That still, small voice that manifests itself as hunches, gut feelings, and unexpected knowledge - can it be trusted? And how do you know whether it's your intuition or simply your own wishful thinking? For the person who isn't familiar with intuitive feelings, sometimes it's hard to tell the difference.

For example, take the way George W. Bush says he uses his intuition. According to Orville Schell (as published in Asia Times), President Bush speaks often of "trusting 'visceral reactions' and acting on 'gut feelings'." Schell quotes Bush: "God told me to strike al-Qaeda and I struck, and then he instructed me to strike Saddam [Hussein], which I did."

Because anyone can claim that he receives guidance from a "higher power" or "intuitive wisdom," the all-important question becomes this one: How do you know when it's really intuition in action? Below are some pointers to help you determine the difference between a real intuitive impression and a thought based solely on the rational mind's output.

Intuition doesn't guide you to take destructive actions. Your inner messages are probably real if they are positive and constructive in nature, for yourself and others. If you are defending your life against an attacker, you might be guided to take a specific action that could possibly harm another, in order to save your life. Nearly all of the time, however, intuition will lead you to take actions that do not hurt others.

Intuition appears as a feeling of certainty. A real intuitive impression will feel like certain knowledge, even though you may not have any specific information to back it up. A conclusion drawn by your rational mind alone feels quite different. In that instance, you might have questions about your decision, second-guessing yourself and wondering if you're doing the right thing. On the other hand, intuition just "feels right."

Intuition shows up at exactly the right time. You'll get intuitive insight at the very moment you need it, because intuition is never too late. If you don't know what to do, it may not be the right time to take action. So wait until you get a solid hunch about your next move before taking an important step or making a big decision.

Intuition acts for your greater good. Guidance you receive that is truly intuitive will lead you to a better outcome. For instance, if your gut feeling is to take one job offer over another seemingly better one, it will probably turn out to be the right position for you. Intuition won't guide you down the wrong path.

If you have to ask if it's intuition, it probably isn't. There is no doubt about an intuitive feeling. It seems to come from nowhere, giving you information that you couldn't possibly have had otherwise. If you find yourself asking if your intuitive message is real, then it probably is not.

So the next time someone says he acted on his inner wisdom, take a look at the actions he took. You may find that one man's "intuition" is another man's poor reasoning.

© Kathy Sanborn
Life Channels Staff Writer
All Rights Reserved

Close Window To Return To Sanborn Article Archive