Guest guest Posted March 29, 2001 Report Share Posted March 29, 2001 Hi Crow, I'm glad that you found my stories helpful. As far as intuition vs. impulse goes, I can only tell you about my experiences. When I was younger and less mature, I believe that my intuition was working at times but I didn't know that timing was also a major factor in following it. When I was younger there was sometimes a compulsive element to it and I would act too speedily. I was raised in a family where rationality was a god and no one knew what to do with me except to criticize me. It was often uncalled for because I was a good student and not a trouble maker but unless it was rational and 'common sense' there was no credibility to it. This had a double effect. For many years, I discounted my intuition, legitimate impulses and missed many opportunities for growth. I eventually realized that I also became depressed when I discounted my true inner leadings. Of course, this awakening has been gradual and taken many years to realize. As I look back, most of my mistakes were taking someone else's advice rather than trust myself. I was much too compliant and my growth pattern has been to trust myself more. (Of course, others have a different or opposite growth pattern so this does not apply to everyone.) One example that I can think of is that I really wanted to study philosophy, psychology and theology in college. However, this was 'not practical'---only nuns did that in the 50's. It was only in later life that I followed that path professionally after studying it 'for fun' earlier. One example that I love is from one of the Harrison Ford's movies. I think it was Jewel of the NIle. At one point in the movie near the end, he has three tests. I don't remember two of them but the one that made an impression was when he was supposed to step out from a cliff into midair and trust. As he stepped out, the ground came up to meet him. That is similar to what I am talking about. (I doubt if I would have the courage to take that kind of risk, though. I haven't been asked to do anything dangerous.) I wish I were in touch with this daily as I think this is possible. I'm sure I miss many leadings or misinterpret them. I find this happens if I am too ego-centered. It seems to be related to functioning from the HIgher Self, superconscious, Holy Spirit or whatever different cultures might term it. I hope this is helpful. It's good to share with you. God bless. Celeste Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 30, 2001 Report Share Posted March 30, 2001 Dear Crow, Once again---some real gems! I heartily agree! Thanks for the reference to the movie. I think I will go out and rent it and watch it again. Yes, the stepping out is a reference to faith but I feel that faith is a big part of intuition for me. They are not synonomous (sp?) but interrelated. I can't see how one can use their intuition without faith---faith in the inner process, at least. You stated so eloquently what I believe about eventually letting children lead their own lives. As a parent of five grown sons, I find I have to let my children go over and over again. It is not a one-time event but a process. I haven't been given the wisdom to know what is best for their lives and---thank God because I would probably be tempted to let them know. That would be a mistake because life isn't about answers but living the process. I think the parent who withholds love if their children do not conform to their expectations is the worst example of not letting go. Keep the thoughts coming. Peace, Celeste Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2001 Report Share Posted April 5, 2001 Celeste: Loved your stories about being led by intuition. Do you have any examples of acting on impulse that you would feel safe sharing, as a contrast? How did you learn to discern the difference within yourself between the two concepts? I know for myself that the difference is sort of a Freudian thing, though they are both personal aspects, like the superego and the id <LOL> My impulses tell me to do what I want, regardless of the consequences, while my intuition tends to guide me towards the things that will be best for me in the long run, even if they might seem superficially unpalatable in the here and now. Sometimes they are not unpalatable, of course... but I can usually guage impulse v. intuition when I am reading a menu... impulse wants the chocolate cake, intuition tells me I'd be better satisfied with the minestrone ;-) I hesitate to say my intuition is like common sense, because sometimes it doesn't look that way, but in practice, it usually turns out that way, so maybe it is a deeper form of it. I think there are times we get big lessons from following our impulses, however... I know that I have learned a lot about relationships, love, forgiveness and tolerance by following my urges rather than my common sense, although as I get older I am realizing I don't bounce back quite as well from those lessons as I used to <G> Perhaps that is why it seems that people get more conservative as they get older... we just don't recover as quickly from our " mistakes " ! Blessings, Crow >celeste m sullivan <csull3 <BIG SNIP> >I can't control this happening but it does more refined >through the years. One concern is that intuition isn't confused with >impulsiveness. Impulsiveness is something very different. I had to >learn to differentiate the two. > > _______________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2001 Report Share Posted April 6, 2001 LOL... I can tell that you and I watch a lot of movies... that was Michael Douglas in Jewel of the Nile, but the scene you are talking about is the third in the Indiana Jones trilogy, the one where Harrison Ford's father, played by Sean Connery, convinces him to join him on a search for the Holy Grail. That particular scene evokes the importance of faith, and the scene in which he chooses the " cup of the carpenter " is an excellent example of using intuition rather than impulse when he selects the humble wooden cup over the golden, jewel encrusted chalices. I think that when we are meant to hear something, unless we are making an active effort to ignore it, the signal will repeat itself, maybe taking a different tone or appearance, until we catch the drift of what is going on. I'm reminded of a joke I heard once: Knock, Knock! Who's There? Opportunity. Of course, Opportunity can knock all day, and if we don't answer the door, we're not going to " get what's coming to us " . There's an inherent problem with taking other people's advice, and you hit it on the head... they have different perceptions and experience. While you can often use their ideas as a guideline to refine your own decisions, you can't live their life, and they can't live yours. This may be the hardest lesson for parents to learn, at what point to let children make their own choices. There has to be a point at which you have given the child all the basics they need for safety and ethics and you have to let them go on to their own triumphs and tragedies independent of well-meaning parental controls. Obviously that is a variable point, depending on the child... but it should depend on the child's development, not the parent ;-) I was talking to someone yesterday about why some people choose to be doctors who are not very sociable people, and I believe that some do it because they think it is the expected thing, and down deep they are reliable and compliant children. It's a matter of intention and motivation again. Who wants the child to be a doctor? Why? We are entrained when we are very young to obey authority, and that is for safety... don't run in the street... look both ways... don't touch the hot stove... don't play with matches... don't talk to strangers... but as we get older, we have to revise that slavish obedience in order to become independent thinkers. I think that listening to our intuition is not the only thing that is suppressed by overbearing authority in our youth... sometimes even our own common sense is suppressed. I think that because I see so many young people who join the service or go to college after a strict childhood just go mad trying everything at once. I think of these functions of the mind like muscles... if you don't exercise them with critical thinking, ethical discussion and intuitive skill building on some level, you'll either make " flabby " decisions or you'll end up deferring decisions to others in your life. And then you have folks like Mani and I, a Gemini and a Libra marriage, for whom decision making is like Chinese Water Torture... <LOL> Blessings, Crow >celeste m sullivan <csull3 > >I wish I were in touch with this daily as I think this is possible. I'm >sure I miss many leadings or misinterpret them. I find this happens if I >am too ego-centered. It seems to be related to functioning from the >HIgher Self, superconscious, Holy Spirit or whatever different cultures >might term it. > _______________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2001 Report Share Posted April 8, 2001 Dear Crow, Spirit never ceases to amaze me. I was having difficulty finding the words to express to my brother after witnessing him try to make my 11 year old niece responsible for my 6 year old nephew's feelings and well-being. Your words are an answer to a prayer. I hope you don't mind me forwarding them on to him. Thank-you, Ninox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 9, 2001 Report Share Posted April 9, 2001 Ninox: Aren't kids amazing? Like animals, we certainly don't have enough respect for their power and self containment. We spend large amounts of time " training " them, don't we? <LOL> I've said it before, but it bears repeating sometimes... children may be innocent, but they are not stupid, and they don't necessarily come into this world full of altruism, either ;p I got a kick out of a joke someone sent me recently (was it you, Abs?) about two children fighting over a pancake at breakfast. Their mother said, " Johnny, Billy, stop a moment and listen to me. If Jesus had a brother, he would surely let him have the first pancake. " Johnny looked at Billy and said, " You be Jesus! " Blessings, Crow >bluemoon <bluemoon > > " ' ' " >RE: Intuition v. Impulsiveness >Sun, 8 Apr 2001 12:35:52 +1000 > >Dear Crow, >Spirit never ceases to amaze me. I was having difficulty finding the words >to express to my brother after witnessing him try to make my 11 year old >niece responsible for my 6 year old nephew's feelings and well-being. >Your words are an answer to a prayer. > I hope you don't mind me forwarding them on to him. >Thank-you, Ninox > > _______________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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