Gut instincts & glittery hunches: A light-hearted guide to intuitive decision-making

Ever had that feeling, somewhere between a stomach ache and a psychic whisper, that you just know something’s off? Or right? Or suspiciously like that thing your ex once did before they ghosted you for a yoga instructor in Clifton? Yep. That’s your intuition talking. And according to Mona-Lize Moolman, Quantum Therapist at Metanoia-SA, it’s one of your best decision-making tools… if you know how to use it properly.

Let’s unpack this deliciously intuitive decision making in a way that feels more like a chat over wine and less like a lecture on the metaphysics of the soul.

What is intuition anyway?

According to Mona-Lize, “The best way to try and describe intuition is to refer to it as your gut, or instinct.” You know that little internal flare-up that tells you don’t go down that alley or definitely swipe left? That’s your intuition. And your body often knows before your brain does.

“You’ll feel it when you’ve made the right decision – your body will tell you,” she explains. “It can be the hairs rising on the back of your neck, goosebumps, or that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach… but it can also be a gentle knowing.”

Translation: your body is basically a magical, slightly dramatic alarm system. Thanks, evolution!

How to actually use your intuition

Good news! Intuition isn’t reserved for mystical oracles or your one cousin who insists mercury is always in retrograde. You too can access your inner knowing – if you get your ego to pipe down for a second.

“Try and remove your ego from the situation,” says Mona-Lize. “The ego wants to be right, and that’s often where we end up going against our gut… Logic and intuition don’t always see eye to eye in this life.”

The trick to intuitive decision making? Know yourself. Spend time with your own thoughts (yes, even the ones that pop up in the shower or during a boring Zoom meeting). Get curious about how your body reacts to situations. Mona-Lize suggests paying attention to how you feel when you’re at peace, what she calls homeostasis, and comparing that to when something feels “out of whack”. Then, when faced with a big decision, tune into how your body responds to the different options.

Also, and this is a big one: trust yourself. “Build that kind of relationship with yourself and prove that you are trustworthy,” she says. You wouldn’t listen to advice from someone who always forgets your birthday and never texts back, so why would you listen to an inner voice you don’t trust?

Intuition or impulse: who’s really driving this car?

Let’s be honest: sometimes what we think is intuition is actually just us being hangry, hormonal, or out for petty revenge. So how do you tell the difference between a wise inner knowing and a full-blown drama queen moment?

“It comes down to self-awareness,” Mona-Lize explains. “These [impulsive] decisions are normally made from a place of hurt or anger… Decisions made from the intuition are made from a different space, generally one of calm.”

So if you’re about to quit your job, text your ex, or cut your own bangs… pause. Take a beat. Maybe even sleep on it. “Take some time and a step back from the situation,” she says. “Once the emotional side of things has settled down a bit, you will have more clarity.”

Flexing you intuitive decision making

The good news? Intuition is trainable. The even better news? It can actually be fun.

“Have fun with it, everything doesn’t always have to be so serious,” Mona-Lize laughs. “Play guessing games with your partner, or by yourself. Tune into the world around you, as well as to the world within yourself.”

Oh, and heal your stuff. “We all have baggage,” she says. “Healing is the only way to really get to know yourself and to get to the bottom of who you really are. Get help if you must, but heal.”

Other top tips from our quantum guru:

• Prove to yourself you can do hard things, this builds self-belief.
• Meditate even if it’s just for five minutes while your kettle boils.
• Combine intuition-building with something else like exercise, dancing, journaling, or walking your dog while pondering life’s great mysteries.

You already know what to do

At the end of the day, you probably already know the answer. “Understand that you must know what you are doing in this life, because you are still alive,” Mona-Lize reminds us. A tad dramatic? Maybe. Deeply true? Also yes.

So, next time you’re torn between Option A and Option B (or Option “burn everything and move to the countryside”), take a breath. Tune in to your intuitive decision-making centre. And trust that your gut (as quirky, clever, and occasionally inconvenient as it is) is actually trying to help.

And remember: you can always blame the bad decisions on your ego. That cheeky little so-and-so never listens to anyone anyway.