10 signs you’ve mastered the art of intuitive decision-making

Lucas Graham by Lucas Graham | May 13, 2024, 11:19 am

Mastering intuitive decision-making is a game changer.

It’s all about trusting your gut, and knowing deep down that you’re making the right choice.

How do you know if what you have been practicing is intuitive decision-making, or just random guesswork?

Well, there are tell-tale signs that can help you figure out if you’ve gauged this special skill.

So, let’s delve into this exciting world of intuition.

Here are 10 signs that you’ve really nailed this subtle art of intuitive decision-making. Buckle up, it’s going to be an enlightening ride! 

1) You trust your gut feelings over logic

In the realm of decisions, our gut often speaks first, and it’s usually right.

Intuitive decision-making is all about trusting your instincts.

It’s about that gut feeling you get when something just feels right, or conversely, when something feels off.

Your gut isn’t some mystical force, it’s a culmination of your experiences and knowledge.

Intuition doesn’t always follow logic.

It’s a whisper from your subconscious mind, informed by experiences and insights.

When you make a decision based on your gut feeling, you’re relying on your subconscious mind to guide you.

And when you trust this gut feeling, even when it goes against logic or popular opinion, that’s a sure sign you’ve mastered intuitive decision-making.

You might often find yourself in situations where you instantly know what to do, even when the path is not clearly charted out.

There’s a certain ‘feeling’ you get that nudges you towards a particular decision.

If you often find yourself saying things like “I just knew it was the right thing to do”, or “Something didn’t feel right so I backed off”, and if you have a history of making successful decisions based on these gut feelings, then you’re probably adept at this art.

It’s not about disregarding logical analysis, but rather about trusting your internal compass to guide you towards the best choice.

But remember, it’s not about making random decisions on a whim.

It’s about listening to that inner voice and trusting it when it speaks, even if you can’t always explain why.

Trusting your gut is a clear sign of mastering intuitive decision-making.

2) You weigh up your options quickly

A significant part of intuitive decision-making is the ability to evaluate your options swiftly.

Did you know that the average adult makes about 35,000 decisions in a single day?

From what to wear to how to respond in a meeting, these decisions can range from the trivial to the significant.

With so many decisions to make, it’s no surprise that we often rely on our intuition.

If you find yourself making decisions quickly and efficiently without agonizing over every possible outcome, then this is a sign of intuitive decision-making.

You don’t dwell on each option for long periods, but instead, you’re able to swiftly assess the situation and make a decision that feels right.

This isn’t about rash, hasty or impulsive decisions.

It’s about trusting your instinctive understanding of the situation to guide your choice.

The ability to swiftly assess your options and make quick decisions based on intuition is a sign you’ve mastered the art of intuitive decision-making.

3) You’re comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty

The essence of decision-making often lies in the unknown.

In a world where we’re trained to seek clarity, embrace certainty, and always have a plan, being comfortable with ambiguity may seem counterintuitive.

But that’s exactly what intuitive decision-making requires.

If you find yourself at ease when things are up in the air, and you don’t necessarily need to have all the answers or every single piece of information before you make a decision, then you’re likely honing your intuitive skills.

Instead of being paralyzed by uncertainty, you’re able to tap into your intuition to navigate through it.

You’re able to make decisions based on the information you have at hand, even if it’s incomplete.

This doesn’t mean you recklessly plunge into the unknown.

Rather, it’s about having the confidence in your intuitive abilities to guide you when the situation is unclear.

You trust that you’ll figure it out along the way, even if you don’t have all the details at the outset.

So if you find yourself making decisions comfortably in situations where others might feel paralyzed due to lack of information, this level of comfort with ambiguity is a strong sign of your intuitive decision-making.

4) You’re open to making mistakes

Nobody likes to be wrong. We all want our decisions to lead us down the perfect path.

However, true mastery of intuitive decision-making doesn’t come from never making a mistake.

It comes from the willingness to make a choice, even if it turns out to be wrong.

If you’re someone who understands that mistakes are part of the journey, and you’re not afraid to make a decision because it could end up being a misstep, then you’re practicing intuitive decision-making.

You realize that it’s not about always getting it right, and even if a decision doesn’t lead to the desired outcome, it’s not the end of the world.

It’s more about learning and growing from the decisions made, whether good or bad. 

After all, every mistake is a lesson, a data point that sharpens your intuition to learn from and use in future decisions.

This acceptance of imperfection, this willingness to stumble and get back up again, is what makes you human and authentic in your decision-making process.

And it’s a sure sign that you’ve mastered the art of intuitive decision-making.

5) You’re in tune with your emotions

Emotions and decisions – most people believe these two should exist in separate spheres.

We’re often told to keep our feelings out of our decisions, to rely solely on logic and facts.

But when it comes to intuitive decision-making, emotions play a pivotal role.

They are often the driving force behind that gut feeling we get when faced with a decision.

If you’re someone who doesn’t shy away from how you feel when making a decision, then you’re tapping into your intuition.

You understand that emotions aren’t a weakness, but rather another tool in your decision-making toolbox.

Being in touch with your emotions means understanding how you feel and why you feel that way.

It can guide you towards decisions that align with your personal values and needs.

It’s not about letting emotions dictate your decisions, but acknowledging them as part of the process.

You might feel a sense of peace with one decision, or an inexplicable discomfort with another.

These feelings are important indicators that your intuition is speaking to you.

If you often find yourself making decisions that just feel right, and those decisions tend to lead to positive outcomes, it’s likely because you’re in touch with your emotions.

This synthesis of emotion and reason, often deemed paradoxical, is in fact a sign of intuitive decision-making at its best.

6) You value your inner voice over external noise

In a world filled with a cacophony of opinions, advice, and expectations, it takes courage to listen to your own voice.

It’s all too easy to get swayed by the external noise and lose sight of what you truly believe in.

But intuitive decision-makers have this remarkable ability to tune out the external noise and tune into their own inner voice.

It’s about finding that quiet space amidst the chaos and using it as a guiding force.

They place great importance on their personal beliefs, values, and feelings, using these as their compass in decision-making.

If you’re someone who values your inner voice over the clamor of the world, that’s a beautiful sign of mastering intuitive decision-making. 

This means you can silence external influences and listen to your inner voice. You don’t easily get swayed by what others think or say. 

You may seek advice and consider facts, but at the end of the day, you follow your intuition, and make decisions that are deeply aligned with who you are, even if it goes against popular opinion.

If this sounds like your decision-making process, then you’re on the right path towards mastering intuition.

7) You recognize patterns in the past

Life rarely follows a linear path. It’s filled with twists, turns, and repeated patterns.

If you’ve developed a knack for recognizing these past patterns, this could be a sign that you’re an intuitive decision-maker.

You notice when history seems to be repeating itself, or when a certain chain of events is likely to lead to a familiar outcome.

This isn’t about having psychic abilities or predicting the future.

It’s about drawing on your intuitive understanding of past experiences to inform your current decisions.

You understand that while every situation is unique, there are often underlying patterns that can provide valuable insights.

This ability to intuitively recognize and make use of these past patterns in decision-making is a critical skill and a clear sign that you’ve honed the art of intuitive decision-making.

It’s about taking those past experiences and transforming them into wisdom for future choices.

8) You’re quick to pick up on vibes

Have you ever walked into a room and, almost instantly, picked up the mood?

Or met someone for the first time and just had a “feeling” about them? That’s your intuition at work.

Here’s a personal example. I remember meeting someone at a networking event.

On paper, this person was fantastic – successful, knowledgeable, well-connected.

But something didn’t sit right with me. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but my gut was telling me to proceed with caution.

I decided to trust this feeling, and as time passed, I discovered that this person wasn’t as trustworthy as they initially seemed.

My intuition had picked up on subtle cues that my conscious mind hadn’t noticed.

So if you’re someone who picks up vibes quickly and trusts these feelings, congratulations!

This is a clear sign that you’re an intuitive decision-maker.

9) You’re not afraid to go against the crowd

Following the crowd might seem like the easier path.

After all, there’s safety in numbers, right?

But intuitive decision-makers are often comfortable standing alone.

I recall a time in my life when I had to make a tough call.

I was working in a high-paying job that everyone around me envied.

But deep inside, I was unhappy. It didn’t resonate with me on a deeper level.

Despite everyone advising against it, I quit.

I decided to pursue my passion for writing, with no guarantee of success or financial stability.

Why? Because my intuition told me this was right for me.

And guess what? It was one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made.

So if you’ve been brave enough to go against the grain, based on your intuitive feelings, take it as a sign of mastering intuitive decision-making.

Trusting your inner voice, even when it goes against popular opinion, is a sure sign of an intuitive decision-maker.

10) You feel at peace with your decisions

At the end of the day, intuitive decision-making is about inner harmony.

It’s about making decisions that resonate with your inner self and bring a sense of peace and satisfaction.

You know you’ve done what’s right for you, even if it doesn’t make sense to others.

This peace doesn’t mean you won’t face challenges or doubts.

But it does mean that you have an unwavering belief in your path.

It shows you’re aligned with your inner self, trusting it to guide you in your decision-making journey, even amidst uncertainties and challenges. 

You may not always be right, and that’s okay.

But if your decisions leave you feeling content and at peace, regardless of their outcome, it’s the biggest sign you’ve mastered intuitive decision-making.

Demystifying intuitive decision-making

Intuitive decision-making may seem like a mystical or elusive concept, but it’s not as abstract as it might initially appear.

At its core, intuition is about tapping into a deeper level of understanding and consciousness.

It’s about aligning with an internal compass that guides us not just through the major crossroads in life, but also through the countless everyday decisions we make.

This doesn’t mean disregarding logic or facts.

On the contrary, intuitive decision-making often involves a seamless blend of both instinctual understanding and rational thought.

It’s about knowing when to trust your gut feelings and when to lean on logical analysis.

One common misconception is that intuitive decisions are impulsive or made on a whim.

In reality, they’re often the result of subconscious processing, where your brain pieces together information and experiences without you even realizing it.

Think of it like a computer running a background program while you’re working on other tasks.

You might not see it happening, but it’s constantly processing and analyzing data to help you make decisions.

In a world that often values data over instinct and certainty over ambiguity, choosing to hone your intuitive decision-making skills can feel like swimming against the current.

But remember that this current is often filled with noise — external opinions, societal expectations, overwhelming information — that can cloud your judgment.

By sharpening your intuitive skills, you’re not only becoming a more efficient decision-maker but also staying true to yourself.

You’re navigating through life guided by an internal compass that understands your values, desires, fears, and dreams better than any external influence ever could.

Trust your intuition: It’s your personal compass

It’s fascinating, isn’t it? The way our intuition works.

That silent whisper from within guiding us through life’s endless decisions.

It’s like a personal compass, unique to each one of us.

Intuitive decision-making isn’t about always being right or avoiding mistakes.

It’s about trusting yourself and your inner voice.

It’s about making decisions that resonate with you at a deep, personal level.

Albert Einstein once said, “The only real valuable thing is intuition.”

And he was onto something.

Recognizing the signs of intuitive decision-making and nurturing this skill can lead to more authentic and fulfilling life choices.

So the next time you’re faced with a decision, big or small, take a moment.

Tune into your gut feeling, listen to your emotions, draw upon your experiences, and trust in your ability to make intuitive decisions.

Because at the end of the day, mastering intuitive decision-making is about embracing who you are and trusting in yourself.

It’s about navigating life with your personal compass – your intuition.