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Intuition is an EQ competency, that is it’s considered something necessary to successful living, and something to be respected and valued. In recent years it has emerged from obscurity, even suspicion. What exactly is intuition?
Main Entry: intuition
1 : quick and ready insight
2 a : immediate apprehension or cognition
b : knowledge or conviction gained by intuition
c : the power or faculty of attaining to direct knowledge or cognition without evident rational thought and inference(www.m-w.com)
According to Intuition magazine online, intuition is increasingly recognized as a natural mental faculty, a key element in the creative process, a means of discovery, problem solving, and decision making. Once considered the province of a gifted few, it is now recognized as an innate capacity available to everyone–not a rare, accidental talent, but a natural skill anyone can cultivate. Remember those math problems you got the correct answer for, but you didnt get full credit because you couldnt show your work? Intuition, Intuition magazine says, is a key ingredient in what we call genius, and it is also an important tool when applied to everyday life.
That having been said, from where does this almost mystical ability come?
In their amazing book, “A General Theory of Love”, authors Lewis, Amini and Lannon, all doctors, agree that all of us acquire wonderfully complicated knowledge that we cannot describe, explain, or recognize.
They cite researchers Knowlton, Mangels and Squire, who devised an interesting experiment they gave subjects the task of predicting the weather in a simple computer model. They designed the experiment so that as unhelpful as the cues looked, they did relate lawfully to the outcomes, but the relationship between cues and effects was deliberately such a complex and probabilistic function that even the smartest person couldnt figure it out. It was way too difficult for logic to unravel; that is, subjects would have to approach this task without the use of the neocortex.
The researchers were right. No one figured it out, but that didnt stop them from getting better at the system they couldnt understand or describe! After just 50 trials, the average subject was right 70% of the time, which means, of course, that some were doing far better than that. What they were doing was gradually developing a feel for the situation and intuitively grasping the essence of what was going on.
We tend to believe that success can only come from understanding (via the neocortex), but in reality our marvelous brains, when presented with repetitive experiences, are able to extract unconsciously the rules that underlie them. Such knowledge, say Lewis, Amini, and Lannon, develops with languorous ease and inevitability, stubbornly inexpressibly, never destined for translation into words. Words being a neocortical ability.
Things we cant describe, but we “know,” come from our implicit memory. Our implicit memory ensures that camouflaged learning permeates out lives. Spoken language, for instance, is a confusing assortment of phonological and grammatical rules that we couldnt possibly describe, yet we all learn to speak our native tongue. In fact, children are able to learn it without any formal instruction at all. Similarly, in learning foreign languages, its generally considered that immersion is the best way to attain fluency spending your days with native speakers and just absorbing it. Consider the extent to which we intuit. In his book, “Language Instinct,” Steven Pinker observes that we all know that thole, plast and flitch are not English words but they could be, whereas vlas, ptak, and nyip cannot be English. Why? Well, just because, but wouldnt you agree?
The advantages of intuition? Its much quicker and also surer to use your intuition. You have a greater grasp on reality, as it were, when you dont confuse things by bringing in the neocortex. “Reason,” said Pascal, is the slow and tortuous method by which those who do not know the truth discover it.
There is guidance available to us at all times, says Penny Peirce, just belowI> the surface of our logic, just after we stop pushing and striving, just before we jump to conclusions. By cultivating the ability to pause and be comfortable with silence, and then by focusing steadily and listening for the first sounds or feelings, for the first impressions, you can help your intuition wake up suddenly and enthusiastically, as if from a long winters nap.
How do you develop your intuition? One way is to learn to still your self-talk, what I refer to as the Talking Head that constant yammering that goes on inside your head. Get centered. Quiet your thinking mind. Slow down and focus on one thing at a time. Listen. Practice.
Although intuition is a natural resource, says Nancy Rosanoff, an intuition trainer, it functions best when developed and exercised. Like a muscle, intuition becomes strong, reliable, and precise when trained and put to use.”
So whats the buzz about intuition? Its coming into its own. Its getting legitimate. Corporations are even hiring intuitionists to make decisions. I say its about time, because its a much surer way to make a decision than are logic and reason; an important decision that is. How much data would be too much to know about the woman youre going to be leaving your baby with all day? About the man youre considering marrying? At some point the data ends, and you make a decision based on your feelings. Do you doubt this? Oliver Wendell Holmes, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, said that 90% of the decisions at his level were emotional. He just rationalized them afterwards. As we all have done.
In small matters, use the head, said Freud, and in large matters, the heart. And that’s intuition!
Susan Dunn is a personal and professional development coach specializing in emotional intelligence. You can visit her on the web at http://www.susandunn.cc.
Intuition is the divine ability to connect with our inner self. It is the part of us that knows the answers to questions before they are even asked. However in our society, we seem to have decided that it is far better to be reasonable and logical. Have we not yet learned that the two should be in loving relationship to one another and not in competition? By joining the forces of logic and intuition, one can even enhance their safety from one of the most damaging criminal acts-sexual assault.
Sexual assault is non-consensual sexual contact. Women, men and children of all ages can be victimized by sexual assault. A rapist may be a stranger, acquaintance, or relative. In 1998, the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Statistics reported that roughly 18% or 17.7 million women had experienced rape or attempted rape at some point in their lifetime.
Most people are more at risk of being assaulted by people who know them. Between 70-80% of all sexual assaults occur at the hands of someone that the victim knows. By nurturing our intuition with awareness we can help others and ourselves to enhance their safety:
Be aware that that it can happen to you or someone you love. Ignoring the reality may further increase the risk.
Be aware that someone may attempt to disrupt your intuitive flow by asking you a question or providing you with information. Often strangers will ask a question like Excuse me, do you know what time it is? “How do I get to route 301 from here? or say something like It sure is hot out here! Your purse is open. Your ride is here. When you allow yourself to begin thinking only, you are not connected to the discomfort of being in the presence of someone you do not know. Maintain a balance of intuition and reasoning.
Be aware of the discomfort that comes with being alone with a person that you do not know well. In the absence of intuition, we tell ourselves that nothing will happen or that we are being silly. Our inner self is right when it informs us that it may take quite awhile before we should feel comfortable enough to trust another person enough to be alone with them.
Be aware that it is dangerous to leave your beverages unattended if you are in the company of persons you do not know and trust well whether male or female.
Trust the voice of your core if you are getting a message that someone is being too controlling. Be aware that it is not safe to be in a position that causes you to be dependent upon another person. Carry a well-charged cell phone and always know whom you can call in a jam.
When communicating your limits and boundaries speak from the core. Speak clearly in short concise statements. Polite statements may be ignored. Make it clear that your decision is not up for discussion.
Be aware that many victims will never share their painful secret with those who might expect that they would. Reassure the people in your life care about that they can come to you if the unfortunate happens and someone assaults them. Children and other loved ones should be assured that you will not blame them and they will not be in trouble if they share secrets with you. Take the time to educate yourself about sexual assault and the effects on the victims, you may need it sooner than you realize.
Be aware that many victims will never share their painful secret with those who might expect that they would. Right now is the time to talk to your loved ones who will be attending college. Maintain ongoing communication with young men as well as young women about safe behavior. Encourage young men to educate themselves about consent and remind them to follow their intuition and not be lured into supporting jokes or situations in which someone may be assaulted.
These points of awareness may help to reduce your risk of sexual assault but may not entirely prevent this violent crime from occurring. It is important to keep in mind that the offender is always to blame and that sexual assault is never the fault of the survivor. No one asks or deserves to be sexually assaulted. If the unfortunate does happen, be aware that help is available.
Sexual assault is non-consensual sexual contact. Women, men and children of all ages can be victimized by sexual assault. A rapist may be a stranger, acquaintance, or relative. In 1998, the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Statistics reported that roughly 18% or 17.7 million women had experienced rape or attempted rape at some point in their lifetime.
Most people are more at risk of being assaulted by people who know them. Between 70-80% of all sexual assaults occur at the hands of someone that the victim knows. By nurturing our intuition with awareness we can help others and ourselves to enhance their safety:
Be aware that that it can happen to you or someone you love. Ignoring the reality may further increase the risk.
Be aware that someone may attempt to disrupt your intuitive flow by asking you a question or providing you with information. Often strangers will ask a question like Excuse me, do you know what time it is? “How do I get to route 301 from here? or say something like It sure is hot out here! Your purse is open. Your ride is here. When you allow yourself to begin thinking only, you are not connected to the discomfort of being in the presence of someone you do not know. Maintain a balance of intuition and reasoning.
Be aware of the discomfort that comes with being alone with a person that you do not know well. In the absence of intuition, we tell ourselves that nothing will happen or that we are being silly. Our inner self is right when it informs us that it may take quite awhile before we should feel comfortable enough to trust another person enough to be alone with them.
Be aware that it is dangerous to leave your beverages unattended if you are in the company of persons you do not know and trust well whether male or female.
Trust the voice of your core if you are getting a message that someone is being too controlling. Be aware that it is not safe to be in a position that causes you to be dependent upon another person. Carry a well-charged cell phone and always know whom you can call in a jam.
When communicating your limits and boundaries speak from the core. Speak clearly in short concise statements. Polite statements may be ignored. Make it clear that your decision is not up for discussion.
Be aware that many victims will never share their painful secret with those who might expect that they would. Reassure the people in your life care about that they can come to you if the unfortunate happens and someone assaults them. Children and other loved ones should be assured that you will not blame them and they will not be in trouble if they share secrets with you. Take the time to educate yourself about sexual assault and the effects on the victims, you may need it sooner than you realize.
Be aware that many victims will never share their painful secret with those who might expect that they would. Right now is the time to talk to your loved ones who will be attending college. Maintain ongoing communication with young men as well as young women about safe behavior. Encourage young men to educate themselves about consent and remind them to follow their intuition and not be lured into supporting jokes or situations in which someone may be assaulted.
These points of awareness may help to reduce your risk of sexual assault but may not entirely prevent this violent crime from occurring. It is important to keep in mind that the offender is always to blame and that sexual assault is never the fault of the survivor. No one asks or deserves to be sexually assaulted. If the unfortunate does happen, be aware that help is available.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tonya Genison Prince is a personal coach and editor of two newsletters; “Arise” for people of faith who have experienced sexual assault, and “Sing” provides knowledge to their wise counsel. With 10 years experience as a family violence advocate and counselor; she is also a speaker/trainer for persons of faith on how to minister to survivors of sexual assault. For subscription, booking, consultation or product information contact tonyaprince@princegeorges.com
