Similarly, since fast processing is ancient, it can sometimes be a little out of date. Consider for example a plate of donuts. While you may be attracted to eat them all, it is unlikely that you need this large an amount of sugars and fats. You may want the donuts, but you probably don't need the donuts - an example of how our emotional thoughts can be difficult to resist Credit: Getty Images. Thus, for every situation that involves a decision based on your assessment, consider whether your intuition has correctly assessed the situation.
Is it an evolutionary old or new situation? Does it involve cognitive biases? Do you have experience or expertise in this type of situation? If not, feel free to trust your intuitive thinking. We need to accept that intuitive and analytic thinking should occur together, and be weighed up against each other in difficult decision-making situations.
This article originally appeared on The Conversation, and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc. Should you trust your gut feelings? Share using Email. By Valerie van Mulukom 28th May From The Conversation. Intuition has fallen out of favour in an age of rational, analytical thinking. But your emotional responses are not as fallible as some would have you believe, says neuroscientist Valerie Van Mulukom. You might also like: Is mindfulness as helpful as we think?
And from a more spiritual view, clairvoyant intuitive and author of A Little Bit of Intuition Catharine Allan tells mbg that "people usually get an overall sensation of knowing" but how that knowing presents itself will be different for everyone, which brings us to our next point. There's a reason it's called a "gut" feeling. That's where you'll probably feel it!
According to Swart, "There is often literally a visceral sensation in the gut area—like butterflies in your stomach or just a deep feeling at your core. However, for some people, she says, "This can be felt more around the heart or throughout the body. Allan points out that intuition, the driver of our gut feelings, often manifests in one of four ways : As clairvoyance, claircognizance, clairsentience, and clairaudience.
With that in mind, your gut feelings may also show up as visuals, thoughts, physical feelings, or words, respectively. From an evolutionary perspective, these sorts of extrasensory perceptions may actually have an advantage.
Our ability to pick up on a potentially threatening or dangerous situation is certainly a helpful skill, and it's not uncommon to get that sinking feeling when you feel afraid. As Allan notes, fear or danger often presents as a feeling of tightness in the gut or an overall anxious feeling. Gut feelings aren't always negative! And actually, they can be quite pleasant, indicating something good for you.
If you've just met a new person, for example, romantic or non, maybe their presence gives you a very good vibe. Allan says this might feel like "a sensation in your stomach that feels warm and safe and happy.
Have you ever had a nagging feeling you were getting sick or something was off with your body, and it turned out to be true? We know our bodies better than anyone else and can often pick up on subtle changes and imbalances.
When it comes to anything medical or health-related, the safest bet is to get checked out. If your gut is telling you something is wrong, don't ignore it. Are you feeling the urge to start a new career or move across the country? Sometimes our intuition knows what's right for us before our conscious mind does. Whatever idea you have for your next big move may seem risky, but if your gut is persistently telling you to take the risk anyway, you may just want to listen.
And lastly, just as gut feelings can tell us when someone is good for us, they can also tell us when someone is, well, not so good for us. If you're being manipulated in any way, for example, Allan says it can lead to feelings of disgust in the gut. But as you start to listen to your gut and intuition more closely, you'll be able to better distinguish between what's real and what's not.
Allan echoes this point, telling mbg, "The main danger of giving free rein to your gut feelings is you could be projecting. She offers this example: Say you were cheated on in the past and you're convinced your newest partner is a cheater, too. Or, alternatively, you could be projecting your fantasy or idealization onto someone you're just meeting because you really want to find love. What you think is your intuition telling you "They're the one" could just be another projection.
The process of trusting your gut is not as simple as the phrase implies, though, especially when certain habits and circumstances pull us strongly and often unconsciously in the opposite direction.
Your intuition is like your own personal North Star, but there are many obstructors that act as clouds dimming its light. These are some of the most likely culprits:. Practicing the following steps will help you hone your feeling of intuition in your body and bring it to the forefront to guide you through important situations. Slowing down helps you better recognize and process the information you receive, not only in your mind but also in your body.
To do so, you must mentally and physically clear away the clutter. In real life, it might look like pushing back a deadline to remove urgency from a decision.
Slowing down means purposefully making space for your intuition to occupy. The slower pace helps to shift your perspective and clear away distractions so that you can see and feel what truly does matter.
Explore meditation, yoga, mindful breathing exercises , and other practices that move your focus from darting thoughts into a deeper space of calm and centered focus within you.
A great way to practice is to label the emotion in the moment when you experience it—e.
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