Why is it so hard for us to trust our gut? Sarah Gibson explores and explains the mystery within.
One thing you may not know about me is that I am actually a scientist. At least, I have a piece of paper that says so – that’s what I studied at university a long time ago. I suspect some of that early training is why, in the past, I’ve had such a hard time embracing the idea of intuition.
Despite those remarkable stories about people who’ve narrowly avoided disaster thanks to some gut instinct or instant connections between two people who became lifelong soulmates, it’s always seemed like metaphysical woo-woo to me. But after one too many ‘I knew I should have done this!’ moments, I decided to give intuition a (sceptical) closer look.
Is intuition real?
As it happens, there’s some seriously hard science behind this slippery ‘sixth sense’. What’s been characterised as
a kind of mystical clairvoyance may well be rooted firmly in our physiology.
Studies of phenomena like subliminal priming (methods for increasing our suggestivity – in other words, the basis of a million marketing ploys), heuristics (efficient mental rules and shortcuts), instant emotional responses and non-verbal communication, account for different ways to subconsciously process the information around us, and be aware without being aware we’re aware.
In fact, automatic processes occur within us all the time. We’re wired to instinctively register visual threats and respond before we can really sit down and process what’s happening to us (by which time that visual threat could have eaten us). Something similar seems to occur when, in a mere second, we register emotions on the faces of strangers – something that, in evolutionary terms, has been working in our favour since the dawn of humankind.
In fact, these so-called ‘character hunches’ – by which we size people up based on the briefest interactions – have remarkable predictive power. In recent Harvard and New York University (NYU) studies, subjects viewed short clips of academic professors and rated them on confidence, energy and warmth. It was found that their ratings correlated highly to those of each professor’s own students, who rated them at the end of the semester, after they’d had months to familiarise themselves with the teacher’s personality and skills. And get this: in the NYU study, deciding on ‘good’ or ‘bad’ qualities took just a quarter of a second!
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And where does this leave actual knowledge?
There are, of course, contexts in which acting on a gut response is of no help, or could be downright irresponsible – times when we need to appraise the facts at hand to make a good decision. But too many facts, or an over-reliance on them, can also cripple our judgement. Malcolm
Gladwell, author of Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, describes this sort of overthinking as ‘analysis paralysis’. I suffer from this all the time. I’ll hover between a multitude of choices, weighing them up until I’m a shaky, angst-ridden mess and still select a dud. And that’s just at the salad bar.
According to a report published in Organizational Dynamics, top business executives said intuition was one of the most important tools contributing to their success. And in 2001, former ANZ Bank CEO John McFarlane said that ‘when I go against my instincts and am persuaded to do something by someone else, nine out of 10 times it goes wrong’.
So when is it best for us to rely on our intuition to make an important business decision? Optimal conditions include those in which high levels of uncertainty or little precedent exist, when several plausible alternative solutions are available or when facts and time are limited. (Think about it: going with your gut often feels most right when you don’t have much time to change your mind.) It’s when we lack confidence, interestingly, that our intuition is most impaired.
Distinguish between irrational thoughts and intuition
There’s no doubt that sifting intuition away from that dangerously self defeating voice in our head can be a challenge. A classic scenario might be meeting your husband’s beautiful colleague and thinking, ‘He’ll leave me for her someday.’ What may seem like intuition could just be some well worn feelings of inadequacy bubbling up.
There are many mental shortcuts, faulty ‘thinking biases’, arising from our often less-than- sophisticated internal monologue. If we learn about these common biases, and recognise our own self- talk themes, we are more likely to be able to see them for what they are – or are not.
Remain focused on harnessing your intuition in its most constructive contexts. A defining characteristic of intuition is that it comes effortlessly and ‘feels right’. And even if the decision at hand may not cheer us, it can settle us emotionally because it’s connected to our most authentic self, not the ‘acceptable’ person we present to our families, friends or partners because we think we should.
Consider the gnawing regret you feel making a decision that is informed by that ‘logical’ should. Now think of a time you chose the less attractive route because you just knew it was right for you. How did it feel? Terrifying? Probably. Energising? Most likely? Liberating? I bet.
How can I hone my intuition?
It’s not just the overload of information we’re exposed to daily that can cloud our intuition. If, like me, you are a ‘consulter’ type, your intuition might be drowned out by a cacophony of what I like to call OPOs: Other People’s Opinions.
Plenty of us do this, but perhaps we need to stop; it’s a symptom of a lacking confidence in our ability to know what will serve us best. Thankfully, there are simple ways we can tune in and tone up a neglected gut instinct.
Learn to identify the signal that tells you your intuition is knocking. My favourite is the ‘little bell’, that distant tinkle that holds your attention, for the merest moment, when you’re deciding which path to take. Yours might not be a bell. It might be a version of your own voice, a sudden rumble in the tummy or the ol’ chill down the spine. Whatever. When it happens, try not to swat it away. Give it your full attention. Ask yourself what truly feels like the wise, peaceful, most you-synchronistic thing to do. Then do it. Just can’t choose? Maybe do nothing and take a few deep breaths. Remember that simple, centring activity can alter our mental state, making us more aware of our bodies’ non-thinking feedback.
When analytical problem solving won’t resolve a dilemma, try visualising a future scenario related to each choice available and see how you feel when you ‘watch what happens’.
Remember the scene in the first Sex and the City movie, where Miranda has to decide if she’ll forgive Steve for philandering? Where she nuts out all the pros and cons and comes up with a completely even, useless balance sheet? And then some recollection about him makes her feel good? It’s a little like that.
Or try mentally ‘parking’ the problem by focusing on something completely unrelated. Breakthrough moments so often happen when our head is somewhere else altogether.
If all else fails, just go to sleep. This allows your brain to wrench the situation from your conscious self – your brain will process and prioritise your cognitive agenda while you’re asleep. In this age of information overload, it may be more difficult, but also more important than ever, to listen to your inner consultant. She may not have a science degree. But in her blissful ignorance, she may well know best.
Harness that hunch
1. Pay attention.
There’s a difference between feeling insecure and knowing something is really wrong.
2. Identify signals.
Often, a ’little bell’ in your head or a rumble in your stomach will tell you what to do.
3. Be fearless.
Just because it feels socially acceptable doesn’t mean it’s right for you. Be willing to blaze a new trail.
4. Take a deep breath.
Few good decisions are ever made when you’re overwhelmed.
5. Gone to bed struggling?
Sleep and revisit the issue in the morning, when your head is clearer.
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