Building a life by inner guidance and purpose, rather than defaulting to external expectations or past patterns, is profoundly transformative. As highlighted in the insightful discussion between Julie Edmonds and Julie Reiser, featured in the video above, this journey often begins with a pivotal ‘wake-up call’ that shifts one’s entire trajectory. Embracing intuitive living means connecting deeply with your authentic self and consciously choosing a path aligned with your highest potential.
1. The Catalyst for Change: Embracing Your Wake-Up Call
Many individuals find themselves at a crossroads, feeling unfulfilled despite outwardly successful lives. This was the case for Julie Reiser, who moved from a secure corporate HR career to become an intuitive coach. Her transition wasn’t a gradual shift but a powerful, undeniable wake-up call that manifested physically as a panic attack at 3:33 AM. This intense experience, which she initially perceived as a heart attack, served as a profound message: “You’re not okay here.”
Such moments of crisis are often the universe’s way of prompting us toward a more aligned path. They force us to examine our choices and listen to a deeper inner voice that conventional logic often suppresses. For Julie, this meant dismantling a life that was merely “fine” and courageously pursuing a path that resonated with her soul’s wisdom, even with young children and significant life changes ahead. It demonstrates that authentic transformation frequently begins at the precipice of discomfort.
2. The Journey of Inner Work: Healing and Self-Discovery
Connecting with one’s inner guidance requires a commitment to extensive inner work. Julie Reiser openly shares her personal journey through 12-step programs, which she entered almost 25 years ago to address emotional eating and sugar addiction. This form of addiction, often overlooked, carries immense shame, as it’s something people feel they must hide, unlike more socially accepted forms of coping.
The 12-step framework provided a safe space for “excavation,” fostering vulnerability, authenticity, and the realization that she was not alone. Over thousands of hours of meetings and working with a sponsor, Julie processed emotions she had previously suppressed with food. This deep dive into emotional healing allowed her to shed the masks of perfectionism and people-pleasing, revealing her true, vital self. The process of confronting shame head-on is a critical step in building a life truly guided by intuition.
3. Developing Your Intuitive Muscle: Trusting Your Inner Voice
Trusting your inner guidance is like strengthening a muscle; it gets more powerful with consistent use. Julie Reiser recalls making a conscious and unconscious vow to follow her intuition after her 3:33 AM experience. This commitment to listening to her calm, direct inner voice, distinct from typical mind chatter, has been life-changing over the past 15 years.
When one starts to live from this place of inner knowing, rather than overriding it with logic or societal expectations, an incredible shift in energy and vitality can occur. Julie notes that she feels and looks younger today at almost 51 than she did in her 20s or early 30s. This isn’t about physical appearance alone, but about the vibrant energy that radiates from a life lived in alignment with one’s true self. Learning to discern and trust this subtle, yet powerful, inner knowing is a cornerstone of intuitive living.
4. Practical Daily Practices for Intuitive Living
Integrating inner guidance into daily life doesn’t require grand gestures, but consistent, mindful practices. Julie Reiser shares a few of her go-to techniques:
- **Hand on Heart Meditation:** She consistently falls asleep and wakes up with her hand on her heart, sending love to herself and others. This simple gesture provides immediate grounding and comfort, fostering self-compassion. This practice helps to center the body and mind, creating a peaceful energetic anchor.
- **Daydreaming and Quiet Space:** Allowing a quiet space for daydreaming upon waking helps to gently engage the subconscious and intuitive mind before the day’s demands begin. This dedicated time can reveal insights that are often missed in the rush of morning routines.
- **Beams of Love and Light:** Meditating by imagining sending beams of love and light outwards—a mile in each direction, up to celestial beings and birds, and down to the earth—helps to expand one’s energetic field. This practice cultivates universal connection and compassion. When driving, she even sends golden energetic light to drivers who cut her off, diffusing potential frustration with a higher vibration.
- **Bringing Energy Back:** It’s important to consciously bring scattered energy back into oneself, especially after sending it out or feeling overwhelmed. This grounding technique helps to restore personal energetic sovereignty and prevents feeling drained. Many spiritual traditions emphasize the importance of energetic hygiene for maintaining well-being.
- **Inner Dialogue with Your Higher Self:** Julie embraces the practice of talking to herself, akin to Louise Hay’s approach, referring to her inner self as “sweetheart” or “dear.” By asking herself what she’s feeling and imagining her higher self (or inner loving parent) holding her, she creates a nurturing internal dialogue. This process allows emotions to be felt and soothed, rather than resisted or bypassed, reinforcing the connection to the eternal, infinite spirit that is our higher self.
These practices are not rigid rules but flexible tools to foster a continuous dialogue with your intuition. Consistent engagement helps to solidify this connection, allowing inner guidance to become a more natural and integrated part of your existence.
5. Empowering Others: The Intuitive Life Coach Certification
Julie Reiser’s commitment to intuitive living extends to empowering others through the Intuitive Life Designer Coach Academy. Now in its “Lucky 13th” cohort, this certification program is designed for adult learners who are ready for a powerful transformative experience, both personally and professionally. Participants learn to deeply trust and tap into their own intuition while also mastering the foundational principles of coaching.
The program offers live weekly meetings, mentor coaching, and opportunities to be coached by Julie herself, alongside practical experience through a practicum. It fosters connection with one’s higher self, viewing it as the eternal, infinite spirit—a guiding presence available to everyone. This unique approach ensures that coaches not only develop robust skills but also cultivate profound self-awareness and a strong connection to their inner wisdom, truly building a life by inner guidance.
