Train the Brain to Develop Your Intuition Like a Muscle in Six Steps.
Here is a review of intuition and practical tips to empower intuitive abilities that can improve personal and professional life.
Intuition is a misunderstood and sometimes ignored gift given by nature to humans.
Intuition happens subconsciously formed by memories as patterns and cognitive constructs that I cover in this story with practical tips. We are unaware of these patterns and constructs with the conscious mind due to being preoccupied with internal stimuli and external noises.
However, some people, particularly master thinkers and experts in various fields, developed remarkable intuitive capabilities, using instincts, sensing situations earlier, and making quick decisions that others cannot explain logically. For example, Nicola Tesla and Albert Einstein were well-known users of intuition and instinct.
Einstein said, “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
Tesla said, “Instinct is something which transcends knowledge. We have, undoubtedly, certain finer fibers that enable us to perceive truths when logical deduction, or any other willful effort of the brain, is futile.”
I wrote this story as a follow-up to my recent article titled What If Serendipity Knocks on Your Door Every Day. It articulated intuitive power with remarkable examples that happened to me on 23/02/2023.
The day after, I serendipitously read two articles from writers who have intuitive abilities and inspire thousands of readers. I link them in the summary section of this article.
Despite the popularity of intuition in science and spirituality communities, the topic is misunderstood and confused with terms like instinct, impulse, urge, or craving, causing some to overlook the unique power of intuition.
Even worse, some individuals dismiss this cognitive capability and judge those who promote the concept harshly. Some people in professional and social settings said there was no such thing as intuition.
While some scientists disapprove of using intuition in scientific literature as evidence, many great scientists and inventors have used it productively as their primary source of knowledge throughout history.
During my research, I interviewed several medical practitioners, both generalists and specialists, who use intuition by listening to their patients and sensing their conditions before they have clear diagnostic evidence.
Enormous proof of the intuitive power of humans evident experientially is undeniable. This ability lies within us. However, we need to find ways to tune into it and benefit from it.
Dictionaries define intuition as perceiving or understanding something with feelings and sensations without conscious reasoning.
However, dictionaries don’t mention its involvement with using the subconscious mind, reticular activating system, peripheral vision, and its unique cognitive aspects related to procedural memory, focus, attention, task switching, and reasoning.
Even though some people, like Tesla, use the terms instinct or gut feelings associated with intuition, they differ, but they have similarities in terms of their impact on our lives.
As a cognitive ability, I see intuition as knowledge acquired without analysis or conscious reasoning. It manifests as an immediate and unexplainable sense of understanding or insight from the subconscious mind.
An instinct is an automatic behavior genetically programmed in the biology of beings. They serve specific functions, such as reproduction and social behavior, mainly for survival. Instincts manifest bodily function in humans, animals, and plants.
So the key difference is that intuition is a cognitive ability happening in mind and instincts in the body.
We also use intuition and instincts in our relationships. For example, these concepts might manifest as instant alignment between two people, as seen in the “love at first sight” notion.
Intuition is an innate power, but why do some of us not feel intuition and struggle with stress, anxiety, and depression?
The answer lies in our problematic lifestyles and unnatural positions that do not align with our nature in this frenetic world.
When too much external noise is combined with mind chatter, our anxiety and stress rise, making it almost impossible to feel intuition. When we are depressed, it can also be challenging to tap into our intuitive power.
We need a clear mind and joyful body to feel intuition.
Key Points to Consider for Gaining Intuitive Power
Based on requests from subscribers, in this section, I’d like to provide my perspectives leveraging my decades of experience in the field and turn them into action points for consideration.
These perspectives reflect my thoughts and feelings about intuition. They might or not resonate with you. But please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments sections, as I intend to add clarity to the topic collectively.
Even though not documented precisely in literature with mechanisms, I metaphorically see intuition as a muscle we can train and develop.
For example, our intentions and deliberate behaviors can ignite intuitive feelings when we have a clear mind and happy body. I structure this section under six categories and only focus on the critical points to keep this article in a reasonable size.
1 — Reduce and filter external noise.
Reducing and filtering external noise can improve intuition by helping us connect with our inner selves and allowing us to tune in to our intuition and inner voice more easily.
Too much external noise from cluttering information can flood our minds and make it difficult to hear our inner voice and sense our intuition.
The brain needs a significant amount of energy to process information coming from multiple senses. Unless it uses heuristics (shortcuts) via various mechanisms like patterns, it will run out of power and shows symptoms of mental fatigue.
Information overload caused by over-consumption of media and exposure to hundreds of bombarded ads can destroy intuitive power.
The nervous system cannot handle such an information explosion. Thus, it consequently shuts down to protect itself. As a result, information overload silences our internal resources.
Therefore, we need to reduce external noise by limiting exposure to media and other distractions. Mindfulness practices, especially daily meditation, can be powerful in lowering the external voices and listening to internal ones. Meditation can impact our genes and neurotransmitters.
2 — Clear the mental clutter and use procedural memory.
Clearing the mental clutter is essential to tap into intuitive power. It allows us to be aware of the moment and live with a greater sense of presence. Too much information can lead to the paralysis of analysis and prevent initiating or sensing intuition.
A practical way to achieve this goal is to live and work mindfully, especially in a flow state. In addition, leveraging mindfulness practices, such as meditation, self-talk, and visualization, can be helpful to clear the cluttered mind.
I introduced procedural memory in a previous article, so I will not repeat the details. Procedural memory is formed through a process called consolidation, which occurs when the brain repeatedly practices a task or skill and then solidifies those memories during sleep.
The reason I touch on procedural memory in this section is that it allows us to work intuitively. For example, touch typing, riding a bike, reading a book, and playing piano are examples of using procedural memory. We do not think and analyze many mental processes while doing these tasks.
Developing procedural memory is essential for improving motor skills and productive habits, allowing us to perform tasks with greater speed, fluency, and accuracy with intuitive power rather than intellectual abilities. I provided a step-by-step guide to developing procedural memory.
3 — Leverage the power of the Reticular Activating System (RAS).
The brain has an enigmatic section allowing us to achieve our dreams. It is called the Reticular Activating System (RAS). This anatomic construct in the brain stem can contribute to achieving our goals if we can use it with awareness, commitment, and persistence.
The RAS comprises a cluster of nerves in the brain stem. Its primary role is to filter unnecessary information and only allow important content. RAS achieves filtering flooded information based on fixed parameters.
These parameters are our safety, survival, and other factors which have supreme importance coded in the old brain that the cognitive system (thinking part of the brain) perceives.
RAS is critical for survival as this region filters unnecessary and inundated information from multiple senses. It focuses on seeking facts validated by our perception and beliefs coded as memory.
The most critical aspect of RAS is its ability to connect our conscious and subconscious minds. Living mindfully and working in a flow state allows us to use RAS effectively. You may also incorporate it into your hobbies.
By enhancing the felt senses and sensations (which I will cover in the next section), we can leverage the unique power of the RAS, which links our conscious mind to the subconscious to accomplish our dreams with less effort.
In addition to using RAS to achieve the points in sections #1 and #2, we can also use it when we struggle to access old memories by activating it and using the cognitive system by asking specific questions. I provided practical tips to use RAS in daily life.
4 — Use felt senses and sensations.
Even though senses are sensations related to our emotions and feelings, they are also cognitive capabilities in various brain regions. Therefore senses and sensations can be used to tap into our intuition.
Various regions of the brain, with combined effort, can make emotional decisions. Some parts of the brain assess emotions and make specific decisions for our survival. “Felt senses” depict the intuitive control process.
These regions cannot directly or instantly communicate well with other areas dealing with rational thoughts. They connect with the limbic system and the gastrointestinal tract.
So, we experience felt senses, primarily known as gut feelings. Moreover, emotions come for various reasons, and we don’t understand their meanings instantly. Let me explain the difference between senses and sensations.
Senses refer to the primary modes of perception in the brain, such as sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. Sensations refer to the subjective and unfiltered experiences that arise from sensory inputs such as the sensation of a cold breeze, loud noises in a forest, or shivering in an ice bath.
Sensations are the result of intense signals that pass through neurons. Subjective experiences arise from activating the corresponding sensory organs and receptors. Neurotransmitters, hormones, and other biochemicals facilitate communication in organs and receptors.
I documented my experience improving senses and sensations using neurobics and other cognitive tools in a story titled Evolve Your Senses with Neurobics to Create Cognitive Reserves for Better Mental Health as You Age.
5 — Use peripheral vision.
From childhood, we use intuition and instincts to learn about dangers in life. One of the inherited features is our peripheral vision.
Using peripheral vision can enhance our intuitive power. Peripheral vision lets us see objects and movement outside the direct line of sight.
The peripheral parts of the retina contain specialized light-detecting cells like rods and cones that create this vision.
Intuition is subconscious processing. I believe that subtle environmental cues like vision and sound constantly register in the subconscious mind.
Peripheral vision allows us to detect movement and changes in the environment that we might not consciously notice, which can still affect our intuition and timely decision-making.
6 — Observe and understand your impulses.
Impulses are sudden and intense urges to do something without considering the consequences or potential risks. They significantly impact the quality of our lives.
Our thoughts, feelings, and sensations can trigger impulses by altering the balance of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, GABA, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, adrenalin, and histamine.
We cannot control impulses when the prefrontal cortex does not function. This usually happens when the primitive brain shuts down this critical brain region (neocortex) for real or perceived threats to survival.
Acting on impulse can sometimes be beneficial. For example, it can lead to creativity, productivity, or spontaneous acts of kindness.
However, when it becomes an addictive behavior and goes beyond our control, it can adversely affect our intuitive power.
As impulses are automatic and unconscious responses to stimuli, it relates to both instincts and intuition. By observing and understanding our impulses intentionally, we can get subtle clues to our intuition.
I will document the details in another article under embedded cognitions, as it is a complex and comprehensive topic beyond the scope of this article.
Summary and Conclusions
After publishing my story, What If Serendipity Knocks on Your Door Every Day, yesterday, I received supportive comments from subscribers who found using serendipity for daily life exciting and helpful.
Then I came across an insightful story by Marcus. It led to several stories touching on synchronicity and intuition.
One of them was by Jodie Helm, who posted this inspiring article. Seeing the importance of the date (23 February 2023) reflected in my life inspired me and gave me a euphoric moment.
Spirituality is a growing topic on this platform. I come across many writers and readers who share their remarkable experiences, creating a synergistic effect on society. Seeing a convergence between science and spirituality communities, as mentioned by new writer Jennifer Thangavelu excites me.
I recently came across remarkable stories from writers like Rebecca Romanelli and Frank Ontario, who inform and inspire readers in the spirituality domain. I also gained insights from articles of Hakima T A N T R I K A, whom I interviewed recently combines spirituality with health and relationships using ancient wisdom.
I also enjoyed the spiritual aspect of intuition compared to our other faculties posted by Marcus aka Gregory Maidman.
Intuition is not exclusive to the spirituality domain, although it originates in the mind and spirit and is reflected in the body as experiences. It can be used in any domain as nature gave us a privilege.
In this article, I look at intuition from a scientific angle, but my tacit knowledge and experiences accumulated through embracing ideas from multiple domains, such as spirituality, mindfulness, and psychology, and combining them to create a synergistic effect.
Here are some practical takeaways on how to develop and use intuition:
1 — Train and develop your intuition like a muscle focusing on your intentions, lowering stress, and sharpening your focus by living in the moment.
2 — Tune into your inner voice by clearing the mind and avoiding external noise. Reduce noise by limiting exposure to media and other distractions.
3 — Every memory is coded in the body. Learn from your experiences and use tacit knowledge to develop your intuition.
4 — Use the power of RAS that links your conscious mind to the subconscious one to accomplish your dreams with less effort.
5 — Listen to your body tuning into felt senses, sensations, instincts, and impulses to give access to your intuition.
6 — Use peripheral vision when walking or watching nature.
7 — Trust the process you develop and have faith in your intuition.
Some people cannot make sense of concepts like intuition, synchronicity, serendipity, consciousness, or karma. I have empathy and compassion for them as they only use their intellect. However, many believe in them and use them daily as they are part of cultures.
These concepts are experienced profoundly, but their specific reasons are still unknown to scientists. However, not understanding the mechanisms with limited knowledge should not discredit their value for our lives.
Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.
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Sample Humorous Stories
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