Intuition vs. Bias: Good Thoughts, Bad Thoughts

How can we be sure we’re listening to the guidance of our intuition, not a bias or self-sabotaging conditioned tendency?

Our biases, fears & self-doubts are so sneaky, they can get in front of our thinking without us even noticing, influencing our decisions.

Intuition is also fast moving, arising in a fraction of a second, often too quickly for us to fully process before it’s guiding our decisions…

Leaning into to the wisdom of our intuition brings us powerful guidance and strength, but we want to distance ourself from the trap of our biases & fears.

So how do we know which is which?

Here’s what I look for to know the difference:

Intuition/Wisdom:

Pops in without rational explanation, non-sequitur, can feel ‘random’.

‘Felt’ as much as ‘thought’.

Not driven by an agenda or desired outcome — driven by wonder, curiosity.

Doesn’t need things to be a certain way; asks or observes without judgement, just wonders (what if? why?).

Feels expansive, open, a little unstable or unbounded.

Through me: often feels like we ‘receive’ it from somewhere deep within

Bias/Fear:

Based in narrative/story about the present & need to be ‘right’.

Thought more than felt, though not always.

Rationalizing, justifying, qualifying.

Makes the moment fit a meaning — confirming it’s right.

Needs things to be a certain way, says “because”.

Feels constricting, defensive, or hostile.

By me/To Me: often feels like we are attempting to resist/control external factors we are responding to, but not generating.

How do we work with this?

It’s a bit tricky, since these experiences happen fast. I find with myself & my clients, developing a keen sense of awareness around our patterns of response is the first and most powerful step. Bring as much attention as you can to these patterns. If you don’t catch it in the moment, that’s fine. Take time to reflect as soon as you become aware.

Begin to ask & notice whether a response is driven by wonder or by a narrative. Stories are likely to be bias, while curiosity is often intuition.

Begin to ask & notice whether a response is happening thorough me or by me/to me.

Over time, you’ll get better at noticing & stopping bias and fear, and strengthen your trust in the power of your intuition.

The quote & title in today’s email are lovingly borrowed from the funkadelic wisdom of George Clinton on the subject of higher self-talk. Dig it.