Intuition

Intuition is each individual's unique ability to tap into the subconscious mind to evaluate a situation. The perception is almost instantaneous. Intuition is both the inner feeling and sense as well as an innate skill to assess what is in front of oneself. A soldier may look at a venue and instinctively know that the door has been booby-trapped and not to enter. It is the "gut feeling" someone has that something is not quite right, or alternatively, that it is positively good. Usually described as a deep feeling that something feels either right or wrong, the decision to act accordingly may be explicable purely regarding perception or instinct of the situation or person in front of oneself. A mother might intuit that her child will call or know what they are thinking at a given moment. This may apply to friendships, too.

Background

A person might look at another individual and feel an instinctive drawing toward that second person. Or intuitively, the first person might feel antipathy, knowing inside that the other person is not someone who would be a positive companion. Having a sense that it is better not to go out one particular night, or that the apartment being viewed for rental is a no-no, comes from an intuitive place within. Another term that may be used to describe the sensation includes "having a hunch." The notion of intuition, or sensing, or knowing instinctively, most often carries connotations or expressions such as a feeling or knowing deep inside, having a gut feeling or feeling in one’s stomach. The (gut) response may not be logical or intellectually applicable; instead, it emerges from the subconscious, a part of the brain that may defy logic. Yet, it is the inner subconscious self that makes the message clear on a conscious level. What transpires next is a matter of choice. Will the message of positivity or negativity received be brushed off, or will due regard be taken to act on the intuition? In a world where logic may be given precedence, having a "feeling" about someone, something, or somewhere is often spoofed as being silly or not trustworthy.

The Myers & Briggs Foundation differentiates between intuition and sensing. Sensing is defined as paying attention to physical reality (one’s senses), and intuition as paying the most attention to impressions or the meanings and patterns of information received.

Women are often credited with bearing a deeper intuitive sense than their male counterparts, without the implication that men do not possess this. In some cultures, intuition may be considered a highly prized attribute. In the Huffington Post, Carolyn Gregoire lists ten things highly intuitive people do (differently). These include: listening to the inner voice; taking time for solitude; being creative; practicing mindfulness; observing everything; listening to their bodies; connecting deeply with others; paying attention to their dreams; enjoying plenty of downtime; and mindfully letting go of negative emotions.

Overview

Intuition is a type of mental matching game, according to psychologists. A rapid overview and assessment employing shortcuts of the brain, or an unconscious associative process is a way of explaining what happens at the moment of the intuition.

Finding the balance between paying attention to reason and intellect and trusting one’s gut instinct and intuition is a delicate art. There is a tendency to lean toward the rational side of the brain; this may arise out of a cultural teaching prone to honoring intellect over emotion. One may have a clear sense that the intuition is correct beyond doubt and then be swayed because of a parent or a friend or teacher putting down one’s innate judgment. Many occurrences, on reflection, indicate that someone really knew not to take a certain job, not to give one’s phone number to a new acquaintance, or not to pursue a relationship. Yet logic appeared to reason contrarily. When trusting the intuitive voice, few would report that they were unwise to do so. It may be necessary to collect information in order to make an informed decision, but not without trusting the validity of the inner sense of knowing what would be beneficial, advantageous, and positive, as opposed to what would not be.

Francis P. Cholle, writing for Psychology Today, offers a formula for listening to the inner voice of intuition. He advises creating a dialogue. The contrast between the conscious and unconscious mind highlights the former relentlessly giving logical facts and arguments while the unconscious is prone to feelings and hunches. Furthermore, the conscious mind presents its facts in a linear ordered fashion, whereas the unconscious mind not only does so nonlinearly but is above time and space constrictions. Cholle gives a threefold exercise practice to enhance actively listening to one’s intuition and allowing it to be a source of personal guidance. First and foremost is keeping a journal; followed by turning off the inner critic, allowing the inner dialogue to occur in a space of no fear; and finding a solitary place, where emotions can flow, unbound by intellect or rational reasoning. By doing so, Cholle believes that one can foster "a new, deeper relationship with the self, help clarify the inner voice, and allow you to bring your true instinctual awareness back into your rational everyday life."

Motivational speaker Patrick Schwerdtfeger’s 2012 TED Talk featured his views on learned intuition in order to cultivate greatness and become "superhuman." The notion of being able to learn how to be intuitive and access one’s subconscious mind is a skill many scholars and therapists believe possible. By honing the intuitive mechanism of the brain, it becomes possible to utilize these skills advantageously to accomplish goals. Schwerdtfeger suggests actively immersing oneself in what one wants to learn to do and gaining expertise and experience while doing so. The combination of intentional immersion and the development of intuitions in this context opens up the potential to achieve one’s goals and aspirations in a superhuman way.

Some research indicates that intuition is the ability of one’s brain to rapidly leverage past experiences to recognize patterns in complex situations. Scientists assert that a “gut feeling” is actually a highly developed pattern recognition process that is context-dependent and tied to strong emotional states. If one’s intuition is used to guide a decision in the wrong context, it is unlikely to be useful. Additionally, intuition is more likely to develop and evolve in situations that illicit fear, anger, skepticism, or other strong emotions. Individuals must understand the limits of their intuition to avoid bias and overconfidence in one’s abilities.

Bibliography

Braithwaite, Kisha. "Trusting Yourself and Your Intuition." Psychology Today, 11 June 2024, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/resilient-you/202406/trusting-yourself-and-your-intuition. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Farrell, Marcy. "Data and Intuition: Good Decisions Need Both." Harvard Business, 6 Jan. 2023, www.harvardbusiness.org/data-and-intuition-good-decisions-need-both. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Flora, Carlin. "Gut Almighty." Psychology Today, 10 Feb. 2017, www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200705/gut-almighty. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Gregoire, Carolyn. "10 Things Highly Intuitive People Do Differently." Huffington Post, 3 Feb. 2021, www.huffpost.com/entry/the-habits-of-highly-intu‗n‗4958778. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Myers, David G. "The Powers and Perils of Intuition." Psychology Today, 9 June 2016, www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200211/the-powers-and-perils-intuition. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

"TED Talks Motivational Speaker on Learned Intuition." Patrick Schwerdtfeger, 30 Aug. 2012, patrickschwerdtfeger.com/ted-talks-motivational-speaker-learned-intuition. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Verny, Thomas R. "Intuition: What It Is and How It Works." Psychology Today, 22 Aug. 2023, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/explorations-of-the-mind/202308/intuition-what-it-is-and-how-it-works. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.