Oh, that feeling you get but you can’t seem to make sense of it.

No matter the number of facts / logic set in place, many major turning points rely on intuition; beyond logical rationale. It can be in the form of an emotional feeling, an epiphany, a sensing; God knows what it is. I choose to believe that it’s an intangible magical mash-up of knowledge, experience, skill and a tad bit of spiritual guidance. It makes facts and figures incomprehensible.

Beautiful things derive from a combination of logical thinking and creative gut feel.

To truly understand this gut feeling, we need to realise there is a force at work within us that surpasses logical comprehension. Recall a time where you have made a (wise) decision based on a gut feeling; assess the final outcome. What was it that drove you to make that decision? Was there someone you consulted? How did it feel? How did you come to terms with it?

3 guidelines to identify a gut feeling and how to respond to it to make a wise decision.

1. Your Intuition. A Strong Sense In Your Belly, Your Mind Is Pulled To One Direction

You won’t be able to ignore that intense feeling in your belly, in your chest, in your mind. Your thoughts will start to gravitate to a certain direction, usually indifferent.

What to do: Take time to process that intense feeling. Use a good amount of facts to analyse and weigh it out against your gut feeling. Process it, pray about it, talk to someone you trust.

2. Your Conscience. You Feel At Peace

A clear conscience will leave you elated and joyous, even after you have made that decision. Being at peace with your decision is important to identify a right and justifiable gut feeling.

What to do: Always double check your conscience before making a decision. What are your intentions? Are they genuine and beneficial to those that really matter? It’s good to seek wise counsel from other leaders and / or mentors. Give yourself a deadline to make the final decision.

3. Your Emotions and Mental. In Unison.

A gut feeling IS a “feeling”. A person with a high “Feeling” personality will love this part because of how your emotions will heighten and you fully rely on your emotions to make a decision. BUT, a gut feel is also a mental decision. You will need to come to terms and unite both your heart and mind.

What to do: From your heart – give a “call” upstairs, consult your mental state; question your mind. Have a battle between heart and mind, wrestle with this intuition you have before making the final decision. Try your best to bring your emotions and intelligence to an agreement. List out your thoughts and match them with your feeling.

Don’t ignore your gut feeling. A simple trick, if time permits, to break your decisions into smaller chunks. Take one step at a time and reevaluate.