Trusting Your Gut vs. Thinking It Through: Everyday Decisions
Insight Through a Psychological Lens for Understanding
Every single day, we’re faced with decisions. Some are as mundane as choosing what to have for breakfast, while others can be as crucial as deciding whether to take a new job offer.
In the midst of these choices, we often hear advice like “trust your gut” or “think it through.” But what’s really the best approach?
Trust Your Gut
The concept of “trusting your gut” essentially means relying on your intuition or immediate feelings when making a decision. It’s that spontaneous feeling you get that tells you something is right or wrong without needing to analyze the situation deeply.
Consider Julia, who walked into a job interview and immediately felt at ease. Despite not having all the details about the role, she decided to go with her gut feeling that this was the right job for her. A year later, it turned out to be the best decision she had ever made, leading to significant growth in her career.
Psychologists explain that our gut feelings are actually our subconscious mind processing past experiences and knowledge at a speed that our conscious mind cannot.
Malcom Gladwell, in his book “Blink,” emphasises the power of:
“thin-slicing”
This is our ability to use limited information to come to a conclusion. This doesn’t mean gut feelings are always right, but they are worth considering, especially in decisions that hinge more on personal values than hard facts.
Thinking It Through
On the flip side, taking the time to think things through involves analysing the pros and cons and considering all the possible outcomes before making a decision. This method is especially relevant for complex decisions where the stakes are high and the consequences are significant.
When Alex and Sam were considering buying their first home, they listed the pros and cons of each property they visited, calculated their budget meticulously, and considered future implications like the neighbourhood’s growth potential.
This thorough analysis led them to choose a home that was not only perfect in the present but also a great investment for the future.
The psychological theory underpinning this approach is known as the “rational decision-making model”, which suggests that making logical and well-thought-out decisions leads to outcomes that are most aligned with our personal and professional objectives.
Combining Both Approaches
So, should you trust your gut or think it through? The answer is not straightforward. The best approach often lies in combining both.
Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel Prize-winning psychologist, introduces the concept of two systems of thinking in his book “Thinking, Fast and Slow”:
- System 1 is fast, instinctual, and emotional — closely related to our gut feelings.
- System 2 is slower, more deliberate, and logical — akin to thinking things through.
Using both systems means you can quickly assess a situation with your gut but validate that intuition with rational analysis.
Real-life example: When Mia was contemplating a career shift, her initial gut feeling was excitement at the prospect of change. However, she didn’t jump in immediately.
She sat down, listed the potential benefits and drawbacks, and discussed with mentors and peers.
After thoughtful consideration, her initial excitement was confirmed through logical reasoning, and she successfully transitioned to a role that brought her both joy and professional fulfillment.
Final Thoughts
Decisions, big or small, shape our lives in countless ways. While trusting your gut allows you to tap into your subconscious and make quicker decisions, thinking it through enables you to weigh all your options logically.
Realising that one approach might work better in certain situations than others is key. More importantly, learning to blend instinct with analysis can lead you to make the best decisions for your unique circumstances.
Whether it’s choosing what to eat for breakfast or deciding on a career move, your decision-making process is a personal journey that encompasses both your emotional instincts and logical reasoning.
By acknowledging the strength and limitation of each approach, you can navigate through life’s decisions with more confidence and clarity.
Thanks for reading
