Keeping In Touch With Your Intuition: Stephanie Cyr Of PowerUp Moves On How To Get In Touch With Your Intuition And When To Trust Your Intuition When Making Decisions
Get in Touch with Yourself. Understanding your biases and past experiences is essential for distinguishing intuition from fear or prejudice. Reflect on how past traumas, cultural influences, or personal beliefs shape your perceptions. Acknowledge these influences to separate conditioned responses from intuitive insights.
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 Stephanie Cyr.
Stephanie Cyr (NBC-HWC) is the founder of PowerUp Moves, a personal development program designed to establish and improve healthy safety habits resulting in strength, self-efficacy and confidence. An attorney and educator with over 25 years’ experience as a specialist in violence prevention education, personal safety and empowerment, she is Faculty Lecturer of Personal Defense at San Francisco State University (SFSU) and is responsible for developing the first University Accredited Minor Degree in Empowerment Self Defense (ESD). Stephanie is the author of The PowerUp Moves Notebook, an interactive empowerment self-defense higher education textbook, and has also written self-defense curriculum and trained instructors for the San Francisco Unified School District physical education department. Currently, she is collaborating with academics from other universities to develop ESD programming on campus, further violence prevention research, and explore the relationship of personal safety and mental health. In addition to her work in academia, Stephanie is a Senior Facilitator and Trainer for PAVE Prevention, a Consultant for The Association of ESD Professionals, and serves as a member of Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting survivors of gender-based violence. She is the founder of Edge Self Defense and the author of The Weekly Edge and Moves of the Day. She has been featured at WorldWideWomen’s Girls Festival SF 2019. An accomplished martial artist with nearly three decades of experience in more than 10 different disciplines including Tae Kwon Do, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Kravitz Maga. Stephanie holds a Juris Doctor with Honor from the University of Maryland School of Law, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rutgers University and is a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.
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 the 70s with Free to Be You and Me as the soundtrack of my childhood — a time when most kids had the autonomy to explore, play, and dream freely. The message I absorbed was clear: everyone has value, and with determination, you can achieve your goals. This belief shaped my identity and continues to guide my work as an empowerment self-defense instructor. I spent my youth being physically active, participating in sports, and relishing the freedom to move and explore. However, it was during law school, under immense stress and pressure, that I discovered the profound mental and emotional benefits of physical activity, particularly through martial arts. Taekwondo not only helped me manage stress but also introduced me to the powerful mind-body connection that would become central to my approach to personal safety.
Living overseas for several years in my late twenties and early thirties opened my eyes to different cultures and safety challenges, giving me a broader perspective on how personal safety varies across societies. Upon returning to the U.S., I began teaching martial arts and personal defense, but a pivotal moment came when one of my students shared how traditional self-defense techniques had failed to protect him during an assault. His vulnerability and courage inspired me to rethink my approach to personal safety training. While physical techniques are important, they don’t address the full spectrum of self-defense, which includes the emotional, psychological, and even spiritual aspects of protecting oneself. I came to understand that effective self-defense is not one-size-fits-all; each person must determine the strategies that best suit them in a given context. It became clear that personal safety is deeply individual — people must decide for themselves whether and how to respond to a threat, based on their own instincts, experiences, and emotional readiness. This realization led me to adopt a more holistic approach, blending traditional physical techniques with an emphasis on self-awareness, emotional resilience, and confidence. Now, as a health coach and empowerment self-defense instructor, my focus is on empowering individuals to strengthen not only their physical skills but also their mental and emotional well-being, helping them connect with their inner strength and trust their ability to respond to any situation with clarity and confidence.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
The quote, “Do one thing every day that scares you,” resonates deeply with me because I believe growth happens when we step outside our comfort zones. I’ve always enjoyed learning new things and challenging myself, even when it feels intimidating. By actively confronting fears, we open ourselves to personal development and the possibility of achieving more than we thought possible. Each small, courageous step builds resilience and confidence, and for me, this practice is essential to becoming better equipped to contribute meaningfully to the world.
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?
One book that made a profound impact on me is Our Bodies, Ourselves. It wasn’t just the content that resonated with me, but also how the book showed up in my life. My parents were vocal about civil rights and shared knowledge openly with me and my siblings, filling our living room with books that encouraged curiosity and discussion. Our Bodies, Ourselves was one of those books, always available and accompanied by open, honest answers to my questions.
To me, it was more than a reference book on anatomy, sex, and relationships — it was a powerful testament to women’s fight for autonomy over their bodies and their right to self-determination. It taught me about empowerment and social justice, values that continue to inspire me to work toward equity and dignity for all. It made me proud to be a woman and motivated me to carry those lessons forward in my life and work.
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, often referred to as our “gut feeling,” is an instinctual, powerful tool that helps us navigate the world and stay safe. It operates as an internal alarm system, processing information rapidly based on our past experiences, observations, and emotions, often alerting us to potential threats before they fully emerge. This process can manifest in various forms, such as a sudden pit in the stomach, the hair standing up on the back of your neck, or a “light bulb” moment when everything clicks. These intuitive signals can help us detect subtle shifts in body language, tone, or environmental changes, providing essential cues in potentially dangerous situations.
However, intuition is not always easy to trust or interpret, as it relies on unconscious associations formed over time. Personal biases, societal influences, and past trauma can cloud or dismiss these intuitive signals, making it harder to rely on them. To fully harness the power of intuition, it’s important to recognize how it works, understand the factors that can distort it, and develop strategies to strengthen this skill. By honing intuition, we can become more attuned to the world around us and respond more effectively to the cues that guide our decisions, especially when our safety is at stake.
How would you define common sense? Are intuition and common sense related?
Common sense refers to the ability to make sound, practical decisions based on everyday experience and logical reasoning. It is the type of knowledge or judgment that is widely shared and generally understood without the need for specialized training or expertise. Common sense is built upon shared cultural values, practical experience, and basic reasoning skills that help people navigate routine situations effectively. It’s often seen as the ability to assess situations and make decisions that are in line with what is generally accepted as rational or sensible by society.
Intuition and common sense are related. Both are shaped by our past experiences and are valuable tools for making decisions, especially in unfamiliar or challenging circumstances. Intuition often guides our first impressions or gut reactions to a situation, while common sense helps us interpret these feelings in a more logical and structured way. In many instances, a person’s intuition may spark a hunch or a feeling, which common sense then processes and refines, allowing for a more thoughtful response. Together, they work in harmony to guide individuals in making choices that are both instinctively and rationally sound.
How are they different from each other?
Common sense and intuition are distinct in how they operate. Common sense is typically grounded in logical reasoning and accumulated knowledge from experience, often being conscious and deliberate. Intuition, on the other hand, works more subconsciously, drawing on past experiences and feelings that may not be fully articulated or immediately understandable. Intuition can provide a quick, often emotional or instinctive response to a situation, whereas common sense tends to follow more linear, thought-out reasoning.
What are the positive aspects of being in touch with your intuition? Can you give a story or example to explain what you mean?
Being in touch with your intuition offers numerous benefits such as heightened self-awareness, improved decision-making, and a stronger sense of confidence and safety. When you trust your intuition, you tap into a deeper understanding of yourself and your surroundings, allowing you to respond to situations more effectively and with greater clarity. Intuition helps you recognize subtle cues, like changes in body language, tone of voice, or environmental shifts, which can provide valuable insight into the dynamics around you. It enables you to make decisions more swiftly, as you’re able to rely on your internal sense of what feels right or wrong, rather than overthinking or second-guessing.
For example, consider a time when a person might be walking home late at night and feels an uneasy sensation, a gut feeling that something isn’t quite right. They trust this feeling, choosing to take a different route or step into a nearby store rather than continuing down the quiet street. Later, they might learn that a crime had been reported in the area they would have passed through. This is a clear instance of intuition at work — when something felt “off,” the body’s alarm system provided a signal to act, and by listening to that intuition, the person avoided potential danger. This ability to sense and act on intuitive feelings, particularly in unfamiliar or high-risk situations, can greatly enhance personal safety and help people navigate life with more confidence and awareness.
Are there negative aspects to being guided by intuition? Can you give a story or example to explain what you mean?
While intuition can be a powerful tool for decision-making and self-protection, it is not without its potential drawbacks. One negative aspect of being guided solely by intuition is that it can sometimes be influenced by personal biases, past traumas, or emotional reactions, leading to misguided judgments. Intuition is shaped by past experiences, and when these experiences are colored by fear, prejudice, or unresolved issues, it can cause us to misinterpret or overreact to situations. This can lead to decisions that are overly cautious, irrational, or even harmful to ourselves or others.
For example, imagine a person who has had negative experiences with a particular group of people in the past — perhaps they were betrayed by a friend from a certain cultural background. The next time they meet someone from a similar background, their intuition might trigger feelings of distrust or discomfort, even though the new person poses no real threat. In this case, intuition is being clouded by past emotional experiences and biases, leading to an unfair or unwarranted judgment. Relying too heavily on these emotional responses, without questioning them or considering the present situation, could cause missed opportunities for connection and understanding. Thus, while intuition is valuable, it’s essential to recognize when it’s influenced by biases or emotions, and balance it with rational thought and self-awareness.
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 when to trust your intuition and when to rely on other methods depends largely on the situation at hand and the type of decision you’re facing. Here are some guidelines to help you determine when to lean into your intuitive feelings and when to employ more analytical approaches:
When to Trust Your Intuition:
In High-Stakes or Urgent Situations: Intuition is particularly valuable in moments when you need to make a quick decision with limited information. In situations like personal safety (e.g., sensing danger in unfamiliar surroundings), your intuition often serves as a quick and reliable warning system.
Example: If you feel uneasy while walking alone at night and suddenly notice someone approaching in a way that feels threatening, your gut reaction to move to a safer place is an example of intuition guiding you effectively.
When You Have Expertise or Experience in a Field: Intuition becomes sharper the more you’ve been exposed to similar situations. If you’ve developed deep knowledge or expertise in a particular area, your intuition can help you make decisions that feel right based on your accumulated knowledge.
Example: A seasoned doctor might “feel” that a patient’s symptoms indicate a certain diagnosis, even before all the tests are run, due to their intuitive sense built over years of practice.
When Emotion and Rationality Align: Intuition is often most reliable when your emotional response is in sync with your rational thinking. If you have a strong emotional response to a situation that feels aligned with logical reasoning, it’s a good time to trust your gut.
Example: If you’re choosing between job offers and feel strongly positive about one (while also logically recognizing its benefits), your intuition can guide you toward that choice.
When to Use Other Methods:
When Facing Complex or High-Consequences Decisions: For decisions that require careful analysis and may have long-term implications (e.g., financial investments, major life changes), it’s best to gather as much information as possible and weigh the pros and cons. Relying solely on intuition may lead to impulsive or emotionally-driven decisions in these cases.
Example: Deciding whether to buy a house or invest in a major business venture requires extensive research, financial analysis, and consultations with experts rather than purely relying on how you “feel” about the decision.
When Emotional Biases Are Involved: If you’re in a heightened emotional state (anger, stress, sadness), your intuition might be influenced by these emotions, which can cloud judgment. In such cases, it’s important to take a step back and approach the situation rationally to avoid acting out of frustration or fear.
Example: If you’re angry after a disagreement with a colleague, your intuition might prompt you to avoid them or make a hasty decision about the situation. Taking time to cool down and analyze the facts before making a decision will likely lead to a more balanced outcome.
When You’re Unfamiliar with the Situation: If the scenario is outside your usual range of experience or expertise, your intuition may not be as reliable. In these cases, it’s crucial to seek advice, gather information, or conduct research before making a decision.
Example: If you’re considering a new career path in an industry you know little about, relying on intuition alone could steer you wrong. It’s best to gather data, talk to others in the field, and make an informed decision.
In many cases, the best approach is to combine your intuition with logical thinking. Trust your gut feelings to alert you to red flags or opportunities, but then take time to gather information and analyze the situation to ensure that your decision is well-rounded and informed. Intuition and logic can complement each other when used together strategically, allowing you to make decisions that are both emotionally resonant and rationally sound.
Ultimately, learning to recognize when intuition is reliable and when it needs to be supplemented with reasoning or research comes with experience and self-awareness. The more you practice trusting your instincts and analyzing outcomes, the better you’ll become at discerning when to follow your gut and when to pause and gather more information.
From your experience or perspective, what are some of the common barriers that hold someone back from trusting their intuition?
Despite its importance, many people struggle to listen to their intuition due to various personal and societal factors. One of the most common reasons is societal conditioning, which often encourages politeness and passivity over self-protection, particularly for women and marginalized groups. These social pressures can lead individuals to suppress their intuitive feelings of discomfort in order to avoid seeming rude or confrontational. For instance, someone may choose to stay in an uncomfortable situation rather than risk offending another person, even if their instincts are signaling danger. This tendency to prioritize social harmony over personal safety can severely undermine one’s ability to act on intuitive warnings.
Additionally, past traumas can complicate the relationship with intuition. Those who have experienced violence or abuse may develop heightened anxiety or hyper vigilance, causing their intuition to constantly signal danger, even in safe situations. This makes it difficult to accurately interpret whether a threat is real or imagined. At the same time, some trauma survivors may become desensitized to genuine threats, either because of emotional numbing or a learned tendency to disregard their instincts during traumatic events. Both scenarios highlight how trauma can disrupt the effectiveness of intuition as a personal safety tool.
Cognitive biases also interfere with our ability to listen to intuition. For example, the halo effect, where a positive attribute (such as friendliness or attractiveness) causes us to overlook potential warning signs, can lead us to ignore intuitive discomfort. Similarly, the fundamental attribution error — placing too much weight on a person’s positive initial behavior and dismissing concerning actions — can cloud judgment, causing people to rationalize away their intuitive warnings. Being aware of these biases and societal pressures is key to reclaiming and trusting our intuition, allowing us to act on these instinctive signals in the interest of personal safety.
What are five methods that someone can use to become more in touch with their intuition?
Developing a deeper connection with your intuition can be a powerful tool for making decisions and navigating life with greater clarity. By honing your ability to recognize and interpret the subtle cues your body and mind provide, you can strengthen your inner guidance. Here are five practical methods to help you become more in touch with your intuition and cultivate greater self-awareness.
- Perform a Body Scan
Begin by tuning into your body, a vital tool for accessing intuition. A body scan involves closing your eyes and slowly focusing on each part of your body, noting where you feel tension, discomfort, or ease. Pay attention to the sensations — tight shoulders might signal stress, a flutter in your stomach could point to excitement or anxiety. Regularly practicing body scans helps you recognize subtle physical cues your body uses to communicate intuitive signals.
Example: Before making a big decision, you might notice tension in your chest when considering one option versus a sense of relief with another. This could guide you toward a choice that aligns with your inner truth.
2. Visualization Exercises
Visualization strengthens your ability to interpret intuitive signals in challenging situations. Imagine walking through a scenario that typically causes stress or fear, such as a difficult conversation or entering an unfamiliar environment. Pause at each step and observe what your senses detect: Does your heart race? Do you feel a pit in your stomach? This exercise reveals the sequence of cues — whether emotional, physical, or mental — that signal discomfort or clarity.
Example: While visualizing a public speaking event, you may notice that the fear begins when you picture scanning the crowd. This insight can guide you to prepare calming techniques for that specific moment.
3. Document Intuitive Moments
Keep a journal to capture when your intuition “spoke” to you — whether it was a feeling that something was off, an “aha” realization, or a moment when you ignored your gut and regretted it. Review these entries to uncover patterns, such as the types of situations or sensations associated with your intuition. This habit sharpens your awareness and builds trust in your instincts over time.
Example: After noticing that you always feel uneasy in meetings with a particular colleague before they dismiss your ideas, your journal might reveal a pattern that encourages you to address the dynamic proactively.
4. Play Blindfold Games
Engage in activities that heighten your senses, such as blindfolded games with friends. These exercises remove visual distractions and train you to rely on other senses, like hearing, touch, or spatial awareness. They help you recognize subtle energetic shifts, such as when someone moves closer or changes their emotional tone.
Example: While playing a blindfolded game of tag, you might notice that you sense someone’s presence before they touch you. This awareness reflects your growing ability to detect non-visual cues.
5. Get in Touch with Yourself
Understanding your biases and past experiences is essential for distinguishing intuition from fear or prejudice. Reflect on how past traumas, cultural influences, or personal beliefs shape your perceptions. Acknowledge these influences to separate conditioned responses from intuitive insights.
Example: If you have a history of distrust in group settings, you may initially feel uncomfortable in a team project. Recognizing this bias allows you to pause and evaluate whether your reaction stems from intuition or past experience, helping you respond more thoughtfully.
If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
As a health coach and personal safety expert, I want to inspire a movement called “Let’s Walk Together.” This movement encourages people to make a daily practice of walking with another person, fostering both connection and well-being. Walking is one of the simplest and most accessible activities, requiring no special equipment and offering countless benefits for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. It creates a space for intentional movement while also promoting meaningful interactions — an opportunity to listen, empathize, and truly connect with others. Whether it’s a stroll with a coworker during lunch, a walk with a neighbor at the park, or even a symbolic walk with your “inner child” as a moment of self-reflection, the act of walking together strengthens bonds and builds resilience.
This movement is flexible and inclusive — you choose the time, location, and walking companion. It could be at the gym, around the block, in a mall, or even in the hallways of a school. The key is to be present in the moment and to cultivate awareness and connection, whether with a friend, a family member, or yourself. “Let’s Walk Together” not only supports personal health and safety by encouraging movement and mindfulness, but also strengthens communities through small, daily acts of kindness and understanding. Together, we can take steps toward a healthier, more compassionate world — one walk at a time.
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 would love to have lunch with Michelle Obama because she embodies authenticity, courage, and a steadfast commitment to helping others. Her willingness to share her journey, including moments when she felt disconnected from her true self, inspires people to embrace vulnerability and pursue meaningful action. She speaks her mind with clarity and compassion, addressing critical issues with both intellect and heart. Just last month, her rally speech in Michigan highlighted the urgency of protecting women’s rights, underscoring her dedication to advocating for safety and equality in uncertain times.
A conversation with Michelle Obama would be a rare and invaluable opportunity to discuss the future — how we move forward from divisive elections and safeguard the rights and dignity of all people. I would treasure her insights and guidance on fostering unity and resilience. I would also love to share my perspective on how personal safety education, introduced at every age and for every person, can open pathways for dialogue, inspire proactive change, and create safer, more inclusive communities. Together, over lunch, we could explore ideas to turn these shared values into tangible actions that empower individuals and transform society.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can find me on Instagram @powerupmoves or my website www.powerupmoves.com.
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
Thank you for providing the space and time to talk to me. I appreciate it!
