Well, this is not really an "Iceland-only" post. But I have been thinking ...... it is amazing how many times in life our intuition appears. It is something that we all have. It is our internal guidance system that helps us make decisions. The dictionary defines it this way:
to know something without any proof or evidence
a feeling that guides a person without understanding why
immediate apprehension or cognition
instinct
sixth sense
If you are like most people (including me), we try to force these thoughts aside and allow our logical brain to reason the situation through. Intuition is a subtle force or a feeling. It sometimes is a loud voice inside telling you how to stay safe or how to deal with an issue. Intuition may strike as a gnawing feeling. Sometimes intuitive thoughts and feelings don't make any sense.
Some people are more sensitive to people and to the world around them. I believe that empathy and intuition improve when observing people and the environment. I've become better at listening to intuition but I still have a long ways to go. I try to rationalize the feelings and struggle to logically control the situation.
However, there have been times where I have followed that inner voice and have trusted my gut feeling. It never ceases to amaze me how spot-on our instincts are sometimes. Have you ever said, "I knew I should have done __________" or "I wish I would have said _____________" or thought that some person you just barely met was kind of creepy? Well that is your intuition.
Following this Icelandic Adventure has been an inner voice urging me to do more, to take a chance, to believe. It has been a great adventure so far and I know that there are many great things to come in the future! My new website, purchasing the genealogy database from Hálfdan, and setting up the non-profit have all taken a lot of time and has sometimes been difficult. But each day, the "to-do list" gets a little bit shorter and the road seems a little bit smoother.
My Amma would say, "Have good judgement and trust your instincts. They are a gift from God." But she would also say, "Think it through. Weigh the options. Make the best choice that you can."
I say, "So far, so good, Amma!"
