When You Know Without Knowing Why
Have you ever had a feeling about something without being able to explain exactly why?
Perhaps you meet someone for the first time and something about them feels trustworthy — or perhaps you feel uneasy, even though you can't quite put your finger on what is bothering you.
This is often described as intuition.
What is intuition?
Our minds are constantly taking in information. We notice facial expressions, tone of voice, body language, patterns, changes in behaviour and details that we may not consciously register.
Our intuitive mind can process some of this information very quickly, sometimes giving us a feeling or impression before our conscious, logical mind has worked out what is happening.
It can feel like a quiet inner knowing: "Something doesn't feel right." or "I have a good feeling about this."
Intuition isn't always right
It is important to remember that intuition is not the same as fact.
Sometimes what feels like intuition may actually be fear, anxiety, past experience or an old pattern being activated. If you have been hurt in previous relationships, for example, you may become alert to signs of rejection or betrayal even when there is no real threat in the present.
This is why it can be helpful to become curious about our intuitive feelings rather than automatically believing or ignoring them.
Pause and get curious
When you have a strong feeling about something, try asking yourself:
What am I noticing?
What is my body telling me?
Is there something I have observed, even if I haven't consciously put it into words?
Could this be intuition — or could it be fear, anxiety or an old experience?
Sometimes the wisest response is not to choose between the intuitive mind and the logical mind, but to allow them to work together.
Your intuition may be telling you to pay attention. Your thinking mind can then help you work out what deserves your attention and what you might be reacting to from the past.
Listening without immediately acting
Developing a relationship with your intuitive mind doesn't mean acting on every feeling or instinct.
It means learning to notice what is happening inside you, becoming curious about where it comes from, and giving yourself enough space to respond rather than react.
Sometimes intuition is a whisper. Sometimes it is simply a question: "What am I noticing here?"
Learning to listen can be the beginning of becoming more aware of yourself and the world around you.