The Sixth Sense They Don’t Teach You In School.

So, we’re all familiar with the five senses, right? Sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing. I’m sure, like me, you remember learning them as a child in or around kindergarten.

But do you remember learning about the sixth sense? Probably not, because it’s not something we’re usually taught at school. Yet, in my opinion, it’s one of the most important senses of all.

And it’s one that Pastor Rick Warren’s son, Matthew, who tragically committed suicide last week, had. Now, I don’t really follow Rick Warren, to be quite honest, but I was very touched by something he wrote about his son…

Matthew had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room. He’d then make a bee-line to that person to engage and encourage them. 

Wow. What a gift indeed. This is the sixth sense. And it’s a sense we can all have if we try. And we should try. Because…

We are our best selves when we help others be their best selves. (<- Click to Tweet!)

Developing this sixth sense takes just three steps and becomes more second-nature the more we practice it. Ready?

:1: Step outside of yourself.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in our own worlds. But to develop this sixth sense, we must step outside of ourselves and become true observers of those around us. Think of it as people-watching, except what you’re really doing is “compassion-watching”.

Like, if you’re at a social gathering, having fun with friends, take a moment to look around you for someone who isn’t. Or, when you leave the office each day to go to lunch with co-workers, take a moment to notice someone who doesn’t. It could be anything – the important thing is that you notice it.

:2: Make a bee-line.

The thing that makes Matthew’s gift – his sixth sense – so beautiful is that he didn’t stop at just sensing that someone was uncomfortable – he took action. He made a bee-line to go offer help.

Follow Matthew’s lead. Take over where he left off. Once you notice someone’s in pain, do something about it. As I said in an earlier post, the gesture doesn’t have to be perfect, it just needs to be there.

:3: Rinse and repeat.

Like with many things, the more you practice the above, the more natural – and automatic – it becomes. And, here’s the best part. The more you develop and use this sixth sense, the more you change lives – both the person you’re helping and yours. This, I promise you. Never underestimate the power of even the smallest gesture to make a positive difference in someone’s life. (<- Click to tweet!)

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We use our five senses in so many ways throughout our lives. Don’t forget to use the most important one – your sixth sense. We all have it. We just need to learn to use it.

And we can.

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To using your sixth sense to help others and to Matthew,

 

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