In order to learn from our instinct, we don’t have to ignore the scientific logic.

Like all of us, I am sure that you also sometimes have a feeling that something just isn’t right. Maybe when pulling into a parking lot late in the night, or having negative feelings when you are around a particular person, without understanding why? And if you’ve ever encountered this before, have you thrown it off, ignoring it as something illogical?

As a society, we have evolved to think that rationality should dominate when it comes to making decisions on everything; from important mergers of businesses, to what to eat for breakfast. Therefore, we ignore that “inside voice”. What about our gut feeling, the little subconscious thing from the inside that shows how we really feel under those layers of logic?

I describe instinct and intuition this way:

• Instinct is our natural tendency (compared to a learned response) to a particular reaction.
• A gut feeling — often called a hunch — is a thought that quickly occurs in the consciousness (noticeable enough to act on when one wants to do so) without us being completely aware of the real reasons for its appearance.
• Intuition can be defined as a process that gives us the power to know something immediately without logical thinking. It blurs the lines between the conscious and the unconscious areas of our mind, and also between instinct and rationality.

Essentially, we need to use instinct and rationality together if we want to make the most appropriate choices possible for ourselves and decisions about businesses and families. However, many of us are uncomfortable with the thought of using our intuition as a guidance method; even when we achieve success by using this lesser-recognized aspect of us.

We are ashamed to admit we’re following gut instincts, mistrusting the often cryptic signals our instincts give us. Therefore, we’re losing our ability to harness the strength of our own instincts when they’re most required. Our discomfort with the thought of depending on our instincts is based on cultural bias for millennia.

‘’We are not like animals’’ – this is a common saying that tells us that the supposed distinction between humans and animals is our capacity to think with our innate impulses. Moreover, the message of this phrase is that rationality is a greater, higher quality to have. The truth is, we are not only like them – we are animals.

However, we are animals but with an important advantage of having the two things at our service – both intuition and reason. So in fact, we don’t have to ignore either morality or intuition; instead, we have the opportunity to respect and rely on both.

In order to learn from our instinct, we don’t have to ignore the scientific logic. Both these resources should be respected and called upon, and we can seek harmony.

So, the question is, how do we implement intuition into our everyday lives?

Since we have been ignoring or rejecting this part of ourselves for so long, how are we going to effectively re-introduce it into our practical choices? The response to that question is simple: just dialogue it.

The conscious is a logic specialist and will use it continuously. The unconscious mind, on the other hand, checks through the past, present and future and links with gut feelings and sensations in a nonlinear way. The mechanism is enigmatic to the rational mind, defying the traditional laws of space and time. For instance:

• You: What would be the best thing for me to wear today?
• Your Unconscious: Something purple.
• You: Purple what?
• Your Unconscious: It just needs to be something purple.
• You: But what is the reason for that?
• Your Consciousness: Feels nice.
• You: But what about the interview I have today? Wouldn’t purple be too aggressive?
• Your Unconscious: You are not getting the point.
• You: What point is that?
• Unconscious: Well, you love purple. And you know that you feel happy wearing it.
• You: How is happiness connected to this?
• Your Unconscious One: It is connected to everything.
• You: In what way?
• Your Unconscious: You’re going to see, but you need to trust me on that.

And maybe in doing just that, because you’re actually feeling good, you will radiate more confidence in your interview. Ultimately, you will get the job based on that. The interviewer may love purple, and appreciate the fact that you’ve been brave enough not to wear black. Maybe the color is what makes you unique and different from the others.

But, don’t let it end there. Below are three ways to connect to the voice inside of you and allow it to guide your everyday life:

1. Write in a journal. Putting down your thoughts and emotions on paper — even when you believe you have nothing to say — helps the unconscious mind to become free. You might notice that you write words and phrases that make little sense to you, or that you stir up emotional reactions rather than logical responses. When this occurs, then…
2. Stop your Inner Critic. Sometimes we try to justify those inner voices away. But this time, try to listen with no judgment. Feel free to welcome the inside dialogues to occur without fear or criticism.
3. Find a Solitary Space. A space where you can allow free flowing of emotions. This is an important part of discovering and maintaining the essential elements of intuition. In addition, you may want to build an emotional bond to a color, an object, a piece of art or literature — anything that will help you to evoke emotions that are only on the inside.

These three activities will help you build a new, stronger relationship with yourself, explain the inner voice, and allow you to add your true instinctual knowledge to your daily rational life.