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It's Time To Use Our Whole Brain
We are all members of a population that ignores fully half of the information and most of the wisdom available to us at any given moment. Or, to put it another way: We each carry the key to wisdom, power, and full creative potential in our pocket every day, but every day we choose again to not use it. Instead, we alternate pounding on wisdom's door with trying to figure out how wise people throughout history opened it, in the belief that all things worthwhile require great struggle over time. Or as a creative whole brain advocate once 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."
Why isn't the Logic + Intuition mode standard operating procedure?
-In the Western world, we have traditionally looked to science to define our reality in terms of what is important. Because right hemisphere activity eludes scientific measurement, science tells us that it is not worthwhile.
-We have an educational system designed to develop the verbal, rational, linear left hemisphere, while leaving the synthesizing, creative, holistic right hemisphere to atrophy.
"...the left brain likes to be boss, so to speak, and prefers not to relinquish tasks to its "dumb" partner unless it really dislikes the job – either because the job takes too much time, is too detailed or slow, or because the left brain is simply unable to accomplish the task."
-It requires some practice and vigilance to discern a genuine intuitive impulse from one motivated by fear or anxiety. Since we are never taught this skill, as adults we tend to mistrust even our most creative, inspired impulses, having been "burned" so often by the outcome of decisions based on fear that we mistook for wisdom or even love. Ever formed a relationship you realized only in hindsight was doomed to failure because it was really powered by neediness or anxiety, not love?
What does intuition contribute to my brain power?
-As we are expected to process ever increasing amounts of data, we need a tool that cuts through it quickly and accurately. Intuition is built to do this.
-Intuition is the visionary characteristic of our right brain – it and it alone allows us to see the big picture when we feel lost in the details.
-It provides answers when we are blocked, by leap-frogging over analysis to sudden revelation. The "Aha!" experience.
-It is an inner adviser, a guide, and our inner voice of wisdom when all around us is in chaos.
-It is always available to provide fresh ways of seeing information that spark our creative vision.
Here are two suggestions to build your intuitive muscle and get the synapses snapping across your whole brain:
Start to notice how many times a day you choose to ignore the unofficial voice that speaks in your head as a "silly" thought or brief impulse. Remember that this will be a quieter, more gentle voice than the one we usually think of as our official thoughts. Intuitive thoughts don't force; they nudge. And they usually surface more than once. The power of this exercise can't be overestimated, as it brings into focus a vast, barely used personal database that is jam packed with wisdom beyond anything we had previously imagined.
Act on those impulses. The next time you have a sudden unmistakable urge to act, and it doesn't involve risking your life or your job, DO IT. Start small, folks. No proposing to your new amour on the second date, please. Keep track of how many times the outcome is neutral to pleasant. You are retraining your mind to reroute messages previously labeled "Impractical – Discard Immediately" to the "Practical – Use This!" file.
Years ago I was presenting a class on the topic Developing Intuition. On the first night I noticed an elderly gentleman who seemed to be in his eighties. He shared with us that he was there because he had never listened to his inner voice when it tried to direct him. Instead, he did what he felt was expected of him, and as a consequence made serious errors in judgment both in his personal relationships and career. He felt deep regret, and yet a part of him (guess which part) knew there was still time to open to a new way.
This man is no different than most of us in that he chose to listen to and act on the "shoulds" he had heard all his life. There is a direct correlation between following our gut instinct and living the rich, fulfilling life we want. Listening to that inner wisdom roots us firmly in the rich soil of our personal blend of uniqueness and creativity. Following the "shoulds" on the other hand, buries that uniqueness under layers of fear – fear of making mistakes, standing out as "weird," and being rejected, among others.
That's a high price to pay. I'd like you to ask yourself a simple question: "Do I want to arrive at the end of my life and looking back, see nothing but other people's images of who I "should" be, or do I want to see the regret-free, fully-realized self I gave myself permission to become?" As with the man who decided to start making new choices in his eighties – if you're still breathing, it's not too late.
Intuition at Work: A Practical Application
"Why should I bother to learn how to use my intuition? I've done just fine so far by relying on logic. After all, what could be more practical than that?"
What indeed? Let's measure the impact of adding intuition to the analytic mode by contrasting the outcomes of one day's worth of challenges at work. We will follow two hypothetical managers, Mr. X and Mr. Y. Mr. X relies solely on logical thinking processes, while Mr. Y has begun to incorporate intuitive thinking and techniques alongside logic.
| MR. X | MR. Y |
|---|---|
| 7 a.m.: THE DAY BEGINS FOR BOTH OF OUR MANAGERS.. | |
| Jolted awake –still tired, worried about work. Stayed up late going over a report he brought home, then couldn't turn his thoughts off. | Awakes refreshed after good night's sleep. He honored his gut feeling that his report is complete. Meditates for 20 minutes. |
| 8:30-10 a.m.: THREE NEW DEPARTMENTAL CRISES ARISE THAT MUST BE ASSIMILATED, PRIORITIZED, AND RESOLVED BY THE END OF THE DAY. | |
| With each new crisis Mr. X becomes more stressed, begins to lose his ability to think clearly. Closes his door and tries to focus on each problem. The pressure he feels makes this difficult. | After the 2nd crisis appears, Mr. Y closes his office door, closes his eyes, breathing deeply until his mind clears. He then asks silently for creative ideas and turns his attention to other tasks. |
| 3 p.m.: A NEW EMPLOYEE HIRED BY OUR MANAGERS HAS SERIOUSLY SLACKED OFF. HIS WORK IS FALLING FARTHER BEHIND DAILY, ALTHOUGH HE SEEMED SUCH A FIND. HE HAD AN ASSIGNMENT DUE TODAY, BUT HAS GONE HOME SICK. | |
| Mr. X carefully pores over the employee's resumè and evaluation. After weighing the pros and cons, he decides he does not have the time to give this person the special attention he obviously needs. He may even have a drug problem, Mr. X postulates, given his erratic behavior. His decision: Let the employee go. | Mr. Y also reviews the employee's records. He decides he needs more information so checks in with his intuitive sense. He relaxes, closes his eyes, and pictures the employee in his mind, noticing the impression this visual gives him. He focuses on his initial response to the employee and asks his inner guidance system (intuition) to take over for a short time. He lets go of thinking for a few minutes, then opens his eyes. He has recalled his early observation that this employee was a good worker, but seemed to need much encouragement. He realizes that he has failed to offer this recently, although this employee has asked him several times for feedback. He can't say that this is the only cause of the slacking off, but he knows the employee deserves a second look. |
| 4 p.m.: RESOLUTION OF THIS MORNING'S CRISES. | |
| Mr. X has resolved only one issue. He wonders how many more years he can take this punishing stress. He had a hunch about one of the crises, but rejected it as too "outside the box." He devises temporary fixes for the remaining problems, dreading the evenings he'll have to spend hammering out long-term solutions that please everyone. | Mr. Y has by now had creative, practical resolutions for two of the crises pop into his thoughts. He is about to focus on the third when he has a sudden desire to go outside for a brief walk. He does so and realizes while walking that the third need not be a problem at all, seen in a different light. |
| 4:30 p.m.: THE DEPARTMENT HEAD STOPS BY TO SAY "WELL DONE" ABOUT THE REPORTS MR. X AND MR. Y TURNED IN THIS MORNING. | |
| Mr. X is too exhausted to care. | Mr. Y sees this as simply more proof that his intuitive muscle is getting stronger and more reliable as he continues to listen to and honor it, alongside logic. |
"Intuition is not a substitute for analytic thinking. It is an additional source of information. You can go about your business life ignoring your intuition and get by, but it is like hiring a contractor to do some work on your home without getting several bids. You can do it, but it is risky with information from only one source."
As the preceding scenario shows, intuition is practical largely because it saves time and effort. Logic alone is simply not effective in every situation – especially those where people are involved. It's like using a hammer when what we really need is a wrench. We are so used to experiencing life as an obstacle course that we don't question whether it was meant to be that way.
We often blame ourselves and burn out like Mr. X, who has intuitive thoughts and impulses but is too concerned about what others might think to implement them.