“Rational Thought and Intuitive Feeling”
by Kelvin Chin
Life After Life Expert
Get rid of the idea that one is better than the other in decision making.
Let’s agree that too much reliance on either one is what we could call “imbalanced.” That both are important. And that both actually are automatically included in every mental experience everyone has if we’re paying close attention.
But my observation for many years is that there seems to be a movement towards and even a preference in the masses worldwide for the intuitive feeling type of experience.
Why is that?
I think there are several reasons for this.
First, I think it’s because it feels good. It’s an immediate response. There’s no lag time. Immediate gratification. No waiting. Feel good or feel bad. Black and white. Definitive. Clear.
But does the primary reliance on living life based on whether something feels good (or not) create a balanced, productive life?
Drug addicts say it feels really good to be high. But did the knee jerk intuitive decision to shoot up lead to healthy consequences? Conspiracy theorists and their followers swear that there are bad things happening in the basement of a store that has no basement. But it feels good — almost tribal — to be part of that small group who “knows” there must be a “hidden basement.” Or that small group who “knows” that the Earth 🌎 is flat. But does belief in those conspiracy theories help create a more compassionate, less divisive, productive world?
What else is going on behind the scenes — within us — to make us lean towards trusting our gut feelings over our rational thought?
I think we are moved first by the visceral intuitive feelings we have. Then we assess them with our intellect, i.e., our rational thinking. I think that is the usual, normal, natural process.
But sometimes we skip that rational step. And just go with the intuition.
If we’re honest, sometimes it works out for us and sometimes it doesn’t. Right? Our intuition is not right all the time.
And more broadly — societally — why do we see so much emphasis on feelings in decision making? Why do we see a tendency for relying more on how something makes you feel?
Where does preference for intuitive (gut) feeling over rational thought come from?
“Emotion sells, intellect tells.” I learned that in life insurance sales training many years ago.
Institutions — business, political, educational and governmental — all have learned that it’s easier (cheaper) and more effective (return on investment) to manipulate feelings than rational thinking. To get us to do what they want us to do.
Car ads focus on “how they’ll make you feel” when you own the car. They create the illusion that your life will change for the better — maybe get the adoration of all your friends (jealousy) — when you drive that car. So they can also appeal to your weaknesses emotionally — in this case perhaps your need to be worshipped by others.
And what’s the simple formula?
“Just believe me (or my advertisement message) and blindly follow (buy the car).” And then your life will be…utopian. Perfect. Trouble-free. Blissful.
And when your rational thought kicks in and you ask the salesperson sitting across from you: “But what about the monthly payments and the maintenance costs of this car?” — they’ll say some variation of the following:
“Ok, I know that what I said didn’t make total sense but, trust me, it will later…” (after you sign this purchase and sale agreement and buy the car).
Sound familiar?
Whether it’s car sales, political elections, religious recruitment or college admissions — we’ve seen this play before.
In all those industries what’s their objective?
Control. Control the narrative. Control your reaction. Control your decision making.
My question to us all is this:
Does the overemphasis on intuitive feeling make society more vulnerable to those who want to control and manipulate us?
Food for thought.
Kelvin H. Chin is a Meditation Teacher, Life After Life Expert, and Author of “Overcoming the Fear of Death,” “Marcus Aurelius Updated: 21st Century Meditations On Living Life” and “After the Afterlife: Memories of My Past Lives.” He learned to meditate at age 19, and has been teaching Turning Within Meditation and coaching others in their self-growth for 50 years. He helps people understand their life challenges through their individual belief systems, and helps them find their own solutions. His past life memories reach back many centuries, and he accesses those memories in his teaching and his coaching in the same way all coaches draw on their own available experiences for perspective and effective analogies. He can be reached at www.TurningWithin.org.