Keeping In Touch With Your Intuition: Georgia Foster On How To Get In Touch With Your Intuition And When To Trust Your Intuition When Making Decisions
An Interview With Maria Angelova
Study people who have already been where you want to go, and if there isn’t anyone, find a reputable coach/mentor, who has the understanding and intuition to guide you to success. I know having a mentor in my business life has made a massive difference.
Intuition is defined as the ability to understand something immediately without the need for conscious reasoning. Where does intuition come from? Can it be trusted? How can someone tune in to their intuition? To address these questions, we are talking to business leaders, coaches, mental health experts, authors, and anyone who is an authority on “How to Get In Touch With Your Intuition And When To Trust Your Intuition When Making Decisions.” As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Georgia Foster.
Georgia Foster is a Clinical Hypnotherapist & Voice Dialogue Trainer.
Georgia specializes is in alcohol reduction, emotional over-eating, self-esteem, anxiety and fertility issues.
Georgia has been featured in the media in the US, Britain and Australia including Sky News, BBC Radio, The Morning Show, In Style, Psychologies Magazine, Good Housekeeping, just to name a few.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we start, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
I grew up in Melbourne, Australia, with a father who was an inventor and a mother who was an actress and writer. So, I guess I was destined for a self-employed journey.
I had a great childhood, but when I got to puberty, I became hyper-aware of looks, as I didn’t fit into the traditional tall Aussie blonde image.
I remember one of the girls in my class telling me she wished she had dark hair like me so the boys wouldn’t chase her!
I started to over-eat to hide from the world and became quite depressed. I began to put on weight, which made the bullying even worse. On the outside, I was a bubbly person, but deep down, I felt like I was faking my life.
My parents used to worry about me a lot, but I was a pleaser personality type, always putting other people first. So, whenever they asked me if I was okay, I just responded that I was fine. I was worried that they would worry about me even more if they knew how I felt. They both had busy lives, so I didn’t want to bother them.
As the years went by, I lost weight, gained weight, and became known as “The Serial Dieter.”
The sad thing was I attracted narcissistic boyfriends who cemented my self-esteem even more. One of my boyfriends, when I was nineteen, was Irish, and he was a big drinker. He introduced me to alcohol which really helped my social anxiety. I discovered alcohol calmed my nerves and made me feel like I belonged more.
However, it only masked my insecurities till I woke in the morning hungover, full of shame and embarrassment about what I said or did the night before.
This was the beginning of my alcohol issues and is why I specialise in this niche field.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Albert Einstein: “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking that we used when we created them.”
Hypnosis rewires the brain to avoid default decision-making that hinders intuition and a more fulfilling life.
As a hypnotherapist, I have seen over twenty-six years first-hand how incredible the mind can quickly create change.
It’s beautiful to see a client within the power of hypnosis move on from self-doubt and resolve resistance to success in as little as 25 minutes.
Is there a particular book, podcast, or film that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
In my early twenties, I found a book called Embracing Ourselves by Hal & Sidra Stone on my mother’s coffee table. From the first page, I felt a light bulb moment about why I didn’t like myself and needed to sabotage my health and well-being.
Then two years later, in 1997, I went to California to train with Hal and Sidra. It was while there I realized I wanted to become a therapist. I wanted to help people improve their self-worth and move on from overeating and over-drinking habits.
To this day, I use their techniques combined with hypnosis.
One of the most important aspects of this training was the Inner Critic theory. Hal and Sidra believe most people get into self-doubt and ultimately ignore their intuition because of negative self-talk.
The Inner Critic is the part that says, “Don’t go there. It’s too risky” when you want to take that new role or invest in a new company.
The Inner Critic will suggest, “If you say yes, you will be rejected”, or “What if it doesn’t work out!” This can freeze you into staying in the same lane of predictability without knowing the true possibilities that can lay ahead for you.
We all have an Inner Critic, but sometimes through challenging moments in life, it takes over and can become the most dominant voice.
I train the mind for The Intuitive Successful voice to be more present while the Inner Critic is managed and curtailed.
This means decisions are easier, and general emotional well-being improves dramatically.
The Intuitive Successful part needs to be more present in your mind and life. When this happens, synchronistic moments start occurring, and amazing opportunities that are right for you manifest.
Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. Let’s begin with a definition of terms so that each of us and our readers are on the same page. What exactly does intuition mean? Can you explain?
Intuition is the strong sixth sense that overrides logical thought processes.
It’s like when you feel something isn’t right and can’t put your finger on it. Then you go ahead and say yes to something, then realise it wasn’t the right decision.
We are all born with intuition. However, external situations and people can hinder or erode it. For example, when someone has a different idea, and you feel influenced by them.
It can be a sliding door moment where the path you choose is the one that takes you away from your instinctual energy. It can take you away from your authentic journey.
That is why intuition is so important to be present with decision-making.
How would you define common sense? Are intuition and common sense related?
Common sense is a lovely combination of setting the scene first with intuition and then overlaying it with confidence and evidence that what is present will work.
Intuition without common sense could be seen as risky or a bit vague and not evidence-based. This can come with heavy criticism from the outside world until it has proof to back it up.
How are they different from each other?
Intuition doesn’t need evidence to help make the decision. You just go with what you feel without knowing the outcome. Common sense comes from evidence-based situations or people to support what is right to do.
What are the positive aspects of being in touch with your intuition? Can you give a story or example to explain what you mean?
I believe being successful in any field comes from knowing it was the right pathway from the start. It just feels right.
It’s a bit like falling in love. It’s not tangible. You can’t package it up. You know when you know.
It doesn’t mean the journey is easier, but when intuition is present, and it doesn’t go to plan or the right way, tenacity is strong, and faith is high that things will turn in your favor.
I remember wanting to write a book about alcohol reduction. My literary agent went to every publishing house in the UK, and they all rejected me. So, I decided to self-publish with the support of a friend who loaned me the money.
Within six weeks, after a journalist wrote about my Drink Less book, I was featured in several media publications, and I went into re-print!
Three publishing houses approached me two years later to buy my idea, but by that stage, I had figured out how to market the book myself. As well as make more money than they would have offered me anyway.
Are there negative aspects to being guided by intuition? Can you give a story or example to explain what you mean?
That is a tough question to answer because I know intuition is so important in my life, and I feel strongly that it guides me but saying that…
Intuition has taken me down some paths where I felt very off track but finally led me to a place I would not be if I hadn’t taken that path.
A good example is my fertility journey. I was told I couldn’t have children in my mid-thirties, which devastated me. Then at the age of forty-one, a doctor suggested it was possible. I was very excited that I could think about the journey of being a parent, but there was one major stumbling block. I was single!
I wasn’t sure how I was going to find a man so quickly to start the whole baby-making thing happen. The gynaecologist suggested I buy sperm, so I purchased six vials of Danish sperm and went through IVF, planning to be a single parent.
Sadly, it was failure after failure, and I became very depressed.
Then two years later, a friend of mine invited me to go and meet her for a drink, and she introduced me to a new guy in her office called Ian. I fell instantly in love, and we are now very happy parents to triplet boys aged 10.
Can you give some guidance about when one should make a decision based on their intuition and when one should use other methods to come to a decision?
Intuition needs to be present in decision-making when there is no evidence of success.
From a business point of view, spending money that isn’t there on something that seems random would be a bad decision. However, research, evidence-based advice and someone with a wealth of experience in certain areas are equally as important.
From your experience or perspective, what are some of the common barriers that hold someone back from trusting their intuition?
Low self-worth is a big problem. Many entrepreneurs in the early days can fail not because they don’t have good ideas but rather because they listen to other people’s opinions of why it won’t work.
They lose their confidence and reject their intuition from people who may appear to have authority over them, such as a parent or partner who doesn’t get or understand their dream.
It’s a fine line between asking for constructive advice and receiving it. Sadly, friends and family can have another agenda and may be jealous of the entrepreneurial spirit’s courage.
Here is the central question of our discussion. What are five methods that someone can use to become more in touch with their intuition?
1 . Write down your hopes and dreams. Then sit or lie down somewhere safe and warm while your eyes are closed. Imagine yourself being where you want to be while at the same time feeling calm. Ask yourself, does it feel right? If yes, then it is a good path to travel.
2 . When you strongly feel you want to implement something, do some research or find someone you truly trust to run the idea by first. Or if someone has already done it, go and work for them. You could also pay them a consultancy fee to help you figure out how to do it yourself.
3 . Avoid toxic people who may be jealous of your success and dampen your entrepreneurial spirit.
Choose your audience carefully and wisely.
I remember wanting for years to create a liver supplement for people who drink alcohol. One of the most common questions my clients would ask me is about what supplements help a fatty liver from alcohol. There was nothing in the marketplace purposely formulated for drinkers. Every time I went to look into it, people said you need a lot of money and that it wouldn’t work etc.
Then one day, I met a guy who formulates supplements at a health and well-being networking event, and he thought it was a fantastic idea. Since producing this supplement, we have doubled our revenue because it complements my existing Drink Less audience.
4 . Study people who have already been where you want to go, and if there isn’t anyone, find a reputable coach/mentor, who has the understanding and intuition to guide you to success. I know having a mentor in my business life has made a massive difference.
You are a person of significant influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
To show people that self-esteem is key to success.
Self-esteem is something you need to learn and monitor daily.
You don’t have to be perfect to succeed — in fact, it’s the opposite. Don’t wait till you get it 100% right. Learn along the way. It’s much more fun.
Is there a person in the world whom you would love to have lunch with, and why? Maybe we can tag them and see what happens!
I think Tony Robbins is so inspiring as a motivational speaker and writer. I would love to meet him one day.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
About The Interviewer: Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl. As a disruptor, Maria is on a mission to change the face of the wellness industry by shifting the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike. As a mind-body coach, Maria’s superpower is alignment which helps clients create a strong body and a calm mind so they can live a life of freedom, happiness and fulfillment. Prior to founding Rebellious Intl, Maria was a Finance Director and a professional with 17+ years of progressive corporate experience in the Telecommunications, Finance, and Insurance industries. Born in Bulgaria, Maria moved to the United States in 1992. She graduated summa cum laude from both Georgia State University (MBA, Finance) and the University of Georgia (BBA, Finance). Maria’s favorite job is being a mom. Maria enjoys learning, coaching, creating authentic connections, working out, Latin dancing, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. To contact Maria, email her at angelova@rebellious-intl.com. To schedule a free consultation, click here.
Keeping In Touch With Your Intuition: Georgia Foster On How To Get In Touch With Your Intuition And… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.