June 21, 2023 • 10 mins
Join me this week as I share a personal episode reflecting on 18 years of making decisions based on following my intuition.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- HOW to pursue what you want intuitively
- What it looks like to *not know* and follow your intuition
- How the best experiences in life are ones we don’t plan for
- How wishing for a clear plan for how to do each step actually limits your potential (and what you think is possible for yourself)
If you want to feel intuitive in your creative practice, AND tap into your one-in-eight-billion perspective and contribution, head to www.jenmoulton.com/newsletter and get my Intuitive Creation Audio. You’ll receive an audio that teaches you a unique process to reliably tap in BEFORE you make any creative work so you can overcome procrastination, overwhelm, and where-do-i-start-itis.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:25):
Today, I'm resharing an episodethat was originally published
back in September.
It is one of the first episodesthat I shared about intuition
and I just love the message.
I think very often we focus onhow we're going to get
something, or how we're going todo something, and in this
episode I dive into and sharewith you that basically the best
(00:49):
things in my life, I could nothave planned how I was going to
do them.
And I probably would not haveforeseen them for myself.
I wouldn't have thought that Icould have, or do the things,
that I have ended upexperiencing over the past 18
ish years since I became anadult.
I have a few episodes plannedcoming up about intuition and so
(01:10):
I thought it would be cool toreshare this one as a primer
before I dig in deeper, in thesenext couple episodes, about
intuition and exploring yourintuition and how to create
things with your intuition.
I had no idea how they weregoing to fit into my life, but I
just let that fall into placeover time.
And I think there's some reallyvaluable wisdom in there, that
(01:31):
for sure, I am still learningthis too.
I do feel like I have experiencewith it, but it's also a
practice that I think I'll havefor the rest of my life.
So I wanted to reshare thisepisode because I think it's,
it's a good one.
It's one of my favorites.
And I think the lesson is reallyimportant that: we don't need to
know how, and maybe even that wedon't need to necessarily know
(01:52):
what we want.
We just need to stay open and bepaying attention to what feels
like it's piquing our interest,or feels resonant to us.
And then just take one step at atime in pursuing that.
And maybe even feeling or beingdogged in following something
that feels important or resonantfor you.
I think that's important too.
(02:13):
Let's get into it Welcome totoday's episode.
It's better when you don't knowhow.
This is a bit of a personalepisode as I am celebrating my
10 year wedding anniversary.
And nearing 18 years, half of mylife, from when I took my very
first chance based on anintuitive decision.
(02:33):
And left home for school and metmy life partner, not to mention
a lot of my friends that arestill my very best friends to
this day.
This one decision made the lifeI have today possible.
And I want you to think aboutthat.
As you're listening.
And maybe as you move throughyour day today, how one decision
can change the entire course ofyour life.
(02:56):
Last night.
I was thinking, as I was talkingto my husband, Matt.
We were both looking at our twodogs who, if you know anything
about me, you know, that I justadore these dogs with my whole
heart.
And I said, they're the bestdecision I ever made for us.
And we both agreed.
I was definitely the one whowanted to get them.
(03:16):
This is a longer story, but Ijust knew that we were meant to
get them when we moved out toCalifornia and I was, I had like
a single track focus.
I just.
I knew they were for us.
And I am so thankful that Ilistened to that calling and
that knowing.
So after I said to Matt that youknow, that our dogs are the best
(03:37):
decision I ever made for us, Istarted to think about other
decisions I've made from anintuitive or a knowing place.
Pursuing a relationship withMatt, who's my husband.
Getting our dogs moving toCalifornia, buying our house.
And to knowing that Matt shouldtake that job offer in Austin
what made all of this possiblegoing away to college at GW, in
(04:01):
Washington, DC, where I had.
Maybe been once or never been,and just had a gut knowing that
I was meant to go there.
When I say intuition or deepknowing, I mean, I felt a deep
calling to do each of thosethings.
I had no idea why.
And most of them seemedabsolutely bonkers at the time.
(04:22):
Who goes away to school becausethey have a hunch about Who
finds their life partner onemonth into freshman year who
moves across the country forsome pie in the sky job
opportunity that might end, andit did?
Who gets two pups when they're23 and 24 and barely making a
living?
Who buys a house that was at thevery top of the budget?
(04:44):
Who moves to a state thatthey've never been to for
another job opportunity?
And turns out we're still hereat 12 years later.
Who gets a hunch to follow theircreative aspirations while
undergoing chemo and is stilldoing that 12 years later?
Each time, the decision seems soimprobable.
And I know the people around methought that I slash we were
(05:05):
taking unnecessary risks andwere very likely to fail.
But here I am 18 years into thiswild journey of following my
hunters and doing what makes myheart sing, and it is better
than anything I could haveimagined for myself.
When I look back, I can reallysee all the things I made happen
for myself and for mypartnership.
(05:26):
They did not just happen becauseI was lucky or because we were
lucky.
They happened because I waswilling and open to alternative
ideas, and all in, on tuninginto my inner callings and going
after what resonated with me,what made my heart sing, what I
felt compelled to, even when itmeant risking everything.
(05:48):
Today I am thinking about.
If I can create all of this, alife that I never dared to dream
up- a truly amazing life- I candefinitely create any work
project that is on my heart.
And so can you.
I can know it is coming fromthat same inner knowing place or
inner calling place as theselife projects that I've
(06:09):
mentioned when I feel a similarcalling as I did to the other
things I listed.
Even when they seem weird or Ifeel unprepared or it seems
improbable or just plain crazy.
I can also see in retrospectthat it is very normal for me to
feel doubt.
I felt doubt all along the waywith those things that I
(06:30):
mentioned, those life things.
And sometimes even regret, like,what was I thinking?!?
I never let that doubt stop mefrom showing up from an
intentional place, feelingconnected to why I made the
choice I did, doing my part,showing up from a clean place
and from love, supporting eachidea as they were new and
(06:50):
fragile-and sometimes that wasfor years.
And I stayed with it even when Iwas freaking out.
I can see that that is ALL thatis required of me and anything I
take on- just showing up, doingwhat I think is best, taking the
action I know about right now,trusting and allowing it to
unfold.
And seeing where it takes mewithout an agenda.
(07:13):
When I look back, I can see thatI never once had conditions on
the things that I am most proudof and love the most in my life.
I never thought:'this thingneeds to pay off in X amount of
time or else I quit'.
I have never taken that attitudewith anything that really
mattered to me.
I just chose what I thought wasright, stayed the course, and
kept showing up for it.
(07:33):
And each of those has paid off,put that like, kind of in
quotes, paid off, more than Iever imagined they would.
I figured it all out one step ata time and sometimes one painful
step at a time.
Of course it is normal-and Iwould say- an amazing thing to
dream.
To dream about where you want tobe.
I did (07:54):
about my life with Matt and what that would look like,
waking up with our dogs onSaturday morning, that's like my
favorite time of the week withthem, what our house could
become, what life might be likein Austin.
Working for myself and creatinga movement that changes the way
creative women show up forthemselves and their work.
And the very first dream I wentall in on, which was going to
(08:16):
college in DC.
All that is required is braveryto step off the expected path
and keep showing up, trusting,and doing what you know to do
one step at a time.
And what is so cool is that thepath that has unfolded is a
MILLION TIMES BETTER than what Iwould have dreamed up if I'd
(08:37):
made a plan from the outset andjust followed it.
Like if I had had that elusiveHOW plan that we all want of
every step that we need to do sothat we can ensure success.
Seriously, let me repeat that.
The path that has unfolded is amillion times cooler than
anything I could have dreamed upif I had had my way and could
see a HOW plan with every stepoutlined to ensure that I would
(09:01):
be successful from the outset.
I really want both of us toremember that.
All of the time that we spendwishing for a very clear HOW, a
clear plan on how to do eachstep, is actually limiting the
potential, our potential and thepotential of the project or
whatever we might be working on.
It turns out so much bigger andbetter, and mind-blowingly
(09:24):
special when we allow the pathto unfold.
And when we show up and meet thepath and when we continue to
grow and evolve, while we arewalking that path.
So if you're anything like me,and you are constantly, or I
should say your brain isconstantly, like, I really just
wish I knew how to do this, or Ijust, I really wish I could see
(09:44):
where this was going so then Icould, you know, make
contingency plans and feel moreconfident and feel like I know
what I'm doing.
I hope you'll remember this-that having a plan can actually
be quite limiting.
Because it narrows our focus tojust following the plan, rather
than doing what we know andshowing up and allowing it to
(10:05):
unfold and go in directions thatwe could have potentially never
seen from the outset.
If we had a very narrow focus,like in the horizon, in the
distance about where we thoughtwe had to go.
That's what I have for youtoday.
I'm so glad you were here andthat we get to walk our paths
together.
See you next time.
Same time, same place.
(10:26):
Bye.
For now.
Today, I'm resharing an episodethat was originally published
back in September.
It is one of the first episodesthat I shared about intuition
and I just love the message.
I think very often we focus onhow we're going to get
something, or how we're going todo something, and in this
episode I dive into and sharewith you that basically the best
(00:49):
things in my life, I could nothave planned how I was going to
do them.
And I probably would not haveforeseen them for myself.
I wouldn't have thought that Icould have, or do the things,
that I have ended upexperiencing over the past 18
ish years since I became anadult.
I have a few episodes plannedcoming up about intuition and so
(01:10):
I thought it would be cool toreshare this one as a primer
before I dig in deeper, in thesenext couple episodes, about
intuition and exploring yourintuition and how to create
things with your intuition.
I had no idea how they weregoing to fit into my life, but I
just let that fall into placeover time.
And I think there's some reallyvaluable wisdom in there, that
(01:31):
for sure, I am still learningthis too.
I do feel like I have experiencewith it, but it's also a
practice that I think I'll havefor the rest of my life.
So I wanted to reshare thisepisode because I think it's,
it's a good one.
It's one of my favorites.
And I think the lesson is reallyimportant that: we don't need to
know how, and maybe even that wedon't need to necessarily know
(01:52):
what we want.
We just need to stay open and bepaying attention to what feels
like it's piquing our interest,or feels resonant to us.
And then just take one step at atime in pursuing that.
And maybe even feeling or beingdogged in following something
that feels important or resonantfor you.
I think that's important too.
(02:13):
Let's get into it Welcome totoday's episode.
It's better when you don't knowhow.
This is a bit of a personalepisode as I am celebrating my
10 year wedding anniversary.
And nearing 18 years, half of mylife, from when I took my very
first chance based on anintuitive decision.
(02:33):
And left home for school and metmy life partner, not to mention
a lot of my friends that arestill my very best friends to
this day.
This one decision made the lifeI have today possible.
And I want you to think aboutthat.
As you're listening.
And maybe as you move throughyour day today, how one decision
can change the entire course ofyour life.
(02:56):
Last night.
I was thinking, as I was talkingto my husband, Matt.
We were both looking at our twodogs who, if you know anything
about me, you know, that I justadore these dogs with my whole
heart.
And I said, they're the bestdecision I ever made for us.
And we both agreed.
I was definitely the one whowanted to get them.
(03:16):
This is a longer story, but Ijust knew that we were meant to
get them when we moved out toCalifornia and I was, I had like
a single track focus.
I just.
I knew they were for us.
And I am so thankful that Ilistened to that calling and
that knowing.
So after I said to Matt that youknow, that our dogs are the best
(03:37):
decision I ever made for us, Istarted to think about other
decisions I've made from anintuitive or a knowing place.
Pursuing a relationship withMatt, who's my husband.
Getting our dogs moving toCalifornia, buying our house.
And to knowing that Matt shouldtake that job offer in Austin
what made all of this possiblegoing away to college at GW, in
(04:01):
Washington, DC, where I had.
Maybe been once or never been,and just had a gut knowing that
I was meant to go there.
When I say intuition or deepknowing, I mean, I felt a deep
calling to do each of thosethings.
I had no idea why.
And most of them seemedabsolutely bonkers at the time.
(04:22):
Who goes away to school becausethey have a hunch about Who
finds their life partner onemonth into freshman year who
moves across the country forsome pie in the sky job
opportunity that might end, andit did?
Who gets two pups when they're23 and 24 and barely making a
living?
Who buys a house that was at thevery top of the budget?
(04:44):
Who moves to a state thatthey've never been to for
another job opportunity?
And turns out we're still hereat 12 years later.
Who gets a hunch to follow theircreative aspirations while
undergoing chemo and is stilldoing that 12 years later?
Each time, the decision seems soimprobable.
And I know the people around methought that I slash we were
(05:05):
taking unnecessary risks andwere very likely to fail.
But here I am 18 years into thiswild journey of following my
hunters and doing what makes myheart sing, and it is better
than anything I could haveimagined for myself.
When I look back, I can reallysee all the things I made happen
for myself and for mypartnership.
(05:26):
They did not just happen becauseI was lucky or because we were
lucky.
They happened because I waswilling and open to alternative
ideas, and all in, on tuninginto my inner callings and going
after what resonated with me,what made my heart sing, what I
felt compelled to, even when itmeant risking everything.
(05:48):
Today I am thinking about.
If I can create all of this, alife that I never dared to dream
up- a truly amazing life- I candefinitely create any work
project that is on my heart.
And so can you.
I can know it is coming fromthat same inner knowing place or
inner calling place as theselife projects that I've
(06:09):
mentioned when I feel a similarcalling as I did to the other
things I listed.
Even when they seem weird or Ifeel unprepared or it seems
improbable or just plain crazy.
I can also see in retrospectthat it is very normal for me to
feel doubt.
I felt doubt all along the waywith those things that I
(06:30):
mentioned, those life things.
And sometimes even regret, like,what was I thinking?!?
I never let that doubt stop mefrom showing up from an
intentional place, feelingconnected to why I made the
choice I did, doing my part,showing up from a clean place
and from love, supporting eachidea as they were new and
(06:50):
fragile-and sometimes that wasfor years.
And I stayed with it even when Iwas freaking out.
I can see that that is ALL thatis required of me and anything I
take on- just showing up, doingwhat I think is best, taking the
action I know about right now,trusting and allowing it to
unfold.
And seeing where it takes mewithout an agenda.
(07:13):
When I look back, I can see thatI never once had conditions on
the things that I am most proudof and love the most in my life.
I never thought:'this thingneeds to pay off in X amount of
time or else I quit'.
I have never taken that attitudewith anything that really
mattered to me.
I just chose what I thought wasright, stayed the course, and
kept showing up for it.
(07:33):
And each of those has paid off,put that like, kind of in
quotes, paid off, more than Iever imagined they would.
I figured it all out one step ata time and sometimes one painful
step at a time.
Of course it is normal-and Iwould say- an amazing thing to
dream.
To dream about where you want tobe.
I did (07:54):
about my life with Matt and what that would look like,
waking up with our dogs onSaturday morning, that's like my
favorite time of the week withthem, what our house could
become, what life might be likein Austin.
Working for myself and creatinga movement that changes the way
creative women show up forthemselves and their work.
And the very first dream I wentall in on, which was going to
(08:16):
college in DC.
All that is required is braveryto step off the expected path
and keep showing up, trusting,and doing what you know to do
one step at a time.
And what is so cool is that thepath that has unfolded is a
MILLION TIMES BETTER than what Iwould have dreamed up if I'd
(08:37):
made a plan from the outset andjust followed it.
Like if I had had that elusiveHOW plan that we all want of
every step that we need to do sothat we can ensure success.
Seriously, let me repeat that.
The path that has unfolded is amillion times cooler than
anything I could have dreamed upif I had had my way and could
see a HOW plan with every stepoutlined to ensure that I would
(09:01):
be successful from the outset.
I really want both of us toremember that.
All of the time that we spendwishing for a very clear HOW, a
clear plan on how to do eachstep, is actually limiting the
potential, our potential and thepotential of the project or
whatever we might be working on.
It turns out so much bigger andbetter, and mind-blowingly
(09:24):
special when we allow the pathto unfold.
And when we show up and meet thepath and when we continue to
grow and evolve, while we arewalking that path.
So if you're anything like me,and you are constantly, or I
should say your brain isconstantly, like, I really just
wish I knew how to do this, or Ijust, I really wish I could see
(09:44):
where this was going so then Icould, you know, make
contingency plans and feel moreconfident and feel like I know
what I'm doing.
I hope you'll remember this-that having a plan can actually
be quite limiting.
Because it narrows our focus tojust following the plan, rather
than doing what we know andshowing up and allowing it to
(10:05):
unfold and go in directions thatwe could have potentially never
seen from the outset.
If we had a very narrow focus,like in the horizon, in the
distance about where we thoughtwe had to go.
That's what I have for youtoday.
I'm so glad you were here andthat we get to walk our paths
together.
See you next time.
Same time, same place.
(10:26):
Bye.
For now.
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