Keeping In Touch With Your Intuition: Laetitia Andrac On How To Get In Touch With Your Intuition And When To Trust Your Intuition When Making Decisions
An Interview With Maria Angelova
Journaling and Self-Reflection: Regular journaling and self-reflection can help uncover patterns and themes in your thoughts and feelings, leading to a deeper understanding of your intuitive nudges. For example, I encourage my clients to write daily on their journal the intuitive nudges they receive. It can be ideas, changes needed in their business model, new team member to recruit. Over time, recurring themes and nudges appear and they can then feel reassured and start following the nudges with aligned actions.
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 Laetitia Andrac.
With over fifteen years of strategy consulting, start-up mentoring and corporate leadership experience, Laetitia Andrac has led many successful growth and innovative programs in many high-profile global organisations, including Telstra, Deloitte, Doblin, Capgemini, Bloomberg Philanthropies and the French Government. She understands first-hand the daily juggle of successful entrepreneurs, which can leave them feeling triggered, time-poor, spread thin and burned out.
Laetitia knows these problems too well, as she experienced burnout in 2014. At the time, wrapping her head around being burned out was impossible. People like her didn’t burnout. This experience taught Laetitia the importance of reconnection with her intuition to avoid burnout. She shares that in her book, LIGHT IT : How to Trust your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business, explaining her LIGHT framework. It has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs shift from burned-out to blissed-out, reconnecting them to their intuition and inner knowing.
Laetitia’s business and leadership experience is backed by extensive qualifications. She holds a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Strategy from a top-nine business school. She holds an International Coaching Accreditation and is an expert in Reiki, Ayurveda, Meditation and Shamanism.
Laetitia’s clients value her unique way of combining intuition and strategy to find harmony and authenticity in how they grow their businesses and impact their communities. Her consulting business, Essential Shift™, is thriving and growing as she offers a unique approach to business and leadership.
She is a mother of two girls and has lived by the ocean in Australia since October 2014.
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?
Before we get into the core of our discussion, I’d like to give you a brief look into my early life because it has had a big impact on where I am today. I was raised in Flayosc, a small, charming village located on the French Riviera. It was a place noted for its stunning scenery, lively culture, and close ties to the natural world.
My family and I were lucky to have a strong connection to the natural world . I was enchanted by our surroundings’ beauty from a very young age. My family, who valued mindfulness and introspection, first introduced me to meditation as a practice at 5 year old. It developed to become a regular part of my life, bringing more awareness and grounding me in the here and now.
Walking around the natural surroundings of our village on bushwalks was one of our beloved family customs. These excursions into nature were more than just enjoyable outings; they were life-changing occasions. I gained a keen awareness of everything around me while listening to the rustle of the leaves, the scent of the wildflowers, and the songs of the birds.
Nature, with its complex rhythms and interconnections, taught me the value of paying attention to, observing, and comprehending environmental signs. These early encounters with nature’s heart cultivated an instinctive connection in me that has guided my entire life.
My family and I would have in-depth discussions while traveling through the tranquil countryside, exchanging our ideas, perceptions, and dreams. These experiences helped me to understand the wisdom that comes from inside and the strength of intuition. My intrinsic ability to access my intuitive faculties was nurtured by these cherished family activities, allowing them to thrive and direct me on my journey.
In addition to the scenic beauty of the area, growing up in Flayosc provided me with a spiritual education that solidified my faith in intuition and gave me a deep feeling of awe and a strong connection to nature. These formative experiences still motivate me in my profession and fuel my desire for learning about intuition, creativity, and personal development.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
The saying “Aim for the moon even if you miss you’ll land among the stars,” which is one of my favorite life lessons, perfectly sums up my perspective on life and my personal experiences. This saying reflects my aspirations, optimism, and willingness to take on difficulties even when things don’t go as to plan.
I’ve consistently demonstrated a strong tendency to set challenging goals (like enrolling in the top nine global business schools, purchasing my first home at the age of 20, partnering with the best strategy consulting firm, or writing my book in English even though it’s not my first language) and step outside of my comfort zone (by relocating from France to Australia, speaking with Mike Bloomberg, or taking the risk of going all in my business).
I’ve taken the initiative to actively explore chances that others might have found daunting or hazardous, and I’ve demonstrated exceptional resiliency in the face of disappointments. This saying is exactly in line with my conviction that, when I pursue bold goals, the trip itself frequently results in unexpected and priceless experiences.
There have been several times throughout my life that I’ve tried to reach the top. While not all of my endeavors have been completely successful, my strategy has constantly helped me reach important milestones and experience personal development along the way. I’ve continually been able to reach farther and accomplish more than I initially believed possible by aiming for the moon — the ultimate goal.
Aiming high has become a guiding principle in many areas of my life. I’ve consistently chosen difficult pathways in my academic career because I want to gain knowledge and abilities that go above and beyond the norm. In my professional life, I’ve aggressively pursued bold initiatives and leadership positions that required guts and unflinching resolve. I’ve developed close relationships with people who share my goals and vision in my private life.
In addition, my optimistic outlook and fortitude in the face of difficulty have inspired many around me. Others have been inspired by my determination to reach the moon to raise their own goals and carry on with their aspirations. My ability to face the unknowable, learn from mistakes, and adjust my route has inspired my coworkers, friends, and family.
My journey, which is characterized by my resolve to achieve great things, serves as an example of how accepting hardships and learning from them may produce surprising and profoundly significant results. I have been able to shine brightly amid the stars, just as the quotation says, and have had a lasting impression on people who have been fortunate enough to come into contact with me.
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?
Unquestionably, Elizabeth Gilbert’s book “Big Magic — Creative Life Beyond Fear” has had a significant influence on my artistic development, particularly as I started writing my book “Light It — How to Trust your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business.”
The idea of intuition and its critical role in the creative process are at the center of one narrative from “Big Magic” that particularly struck a chord with me. I was very moved by Gilbert’s examination of the relationship between intuition and creativity. She characterizes intuition as a compass that can direct us toward the most powerful and genuine manifestations of our creativity. This confirmed my personal view that it is crucial to use one’s inner wisdom when pursuing any creative endeavor.
There were times of uncertainty and self-doubt when I began to write “Light It,” which are common during the creative process. The principles I learned from “Big Magic” really saved me at one of these trying times. My slogan for the writing process became the notion that intuition might act as a trustworthy compass on the creative path.
I started paying more attention to my instincts instead of letting doubts weigh me down. As I created the narrative for “Light It,” I gave myself permission to trust the internal cues and impulses that surfaced. Gilbert’s book had given me the self-assurance to admit that these intuitive flashes weren’t just random whims, but rather insightful revelations from the source of creativity itself.
I can clearly remember one specific case. Unsure of how to communicate the emotional depth I had in mind for a key scene in the book, I had been having trouble. I made the decision to step back and meditate as Gilbert advised in her book rather than squeezing the thoughts onto the paper. During this period of silent reflection, a wave of insight overcame me and led me to a solution that struck a chord with the narrative’s core.
I was able to give “Light It” an authenticity and emotional resonance that could have been elusive had I not accepted intuition as a collaborator in my creative process. The novel ended up serving as a remarkable example of how imagination, intuition, and creativity interact.
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?
To give you the quick definition, intuition is the ability to understand something instinctively, without the need for conscious reasoning.
As I explain it in my book, ‘Light It — How to Trust your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business’: intuition can be felt through the body’s response, such as a ‘gut feeling’, a heart expansion or a sense of knowing.
How do you know if what you’re feeling is intuition or not? Just ask yourself the following questions:
• Are you rationalising this decision?
• Do you feel you need to search for the answer outside of yourself?
• Do you feel a sense of anxiety with this choice you have?
If the answer is ‘no’ to most of these questions, it’s your intuition you are feeling.
Let’s say you get a ‘feeling’ you need to change what you are doing in business. Perhaps it’s a nudge to change an offering or remove a current offering. Trust your inner-compass in making your decision.
I truly believe that your intuition is like muscle. When you start to notice it, it will continue to grow.
The more you listen to it, the bigger it gets.
How would you define common sense? Are intuition and common sense related?
The ability to reach justifiable conclusions and decisions based on real-world knowledge and common experiences is referred to as common sense.
It includes the common knowledge, common sense, and logical reasoning that most individuals have, enabling them to function in daily life and find solutions to issues in a clear-headed and efficient way. Common sense frequently derives from social interactions, personal experiences, cultural conventions, and fundamental observations of the world.
In contrast, intuition involves an instinctual comprehension of a situation without the use of conscious thought. Even if the knowledge isn’t consciously available at the time of decision-making, intuition can be viewed of as a quick appraisal of information that has been acquired over time.
While intuition and common sense are connected, they are not exactly the same.
How are they different from each other?
While intuition is based on one’s own experiences and “gut feeling,” common sense is founded on collective knowledge and rational application. Intuition is more instantaneous and frequently includes a personal, emotional component, whereas common sense is more methodical and can be influenced by cultural and societal standards.
In conclusion, common sense is a broader framework of practical knowledge that most people possess, whereas intuition is a quick, subconscious way of making decisions that is informed by past experiences. They both play a part in influencing how people behave and make decisions in both life and business, frequently completing one another in various circumstances.
What are the positive aspects of being in touch with your intuition? Can you give a story or example to explain what you mean?
As you may have noticed by now, I am a huge advocate in helping other business owners be more in touch with their intuition. So let me share the top 3 positive aspects of being in touch with your intuition in business, trusting your inner-compass or LIGHT as I love to call it:
First of all, it acts as a crucial decision-making aid. Your intuition draws on your inner wisdom and life experiences to reveal insights that go beyond what reasoning and evidence may be able to. This supports you in making decisions that are consistent with your true selves and beliefs, resulting in more fulfillment and meaning in your professional actions.
Second, intuition improves your capacity for flexibility and navigating uncertainty, both of which are crucial skills in the current economic climate and the constantly shifting character of a business. You can quickly appraise situations and render well-informed decisions even in the absence of sufficient facts by depending on your intuition. This adaptive ability will enable you to take advantage of possibilities that a purely analytical approach would miss.
Thirdly, developing your intuition helps you build stronger relationships with others. Because you’re sensitive to nonverbal cues and emotions, it helps you understand and empathize with people on a deeper level. As a result, interpersonal and professional interactions become more sincere and meaningful. And as business owners, we are aware of how crucial it is to connect with both our clients and employees.
Let me describe my intuitive journey to become a full-time entrepreneur in March 2021 to demonstrate those three things.
As the General Manager of a well-known Australian company during the epidemic, I had attained a level of success that many would find admirable. However, I felt a strong yearning to leave the familiar behind and follow a new road that was led by my intuition.
It was frightening to consider leaving my corporate job, which provided stability, behind, especially given the current state of the world and my prior failures to launch three enterprises. But I couldn’t shake the nagging notion that something more significant was just around the corner. I made the step into entrepreneurship and committed myself to expanding my own business because I followed my instincts and took the risk.
This choice ultimately proved to be the tipping moment that fueled my business’s exponential growth. My intuition evolved become my most trustworthy compass as I navigated the difficulties of becoming an entrepreneur. It helped me make important decisions, find niche markets, and adjust my services to clients’ changing needs. It appeared as though my intuition was drawing on a deeper comprehension of the market and my own advantages.
Ultimately, the tremendous advantages of following intuition have come to light as a result of my path from quitting my corporate position to expanding my business. It’s an inner wisdom that supports my self-confidence, inspires innovation, creates a deeper understanding of the clients and markets I serve, and directs me toward decisions that are in line with my purpose.
My story stands as a testament to the positive impact that comes from honouring and following the intuitive whispers that lead us toward our most authentic and rewarding paths.
Are there negative aspects to being guided by intuition? Can you give a story or example to explain what you mean?
In my journey and research centred around intuition, I’ve come to firmly believe that there aren’t inherently negative aspects to being guided by intuition.
Intuition, when understood and cultivated appropriately, has consistently shown its value as a powerful and reliable compass in decision-making and life choices for myself and hundreds of clients.
Intuition is deeply connected to our inner-knowing and experiences, often offering insights that rational thinking alone might overlook. It’s a source of guidance that aligns with our authentic selves, allowing us to make decisions that resonate with our values and aspirations. As a result, following intuition often leads to outcomes that are both personally satisfying and aligned with our long-term business goals.
While some might argue that intuition can be misconstrued or misinterpreted, it’s essential to differentiate between intuition and impulsive emotions. Intuition is a nuanced skill that can be honed over time through self-awareness and practice. With a mindful approach, we can discern between true intuitive guidance and fleeting emotions, ensuring that our decisions are well-founded.
Ultimately, the benefits of trusting intuition, from improved decision-making to enhanced creativity and self-confidence, far outweigh any perceived drawbacks. It’s an innate tool that can be harnessed to navigate the complexities of life with greater clarity and authenticity.
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?
Deciding whether to rely on intuition or other methods for decision-making depends on the context and the nature of the decision at hand. While I firmly believe in the power of intuition, I also recognize the value of incorporating other methods, such as data and analysis, to arrive at well-rounded and informed decisions.
Intuition shines particularly in situations that involve complex variables, uncertain outcomes, or when traditional data might be lacking or incomplete. When faced with these circumstances, tapping into your intuitive sense can provide valuable insights that might not be immediately evident through logical analysis alone. Intuition can also be highly beneficial in situations where personal values, emotions, and long-term aspirations play a significant role.
However, there are instances where a blend of intuition and data-driven analysis can be most effective. When decisions involve measurable and quantifiable factors, having access to accurate data can provide a solid foundation upon which intuitive insights can be layered. In such cases, using data to identify trends, patterns, and potential outcomes can enhance the intuitive decision-making process. This approach is particularly valuable when the stakes are high or when the decision impacts a larger group of people.
The key lies in finding a balance between intuition and data. They are not mutually exclusive; instead, they can complement each other. The goal is to harness the strengths of both approaches to make more holistic and well-informed decisions.
In essence, when faced with decisions, it’s important to consider the nature of the decision, the available information, and the potential impact. Trusting your intuition is essential, as it’s a valuable tool for tapping into your subconscious knowledge and insights. However, incorporating data and analysis can provide a solid basis for your intuitive insights, creating a synergy that enhances the quality and effectiveness of your decision-making process.
From your experience or perspective, what are some of the common barriers that hold someone back from trusting their intuition?
From my experience mentoring hundreds of business owners for them to trust their intuition and build a thriving business, there are several common barriers (it is a non-exhaustive list) that I have witnessed hindering them from fully trusting their intuition:
Doubt and Self-Distrust: One of the significant barriers is self-doubt. People often question whether their intuitive nudges are valid or reliable, especially when faced with decisions that seem significant or complex. This lack of self-trust can stem from societal conditioning that values rational thinking over intuition.
Fear of Mistakes: The fear of making a wrong decision can lead individuals to discount their intuitive insights. The idea that intuition lacks concrete evidence can create apprehension about the potential consequences of following it. The fear of failure can deter people from embracing their intuitive guidance.
External Validation: Seeking validation from external sources, such as experts or authority figures, is another common obstacle. People may feel more comfortable relying on others’ opinions and data-driven analyses rather than their own inner knowing. This can lead to ignoring their intuition in favour of external validation.
Overthinking: Overanalyzing situations and getting caught up in logical reasoning can drown out intuitive signals. The more someone tries to rationalise every aspect of a decision, the less space there is for intuitive insights to emerge. Overthinking can create noise that drowns out the subtle voice of intuition.
Cultural and Social Conditioning: Societal norms and cultural beliefs that prioritise analytical thinking and hard evidence can discourage the acceptance of intuition as a valid decision-making tool. This conditioning can cause individuals to disregard their intuitive nudges in favour of more accepted methods.
Time Pressure: Rushed decision-making often leaves little room for introspection and listening to one’s intuition. When under time constraints, people may default to quick, data-driven choices rather than taking the time to connect with their inner guidance.
Past Negative Experiences: Previous instances where intuitive decisions didn’t yield the desired outcomes can create hesitancy. People might become skeptical of their intuition based on past experiences, even though intuition is a skill that can be refined and developed over time.
Overcoming these barriers requires a shift in mindset and practice. Building self-trust, embracing mistakes as learning opportunities, seeking a balance between external input and internal guidance, and cultivating mindfulness to quiet the noise of overthinking are all steps toward unlocking the full potential of intuition. Recognizing intuition as a valuable tool alongside other decision-making methods can lead to more holistic and confident choices and it is all I am sharing in my best selling book : “Light It — How to Trust your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business”.
Here is the central question of our discussion. What are five methods that someone can use to become more in touch with their intuition?
Certainly, here are four methods I share with my clients that can help someone become more in touch with their intuition, along with a story for each because you may all know my favourite quote from Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
1 . Practice Mindfulness and Meditation: Engaging in mindfulness and meditation can create a conducive environment for intuitive insights to emerge. By quieting the mind and being present in the moment, you create space for your intuition to be heard. For instance, I had a client working on my intuitive selling course (e.g. a way to start selling your products and services more intuitively rather than following a rigid sales script) that I guided through my inner-compass meditation. A powerful meditation to connect with her intuition. Once she connected with her inner-compass and knew how an intuitive yes feels like she can now tune into her intuition to have intuitive sales conversations. It generated for her an expansion in her revenue as soon as she embraced that way of selling.
2 . Journaling and Self-Reflection: Regular journaling and self-reflection can help uncover patterns and themes in your thoughts and feelings, leading to a deeper understanding of your intuitive nudges. For example, I encourage my clients to write daily on their journal the intuitive nudges they receive. It can be ideas, changes needed in their business model, new team member to recruit. Over time, recurring themes and nudges appear and they can then feel reassured and start following the nudges with aligned actions.
3 . Engage in Creative Expression: Participating in creative activities, such as drawing, writing, or playing a musical instrument, can help you connect with your intuitive side. Creative expression allows you to tap into your subconscious mind and access insights that might not be immediately apparent through logical thinking. For instance, I love to chant while playing my different instruments when I am stuck and that’s when I can my most innovative and creative ideas. That’s why I love when I facilitate in person business retreat for my clients to bring my different instruments. One of my artist client, while I was drumming, let go of conscious control and allowed her intuition to guide her brushstrokes.
4 . Trust Gut Feelings in Small Decisions: Start by paying attention to your gut feelings in small, everyday decisions. Trust your initial response when choosing what to eat, which route to take, or even what movie to watch. By consistently following these minor intuitive nudges, you build confidence in your ability to perceive your intuition accurately. For instance, I encouraged one of my client who was very disconnected from her intuition to to trust her gut feeling when selecting a restaurant for dinner one evening. She ended up discovering a hidden gem that became her favorite dining spot, proving that even seemingly insignificant choices can be influenced by intuition. Since then she trusted her intuition to make massive decisions in her business.
5. One of my client who is running a very successful business and applied some of those methods and started trusting his intuition daily in business provided me the following quote: “We launched PropHero in a 2nd country (Spain) only 6 months after starting the company. Logic was pushing for not doing it: We had no cash, no tech, limited knowledge of this market… But we trusted our intuition that there was a market opportunity. Fast forward 12 months later, Europe accounts for >50% of revenue and this helped us develop a playbook that allowed us to open a 3rd country (Indonesia) despite being only 2 years old” said Mickael Roger, Co-founder of PropHero.
Incorporating these methods into your routine can gradually enhance your intuition and foster a deeper connection with your inner guidance. Each approach offers a unique way to tap into your intuitive wisdom and uncover the valuable insights that lie within.
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?
The movement centered around “Intuitive Business Strategy” would undoubtedly benefit the greatest number of individuals in the area of business and professional growth if I were to inspire one. The “Intuitive Business Strategy Movement” would be based on the idea that incorporating intuition into business practices can result in more moral, long-lasting, and prosperous companies.
The “Intuitive Business Strategy Movement” seeks to transform how companies conduct themselves by elevating intuition to the top of their decision-making procedures. We can build businesses that are not only more successful but also more moral, creative, and sensitive to the demands of society and the environment by highlighting the value of intuitive thinking alongside conventional business practices.
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!
Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of “Big Magic,” whose writing I find to be quite moving, is the person I would want to have lunch with if I could meet anyone in the entire world. Her profound understandings of creativity, intuition, and the human experience inspire me. These ideas are also addressed in my own book, “Light It.”
Elizabeth Gilbert’s path has been a unique investigation of creativity, intuition, and human development, as revealed in her books and presentations. Numerous others, including myself, have been motivated by her ability to merge narrative, candor, and wisdom to follow their artistic passions and trust their instincts.
It would be a wonderful opportunity to have a rich and insightful chat over lunch with Elizabeth Gilbert. I would love to talk about the creative process, the transformational power of intuition, and the significance of taking enormous risks when pursuing one’s passions. It would be an opportunity to discuss how intuition has been crucial in our own travels and share experiences, observations, and tales about it.
Additionally, dining with Elizabeth Gilbert can result in a fruitful cooperation. Our mutual love for intuition and creativity may inspire proposals for initiatives or projects that advance these principles on a larger scale, increasing our goal of enabling people to trust their inner guidance and realize their creative potential.
Even though it’s a wish to have lunch with Elizabeth Gilbert, I think that such encounters can result in unexpected and heartfelt relationships, igniting fresh concepts and partnerships with the ability to motivate and help many others. So, let’s tag her and see where the magic of intuition might lead us! 🌟 #ElizabethGilbertLunch
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Thank you for inviting me to share this with your readers!
If anyone is interested in following my work and staying updated, they can find me on social media platforms such as Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/essential.shift/, and LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/laetitiaandrac/. I regularly share updates, articles, and resources related to the movement I am passionate about. My website is also a good way to stay connected and read some of my blogs: www.essentialshift.co
You can also listen to my podcast, The Essential Shift Podcast, available on all streaming platform:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/essential-shift.
Your support means a lot to me, and I appreciate your well wishes.
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
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: Laetitia Andrac On How To Get In Touch With Your Intuition… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.