In the book, "Emotional Intelligence," author Daniel Goleman writes, "Being able to enter flow is emotional intelligence at its best; flow represents perhaps the ultimate in harnessing the emotions in the service of performance and learning. In flow the emotions are not just contained and channeled, but positive, energized, and aligned with the task at hand. To be caught in the ennui of depression or the agitation of anxiety is to be barred from flow."(1)

You see, flow is indicative of intuition working at its finest in combination with the brain's instinctive power to harness positively-charged and rational thinking. The recent article (Do What You Feel, Maybe - the power and perils of relying on intuition)(2) by David G. Myers, social psychologist at Hope College elaborates on the "perils" of relying on it, and presents "intuitive" statements from our current president; one in particular, where he met with Russian President Putin, "I looked the man in the eye. I was able to get a sense of his soul." In reflection, I understand how some might view this form of it as inflated or overconfident; but if we refer back to the analogy of Goleman, we can surmise that individuals who are experiencing heightened levels of anxiety or depression (or other mental or emotional issues) may not be able to rationally form an intuitive opinion when flow has been blocked.

Flight-or-fight response (3), the theory proposed by American physiologist Walter Cannon in 1915, probably gives a better psychological perspective into how intuition and "flow" work so well together. Basing his research on animals, Cannon understood that primal instincts in animals were initiated by the flight-or-fight response; which demonstrated that thought processes were at work in the body that manifested physical responses to the situation at hand. For example, perception plays a key part in how both animals and human beings react to specific events based on signals sensed by the brain. Some of the physiological findings showed that automatic/immediate responses like heart and lung acceleration, blood vessel constriction, pupil dilation, among other physical changes were all indicative of intuitive perception.

While practiced individuals have a more fine-tuned, and discernible "flow" of intuition, others may not be so adept at preconception as they have permitted -- or are under the influence of certain stress factors, narcissistic tendencies, or other psychological trauma that curtails these abilities. Hyper-inflation of the human's perception often leads to misconstrued signals, unwarranted attacks; or worse - complete ignorance of the facts. Allow me to revisit Goleman's statement, "In flow the emotions are not just contained and channeled, but positive, energized, and aligned with the task at hand." If we simply repeat this sentence, we understand that it is comprised of more than what some might deem "psycho-babble;" intuitive flow is the sum of all parts working in harmony - mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically.

Appropriately so, we must learn to quickly decipher what the mind's eye perceives. To do so, one must have reached a level of intimacy with the collective unconscious. According to Carl Jung, Swiss psychiatrist, the "collective unconscious" is known to be a "reservoir of the experiences of our species." Interestingly enough, the intuitive flow that helps individuals to become successful, wise and able to manifest transformation stems from the "collective unconscious"(4) that Jung studied and theorized during the early 1900's.

Is it really all that far from belief? The power of human emotion, coupled with the positive flow of intuition is what defines greatness. Fine leaders like the Dalai Lama, Jesus Christ, Mother Teresa, Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, and Isaac Newton all demonstrated specific commonalities - steadfastness, determination and calmness. When you are completely centered, your intuitive flow is more reliable, more fortuitous...and using your collective unconscious as your guide, your flight-or-fight responsiveness becomes more clear, and success becomes you.

Until we speak again, I am

Joan Marie, your Intuition Expert

References:

1. Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman, Chap. 6 - The Master Aptitude, pg 90
2. Incharacter.org, Do What You Feel, Maybe - the power and perils of relying on intuition, David G. Myers
3. Fight-or-Flight response, en.wikipedia.org
4. Collective Unconscious, en.wikipedia.org

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The Flow of Intuition and the Power of Human Emotion

By Joan Marie Whelan