Don’t Wiggle from the Niggle

This past week I was contemplating a big decision in my life. This decision would have the power to reroute my life and change my course significantly. I had arrived at my choice and was settling into this reality when I woke up 3 days later feeling what I like to call, “the niggle” … you may know this to be intuition.

• : a natural ability or power that makes it possible to know something without any proof or evidence : a feeling that guides a person to act a certain way without fully understanding why

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intuition

As it turned out investigating my niggle paid off and preserved me from what would have been a complicated outcome. We all have “niggles” every day. It could be when you are crossing a street, walking down an alley, making a business decision, reacting to a loved one or when you are about to put something into your mouth. How often have you heard someone say, “if only I had followed my gut?” or, “I knew that was going to happen.” 

The niggles in life are designed to preserve us from nasty or harmful outcomes. It is our built in prevention mechanism. This is not about being so fearful that you are not living life because you painted yourself into a corner trapped by your fears. This is about living life effectively in tune with your preservation/prevention mechanism so that you are not falling into relational ditches, financial ditches or exposing yourself to physical and emotional harm.

The more responsive you are to your niggle the more in tune you become with yourself and your world. The more you take your safety cues seriously the more intuitive you become. The greatest defense against mental, emotional or physical abuse is your intuition. If the hair at the back of your neck is raised that becomes a clue to get to safety. If you are making a business decision and “something” does not sit right don’t do it.

Most people who have overridden their “niggle factor” testify to getting into relationships that have harmed them, married the wrong person, formed alliances with inappropriate business partners or bought the wrong vehicles. It can be said that the more responsive you are the more intuitive you become. The more you override your intuition the less intuitive you are.

Self-doubt, poor decisions and chaos are some of the fruit of a discharged/neutralized intuition. Each time you use your intuition you recharge it. You learn to listen for it and use the information you receive from it wisely. The fruit of your life will show, confidence, decisiveness, healthy boundaries and direction. Pay attention today. Take inventory about the times when you have listened to your “niggle” and the times when you did not. Think about the outcomes. Now pay attention and start recharging your built in safety and harm reduction mechanism and watch your life get better.