which move is best. Intuition also works as a warning device. My wife and I both felt we shoudn't get on that bus in Cuenca, Ecuador. Psychic? Not at all. We knew crowded busses were prime locations for pickpockets. We saw drunk man bumping into people. We didn't think about these things consciously, but they registered in our minds, and warned us. Unfortunately, we ignored our intuition, and I was robbed. Of course, a strong hunch can be for irrelevant reasons too. If you were hit by a blue taxi as a child, you might have "intuitive" hunches not to get into blue taxis for rest of your life. So how do you know when to trust your intuition? Watch And Question Your IntuitionStart by watching it and questioning it. If I had asked myself why I felt bad about that bus, it may have occurred to me, "Oh yeah, crowded busses are a bad idea. I know that." If your look at your strong feeling about that taxi, you might say, "Oh, it's just my fear of blue taxis." Get in habit of paying attention to your intuitive feelings.
| | The 5 Hindrances of the Mind: Are They Blocking Your Self-Esteem?Written by Deborah L. Shipley, RYT
The issue of self-esteem is perhaps one of greatest determinates in creating a life of freedom and abundance, or feeling inhibited and “just getting by“. Self-esteem is defined as “a feeling of pride in oneself“. It is how you feel in relation to yourself rather than how others see you. It’s between you and, well… you. Therefore, it’s not necessary to be so concerned about what others think to determine your level of self -esteem, as definition does not include any “others“, just you. So where can you help yourself to better understand you? There are so many aspects of you but one that is of great importance is that of your mind. In ancient wisdom of Patanjali‘s Yoga Sutras, there are five hindrances or afflictions of mind that are collectively known as klesas. An understanding of each of these hindrances can help play a part in discovery of self, leading to a feeling of well-being, connectivity , and greater self-esteem. The hindrances are as follows: ignorance (avidya), egoism (asmita), attachment (raga), aversion (dvesa), and clinging to life (abhinivesah). Encountering afflictions without being aware of them creates stumbling blocks on path to self-realization. The afflictions will arise at different times in life, but if one has spent time studying them, one may be able to recognize them for what they are and move through them with a certain level of personal understanding. The first hindrance is ignorance of true self which is building block for all of other afflictions. It can be described as an incorrect understanding of oneself that is culmination of years of unconscious actions, thoughts, and words that one has become dependent upon as part of one’s being. Sound familiar? How many times have we replayed old tapes over and over in our head until they become so embedded in our persona that we begin to self-realize these false beliefs? From ignorance, derives judgments of oneself and of others. By understanding various afflictions and where they originate, one may transcend a lifetime absorbed in ignorance. The second hindrance is egoism which is identification of self with what one is not- body, mind, personality, emotions, senses, accomplishments, failures, and possessions, or lack thereof. You may be thinking, “People with low self-esteem are certainly not showing an ego problem.” Well, it actually is an ego problem, as concern over what others think dominates many choices and actions in daily life. In egoism, practice of remaining in moment and being a non-judgmental witness comes in handy. In truly observing what is happening in life as it is, rather than placing violent judgments on self, others and situations, one may experience life with a limited ignorance. Imagine viewing world through a camera lens and just seeing what is-nothing else. The third hindrance is attachment which arises from ego’s idea that more is better and of fear of losing what one already has in his/her possession. Are you keeping up with Jones’? Do you really need to be? More stuff just means more upkeep; right? As one progresses on life path, experiences occur that cause feelings of great pleasure. One may cling to these things in hopes of experiencing feelings over and over again. Attachment is looking outside of oneself for validation and bliss. The reality is that external factors come and go; it is internal true self that remains a constant. “Happiness is found within“, is a timeless phrase and it is unconditional and independent of any outside circumstances or people. Freeing, isn’t it?
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