Intuition Over Sensing and Navigating This Amazing Extra Sense

Our five traditional senses of sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing each provide us with invaluable information about the present moment. Take a moment however to consider something less tangible such as intuition, which serves as a sort of "sixth sense," guiding us beyond the immediacy of what our physical senses are able to capture. Sensing, therefore, involves collecting concrete, verifiable data through our immediate senses and feedback, while intuition adds a slightly different dimension to our senses by pulling instead from patterns, abstract thinking, and potential possibilities.

This "sixth sense" allows us to tap into a deeper understanding, almost as if we're reaching into a reservoir of wisdom which lies beyond the five senses we are so intimately familiar with. Let's journey through seven intriguing points that will illuminate the distinct characteristics and impacts of intuition and sensing.

1) Rooted in Personality Theory

One of the most influential frameworks for understanding human personality is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). This typological approach places a great deal of emphasis on how individuals prefer to gather information, ultimately classifying them broadly into two categories: Sensing and Intuitive types. Sensing individuals are often keen observers who revel in the details, pulling in information via their five traditional senses. They live in the immediacy of the moment, keenly attuned to what they can see, touch, hear, smell, and taste.

Intuition, on the other hand, acts like an "extra sense" within the MBTI framework. While it doesn't replace any of the traditional senses that we experience, it simply adds yet another layer of perception. Intuitive types are more inclined to focus on the hidden meanings, the potential implications, and the future possibilities. They look beyond the material and what is directly in front of them, synthesizing patterns and generating insights that are not immediately obvious to the five senses alone.

In essence, these Intuitive types tap into a much broader spectrum of perception, much like adding a brand new color to an artist's palette. This makes intuition not just an alternative to sensing but an enriching compliment to our five senses, alerting us to opportunities and understandings that our traditional senses might otherwise readily overlook.

2) Brain Waves Tell the Tale

Have you ever wondered what is happening inside your brain when you are deeply engrossed in analytical thinking versus when you're in a more relaxed and contemplative state? Well, the answer lies in the types of brain waves that will become dominant during each these different cognitive activities. When you're engaged in tasks that require active analytical thought, like when you're using your traditional five senses to perceive the world, your brain primarily relies on Beta waves. These are high-frequency waves that are crucial for logical reasoning and conscious thought.

In contrast, when you are tapping into your intuition, a very different rhythm takes over, and this involves Alpha waves. These are much slower frequency waves, commonly associated with deeper states of relaxation, daydreaming, and what many describe as "passive awareness." It's during these moments, when the brain shifts into Alpha mode, that the 'intuitive you' comes alive. It's like when you're casually playing an instrument and suddenly find a melody you didn't consciously think about; it just seems to flow naturally.

This kind of intuitive awareness adds another layer to your cognitive abilities, making it feel like one of your "extra senses." In a way, recognizing and understanding the different types of brain waves is like gaining a backstage pass to your own mind, offering insights into how you can harmonize both active and passive modes of thinking to help you live a more balanced and insightful life.

3) The "Gut-Feeling" Phenomenon

We've all experienced a moment when we just "knew" something without really knowing how we knew it. This elusive knowledge is often termed as a 'gut feeling,' and this isn't just some poetic expression; it's actually largely grounded in scientific reality. Our gut, often called our 'second brain,' is surprisingly rich in neurotransmitters. These chemical messengers are the very same ones that facilitate communication within the brain. In fact, the gut is in direct dialogue with the brain via the gut-brain axis, a complex network of nerves, hormones, and biochemicals.

What makes this even more fascinating is that when we get those intuitive hunches, we're actually experiencing a form of communication between our gut and our brain. It's like our body's way of bypassing the more analytical processes to deliver a message straight from our internal wisdom we all have within us. So when you get that gut feeling, you're not just pulling from a reservoir of emotional or intellectual understanding, you're also drawing on biochemical signals that your body is actually generating.

It's this unique blend of science and sensation that makes intuition feel like one of our "extra senses." Paying attention to this can be akin to tuning into a hidden radio frequency that’s been quietly playing wisdom all the while, just waiting for you to tune in and listen.

4) Not Just Human Traits

Have you ever marveled at the migratory patterns of birds, wondering how they navigate such vast distances with incredible precision? Well, it turns out, animals like migratory birds exhibit a remarkable balance between sensing and intuitive behaviors, much like humans do. On one hand, they use their immediate senses to interact with their environment they are in by seeing, hearing, and feeling their surroundings to make split-second decisions. It is actually their version of staying present, something that anyone who practices mindfulness can easily relate to.

But birds also rely on something more, which is an intuitive mechanism called magnetoreception. This allows them to sense Earth's magnetic fields and to use them as a guiding compass to follow. Think of it as their "extra sense," akin to human intuition, which elevates their navigational abilities to almost magical levels. It's this extraordinary blend of sensory input and intuitive guidance that enables them to complete their long and awe-inspiring migratory journeys.

Much like humans using their own sixth sense to make significant leaps in understanding or creativity, animals, too, harness their unique set of senses to thrive in their own ways. So the next time you find yourself marveling at the wonders of nature, remember, the line between sensing and intuition is not so sharply defined. It's more of a beautiful blur, a seamless interplay that makes both human and animal life so richly diverse and fascinating.

5) Cultural Influences

Different cultures have always had their own unique ways of valuing and interpreting sensory input and intuitive insights. Eastern philosophies, for example, often elevated the importance of intuitive thinking, channeling it through practices like mindfulness, meditation, and traditional wisdom. It's not uncommon to hear stories of spiritual masters who exemplify the pinnacle of intuitive awareness, those who are able to harness what we might call an "extra sense" to understand the world and the deep inner workings of the mind and soul.

Conversely, Western cultures frequently place more of a premium on empirical data and what can be quantified or measured. The five traditional senses are always highly emphasized, often serving as the unquestionable bedrock of scientific inquiry and discovery. Whether we are talking about the scientific method or evidence-based practices, the focus is almost always on what can be seen, heard, touched, smelled, and tasted. Western thinking tends to be quite skeptical of anything that cannot be measured, pushing intuition far over onto the sidelines as something that is somehow less reliable or less valuable than empirical sensory data.

This cultural dichotomy isn't necessarily about one being better than the other, it simply highlights a significantly broader range range of human experience and understanding than we fail to give due credit to. Simply recognizing these cultural influences can be immensely empowering. It allows for us to draw from a more rich, global palette of perspectives, enabling us to live more balanced lives that honor both the empirical and the intuitive alike.

And who knows, perhaps the future could hold more of a fusion of these worldviews, creating a more holistic approach to decision-making, self-awareness, and even scientific discovery for that matter. I think this quote speaks directly to this concept, “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” ― Nikola Tesla

6) The Link to Creativity

Consider the spark of creativity, that elusive yet electrifying moment when an idea finally takes form, often feels like a bolt of lightning from out of the blue. Intuition has a remarkable quality, like a creative whisper, that subtly connects the dots between disparate ideas, concepts, or experiences in a way that logical thinking might often miss. When you find yourself in that intuitive flow, you are pulling from a well of unconscious wisdom to make different connections that aren't immediately obvious but that can be profoundly impactful.

Intuition alone can not however create a masterpiece; it needs some raw material to work with before that can happen. Enter the concept of sensing, the hands-on, more tangible aspect of our cognitive experience. Sensing provides the concrete details that the West tends to value so highly, the nuts and bolts that intuition needs to assemble into something extraordinary. It's the initial observation of a beautiful sunset that later translates into a poem or painting; it's the tactile feel of a material that inspires an exceptionially beautiful architectural design.

Together, sensing and intuition are like the yin and yang of creativity. While intuition lights the way, sensing walks the path, and the harmonious interaction between the two brings all of those wonderful ideas to life. So, if you've ever wondered how to unlock your own creative potential, consider this: a balanced dance between your intuitive "extra sense" and your traditional five senses might just be the key to your next big creative breakthrough.

7) Work-Life Scenarios

In the 9-to-5 world of work, or perhaps the increasingly flexible remote landscape we find ourselves in, the virtues of sensing and intuition manifest themselves in other compelling ways. Sensing types, those who revel in the concrete and the here and now, often excel in roles that are more detail-oriented.

Think data analysis, quality control, or any job where precision and attention to detail are of paramount importance. In these types of roles, the five senses are being actively engaged as they meticulously evaluate different data, sift through spreadsheets, or scrutinize a product's overall quality. It's as if they are painting by numbers in a way, each brushstroke and detail contributing to the larger overall picture.

Intuitive types, on the other hand, frequently find their sweet spot in roles requiring more visionary thinking or long-term strategizing. They are the dreamers, the 'big picture' folks who can leap from A to Z in a heartbeat. Their "extra sense" enables them to tap into other trends, possibilities, or solutions that may not be evident at first glance. They are often the innovators, or the ones who can see around corners and anticipate the needs or opportunities that others might overlook. In these roles, intuition acts like a lighthouse that can help to guide the way through uncharted waters towards new horizons.

It's crucial to understand that neither approach is 'better' than the other; they're simply different ways of interacting with the world, each with its own set of strengths and challenges. Recognizing where you naturally excel can be a game-changer in aligning your career with your innate cognitive preferences.

Conclusion

Intuition and sensing can both serve us as valuable lenses through which we experience our connection to life, each having its own unique characteristics of richness and depth. By simply acknowledging intuition as an "extra sense," we can expand the horizons of our own perceptual world. We become no longer confined to only the tangible and the immediate; we instead also open ourselves to more of the intricate subtleties, the maybes, and the what-ifs in life. It's as if we've been given a new set of tools to work with when it comes to exploring our lives, adding layers of complexity and nuance that weren't necessarily there before.

Embracing this different spectrum allows us to live more complete and well-rounded lives. It's like having both roots and wings: roots in the reality of what is physically around us, made possible by our traditional senses, and wings regarding the realm of potential possibility, granted by our intuitive faculties. Imagine standing on a mountain peak, where sensing allows you to appreciate the view that you are seeing, the textures that you can touch, the crisp air that you can smell and breathe. Intuition, however, prompts you to consider the vistas which lie beyond the five immediate senses, the adventures that are yet to come, and the paths less traveled that still await your exploration.

As you move through life, consider inviting your intuition to take a more active role within it. Think of it as a trusted advisor or an internal compass that is guiding you toward a more fulfilling life journey. Whether you're navigating your career, seeking creative inspiration, or simply looking to enrich your personal and spiritual growth, your intuition, alongside your traditional senses, can serve as a very helpful and valuable guide in all areas of your life.

“Intuition doesn’t tell you what you want to hear; it tells you what you need to hear.”  -Sonia Choquette