Intuition is most definitely not a bogus, woo-woo concept. If you’ve ever read The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker, you know just how powerful our intuition really is. If you haven’t read his book, put it on this year’s must-read list. It will improve your sense of confidence and well-being, and keep you safer.

When we try to logic through everything without our intuitive genius, life is much harder. This is because our intuitive genius is always collecting and gathering personalized, useful information and trying to share it with us. Unfortunately, because we sometimes discount this due to its communication process, we miss out on incredibly important information about our lives.

Intuition speaks to us through physical sensation and emotional experience. This is why mind-body work brings us much closer to our own intuition. The more connected you are to your emotions and body, the easier it is to hear the messages delivered from your intuitive genius.

You’ve probably had plenty of experiences where you realized, after the fact, that your gut feeling was accurate. You’ve probably kicked yourself for not listening to it. Now, it’s time to purposefully ask your gut feelings, day in and day out, what they’re trying to tell you. The amazing thing about intuition is that all it requires is your curiosity. You don’t have to know how to access intuitive information. Once you start asking your intuition for information, the intuitive answers just start showing up. It may take some time, but stick with it.

Practice with anything; your health, your finances, your relationships, your job…or, if those things feel too big, start small. Ask your intuition to help you pick out the tastiest apple at the grocery store. Ask it to help you choose the shortest route to your destination. Play with it. Think of it as a wise little person, sitting inside you, and actually have conversations with it.

Pretty soon, you’ll learn to speak its language, which will include body sensations, random ideas, and a sense of just knowing what to do. Eventually, you’ll find yourself hearing and trusting all kinds of little tidbits. You’ll be more efficient, everything will start going your way, and you’ll find most things are suddenly surprisingly easy.

It’s time to be as smart as you really are. Mind plus intuition equals true genius.