The Role of Intuition in My Brexit Decision.
We respond in several ways to external forces of stress and sudden changes in our immediate environment.
Some of the stress responses are summed up in the 'fight or flight' reactions, which manifest in physical changes, such as sweating palms, a quickened heartbeat and dilated pupils.
The same way our bodies consciously respond to external forces is the same way we respond subconsciously to life changing scenarios.
It has long been believed that humans have some level of instinctive or intuitive ability.
Logically, we know that the fire will burn because our cognitive spheres have at some point come into contact with the heat of a candle or fire.
This makes sense, scientifically, and is an understood process.
However, it is much more difficult to logically explain the 'gut' feeling that people sometimes experience regarding different scenarios.
Often, these 'feelings' end up being justified.
For example, we may get the feeling that a new neighbour is untrustworthy and feel uncomfortable in their presence, yet with absolutely no reason why this should be. When something then happens which confirms our original feelings, we are left wondering how we could have known something bad was going to happen.
It seems that each of us, on some level, has the ability to determine or to be 'aware' of certain things without preconceived knowledge of the details.
We cannot explain these events as logical, as they are not based on cognition or are not within reason.
PLATO attempts to explain this knowledge as:
'A fundamental capacity of human reason to comprehend the true nature of reality. It is a phenomenon by which one becomes conscious of pre-existing knowledge.'
Derived from the Latin word 'intueri' meaning to consider or contemplate, intuition is postulated as the ability to fully analyse and respond to knowledge before our conscious faculties come into play.
Some even argue that we have intuitive knowledge of situations and events on a continuously subconscious level, but we simply do not know how to tap into this ability or use the knowledge as we are unaware of the full extent of our capabilities.
This idea has been demonstrated by the fact that many people have experienced instances when they have, for an unknown reason, felt that they should not do something or go somewhere, only to discover that had they not listened to their gut , something terrible would have happened to them.
This is a significantly widespread phenomenon, that has yet to be fully explained scientifically.
The 'gut' feeling that we get, even at times when logic is telling us otherwise is how we would describe intuition.
Our nervous systems react passionately to external forces or changes, through sweaty palms, rapid breathing and a quickened heartbeat, our bodies inform us and get us ready to deal with a situation, providing adrenaline and leading to the 'fight or flight' response'
The intuitive physical responses are not as dramatic however and exhibit themselves as subtle signs.
This subtlety is why there is a need to learn how to tune into and interpret these intuitive signals.
There are several instances in which we can see these intuitive instincts at play.
For example, a person who loses their sight along the course of their life may still find it easy to perceive the emotions playing on someone's face, even as they say words that might imply something different.
They may also still be able to navigate some obstacle course structures by listening to their gut feelings telling them their is danger or 'sensing' in some way that there is something in their path before they reach it.
This is all through a natural, but rare phenomenon which we all experience, though some remain unaware of their gift.
There is an innate ability in all of us which enables us to perceive things without the need for logical explanation or cognitive processes.
These are mostly experienced in subtle ways which many of us may not be able to interpret.
As a result , it has been concluded that there is a need for people to learn to interpret their intuitive ability, which some have gone as far to call, 'multi-sensory perception' believing it to be an ability beyond the typical five senses.
I comment, a lot, in The Times newspaper online.
I am vehemently against Brexit. I seem to 'know' in my bones that it will be bad for Britain.
I am asked why I 'feel 'so strongly about the subject and I have asked myself the same question. I can only conclude that this is an intuitive response to an unknown danger.
I cannot deny my feelings: Brexit will be bad for Britain.
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