Intuition can actually help make decisions, researchers say

Intuition has a role to play in a person’s decision-making process, according to experts interviewed by CNN.

In a fraction of a second, without thinking too much, some people who have to perform at high levels, whether in business, sports, or any other medium, will choose the best option by using their intuition.

Of course, preparation, training, knowledge and experience help you become better at making decisions, but intuition has a role to play, according to experts interviewed by CNN.

Intuition, or intuitive thinking is rooted in neuroscience research and can be used by anyone.

According to Max Newlon, president of BrainCo, Harvard Innovation Lab, the human brain has two distinct ways of thinking: analytical and intuitive.

These ways of thinking and conceiving are often referred to as left-brain and right-brain because these are areas that generate different thoughts.

“Depending on the task, different thought systems work more efficiently. Intuitive right-brain thinking is characterized by thinking more about feelings, creativity, and is more holistic,” Max Newlon told CNN.

He gives the example of a person who wants to buy a property.

“A person acting intuitively will confirm their decision to buy by saying they like the feel of the space, imagine themselves living there, and imagine their extended family feeling at home when they visit. Conversely, an analytical decision maker will focus on things like school quality, commuting time and distance to work, and finances,” the researcher clarified.

According to Dehra Harris, who looks specifically at the research and performance of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team, the ability to make quick and intuitive decisions is also a matter of self-confidence.

Learning to listen to your “inner voice” is an ongoing process that requires two steps. We must first learn to listen to what we feel. Then you have to engage in a process of continuous reflection on those feelings.

Learn to listen

According to Ms. Harris, who was once an assistant professor of psychiatry at Washington University, you must first start with a moment of silence, and then observe the different “voices” present in the head.

“You will usually hear two voices. One is fear-based, associated with running and looping thoughts, while the other is more calm and true to your nature,” explains the researcher.

“The best way to identify them is to notice how they make you feel. Your inner voice will always calm you down, even in the face of big tasks, while your fear-based voice will increase overflow [émotif].”

However listening to your inner voices is not a flawless system. You have to do it on a regular basis, every week to get results.

“It may seem counter-intuitive to revisit intuitive decision-making, but if some of the outcomes have not been successful, there needs to be a change in strategy. Remember that intuition taps into a well of accumulated experience and knowledge,” added Harris.

“Intuition is nothing but the result of prior intellectual experience,” Albert Einstein once said.

If he agrees with Einstein, the researcher Max Newlon, goes further and believes that the refinement of intuition is a matter of millennia of human evolution, so it would be rooted in the human.

Actively working on your intuition will strengthen it, even in the face of stress.

“Stress decreases brain resources for decision-making,” added Dehra Harris.

Three exercises to develop and strengthen your intuition

1- Breathe in the present moment

Your breathing always happens in the present moment, it is your strongest connection to the here and now, freeing you from thoughts of the past or the future. It’s easier to hear your inner voice.

2- Practice right brain meditation

Rather than trying to clear your mind during meditation, try focusing your attention to allow your imaginative right brain to flow without the judgment of your analytical mind.

A good exercise for this would be to consider a question or choice and let your meditative imagination guide you through a possible positive outcome.

If it’s too difficult to make a decision without your analytical mind interfering, Harris suggests focusing on a favorite song and letting your imagination take you to whatever experiences that song conjures up for you.

3- Be creative

Don’t be afraid to get creative. You don’t have to be an artist, writer, or psychic to play with tools that let you tap into your intuitive right brain.

You can try drawing, creative writing, divination, etc.

“Working with any practice that helps you actively use your intuitive brain can be very valuable, and sometimes, even more, when we remove the mystique and look at them rationally,” explained researcher Newlon.