Intuition vs. Impulse

January 27, 2008

Dear Friends,

Have you ever had an extremely strong feeling that you needed to take immediate action on some kind of opportunity?

Sure you have. We all have. And you probably assumed that this urgent, demanding feeling was your intuition speaking—that it was the divine flow telling you the next right step to take.

But was it your intuition? Or was it just an impulse? To live life in the divine flow, it helps to distinguish between intuitive guidance and impulsiveness. Here’s a general rule of thumb to help you discern the difference: Your intuition persists. But an impulse insists.

Generally speaking, an impulse is motivated by an underlying thought of lack or limitation. It tells you that if you don’t act right now, the opportunity you are considering will be gone forever! Underlying every impulse is a subtle feeling of fear—of tension or anxiety—and you may feel like your happiness hinges on taking this step.

Your intuition, on the other hand, knows nothing of lack and limitation. Originating in the unlimited Mind of the Divine, it sees an infinite number of possibilities for you. Over time, it will persist in nudging you in a particular direction, but it will never insist that you must take advantage of any single opportunity.

If you miss one opportunity, your intuition will simply lead you to another. And if you miss that opportunity, it will lead you to still another. And so on. The opportunities to which you are guided may change in form and nature, but they will always satisfy whatever it is your heart is seeking to experience.

But what if you are in immediate physical danger? Wouldn’t your intuition try to protect you through a very insistent message in that circumstance? That depends on how you interpret the word insistent. Will the message be clear and direct? Yes. But will it demand? No. Nor will the message itself be infused with fear. Generally speaking, your intuition will simply give you a positive action-step to take.

I know two people whose lives were saved by a very clear inner voice. But both times, that voice spoke in a very simple and direct manner. One message was simply “Get off the road,” which prevented that person from colliding with another vehicle. The other message was “Quit what you are doing and leave the river,” which saved that person from drowning in a flash flood.

The still, small voice of the divine does not always have to be still and small. It can be obvious and unmistakable. But behind that voice there is always a basic, underlying sense of eternal well-being. Because that is all your divine spirit knows. And your spirit is the source of your intuitive guidance.

Is there something in your life right now that you are considering doing? How do you feel about it? If, over time, there is a persistent feeling of peace about it—or even better, a quiet sense of surety—that is probably your intuition speaking. If your inclination is insistent at first, but then diminishes over time, that is probably an impulse.

Here’s to acting on intuition, passing on impulses, and developing the wisdom to know the difference.

Steven

© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor