There was a time when I believed every important decision I made should be charted… like a flight plan for a cross-country journey. Anchoring my decisions in logic, I could map out every potential outcome with precision. I felt powerful…in control and on a mission. However, there was one time a twist came and things didn’t go according to plan…I didn’t have control…I was wrong and over invested. 

It opened me up to using my intuition for more procedural tasks…things like biofeedback in training or feeling out the next step more… allowing myself to take time and maintain my center of balance before committing to the next node. It was almost a relief as I leaned so much into my intuition for other things in life…its silly to me now that I didn’t trust “future me” enough to make a decision that felt more “right” in the moment.

Maybe I was more impulsive then? Or maybe now I just have more experience to look towards when making decisions. Either way, balancing logic and intuition doesn’t mean choosing one over the other…it’s allowing a dynamic interplay in your formulation to illuminate paths leading to innovation, improved decision quality, and a refined ability to navigate uncertainty.

Why Linear Thinking Fails

Let’s paint a picture. Imagine driving a car with only the rearview mirror. Odd, right? That’s what linear thinking is—focused solely on what’s behind (or what logic dictates), predicting what’s emerging ahead. However, an unexpected variable or deviation from the norm can drive you into a wall or off a cliff. There are important thoughts about pace and risk management here, but I’m digressing…

Linear thinking restricts growth. When I relied only on logic, embracing the allure of the tidy “if-this-then-that” sequences, I inevitably missed unmarked opportunities. Life isn’t a straight line; it’s a tapestry woven with threads of unpredictability. Research backs this: entrepreneurs who balance logic with intuition are better at innovation. Why? Because they allow their thinking to be fluid and adaptable, inviting both structured plans and spontaneous insights.

Consider your brain is like Google Maps, always pointing to the fastest route. However, the path with scenic detours often holds rich experiences. The same is true for decision-making; let the interplay of logic and intuition guide you through life’s unpredictable topographies. In my experience it is challenging to trust myself, but you get better with experience.

I often find my intuition challenged when I reflect on my trading journal. I’d chart precise levels, but then find myself executing early (or missing things all together) during the trading day because my intuition suggests something different in a moment. I highlight this because looking back in hindsight, it is not uncommon to see bounces off levels I chart the day or week before…Although this same intuition has paid, the real edge isn’t in predicting; it’s trusting a process I’m developing at those levels. It’s learning how to trust and act when both my system and gut nod in agreement. These moments are creating fewer—but far more impactful trades.

How Great Thinkers Break the Pattern

Steve Jobs had a knack for intuitive insights, imagining products that filled needs we didn’t realize we had. His intuition gave rise to groundbreaking designs like the iPod and iPhone. Yet, it was logic that ensured these ideas could be molded into operational, feasible realities. 

Recall a personal crossroad where intuition was your guide. A defining moment in my life came at a pivotal career juncture. Feeling something had to change, I charted a direction, trusting my logic and skill would shape the road as I walked. As I sit here reflecting on this, I am proud of myself for taking the leap.

Great thinkers understand the power of intuition, leveraging it as a compass through uncertainty, laying a path with reason. Anyone can deploy this strategy in any field….Music, architecture, business—success universally sprouts from this synergy.

Flip Your Thinking – A Practical Framework

Step 1: Current Decisions Inventory  

Write down two decisions you’re contemplating. Identify one guided by logic, the other by intuition.

Step 2: Logic Meets Intuition  

For your logically dominated decision, ponder where intuition could offer alternative insights. Assign trust to your instinctual nudges and envision new potential directions outside your usual scope.

Step 3: Intuition Meets Logic  

Switch focus to the decision navigated by intuition. Incorporate logical analysis to support or structure your insight, forming a foundation for your instinctual vision.

Step 4: Create Your Checklist for Balance  

Develop a checklist to harmonize your approach for future decisions, ensuring both logic and intuition find a place in your process. This list can become a guide—a seamless flow merging both energies for more effective outcomes.

Think about where you are still rooted in one-sided thinking. Perhaps you depend too heavily on logic or let intuition steer impulsiveness. Examine the real value of balance. What’s one conventional perception about decision-making you’ve adhered to that might warrant reconsideration? Balance offers resolution without compromising integrity.