Hunch commonly known as intuition; a feeling based on inner voice rather than facts. A reaction which doesn’t require reasoning. You just follow it because it feels right. A force that warns you, drives you without giving us a reasonable or rather logical explanation. We don’t know why we should or shouldn’t do something. All we know is that our mind and body together are calling for it.
At times it’s a feeling that something is off, or sometimes you just know you are on the right path or with the right person. This feeling which doesn’t need a justification because thats how intuitions are.
What is an intuition?
Our brain is linked to our whole body through nervous system. And the whole communication between the brain and body happens through neurotransmitters. That is why our intuitions are often accompanied by physical sensations in the body. For example, discomfort in throat or an unusual feeling in stomach. Though these sensation are at the surface level in the body but at conscious level they have deeper sense. Thats why the intuition or instinct is your ability to understand something without needing a logical explanation or reasoning. You just know it, because your inner feeling is telling you something about it.
Intuitions are hard to explain. It’s like you just know the answer without actually thinking about it. Because you have been perceiving signals on a subconscious level that your conscious mind doesn’t abide by. And that is why you can’t really explain the source of your answers or give meaning to your intuition. It’s a very personal experience between you and your inner feeling. Because neither you can explain it to anyone nor they can understand it. You you have to deal with it all alone. And that is why trusting your instinct means to trust yourself.
How do intuitions work?
Intuition or gut feelings come from past experiences where our subconscious mind has processed informations that our conscious brain wasn’t aware of. That explains the aha moments (moments of sudden realisation or insights); when our conscious mind finally learns what our subconscious mind already knows. Intuitions occurs when our brain makes a match or mismatch between our past and current experiences. Brain constantly compares new experience with the earlier ones, thus forming patterns based on new and previously stored information. This way our brain predicts what can happen next. That’s the reason when we have enough experience in a particular field, our intuitions are more reliable.
Why you should trust your intuition
Now we know that, intuitions are driven by our past experiences and current knowledge. So even though our conscious mind doesn’t know it, but they are the result of years of work of our subconscious mind.
Intuitions send you cues that you can rarely find in actions or words. What we usually call aura or vibes, are the signs picked up by our deeper animal brain which help us judge the character that can not be done by words alone.
Intuitions align our decisions with our core values. “Though it looks like a rational decision, keeping all logics but somehow my conscious is telling me otherwise” Sound familiar? This is how our intuitions guide us to make choices that requires deeper wisdom.
Intuitions counts for intangibles. More than data, mote than stats, intuitions are about how do you feel and what do you care about. When we are too much data driven, we fail to see forest from trees. That’s where intuition play a crucial role in decision making.
Intuitions connects your mind, body and soul. Intuition is a result of our nerve cells, mind and body working together, perceiving all the bodily signals and listening to our feelings. Intuition is a way to listen to your complete being.
How mindfulness makes you more intuitive
Mindfulness is a deep awareness of oneself, which is essential for enhancing intuition. Being completely focussed in the present moment is the hallmark of mindfulness, which help you see patterns in your awareness making you more intuitive. Without overthinking about our past or future, filtering unwanted worries we can stay grounded to this very moment.
Bring awareness inwards
Essence of intuition is deep self awareness and that’s what mindfulness is all about. Mindfulness is acknowledgement of every detail of yours, listening to your inner voice. and that can be achieved by shutting down constant chattering of your brain. And focussing on your present helps you in achieving the silence you need.
Observe non judgmentally
A non judgemental observation of thoughts as well as our environment enables us to read and process the informations without bias. Because intuition not only come in the form of thoughts but also in the form of signs. That’s why you need to keenly observe your surroundings being present in here and now.
Tap into your senses
In this fast pace life your senses are the anchors that hold you to stay in present. And during mindfulness practice, all our senses work together to ‘ground’ us not only by body but with mind too. So we can give rest to our racing thoughts and immerse ourselves in the experience that our sense have to offer. And once you are able to ground yourself you can receive messages from your subconscious mind.
Think less feel more
Intuition doesn’t thrive in 24×7 online multitasking environment. Mindfulness taps into your sensory experience giving test to your thinking brain. And the gateway to mindful living is to think less and feel more. While some situations demand awakened thoughts but some need our feelings to respond. Feelings connects us more deeply with ourselves. When we let ourselves feel every emotion without judging, we can become totally self-aware.
If we keep running from one place to another with an endless task list in our hand, we cant meet our inner self. A rendezvous with ourself requires a moment of stillness, a quiet time. Take some time off and say hello to your inner intuitive self.
"The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift." - Albert Einstein