Intuition: Definition, Examples, & Quotes

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Intuition can be a difficult concept to define–it is sometimes described as the sixth human sense. It happens when your brain quickly takes in large amounts of information and processes it based on your past experiences which leads you to an automatic answer. Intuition is the result of your brain putting together everything you have learned from past experiences in your life to help you form a quick conclusion.

Intuition usually comes to you in an instant. All at once, you understand what you need to do or what the answer to the question is. Often you can’t explain why you feel that way, you just do. 

Examples of intuition:

• Feeling like you have a “pit” in your stomach when you have to make a hard decision
• “Light bulb” moments where you understand something or get a good idea out of nowhere
• Reading non-verbal communication cues to understand what people are saying between the lines

You can use your intuition to make decisions in situations where analytical thinking alone isn’t enough. Sometimes connecting to your intuition and making a decision based on how you feel is the best way forward.

The concepts of intuition and instinct are closely linked—instinct is a key component of intuition. Instincts can be defined as hard-wired behaviors developed in response to environmental stresses and dangers. These behaviors are usually involuntary and take a great deal of work to overcome. Listening to your instincts is a part of listening to your intuition. 

Humans have developed several collective instincts that have helped us survive in harsh environments. While every person does not necessarily possess these instincts, they have been found across large groups of people. In fact, “evolutionary psychologists have shown that we are no different from other animal species in possessing a wide range of instincts that have promoted the evolutionary success of our species” (MacLennan, 2006). 

​Common Human Instincts:

• Tribal loyalty
• Urge towards procreation
• Self-preservation
• Greed
• Seeking meaning

Anxiety can feel scary and unnatural; intuition feels reassuring and comforting (as long as you listen to it). When you feel anxious, it can feel like you are dreading something, maybe even to the point of avoiding it altogether. The anxiety pushes you away from the situation. Anxiety can cause you to avoid your emotions because they are unpleasant. This is usually the opposite of how intuition feels. When your brain gives you an intuitive answer, it might feel like you are being pulled toward that answer. Even if it is difficult or unpleasant, your intuition will tell you that it is the best possible outcome. ​

The opposite of intuition is uncertainty or confusion. When you get a flash of intuition, you immediately know what to do. It can feel like you are being pulled towards that decision–like that is the only option there is. On the other side of intuition are self-doubt and uncertainty. If you are not familiar with listening to your intuition, you may often feel confused and overwhelmed. Learning to pay more attention to the signals in your body might help you overcome indecisiveness and make decisions that are in your best interest.

Can you think of any times in your life that you have felt like you immediately knew what to do based on a gut feeling? Consider the following examples of intuition to gain a better understanding.

• Lauren is about to graduate from high school and needs to make some decisions about her future. She is either going to head straight to college or join the military. After some consideration, she decides to join the military because to her “it just feels like the right choice”. This choice allows her the opportunity to travel the world, learn useful life skills, and help pay for college once she completes her contract. Following her “gut” turned out to be a good decision.
• Manuel works at the mall downtown. He is working late one night and sees the parking lot is almost empty with one car parked next to his. He gets a bad feeling and asks security to escort him to his car. He feels good that he followed his intuition and avoided a possibly dangerous situation. ​

Do you think that you are an intuitive person or do you find that you have trouble following your feelings? Getting more in tune with your gut instincts can help you make decisions about difficult situations you may encounter. Try the following exercise to get in touch with your intuition.

Intuition Exercise: Trust Yourself

1. Sit comfortably and get in touch with your breath. Count “1” and inhale then count “2” and exhale. Repeat this until you feel relaxed.
2. Identify a situation you need further insight into and focus on all of the details of the problem.
3. Pay attention to how your body responds. Positive situations usually manifest positive bodily feelings and the same is true for negative situations and feelings.
4. Make a decision about the situation based on your bodily reactions. Try to trust yourself and know that your gut is leading you in the right direction.

Intuition Exercise: Adventure Time

1. Make a date with yourself on your calendar. Allow at least 2-3 hours.
2. When the day comes, get in your car–or hop on public transportation–without a plan.
3. Resist the urge to control the situation. Relax your body until you get a flash of intuition about what to do on your adventure day. 
4. Try not to think too much, allow your day to unfold, and enjoy the adventure your intuition creates.

Eating intuitively is a popular well-being method that has gained traction over the last few years. This eating framework was developed as a “non-dieting” approach to consuming food more mindfully. Intuitive eating dispels the notion that certain foods are “good” or “bad”. This method encourages eating in a way that healthfully fuels your body while recognizing that treats are an essential piece to psychological well-being.  

People who practice intuitive eating may experience a number of both physical and psychological benefits (Van Dyke & Drinkwater, 2013).

Benefits of Intuitive Eating:

Practicing intuitive eating requires you to be more in tune with your body. The concept behind this method states that you can trust your body to know the type and quantity of food you need to eat to maintain an appropriate weight. The four points of the Intuitive Eating Model in psychology are as follows (Hawks et al., 2004):

• Intrinsic eating cues: the ability to recognize the physical signs of hunger, satisfaction, and fullness.
• Extrinsic eating cues: consideration of a full range of food possibilities and eating what one wants.
• Anti-dieting: appreciation of food and paying attention to the physical effects of eating.
• Self-care: valuation of health and energy more than appearance.

1. Ditch the distractions
Eating in front of the TV or while scrolling through your phone prevents you from listening to your bodily cues while eating. Try turning off the distractions and just focusing on eating when mealtime rolls around.

2. Connect with your body
When you are eating, try to immerse yourself in the experience fully. What textures does your meal have? How does the food smell? Do you feel full halfway through or does your body need to eat the whole meal? Practicing guided meditation is a good tool to help reconnect your mind and body.

3. Make meals you enjoy
You don’t have to force yourself to eat foods you don’t like just because they are “healthy”. Try identifying a variety of meals that both fulfill your dietary needs and satiate your cravings. 

4. Don’t punish yourself
If you are not used to eating mindfully, it can take some time to adjust to intuitive eating. Try to be kind to yourself if you eat more than you intend to or eat foods that don’t make you feel good. Each time you have a meal is a chance to practice better intuitive eating skills.

• “Instinct is untaught ability.” — Bain
  
• “It’s your own intuition, combined with your experience and judgment, that can really guide you forward.” — Berrak Sarikaya.
  
• “Trust your hunches. They’re usually based on facts filed away just below the conscious level.” — Joyce Brother.
  
• “Everyone who wills can hear the inner voice. It is within everyone.” — Mahatma Gandhi.
  
• “Intuition is the compass of the soul.” — Anonymous
  
• ”Trusting your intuition means tuning in as deeply as you can to the energy you feel, following that energy moment to moment, trusting that it will lead you where you want to go and bring you everything you desire.” — Shakti Gawain
  
• “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. ”— Steve Jobs
  
• “At times, you have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself.” ― Alan Alda
  

If you’d like to keep learning more, here are a few books that you might be interested in.

• Cacioppo, J. T. (2004). Common sense, intuition, and theory in personality and Social Psychology. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 8(2), 114–122.
• Hawks, S., Merrill, R. M., & Madanat, H. N. (2004). The intuitive eating scale: Development and preliminary validation. American Journal of Health Education, 35(2), 90–99.
• MacLennan, B. J. (2006). Evolutionary Jungian psychology. Psychological Perspectives, 49(1), 9–28.
• Van Dyke, N., & Drinkwater, E. J. (2013). Review article relationships between Intuitive Eating and Health Indicators: Literature Review. Public Health Nutrition, 17(8), 1757–1766.​