A few weeks ago, some of us were doing some work at our church and one of the guys said he had a \u201cgut feeling\u201d about something. I\u2019ve heard the phrases \u201cgut feeling\u201d or \u201ctrust your gut\u201d almost my entire life. But thinking back, I\u2019ve rarely been in a situation where I \u201ctrusted my gut.\u201d In fact, I\u2019m not sure I know what a gut feeling even feels like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Google provided the following explanation\u2026. A gut feeling (or intuition) is an immediate physical response you feel that suggests the best decision when presented with two or more choices. Common sensations associated with a gut feeling include a sinking feeling or butterflies in your stomach, sweaty palms, prickling on your neck, goose bumps, muscle tightness or tension, increased heart rate, or an overwhelming sense of calm or clarity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In scientific terms, gut feelings come from the enteric nervous system, a web of neurons in the gastrointestinal tract that some neuroscientists call the \u201csecond brain.\u201d
I\u2019ve had those feelings, but I never associated them with decision making. I guess I can maybe believe that following your gut or instinct can often direct you down the best path, but I\u2019ve always tried to follow the \u201cdo what\u2019s best\u201d path \u2014 I\u2019m not sure there\u2019s much difference. I think logic and reason are the two most important things in play to make good decisions, but science suggests that intuition can be a valuable tool in some circumstances.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From what I\u2019ve read, gut feelings produce some of the same physical sensations as anxiety, so I\u2019m not sure how you tell them apart. And then of course, there\u2019s paranoia\u2026. how do you tell the difference? Gut feelings tend to pass once you make a decision, while anxiety is more than just a passing feeling \u2014 it lingers, like maybe you made the wrong decision. And paranoia is an irrational suspicion, not based on fact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So maybe those gut feelings do mean something, and they can often help you make good decisions \u2014 sometimes we can all use a \u201csecond brain.\u201d
Someone said that prayer is telephoning to God, and your gut feeling is God telephoning to you. Maybe it\u2019s better to not let that call go to voice mail\u2026..
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A few weeks ago, some of us were doing some work at our church and one of the guys said he had a \u201cgut feeling\u201d about something. I\u2019ve heard the phrases \u201cgut feeling\u201d or \u201ctrust your gut\u201d almost my entire … Continue reading