The Little Voice Within

I remember when I left my job, I just had this feeling that there is something beyond this job that is waiting for me. At that time, I had no clue about what that thing is. 

For almost a year before leaving my job, I let my logical/analytical mind think for this decision of mine and couldn't take that leap of faith. My logical mind was overthinking and giving me uncountable reasons to continue my job - a good pay, a supporting boss, a comfortable life in my hometown, and many more. But there was a little voice within that was telling me to quit. My gut feeling was telling me that this is not where I want to be. Leaving my job just felt right to me whereas everyone around me had their rational minds working for this decision of mine. My family was against this decision of mine, my friends were not sure of what I am gonna do and to be frank neither do I. But my heart was feeling something else that no one around me with their rational thinking could. And as I write this post, I could so much resonate with the dialogue of one of my favourite movies (Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani), "Kahin pe pahuchne ke liye kahi se nikalna bahut jaruri hota hai" (To reach somewhere you must leave from somewhere). So I went against all the odds totally based on my intuitions for the first time in my life.

I am happy that I heard my heart more than my mind at that time. And after that, I started believing in my gut feelings more than what facts and figures told me to believe in. I still turn down many opportunities based on my intuitions and feel much happier and content even after not pursuing those opportunities. I feel that my intuitions always guide me to a place where I really wish to reach. And I don't see that place very clearly but deep down my heart knows it all. However, I always wonder where this little voice comes from? Why do I do certain things even when all the odds are against me?

One part of my brain wants this question to be unanswered and let me believe in mystical powers and the conspiracy of the universe. But the other part is always inquisitive to know more about my behaviour. Sometimes you get your questions answered when you just enjoy the flow of life. And so did I. I got a scientific answer to this question of mine while reading a book, Start with Why by Simon Sinek. He sums up this intuitive feeling in four words - It just feels right. And when it does, we have a hard time explaining that feeling. 

This is how he scientifically explains it. Our brain has three major levels. The outer level neocortex is responsible for rational and analytical thought and language. The middle two sections comprise the limbic brain and are responsible for all of our feelings, such as love, trust and loyalty. Though it has no capacity for language like neocortex, it is responsible for all human behaviour and decision making. Surprised that your decision making is governed by a part of the brain that can't communicate? I believe that's why we say love has no language ;) 

As our limbic brain has no language capabilities, it makes putting our feelings into words so hard. The author has given the example of how tough it is to answer why we love someone or why we marry someone. We often try to give words to that feeling by saying that she/he is smart, she/he is funny and so on. But we often can't justify to others why we have chosen that one person from thousands of smart and funny people. It is how that person makes us feel and those feelings are tough to put into words so when asked we often say it just feels right. The same applies to other decisions that we take based on our intuitions. We communicate from inside out. Our limbic part of the brain feels that it's right and in turn, neocortex part starts to rationalize these feelings with the power of language. So our limbic brain is our decision-making centre and neocortex have the ability to justify those decisions by making it verbal. And this where the gut feelings come from. 

The book mentions that the heart represents the limbic, feeling part of the brain, and the mind is rational language center. Our limbic brain is powerful enough to drive behaviour that sometimes contradicts our rational and analytical understanding of a situation. We often choose our gut feelings over what we see as facts and figures. The author says the reason we feel our gut decisions feel right is because the part of the brain that controls them also controls our feelings. Our limbic brains are smart and often know the right thing to do. But with no verbal capability of its own, it often causes us to doubt ourselves or trust the empirical evidence when our gut tells us not to. 

All of us make hundreds of decisions every single day and we don't use facts and figures for every decision we make. Most of our decisions are emotionally driven as we feel (heart) rather than think (mind). We do what feels right to us. And we often feel uncomfortable when somebody asks us to make a decision that doesn't go well with our gut feelings.  

When you force people to make decisions with only the rational part of the brain, they almost invariably end up 'overthinking'. These rational decisions tend to take longer to make and can often be of lower quality. In contrast, decisions made with the limbic brain, gut decisions, tend to be faster, higher-quality decisions.

Naked Brain by Richard Restak

I let my rational part decide for me for a good number of years but the magic started happening when I followed my gut feelings.

We all have hopes, desires and dreams. Today write all of them for yourself. I wish that the new year gives all of us a new power to take our decisions from inside out rather than falling for facts and figures that don't relate to our feelings. Believe in your gut and take the first step towards what you feel is right for you. No matter what the odds are. You just need to be right once in your whole life. 

Hear that little voice within :)

I would always love to hear back from you in whatever way you would like to share.

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