Decisions: Values OR Intuition?

[Fullcrum]

Hmmm. I am confronted with a dilemma. I hope some of you can help me and in return have a good answer for all of us faced with this in the future.

I am trying to follow my intuition more. This means less mental noise and consulting the inner voice.

I also just re-read Pavlina's 2-part Living Your Values series. He says that values are what allow you to make the tough decisions in life. When faced with an important decision, he consults his values list.

Now these ideas seem somewhat in contradiction to each other. Intuition does not require the spelling out of values - you will "know" what to do.

What to do? How do we rectify the difference I see here?

[Adelina]

Both. Values are like the scaffold, or the gold circle. Intuition is the light that leads your decisions, within those parameters.

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by Fullcrum

Hmmm. I am confronted with a dilemma. I hope some of you can help me and in return have a good answer for all of us faced with this in the future.

I am trying to follow my intuition more. This means less mental noise and consulting the inner voice.

I also just re-read Pavlina's 2-part Living Your Values series. He says that values are what allow you to make the tough decisions in life. When faced with an important decision, he consults his values list.

Now these ideas seem somewhat in contradiction to each other. Intuition does not require the spelling out of values - you will "know" what to do.

What to do? How do we rectify the difference I see here?

It's never good to rely solely on intuition. Intuition can be wrong. Some people's intuition tells them to attack people. Doesn't mean it's right.

[Remiel]

As good to calls it find the genius of the AND. Use both values AND intuition. I would say that values help intuition go the way you want it to go. For if you valued integrity then lying would not be a valid intuition.

Honestly though I don't see where values would restrict intuition. Values are things like discipline, hard work, wisdom, etc. I can use both values and intuition at the same time in the same situation.

[Fullcrum]

I'm talking about the "higher guidance" kind of intuition that Erin talks about a lot. Are we talking about the same thing.

But good ideas nonetheless from all. Thanks! Here's how I see it now:

When finding and creating one's current values, we have to imagine the best life. We imagine doing everything that we want to do - travel, food, adventure, work, helping people out, etc. Then we prioritize one or two of these long term things we'd LOVE to do in our lives for right now. Then for the moment, our top few values are in direct support of the top goal. When the goal is complete, values are re-assessed.

How do we come up with the best life? Intuition.

[MattFYF]

I've always believed intuition works as an inner voice that only says something in spurts, based on what I'm currently going through... not necessarily a brand new voice guiding me in a whole new direction out of nowhere.

I like using values to guide my goals, to serve as a map, and then use a mix of my values and intuition to navigate the map. Then again, I've always had better luck using values to guide my actions than my intuition.

[Fullcrum]

Cool - it seems a lot of the replies are people who more overarchingly believe in values. Like if they had to choose one or the other, they'd pick values over intuition.

Maybe it's the wrong sub-forum, but anyone follow intuition ahead of defined values?

[Kaspian]

I use intuition primarily. Although I analyzed and ranked my values in August 2006, I've probably consulted the list less than 5 times since then, including today.

When making a decision, I do not say to myself, "Let's see... Happiness, health, and growth are at the top of my values list, which of the options I am considering best reflects my values?" No, I know in my gut that it's time to leave the training program, distance myself from an energetically toxic friend, go to the I Can Do It conference again, or whatever.

Sometimes I experience a lot of emotion around a particular decision, such as whether or not to take a recent orchestra audition. Strong emotion, especially fear, can cloud my intuition if I let it. And so, I check in—Do I love playing horn, am I afraid of not playing well enough, am I afraid of success, and would I probably enjoy performing with this orchestra if I did win (or make the sub list)? If I've answered those questions from my heart, I know whether or not to take the audition.

I can not think of an instance where following my intuition conflicted with my values. It just doesn't work like that.

[jawillie]

Originally Posted by Kaspian

I can not think of an instance where following my intuition conflicted with my values. It just doesn't work like that.

I agree!

I would say times I DIDN'T follow my intuition, I went against my values. LIke the time I knew in my gut not to sneak off with my boyfriend to the cities at age 17. I did it anyway. We got in HUGE trouble in a lot of ways. Shoulda followed my intuition.

My intuition is actually ALIGNED with my Higher-Self's Core Values.

I have a million examples of how NOT following my intuition was going against my values. But, when I follow my intuition, I am aligned with what I truly believe and it just feels GOOD. Even if it is a hard decision to make.

[Yennifer]

Yesterday when going to work I decided mot to take the bus that was like especialy waiting for me. My intuition said to wait for another one. I listened to it. It appeared that the first one crashed. Fortunatelly nothing serious.

But now I know that my intuition is saying right things.

[The Cloud]

Your intuition is your values applied without thought. It's faster and more pervasive than any logical conscious method. I would suggest use your intuition if it tells you something, and only use the list if you aren't sure which direction is the right one.