And Why That Matters More Than Ever
Not long ago, I was in a conversation with a client.
We were talking about decision-making, leadership, and navigating complexity. At some point, the word intuition came up, as it often does.
The client said:
“I feel like I should trust my intuition more… but I don’t really know what that means.”
I paused.
Because I realized something.
We use the word intuition all the time. But when you ask what it actually is, things get vague fast.
So I tried to explain.
I spoke about inner knowing. About clarity. About sensing instead of thinking.
And while parts landed, something was missing.
Because there is a difference — a big one — between intuition and a feeling.
And confusing the two is something I see happening everywhere.
Where It Gets Interesting: The Subconscious
To understand the difference, we need to go one layer deeper.
Into the subconscious.
The subconscious is where:
- our emotions live
- our beliefs are stored
- our past experiences are held
- our patterns are formed
It’s constantly active, quietly shaping how we perceive the world.
So when something happens in the present, your subconscious responds immediately.
Not based on what is — but based on what it recognizes.
What a Feeling Actually Is
A feeling is not random.
It is the result of your subconscious interpreting the present moment through:
- past experiences
- stored beliefs
- learned patterns
So when the client says:
“I feel like this isn’t right.”
What might actually be happening is:
- “This reminds me of something that didn’t go well before.”
- “I don’t feel safe here.”
- “I believe I might fail.”
The body responds. The emotion is real.
But the source is often the past.
Feelings are valid. But they are not always truth.
They are signals — not direction.
So What Is Intuition Then?
Intuition also comes from the subconscious, but from a different layer.
Not from fear.
Not from conditioning.
Not from old patterns.
But from a place of clarity beneath all of that.
Intuition doesn’t come with a story. It doesn’t justify itself. It doesn’t spiral.
It simply presents itself as:
- “This is right.”
- “This isn’t it.”
- “Not now.”
Short.
Clear.
Neutral.
No urgency.
No fear.
The Difference You Can Feel
There is a subtle but important distinction in the body.
A feeling often comes with:
- tension
- urgency
- contraction
- doubt
Intuition, even when it points to something uncomfortable, comes with:
- clarity
- calm
- a sense of steadiness
You might not like what it tells you.
But it doesn’t create chaos inside you.
Why This Matters in Leadership — Now More Than Ever
We are living in a time where the world is changing fast.
Faster than strategies.
Faster than structures.
Faster than certainty.
Which means that as a leader:
- you won’t always have all the data
- you won’t always have time to think things through
- you won’t always know what’s “right” in a rational way
And that’s where intuition becomes essential.
Not as something vague or abstract, but as a form of intelligence.
A way of sensing direction when logic alone is no longer enough.
But Here’s the Risk
If you confuse intuition with feeling…
You might call fear “intuition.”
You might call discomfort “a sign to stop.”
You might step back when you’re actually meant to step forward.
And I see this often.
Leaders holding back.
Not speaking up.
Not moving.
Not because it’s not right — but because it feels uncomfortable.
Learning to Distinguish
This is where the real work is.
Not in “following your intuition.”
But in learning to recognize what is coming from past conditioning… and what is coming from deeper knowing.
That requires awareness.
Of your thoughts.
Of your beliefs.
Of your patterns.
Because the more you understand your subconscious, the less it unconsciously runs you.
A Simple Reflection
The next time you feel something strongly, pause.
Ask yourself:
- What is this connected to?
- Is this familiar?
- Is this coming from fear or from clarity?
And then ask:
“If I take away the story… what remains?”
That is often where intuition lives.
Final Thought
Your subconscious holds many things.
Your fears.
Your patterns.
Your history.
But also… your intuition.
The art is not to silence the subconscious.
The art is to learn to differentiate within it.
Because in a world that is becoming faster, more complex, and less predictable…
that quiet, clear knowing may be one of the most important skills a leader can develop.
The question is not whether it’s there.
The question is:
Can you tell the difference?