“A hunch is your gut trying to tell you something.” In caregiving, these quiet nudges—our intuitions—often signal something important: an unmet need, a sense that something isn’t quite right, or simply a reminder to pause and reflect. Using the Compassionate Inquiry Process (CIP), we can explore these inner signals with care and clarity, discerning if they call for an action or a deeper level of trust.
With CIP, we approach intuition through Noticing, Naming, Claiming, Validating, Examining, Reflecting, and finally, Responding. This sequence allows us to explore our intuitive feelings fully, and to decide with confidence whether a response is needed or if we simply trust the process. Here are some journaling prompts to guide you through CIP, with a focus on how to respond.
- Noticing:
“What feelings or gentle nudges have I noticed recently? Are there specific times in caregiving where I feel an inner ‘doorbell’ ringing, alerting me to something that needs attention?” - Naming:
“How would I name this feeling? What image, word, or phrase helps clarify what my intuition is trying to alert me to? “ - Claiming:
“What feels true about this intuition for me right now? How does this inner knowing connect with the needs I’m sensing for myself or for the person I’m caring for?” - Validating:
“How can I honor this intuition as valid? Are there past experiences where trusting my gut proved helpful, even if the outcome was different than expected?” - Examining:
“What emotions or insights arise as I examine this intuition further? Do I feel any resistance, doubts, or encouragement as I explore it?” - Reflecting:
“If I were to honor this intuition, what might that look like? What would it mean to explore this feeling without needing to act immediately? Is there a gentle way to hold space for this intuition within my caregiving approach?” - Responding:
“Does this intuition ask me to act, or to trust the process as it unfolds? If action feels right, how will I begin? Could it involve a conversation with the person I’m caring for, a trusted friend, or a support resource? Or does it suggest investigating organizations or services that can offer additional help?”
Intuition often nudges us to consider support options, and for many caregivers, reaching out is one of the biggest hurdles. Trusting your gut to guide you toward support can be pivotal. If your intuition is urging you to seek support, listen closely. Perhaps it’s time to begin with a conversation or by gathering information on resources that can lighten the caregiving load.
By following CIP, we can discern the essence of our intuitive messages without feeling rushed to act. Sometimes, intuition invites reflection and patience; other times, it gently encourages us to take steps toward support. Either way, by honoring this process, we find the balance between inner listening and outward response, discovering that our intuition is indeed a wise, trustworthy ally in caregiving.
Dear Cindy,
How validating and supportive your Compassionate Inquiry Process is. In a world that is filled with “ought to’s, musts and mustn’ts” your method teaches us to value and trust ourselves, our feelings and to pause and have choices about how we wish to respond in the world. You have given voice to the space between stimulus and response to be thoughtful, mindful, and have choices.
Thank you for this wonderful essay. Part of caregiving is to learn to trust yourself as you care for others.
With much appreciation – Gail