Steve Jobs once said that intuition is stronger than intelligence. As it turned out, Jobs realized something really important, and the scientific community supports his position. It seems like we really underestimate the power of our intuition.
In a study conducted by the Salk Institute, participants were asked to play a card game by drawing cards from two different decks. The decks were designed in such a way that one of them allowed them to win more often than the other, but the players themselves did not know about it - at least, they were not told about it directly.
Participants had to draw out about 50 cards to realize that the decks have different "stuffing", and then about 30 more to understand how they differ. But what is most interesting: by about 10 cards, every time players had to reach for a “losing” deck, their palms began to sweat a little. They subconsciously began to give preference to the "winning" set of cards.
This, of course, is very interesting to observe in experimental conditions, but we are more interested in the question of whether we should rely on our intuition in real life. Scientists give a positive answer to this question.
Another study involved car buyers. Those of them who, when choosing, relied on a thorough analysis of all available information, enjoyed the purchase for 25% of the time from the entire period of using the car. On the other hand, those buyers who made faster, more intuitive purchases were happy with their purchase 60% of the time.
And it all started with primitive people. Intuition is an artifact of the early stages of human development, when the brain's ability to detect hidden dangers ensured its survival. These days, we use our sixth sense so rarely that we don't even know how to do it right.
Promotional video:
But regardless of whether you hear it or not, your intuition is in perfect order. Therefore, if you want to improve the quality of your decisions, you should brush up on your intuitive skills. And for starters, you can adopt the good habits that all intuitive people have. So:
Intuitive people know how to slow down to hear their inner voice
Before you can understand what intuition says, you at least just need to hear her voice among the cacophony of surrounding sounds.
So stay a little lonely - slow down and listen. Take a break from the daily hustle and bustle for a while. Taking a walk in the park near your home for even half an hour is a great way to adjust the volume of your inner voice.
They listen to their inner feelings
One of the main reasons that some people are more intuitive than others is that they listen to their inner feelings, and do not doubt or reject them. This does not mean that they do not use their analytical and critical thinking skills at all.
There is a difference between using the mind as a system of balances and checks and using it to dissuade oneself from discoveries that intuition rightly perceives to be true.
They practice empathic precision
You will probably be very surprised if I tell you that highly intuitive people can read minds. To define this ability I will use the scientific term "empathic accuracy".
This is not magic; it is an intuitive understanding of what other people think and feel based on signals such as language and voice intonation. It is an extremely powerful form of empathy that helps you form deep connections with other people.
They practice mindfulness
The definition of "mindfulness" sounds even fresher than such a phrase as "trust in intuition." In fact, this is just a fancy term for the ability to focus on the present moment of life.
Mindfulness is a great way to filter out all distractions, both external and within your mind. And this will allow you to hear everything that your intuition is trying to communicate.
They develop their creativity
You probably also had a paint-by-number drawing kit as a child, which allowed you to create beautiful paintings. To do this, you only had to guess the color with which you needed to paint this or that area. But no such set will allow even the most skilled artist to create something as new and monumental as the Sistine Chapel or the Mona Lisa, if he does not fully use his intuition. And just as our sixth sense is a critical component of the creative process, conscious creativity enhances our intuitive abilities.
They trust their intuition
Have you ever had it so that after you made a decision, you began to feel internal discomfort or even become completely ill? In this way, your body tells you that the decision you made with your mind is contrary to your instinct.
They analyze their dreams
If you can learn to hear and trust your inner voice, it will not be too difficult for you to recognize that intuition also manifests itself through our dreams.
Of course, often what we see in a dream is just some kind of incoherent nonsense. But often dreams become messages through which our sixth sense communicates with us. Seeing something curious in a dream, intuitive people do not just instantly forget about it, but ask themselves: "Where did it come from, and what conclusion can I draw from what I saw?"
So, it is obvious that intuition is a powerful force in our mind that can help us make the most justified decisions. Fortunately, intuition is a skill that can be improved.