Follow your inner compass
and steer by intuition

Intuition is that gut feeling. That silent signal that makes you feel you want to say “yes” while logic points toward “no.” Or the exact opposite. Einstein called intuition the only valuable resource, but intuition also sometimes feels surprisingly like fear. That makes it hard to trust. Are you guided by intuition or by a reflex that comes from fear? How do you distinguish the two?

Awareness is key

An important difference between the two: intuition is not fear. Intuition is clear and operates from the here and now. Fear is an emotion and usually stems from past experiences or doomsday scenarios in the future. Therein lies an opportunity to grow. As you increase your self-awareness, you increase your ability to make choices that truly suit you.

Interesting mechanism, but how does that work?

• Knowing about your own emotions makes it easier to recognize from which source your gut feeling is coming.
• Check yourself at times when your intuition seems strong. Is it quiet inside or do you feel pressure to avoid something?
• Ask yourself what you would like. Is something holding you back because you find it exciting or because you don’t think you can do it? That voice is valuable information.

Emotions are powerful. They can give direction, but they can also confuse. How great is your self-awareness? Do you know how to use your emotions constructively?

Resistance at the reins

Fear often creates resistance. You want to avoid it, when in fact that resistance shows you where growth is possible. You can learn to deal with resistance and even appreciate what it shows you. In this way you move from conflict-avoiding behavior to consciously using your gut feeling. The pinnacle of your development.

Intuition in your brain

Intuitive signals develop deeper in your brain than rational thoughts. Experiences are stored in different areas of our brain. Images in one area, smells somewhere else and colors again in another area. Emotions are stored in the amygdala. That same amygdala constantly sends signals when you make a choice, big or small.

The amygdala is connected to your organs through nerve pathways. As a result, you can literally feel something “in your gut.” So that gut feeling is a physical response to information your brain has already stored.

Make decisions based on intuition

Several studies have shown that we judge within 30 seconds whether we find someone suitable as a colleague, teacher or partner. In 80% of cases, that first impression is correct. This intuitive ability is also called a “gift of fear.” Not because fear is in charge, but because this radar alerts you when something is not right. Daniel Goleman aptly describes it, “Intuition and premonition demonstrate our ability to perceive signals from our own emotional memory. It forms the basis of self-awareness.”

Would you like to further explore and develop your emotional intelligence? Then learn how to consciously use that in your work and life in the emotional intelligence training course. Or learn more about the superpower called intuition? This TED Talk with Cameo Gore takes you through this interesting power.