Did you ever hear a voice? When you are trying to make a decision or when you meet a new person? That little voice that whispers to you which direction to take. That my friend is your Intuition, a little natural compass, that guides you through life.
One time, in 2005, a man named Kurt Vonnegut and his coworkers inexplicably decided to delay their meeting by 30 minutes because “it felt right.” At the original meeting time, a car crashed into the room they would have occupied, likely resulting in severe injuries or fatalities had they not listened to themselves.
A husband named Tom felt an inexplicable urge to come home for lunch one day despite it being out of character for him. When he arrived home, he found his wife unconscious from severe pneumonia and rushed her to the hospital, saving her life.
There are many stories about a feeling or a voice that we hear in specific situations. Something that we can’t exactly explain but that can redirect our life on a path that is the best one for us.
What Exactly is Intuition?
While it might feel mystical, intuition is deeply rooted in the brain’s ability to process vast amounts of information subconsciously. It’s like a supercomputer running in the background, analyzing patterns, experiences, and subtle cues to give you a sense of what to do, even when you can’t explain why.
Neuroscientists suggest that intuition arises from the brain’s pattern recognition system. Over time, your experiences and emotions create mental shortcuts, known as heuristics, that allow you to make quick decisions without overthinking.
For instance, a seasoned chef might instinctively know when a dish needs a pinch of salt, not because they measured it out, but because years of experience have honed their intuitive sense. Similarly, your intuition can guide you in relationships, career decisions, or even creative pursuits, acting as an inner compass when the path ahead feels unclear. It’s not magic, it’s the wisdom of your subconscious at work.
Difference between Instincts and Intuition
At first glance, intuition and instincts might seem the sam. They both involve decisions or actions taken without conscious thought. However, the two are fundamentally different in their origins.
Instincts are hardwired, biological responses designed to ensure survival. They are automatic and universal across species, arising from the most primitive parts of the brain, like the amygdala. Think of the fight-or-flight response when you sense danger or the reflex to pull your hand away from a hot surface. These actions don’t require learned experiences; they are innate and have evolved over millennia to protect you in life-threatening situations.
Intuition, on the other hand, is more nuanced and tied to your unique experiences and subconscious mind. It stems from learned knowledge, past experiences, and the ability of your brain to recognize patterns and make connections beyond your immediate awareness.
Unlike instincts, intuition is not universal; it varies from person to person, depending on their background, expertise, and emotional intelligence. For example, an experienced firefighter might intuitively sense that a building is unsafe, even if there are no obvious signs because their subconscious is processing subtle cues from past experiences.
In short, instincts are nature’s way of keeping you alive, while intuition is your brain’s way of drawing on wisdom to guide you through life’s complexities. Both play essential roles, but intuition often requires cultivation through mindfulness, reflection, and experience.
| Feature | Instinct | Intuition |
| Nature | Innate, automatic response | Reflective, cognitive process |
| Origin | Biological, evolutionary | Psychological, experiential |
| Behavior | Observable actions (e.g., fleeing danger) | Inner feelings (e.g., gut feelings) |
| Consciousness | Operates unconsciously | Involves conscious thought |
My Personal Take On Intuition
I personally have an incredible trust in my intuition, especially when it comes to identifying a person. Many times in my life I would meet a new person and after a few seconds of talking to them, a voice would tell me to not trust that person.
Talking to my closest friends who also knew the person, they said that I was crazy and that that person was trustworthy, only for them to come back to me several weeks or months later, to tell me I was right, and tell me the story of how that person broke their trust.
On one of my first days at University, while meeting my new coruscates, I met this guy that I will not name for privacy. He was nice and all, but something was off, I couldn’t believe the stories he said. While everyone trusted him I was the only one with that feeling. One of the other guys of the course, about six months after the beginning of the course, texted me telling me how he found out that the other person was lying all along.
Through the years of noticing that in a way or another, I was right 95% of the time on the first impressions.
While working on myself with shadow work, meditation, and mindfulness techniques, I noticed that in my past I came across multiple liars and not trustworthy people, both in family, close circles, and external individuals. My conclusion was that my subconscious developed the capacity to detect certain patterns, either in the voice, the actions, or the overall energy that they emanate.
This specific adaptation of my intuition has come in handy multiple times, avoiding serious drama, work problems, and overall avoiding people that would disrupt my peace.
Through development my intuition came in handy way more than just social interactions, detecting situations of uncertainty and giving me the right path where to keep going.
How to Listen More to your Intuition
Learning to listen to your intuition is like tuning into a quiet but powerful radio signal amidst the noise of everyday life. It’s subtle, and often overshadowed by logic, but when you learn to recognize it, it can be a guiding force. For me, intuition often feels like an unexpected wave of clarity, sometimes accompanied by a tightening in my gut. It’s not loud or demanding, but it’s persistent, like a gentle nudge saying, “Pay attention.”
1. Quiet Your Mind with Meditation
The last time I felt my intuition vividly was during a decision I didn’t even realize I needed to make. I had been meditating for a few days consistently, and during one session, a thought surfaced out of nowhere: I needed to reconnect with an old friend. I couldn’t explain it, but the feeling was so clear and calm that I couldn’t ignore it. A week later, I learned that they had been going through a tough time and needed someone to talk to.
Besides all the other benefits, meditation is the best way I’ve found to create the mental space for these moments of clarity. When your mind is cluttered with endless thoughts, your intuition can feel buried. Even five minutes of sitting in stillness and focusing on your breath can create the stillness you need to hear that quiet voice. Let the distractions fall away, and notice what naturally comes up.
If you’re looking for ways to cultivate mindfulness and trust your inner wisdom, check out this guided meditation course by Mindfulness.
2. Notice Physical Sensations
Intuition doesn’t always speak in words. Sometimes, it’s a flutter in your stomach or a strange sense of calm before making a decision. The body has its own intelligence many call a “gut feeling.” I said before, many times in my life I had certain sensations when a person was trustworthy or not, and I was usually right.
When you’re trying to sense your intuition, take a moment to check in with your body. Does one choice make you feel heavy or tense? Does another fill you with lightness or ease? Your body often knows the truth before your mind can process it.
3. Reflect Through Journaling
Writing has always been one of my favorite ways to connect with my intuition. It’s a bit like having a quiet conversation with myself, where thoughts flow without judgment or logic getting in the way. I often sit down with a journal when I’m facing a decision and write out the options. Inevitably, one path feels right, it’s not loud, but there’s a sense of alignment I can’t ignore. Like when I decided to create Mind Noesis for example.
To start, try asking yourself simple questions. What decision am I avoiding? What feels right, even if I can’t explain why? As you write, notice any recurring thoughts or emotions. Your intuition often hides in the patterns that surface when you let your mind wander freely on the page.
4. Pay Attention to Subtle Clues
Sometimes, intuition shows up as small, almost imperceptible details. A fleeting thought, a word that stands out in a conversation, or a coincidence that feels too perfect to ignore. I once stumbled across a book recommendation three times in a single week. By the third time, I decided to pick it up. It turned out to have exactly the advice I needed at that point in my life.
To notice these subtle signals, practice being fully present in your everyday life. When you’re speaking with someone, listen not just to their words but to their tone and body language. When you’re walking, notice the sounds, sights, and sensations around you. Intuition often speaks through the details we overlook when we’re rushing through life.
5. Trust the Feeling, Even If It Doesn’t Make Sense
One of the hardest parts of following your intuition is that it rarely comes with a clear explanation. You might feel an urge to call someone, take a different route, or say no to an opportunity that looks perfect on paper. It takes practice to trust these feelings, especially when logic doesn’t immediately back them up.
For me, it’s been a journey of trial and error. The more I’ve acted on these feelings, whether it’s reaching out to someone or choosing an unexpected path, the more I’ve learned to trust that small, persistent voice.
6. Create Space for Solitude
Some of the most profound intuitive insights come when I’m alone, whether I’m walking in nature or sitting quietly with my thoughts. Solitude allows the noise of the world to fade, creating the perfect environment for intuition to emerge. I’ve found that even a 15-minute walk can provide surprising clarity on a decision that seemed impossible just hours before.
If you’re struggling to hear your intuition, try creating intentional moments of solitude in your day. Leave your phone behind, step away from distractions, and let your thoughts settle. Often, the answers are already there, you just need space to hear them.
7. Review the Past to Build Trust
The more you notice how often your intuition has been right, the easier it becomes to trust it in the future. I like to think back to times when I followed my gut and it led to a positive outcome, or when I ignored it and faced challenges as a result. Reflecting on these moments strengthens your confidence in that inner voice.
Try this: write down down three times your intuition guided you well. What did you feel in those moments? How did you know it was the right choice? The patterns you uncover can help you recognize your intuition when it arises again.
Between Listening and Trust
Before I said that 95% of the time my intuition was right. But that 5% was wrong, this taught me something very important. For how much I trust my intution, it doesn’t have all the answers or right decisions I should make.
Now that you know how to reconnect to your inner voice and intuition, don’t agree with every single thing, discuss with it, and learn from one another, like a friend. Think logically but in hand with it. This is the way I found to navigate life and my sensations in any situation. Trust it but don’t close all the other doors.
Final Thoughts
Your intuition is always there, it’s just waiting for you to notice it. Whether it’s through meditation, journaling, or simply listening to your body, the sensations you hear, those little voices inside you, are your subconscious speaking the wisdom it’s gathered from a lifetime of experience.
