each and every day, we are faced with a variety of decisions that we must make to guide our direction. most of the time, rational decision-making aides that process. rational decision-making is the process of systematically working through a series of steps to maximize the quality of a decision’s outcome. there a are a number of rational decision making models, all of which tend to follow a step-by-step process requires us to:

1. define the problem

2. gather information

3. weigh the pros and cons

4. research alternatives

5. evaluate alternatives 

6. choose the best solution

7. assess the outcome

the limitation with this model is that decision-making isn’t always linear. sometimes, the outcome we obtain through that model doesn’t feel right - even though it might logically make sense. in other words, this model does not take our intuition into account. while there may be some validity to what our gut feelings are trying to tell us, we often discredit those feelings and deem them to be an “emotional response”. however, by ignoring our intuition, we ignore relevant information that could expand our perspective and result in more well-rounded decisions. 

intuition versus emotion

intuition is more than just a feeling. while intuition and emotion are often confused as the same thing, it’s important to recognize that the two are different. intuition is a state of knowing obtained through feeling, without conscious reasoning, while emotion is a state of feeling. put simply, emotion is best understood as energy in motion; a temporary reaction that changes with time. intuition, on the other hand, is persistent; it’s a deeper awareness which inexplicably pulls you in a certain direction. what makes it so difficult to distinguish between the two is that they are both sensations experienced within the body. understanding the nuances between these two types of feeling will help you better recognize when you are experiencing an intuitive nudge versus an emotional reaction.

if you struggle to identify your emotions, there are some excellent resources out there to support you. for example, the emotion sensation feeling wheel is an adaptation of the “feelings wheel” illustrated by lindsay braman, a seattle-based artist, therapist and educator, and is an excellent tool to help you recognize and name your emotions based on how they feel in the body.

if you struggle to connect with your intuition, learning about the 8 intuitive senses is a good place to start. a gut feeling is one of the most commonly recognized intuitive senses, but there are 7 others collectively known as the ‘clairs’: clairvoyance, clairsentience, claircognizance, clairaudience, clairsalience, clairgustance, clairtangency and clairempathy. in this blog post, i describe the 8 ‘clairs’ and how you can strengthen them.

intuitive decision-making

as you become more aware of the differences between intuition and emotion, the next step is to harness that understanding to make intuitively-informed decisions. intuitive decision-making is a subconscious, instinctive process to arrive at a trusted outcome. according to intuitive leadership consultant and author of decisive intuition, nick snyder, there are 3 dimensions of intuition: directional, social and informational.

directional

• relationship: personal

• purpose: the ability to make decisions based on a connection to your internal compass.

• known as: ‘the navigator’
  

social

• relationship: interpersonal

• purpose: the ability to make decisions based on emotional intelligence and strong interpersonal skills.

• known as: ‘the vibe detector’
  

informational

• relationship: environment

• purpose: the ability to make decisions based on large amounts of information from your environment.

• known as: ‘the integrator’
  

while the 8 intuitive senses help us perceive information, these 3 dimensions of intuition provide a framework within which we can understand how to utilize that information in relationship to ourselves, others and the environment that surrounds us.

6 tips to practice intuitive decision-making

since our intuition perceives information that tends to fall outside of the realm of logic, it requires practice to exercise it with confidence. here are 6 tips you can try as you navigate making intuitively-guided decisions:

1. approach decision making with curiosity

the fear of making the wrong decision often prevents us from approaching decision-making with an open-mind. curiosity is important to help you stay receptive to all possible outcomes, whether or not those outcomes align with your expectations. remember: most of the time, there is no right or wrong answer - there is always a lesson to be learned in each experience. a ‘wrong’ decision will only serve to steer you in the right direction, if you allow it to.

2. set clear goals + intentions

in order to use your intuition to make an informed decision, you must set clear goals and intentions. without context, intuitive information may only serve to confuse and overwhelm you. your intuition is a tool, you must define parameters to use it most effectively.

3. identify how your intuition speaks to you

our intuition speaks to us in unique ways. we must quiet the mind in order to hear it. if you need some help with that, here’s a meditation to awaken your intuition. explore your relationship with each of the 8 intuitive senses to understand how you receive guidance from each one.

4. notice how your body feels

once you receive either rational or intuitive guidance, pay attention to how your body reacts to the information. does it feel expansive or restricting? do you feel tense, anxious or uneasy with a rational outcome? do you feel peaceful, confident and happy even if you can’t logically describe why? our bodies carry so much wisdom, if we’re willing to listen.

5. discover your authority type

human design is a system which blends ancient and modern belief systems to offer a map to better understand yourself. think of it as a ‘user manual’ to your life. within human design, there are 4 main types of people: manifestors, generators, projectors and reflectors. understanding your authority with respect to your human design type has the potential to help you make more fulfilling decisions, given your unique nature. you can access your human design chart here.

6. keep track of the outcomes

intuitive decision-making is not error-prone. make a practice of regularly taking stock of your decisions and the resulting outcomes. there is room for both intuitive and rational decision making to co-exist. with practice and patience, you will begin to recognize patterns and refine your decisions to more effectively navigate you toward the outcome you seek.

 

cover image captured captured by amber ellis of creating light studio.