Intuition is the part of us that resolves an issue for us before we have time to think about it. It has often been referred to as a ‘hunch,’ a feeling, a knowing, without explaining how something is known.
Another word for intuition is sixth sense since it came to be articulated after the fifth sense. Everyone has intuition, there is no one without it. It’s just not something we’re aware of, until we pause and think about this faculty.
Intuition is our first response to anything. The reaction. The gut level instinct. When you walk into a room for example, and you know instantly this is not where you want to be, and you turn around and walk out of the room, and go somewhere else.
What was it that prompted you to walk out? Something you can’t quite explain, but you knew you had to get out of the room. Afterwards you might wonder to yourself, why. There may be no answer, your intuition or instinct propelled your action.
If you had stayed in the room and ignored your instinct to leave, and then something happened that wasn’t very pleasant, we could say you ignored your intuition.
In my life I have had many instances of intuition. My intuitive faculties become very obvious, and will enter the periphery of my awareness and obscure everything else momentarily.
To illustrate further, one day I was planning to eat at a raw food restaurant with some friends. As we began to finalize the arrangements I started to feel very ill, I was dizzy and was going to faint. The feeling was so overwhelming I had to pay attention to it. The scenario came to me, I knew the restaurant we were planning to go to would not be a good idea. The food they would serve would make me very ill.
The moment I decided I was not going to the restaurant, the ill and dizzy feelings instantly disappeared, as if they hadn’t been there. This was how I knew it was my intuition. I have come to understand the overwhelming crystal clear perception enough to be willing to give the intuitive flash the attention it needs at the time.
If I had not trusted my intuition, I had no doubt I would have had a severe case of food poisoning. If I had let my intellect interfere and dismissed the intuition, would I have been lying in hospital wishing I had listened to my intuition? There have been many instances of intuition in my life… but maybe it’s time to see how your intuition is developing, on the Internet of all places.
The Internet Develops Intuition
We spend time reading and absorbing information, watching videos, responding to online conversations. While we’re reading the text we are comprehending what we are reading, but at the same time we are instinctively aware of many other things as we read.
There are times you land on a Web page, and you know something just isn’t quite right with the website. The information doesn’t add up, you keep being redirected somewhere where you don’t want to be. We could argue this is only the subtle, or blatant, manipulation that goes on all the time. But your gut instinct is at work. You’re not impressed and you’re off that website. You sense what is going on. The part that is doing the sensing is your intuition.
Then there is another Website you visit, and you just know this is what you want. How do you know? It’s not just the information you read, it’s an instinctive awareness, it’s your intuition at work. We’re not so gullible that we believe everything we read. Our instinct is at work as well.
Two other places your intuition is at work; online chat, and email.
Think about the times when the person you’re chatting with is saying all these nice things to you, and you just don’t feel they are for real. You’re probably right, your instinct or intuition is operating. It’s that other part of you that just knows.
Then there are hilarious situations where you are absolutely sure this person is just not for real, and they turn out to be very real! Sometimes your intuition isn’t as sharp. At that point we could say you let yourself be persuaded by the person, and ignored your instinct. The more we interact the sharper our instinct and intuition becomes.
The problem with recognizing intuition is that it is an abstract concept. Much like the abstract concept of the intuitive based idea, the World Wide Web. The Web itself is an abstract idea. It’s an overlay of information on a networked system of hyperlinks.
The Word Wide Web was proposed by Sir Tim Berners-Lee in 1989. Berners-Lee followed his intuition about the World Wide Web even though he didn’t know how things were going to work out. Of course he’s not the first person to follow an intuition about a great idea.
Everyone has intuition, it’s a matter of recognizing your instinct and knowing when it’s operating. Your intuition comes into focus when there is something important that requires your attention. This is when you should trust your intuition. Even if all the facts don’t add up, at this point you’re balancing your instinct with your intellectual reasoning.
Too much intellect cancels out intuition and causes a clash of ideas. You might reason yourself out of your original instinct. You hesitate, you’re not sure if it is your intuition. If you’re still stuck on which way to go, try reverting to your original instinct, your intuitive response.
You have to be willing to trust yourself and release the doubts, and the inevitable ‘what if’ scenarios that will enter into your mind. Over time you will come to trust your intuition and recognize it for what it is, one of your unique assets.