How to distinguish true intuition from fear, stress and collective anxiety
If you have a feeling that you should do something because it feels right and good for you, listen to that quiet inner voice. But if at the first thought of a decision you feel fear, discomfort, or a tightening in your stomach, maybe this is exactly the sign that you should give up on that idea. What is intuition?
Fear, accumulated stress or intuition: between collective anxiety and information overload
In the times we live in, filled with uncertainty, worries, and constant bad news, it is almost impossible not to have premonitions or dark thoughts - whether about ourselves, our loved ones, or the world as a whole. The line between intuition and fear then becomes very thin. Is something important really "coming" to us, or are we dealing with a consequence of the chronic stress to which we are exposed?
Contemporary psychology increasingly speaks of the phenomenon of collective anxiety. Intense dreams, images of catastrophes, and the feeling that something bad is going to happen are often unconscious reactions of the brain to prolonged exposure to threats and uncertainty. The brain tries to process the huge amount of information we receive through news, conversations, films, and social networks, projecting them into dreams and strong internal experiences.
What does science say: is intuition myth or fact?
Interestingly, neurological studies show that intuition is not a mystical phenomenon, but a rapid and automatic process of information processing. Parts of the brain such as the amygdala and insula respond to signals from the environment and the body even before the conscious mind has time to analyze them rationally. In other words, intuition is often a “quick assessment” based on previous experiences, even when we are not aware of them.
This is why people form a strong impression about a person or situation upon first meeting them. That first impression sometimes turns out to be accurate later, because the brain, within an instant, has connected micro-signals: tone of voice, body language, facial expressions, or similarities to previous experiences, reports the Telegraph.
Where is the key?
Dreams and “visions” often work on the same principle. What we have seen or heard by chance can be personalized and take on emotional weight. The mind creates strong images that seem to us like warnings or premonitions, even though they are essentially a combination of external information and internal fears.
The key is to learn to distinguish intuition from panic. Intuition is usually calm, clear, and non-dramatic. It doesn’t create chaos in thoughts, but a simple feeling: “I know, even though I don’t know why.” Fear, on the other hand, comes with noise, through catastrophic scenarios, obsessive thoughts, and bodily tension.
A good way to tell the difference is to pay attention to the first, briefest sensation that arises. This initial reaction is often closer to intuition. Everything that comes after—long mental “movies,” bad scenarios, and endless re-examinations—is usually the product of imagination and anxiety.
Why is it important to keep an “intuition journal”?
Noting these sensations and subsequent results can help you over time to understand when your intuition has truly guided you. Science confirms that people who develop the ability to listen to their bodies and internal signals make calmer and often better decisions.
So trust yourself, but in moderation. If something calms you down and feels right, it's often the right path. If fear paralyzes you, stop. Sometimes, retreating is the smartest decision we can make. /Telegraph/
