The Gallop Organization conducted a survey in 2005 of the beliefs of the general U.S. population regarding paranormal topics [1]. The results revealed forty-one percent of those polled believed in extrasensory perception; twenty-six percent believed in clairvoyance and thirty-one percent believed in telepathy or psychic communication.
The truth is everyone has psychic ability. However, for the majority of people it is hidden, ignored, untested or distrusted. Therefore, it is common to hear people say that they are frustrated with lack of success at tapping into their intuition or sixth sense.
No matter the level of psychic awareness you enjoy, you certainly could improve your success rate. An interesting perspective about intuition is that you can monitor your talent (and improve) your ability by your 'failures' as much as with your 'successes.' You can also use mundane experiences to improve this spiritual practice.
One of my stories of a 'failure' and subsequent 'success' is shared with chagrin, because my first conscious awareness of my clairaudience and clairvoyance was between eighteen or twenty months and has remained consistent and accurate throughout my life.
In 1994, I was doing consulting work for a company in Parsippany, NJ during the day and maintained my hypnosis practice in the evening. I left the Parsippany office at 5:00 p.m. to drive the thirty minutes to Verona. As I opened my car door, I heard the distinct and familiar voice, "Take 80." I knew this to mean, I-80 east. It was the distinct voice I was accustomed to all my life. However, my ego mind refuted the information. "This can't be right, I-80, is bumper to bumper this time of day," I thought.
As I passed the entrance to I-80 east on Route 10, my regular route, I wondered if it would be better to take I-80. A mile past the entrance traffic on Route 10 came to a halt. Oh, my gosh, it must be a car crash, the message I heard was right, traffic doesn't halt like this normally. As the traffic inched along, it became apparent it was construction that had started during the day. Now I would be late. As it turned out, I was only ten minutes late and my client was unaffected in any substantial way. I breathed a sigh of relief, and vowed to 'listen up' no matter what when I heard the familiar distinct voice. I began using I-80 East to make the thirty minute drive each day.
Two weeks later, and although, construction was still in progress on Route 10, as I was getting into my car, I heard the familiar voice, 'Take Route 10.' Not again, I thought. Is this a trick or a test? I decided to heed the information. I took Route 10 and in spite of the construction arrived on time. Alright, I reasoned, my intuition is telling me that I can go back to driving Route 10. When I got home that night, my husband asked, "Did you get caught in the traffic back up on 80?" "No, I took Route 10." "Good thing," he said, "There was a tractor trailer and several cars piled-up, traffic was backed-up ten miles with a two hour delay." Then I told him the story about my odyssey on which route to take.
So this incident clearly points to the wisdom that teaches us that we can sometimes learn quicker from mistakes, and that failure holds an opportunity for self-improvement.
Yet, this opportunity is really only beneficial when you make the connection between the incident and the forethought. And then, by contemplating the nature of the signal that you received as intuitive or psychic information, you will more readily recognize that feeling or sensation in the future. Once you have clarity about how you receive that type of intuitive information, you can continue to build and expand that sensitivity.
In what way can you learn more about your intuition from the mundane activities of life? How do you sense psychic messages? Do you hear a voice or do words come into your mind? Do you have distinct thoughts or pictures? Do you have specific sensations like fluttering stomach, chills, muscle twitch, or pain? How can you more clearly make a connection between a signal and a message?
"Growth is a process of trial and error; experimentation. The 'failed' experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiment that ultimately 'works.' "The Rules for Being Human" - Author Unknown
[1] David W. Moore (June 16, 2005) "Three in Four Americans Believe in Paranormal." Gallup News Service. Gallup poll shows that Americans' belief in the paranormal persists, Skeptical Inquirer, accessed, October 28, 2006
Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Life Coach, Hypnotherapist, Author, "101 Great Ways To Improve Your Life." Dr. Dorothy has the unique gift of connecting people with a broad range of profound principles that resonate in the deepest part of their being. She brings awareness to concepts not typically obvious to one's daily thoughts and feelings. http://www.drdorothy.net
