At certain decisive times, two options are available to us: listening to the voice of reason or relying on our intuition. But what exactly is “intuition”? And what is happening in our mind when we have this premonition suddenly? For several years, researchers have been trying to provide answers to these questions that are difficult to study by their nature.
According to an article of Forbes, intuition corresponds to a form of non -analytical thinking, where we grant more weight to subtle diagrams and past experiences than pure reasoning. This method of reflection is relevant, particularly in the relational field, where previous experiences play a decisive role.
Can stress encroach on instinct?
Sometimes, however, what we think is intuition is nothing other than a disguised anxiety. If instinct is supposed to guide us, stress or excessive rumination can sow confusion. A study conducted in 2017 was interested in the impact of anxiety on our intuitive decisions.
One hundred healthy volunteers were divided into three groups: one presentation to an anxiety -provoking situation, the other placed in a positive state of mind, and the last maintained neutral. All were then invited to solve a puzzle. Result: the anxious group obtained less good intuitive performance than the others. Conclusion of researchers: anxiety disrupts the natural capacity of the brain to rely on its instinct. L’overthinking – This tendency to end the end of negative thoughts – produced the same effect.
“Your instinct can serve as a compass”
So how can we distinguish real intuition from anxiety or excessive reflection? Psychologist Mark Travers offers some benchmarks. “Intuition is sudden but clear. There is a feeling of calm certainty, even if you cannot explain why. Anxiety is urgent and confused: your thoughts get carried away, “and if” and doubts invade your mind. They run in a loop without leading to a clear conclusion ”he explains.
Mark Travers also recommends observing physical reactions. Anxiety translates into stress reactions which often manifest itself in an oppression in the chest, sweaty hands or an accelerated heart rate. Intuition, conversely, generally remains neutral: it indicates a direction without imposing pressure.
Far from being mysterious, intuition is actually the way in which the brain quickly deals with personal patterns and values, faster than allows conscious reflection. But these subtle signals remain vulnerable to interference: anxiety, strong emotions or excessive thoughts can distort them.
Trusting your instinct therefore does not mean abandoning itself blindly to a fleeting impression or a feeling. “You have to connect to its inner radar with clarity and calm, insists Mark Travers. When you are attentive and balanced on the emotional level, your instinct can serve as a compass. ”
