The Power of Paying Attention: Honoring Your Intuition in a Noisy World

By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, Best Ever You

There’s a quiet voice inside each of us. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t demand. But it knows.

This is your intuition—your inner wisdom, your soul’s compass, your internal “yes” and “no” before your brain even begins to rationalize. And yet, in a world so loud with opinions, distractions, deadlines, and digital noise, that voice can feel like it’s being drowned out.

We scroll. We reply. We schedule. We push through. And often, we dismiss that gentle nudge that says, Wait. Pause. Something’s not right. Or even more softly, This way. Trust me.

But here’s the truth: every time we ignore our intuition, we chip away at our peace.

At Best Ever You, we believe that living your best life requires you to honor all parts of yourself—and that includes the quietest parts. So today, I want to invite you to lean in. To slow down just enough to notice the knowing that’s already within you. Because your intuition isn’t just important—it’s essential.

What Is Intuition, Really?

Intuition is the ability to understand or know something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning. It’s not magical, but it can feel that way. It’s the feeling in your gut, the tug in your heart, the whisper in your chest. It’s often the first response before your brain kicks into analytical overdrive.

For some, it shows up physically—a tight chest, a calm stillness, or a flutter of excitement. For others, it’s a felt sense, a deep “yes” or “no” that doesn't need logic to validate it. Intuition is deeply personal, but it’s universally human.

And despite what the world may say, especially to women or sensitive people, intuition is not weakness. It’s wisdom. It’s your body and your spirit working together to steer you in the direction of alignment.

Why We Ignore It

We live in a culture that values evidence, logic, and productivity. We are rewarded for doing, not being. We are praised for powering through, not pausing. So when intuition shows up—unprovable and ineffable—we second-guess it.

We also fear being wrong. What if that gut feeling leads us astray? What if we’re just being “emotional” or “too sensitive”?

Here’s the reframe: Your intuition doesn’t always lead to the easiest path, but it often leads to the right one. The growth one. The soul-aligned one. Even when it disrupts plans or invites risk, it’s guiding you home.

My Wake-Up Moment

I’ve had many intuitive nudges over the years—some I followed immediately, others I regrettably ignored. But one stands out: the moment I first felt the call to write Percolate. It wasn’t logical. I had other plans. But something stirred in me—a deep inner message that said, This needs to be written. And now. That whisper turned into a roar I couldn’t ignore.

Following it changed everything. It launched new conversations, new communities, and ultimately new books that have helped thousands of people redefine their lives. It began with a single decision: to pay attention to what I already knew deep inside.

We all have moments like this—when the calling is clear, even if the path is uncertain.

5 Signs You’re Hearing Your Intuition

You might be wondering: how do I know if it's my intuition speaking and not just anxiety or impulse? Here are five signs to help you tune in:

1. It Feels Calm, Not Frenzied

Intuition tends to speak in a centered, grounded tone. It doesn’t beg or panic—it simply states. Even when it nudges you to make a bold move, there’s often a strange sense of peace accompanying it.

2. It’s Consistent Over Time

If a thought keeps returning—especially in quiet moments—there’s a good chance it’s your intuition. Anxiety is loud and scattered. Intuition is steady and focused.

3. Your Body Reacts

Pay attention to how your body feels when you think about a decision. Do you feel expansion or constriction? Ease or tension? The body often senses truth before the mind does.

4. It Aligns with Your Values

Intuition won’t lead you into something that violates your core truth. It may challenge you, stretch you, or scare you—but it won’t ask you to be someone you’re not.

5. It’s Unattached to Outcome

There’s often a sense of surrender in true intuition. It doesn’t demand guarantees. It simply invites the next right step.

How to Reconnect with Your Intuition

If you’ve been running on autopilot, don’t worry. Your intuition isn’t gone—it’s just waiting for a chance to be heard again. Here are a few ways to tune back in:

🧘‍♀️ 1. Practice Stillness

Even five minutes of silence a day can work wonders. Sit quietly. Breathe deeply. Ask your intuition a question—and wait. The answers may not come instantly, but with practice, they do.

📓 2. Journal Freely

Stream-of-consciousness writing is a powerful way to bypass the inner critic. Let your pen flow without censorship. Often, your truth will reveal itself in the spaces between the sentences.

🌿 3. Get in Nature

The natural world helps us regulate and reconnect. Take a walk. Sit by a tree. Let the rhythm of the earth remind you of your own inner rhythm.

🌀 4. Pay Attention to Repetition

Notice what keeps showing up—people, ideas, opportunities, dreams. Intuition loves patterns.

🔍 5. Ask for Guidance

Whether through prayer, meditation, or quiet contemplation—ask, “What do I need to know right now?” Trust that an answer will come, even if it’s not in the form you expect.

The Risk of Not Listening

When we ignore our intuition, we often pay the price—sometimes immediately, sometimes over years. We stay in jobs that drain us, relationships that break us, or cycles that harm us. And we wonder why we feel stuck, anxious, or numb.

But when we choose to listen, even in small ways, life begins to shift. Decisions become more aligned. Energy returns. Clarity emerges. We stop living by default and start living by design.

And perhaps most importantly, we build self-trust.

Your Inner Wisdom Is Real

You were born with the capacity to know. You don’t need to earn it. You don’t need to prove it. You simply need to remember it—and honor it.

At Best Ever You, we believe that you are the expert on you. And part of being your best ever self means learning to trust your own inner voice, even when it goes against the crowd.

So today, I invite you to pause. To breathe. To ask yourself:

What is my intuition asking me to notice today?

Don’t rush the answer. It may be a whisper. It may be a feeling. But whatever arises, honor it.

You don’t have to have all the steps figured out. You just have to take the next one—with courage, with curiosity, and with care.

Your best ever you already knows the way.