Trust your instincts

Definition

Rely on your natural, intuitive responses and gut feelings when making decisions rather than overthinking or ignoring your initial reactions.

Etymology

This advice has ancient roots but became a common phrase in the 20th century as psychology began to recognize the value of unconscious processing. The word 'instinct' comes from Latin 'instinguere,' meaning to incite or impel.

Kelly Says

Research in behavioral psychology shows that our unconscious mind can process information much faster than our conscious thought, often leading to accurate 'snap judgments' within milliseconds. Malcolm Gladwell's book 'Blink' popularized the science behind why these rapid, instinctive decisions are often surprisingly accurate.

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