Tweet

Why You Need To Trust Your Gut (But Don’t Take My Word For It)

Guest post by: Renita Kalhorn

Article Overview: In the twenty first century, facts are the guiding principles of the decisions and choices that most people make. We follow trends and research studies in determining what we eat wear and other major decisions. In constantly relying on facts, we have lost touch with our inner guiding system. We all have a source of inner guidance that goes beyond specific facts – the intuition. Through a series of steps, we can learn to cultivate and listen to our intuition.

Why You Need To Trust Your Gut (But Don’t Take My Word For It)

When my siblings and I were growing up, our health-conscious mom would vigilantly moderate our family diet according to the latest health findings reported in the newspaper. When a research study reported that egg yolks led to high cholesterol levels, my dad's two sunny-side up habit was dramatically affected. Then, lo and behold, a few years later, a different study found that egg yolks were healthy after all in moderation, and they reappeared at our breakfast table.

Facts Fade

Fast forward to today and an article by Jonah Lehrer in New Yorker magazine about a disheartening trend in research: scientists are finding that, no matter how definite the original result, they are often not able to replicate it in subsequent trials. "It's as if our facts were losing their truth: claims that have been enshrined in textbooks are suddenly unprovable."

My first thought when I read that? We could have been eating egg yolks all along!

My point, however, is not about the validity of research studies. It's about how too often, we reflexively follow the latest study or trend instead of tuning in to our inner guidance to determine what's best.

The fact is, we live in a world where logic and statistics rule. (Try telling the board of directors that you just have a "bad feeling" about going through with the merger, and see what they say.) Stating facts and figures when explaining why you made a particular decision automatically gives it more weight and credence.

And yet, how many times have we had an inexplicable hunch about a decision we're about to make: whether it's hiring a particular employee, selling a failing stock or sitting next to that person on the bus? We all have a source of inner guidance that goes beyond specific facts or conscious memory.

The Speed of Intuition

Unlike left-brained rationality and logic, which follow a linear path in reaching a conclusion, intuition processes information -- subliminal and universal -- in an instant. And it often goes beyond the short-term solution to provide a more holistic approach, one that fits the larger context of our lives.

The thing is, the increasing noisiness of modern life makes it hard to pay attention to that inner voice, or drowns it out altogether. Seems like we're afraid to trust ourselves unless we have the reassurance of proof and statistics, or see a critical mass of other people doing the same.

Facts and figures are important, of course - I'm not saying go out and buy a new home without the usual inspections and financial inquisitions. Adding intuition to the mix, however, can alert us to a situation that logic won't and bring clarity to which decision will ultimately bring the desired result.

The question is, how do we learn to recognize and trust this ephemeral, intangible intuition of ours?

- It takes practice. First, understand that it's an ongoing process, kind of like learning a new dialect. And you may confuse it, at first, with the internalized voice of a parent or your own inner critic. The best way to practice?

- Spend time alone. A recent article in the Boston Globe (yes, I'm quoting a research study) touts the benefits of solitude. When we're with others, we are likely to absorb or mimic their opinions and body language in all sorts of situations. It's only when we spend time alone, away from external stimuli, that we're able to create the internal quiet and space to know what we really think.

Katherine Woodward Thomas, author of Calling In the One, suggests: One way to access your intuition is to write a letter to God (whoever God is for you) writing out all your feelings and then asking specific questions about the situations you're in - the work you're doing, the relationships you're in, even the food you're eating. When you're done you, take a moment and then write a letter back to yourself. As Katherine says: "A whole new outlook, often one I'd never considered before, began flowing effortlessly through my pen."

- Do a gut check. Throughout the day, we're bombarded by external forces - advertising, peer pressure -- urging us to take certain actions. Practice going within and asking yourself: What is the best choice I can make in this moment for myself and all involved? As you come to trust your inner wisdom, you'll start to see synchronistic occurrences - e.g. you'll come across an article that has the information you were looking for, get a call from just the right person who can help, or hear the lyrics of a song that provides a sudden flash of clarity.

- Summon the courage. Once you've tuned into your intuition, it takes some guts to follow it - there may be highly publicized data to the contrary or millions of people doing the opposite. In a recent interview I did with veteran trader Michael Bigger, he tells the story of how he invested heavily in Crocs at a time when reports of its impending bankruptcy were rampant in the market and the media. By following his intuition (and rounding up evidence for his hypothesis), he made millions of dollars.

Related Articles
  What is the best way to develop my sales skills?
  Profitable Online Business Ideas and the Recession Part 2
  How do I find a passionate and purposeful mentor?
  Contribution
  How can you make more of your customers open your emails?
  Know your magic numbers
  Social Networking or Social Distraction
  Get better results from email newsletters and promotional emails
  Hacking Facebook Password with the help of free hacker tools for everyone
  When does no mean no?
  Guidelines to Consider in Marketing Books Using Email Advertisement Campaigns
  A Tryst with Trust
  More crazy customers!
  How confident are you at selling, really?
  How confident are you, really?
  The Power of Integrity
  Can you afford to make your email marketing more targeted? Can you afford not to?
  Are you a Star?
  Spam: You probably hate it but can you define it?
  Online Business and Freedom in America

Article Tags: clarity, decisionmaking, hunch, intuition, logic, statistics



Related Forum Posts
Re: What's Up With Word Clouds? - I would like to see Word Clouds used in conjunction with a Survey. I've been experimenting with Word Clouds within Google Docs forms using the advanced Word Cloud Widget.
Measuring Word of mouth - [quote="jvprosperity":2l2ujat4]I couldn't find the Part 1 Doctrine on the site but I believe from reading the blog posts it had to do with the distractions entrepreneurs and their customers face daily. He may have also talked about Word of Mouth and the true way of measuring it.[/quote:2l2ujat4] Hi Andy, So how can one measure "Word of Mouth" marketing then?
Re: Essential Leadership skills - Vigilance Trust An ability to DELEGATE
Re: How to Promote Your Blog – The Definitive Guide to Promoting - Great Post! Dont forget to put your blog in Anchor Text For SEO purposes for the keywords you want when getting backlinks (for example with article marketing)...Very important. You can conquer quite a few small Niches and get your site on the number 1 spot in Google!
Re: Due Diligence, Market Research.. Ahead of the curve. - Congrats! A few months ago I wrote extensively on market research. Check in the Inventors corner for the posts. Let me know if I can help further! Dont spend a dime on a protype or advertising until you do some research! Jude


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Word of Mouth Marketing Tips Fuel Success

Leadership-A Daily Gift

ROSI Return on SUNK Investment

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.