How accurate are gut feelings...?

Question

I have a gut feeling that something is not right with my wife but I do not know what it is. Usually when I don't listen to them I end up paying the consequences later on. I mean I could be wrong but how accurate are gut feelings?

Answer 1

Gut feelings - intuitive thought processes - are produced by your brain associating past experiences, situations, images, values, concerns, etc., which causes an emotional reaction to the association, positive or negative. Most of the time, this processing is outside your conscious awareness, but the gut feeling demands your attention. Many people dismiss these feelings, as you say.

The thing is, intution, while a valuable and informative source of judgment, is not infallible. For example, you may feel a gut feeling of fear, when no concern is warranted. But the opposite may be true. Your gut feelings may express anxiety, and you aren't sure why...and it turns out there is a valid reason.

The deal is, you have to check it out consciously, rationally to be sure. You need evidence to substantiate your gut-feeling. Listen to your gut-feeling...what kind of feeling is it? Where is it coming from? Try to get in touch with the feeling, spend time paying attention to it, what has been processed unconsciously.

In addition, you may decide to query your wife about it...and listen carefully to what she says and observe her nonverbal reaction. Or you could monitor her behavior, to see if the problem manifests itself, providing an explanation.

You're right...the smart money is to check out gut-feelings. They are there for a reason. Charles, I hope this scientific perspective on intuition is helpful to you.

Answer 2

Gut feelings are usually valid.... It's our interpretation of that gut feeling (intuitions) that usually fouls things up for us.

Your feeling may be the result of a subconsious awareness you have of a situation. However, it may also be pointing out an insecurity you're holding onto about your relationship.

Best solution.... Without betraying the spousal trust as best you can, find out what it is you're fearing and if that fear is justified.

Answer 3

Well Charles, in my case they have been pretty dead on. I call it my Spider Sense as in the old cartoon Spider Man who could sense something was wrong. In life thats called an instinct. My instinct was dead on for both of my now ex wives, two job down sizing outcomes, my brother and his wifes being let go from a company who's manager had serious issues, and 9/11 to name a few. Always follow your instincts. Do a little question asking, maybe a little discrete snooping etc to prove your feelings true or false.

Answer 4

Trust your gut! For me this is accurate.

Answer 5

I would sooner listen to my gut feelings than so called "logic" as, in the past, my gut feelings have proven correct whilst following "logic" has led me to make wrong decisions.

Answer 6

Because we are human beings we often think that we don't have instincts like animals do. Infact we have very good instincts. The fear instinct, fight or flight is a good example.The trouble is we have intelligent minds too.We tend to go with the thoughts that go on in our heads rather than go with feelings.You say you don't know about your wife?Read her body language.She won't be aware of signals that she is giving off in her body language.Changes in behaviour are noticed more from on lookers.It is a natural way to study people & animals.Theres more truth in it than there will ever be in words!

Answer 7

they may be. track is and has in many situations been proper to emotional concerns and countless of the super writers of history have spoken of it as such. I additionally discover that track is often solid at arousing emotions interior the listener, even while one won't be able to in my view perceive with the words of a music or the thematic content cloth. case in point i'm able to think of of the music "consistently Autumn" (that's secure interior the "conflict of the Worlds" musical) and delight in the sentiments of unhappiness and longing in simple terms from the track, even nevertheless i've got never lost a lover (or had one to lose). I frankly have not got a music on the 2d, nevertheless I actually have a track in my head...

Answer 8

I don't want to generalise.

So, speaking for myself, they are very very accurate. My gut feeling have never betrayed me and I hope it will never do.

Whereas my mind has betrayed me sometimes...

Answer 9

usually that feeling call it gut if you wish....intuition is the one i prefer.....always leans more to the i was right all along side to me.....trust your gut all the way

Answer 10

I think that is one of our greatest lessons to learn,to trust our [gut instinct].