Intuition … it’s a word that has associations from the quasi-spiritual to the realms of science. A quick look at Google came up with this definition: “Intuition is the ability to understand something instinctively, without the need for conscious reasoning.”

Malcolm Gladwell in his bestseller Blink describes this process very well. He refers to intuition as the “adaptive unconscious”. Whilst intuition doesn’t need conscious reasoning, it does possess cognitive elements. Intuition uses past knowledge and experiences to assess a situation, as well as a very quick assessment of the present, based on clues and details that may not be obvious to the rational mind, but are definitely there.

My personal definition is that intuition is a sense of knowing which is non-verbal and may be experienced as a sensation in the body. This can be referred to as a “gut feeling” and interestingly enough all cultures and languages make reference to similar types of terms.

True story: An investor I know who had successfully traded a number of properties as well as acquiring a buy and hold portfolio went to view a new property on the market. This property seemed to be a good option as it was potentially subdividable and in a promising location. However, as she walked around the property she experienced a sensation that something wasn’t right. Her rational mind discredited this feeling and focused on the possibilities and the fact that she had never lost money on a property transaction.

This person then purchased the property and embarked on a series of disasters before selling the property (at a loss) several years later.

I know this woman well as the woman was me. This experience was an extremely valuable one for me as it taught me to trust my intuition when I viewed a property and I’m sure this saved me from further future disasters.

In my column last month, I spoke about the normal fear barrier that new investors go through. So, the question is, how does one differentiate between the feelings of fear and intuition? Both of these can be experienced as feelings in our body.

The intuition experience:

• neutral, unemotional “knowing” sensation;
• felt instantly – a comfortable, simple feeling;
• non-repetitive in nature;
• experienced in the present moment;
• not associated with analysing.

The fear experience:

• negative experience – highly emotionally charged;
• can trigger the “fight or flight” adrenalin rush;
• associated with worried thoughts and anxiety about the future;
• message seems repetitive, “loud” and is associated with over analysing;
• may be experienced with confusion/
  feeling stuck.