Can We Trust Our Intuition Without Understanding Its Roots?

Remember when you were ten? Of course you do. What about five? Not everyone has vivid recollections of those early years, but most of us are conscious beings even before we can remember. This suggests that our intuition, which is the result of accumulated experiences, forms the foundation of our instincts.

The Origins of Intuition

Intuition is the reaction to patterns we recognize, even when we're not consciously aware of those patterns. For instance, you might know that when you reach a blind bend in the road, there will likely be a car coming the other way. This knowledge is not based on one particular event but on a series of similar occurrences. Our subconscious processes these patterns and uses them to guide us, even when we're not entirely conscious of how this happens.

Sometimes, our intuition is based on experiences from early childhood, which we may not consciously remember. Yet, these experiences shape our instincts, influencing how we react to situations and people. Even if the reasons behind our intuitions are not immediately clear, they are often rooted in these deep, subconscious memories.

The Role of Gut Feelings

Many of us have gut feelings about people, but we often overlook these subtle signals. These feelings are not necessarily wishful thinking; they are a result of the continuous exchange of subtle signals between people. We send and receive these signals unconsciously, and they can be as important as any verbal communication. Sometimes, our own hopes and fears can interfere with our ability to perceive these signals accurately, leading us to misinterpret our gut feelings.

Accompanying our gut feelings is the subconscious content guiding our actions. We are all picking up on and giving off these signals, but the degree to which we are aware of these interactions varies. In some cases, we may not even realize how strongly these signals are influencing our decisions or reactions.

Reading People Through Our Intuition

People often have the capacity to read each other's feelings and intentions, especially during the initial moments of a meeting. This skill is highly dependent on our level of self-awareness and how much we relax and open ourselves to the situation. Those with high levels of social anxiety might find it more challenging to notice and interpret these gut reactions.

It's crucial to distinguish between regular emotions and intuition. Emotions can reflect a wide range of past experiences, while intuition operates on a different level. Keeping these concepts separate in our thinking helps us to better understand our own reactions and to trust our instinctual judgments more.

Trust in our intuition, whether we fully understand its roots or not, is an important aspect of decision-making, particularly in social and emotional contexts. By recognizing and paying attention to our gut feelings, we can make more informed and accurate judgments.