living just by our intuition would be difficult, and even dangerous -- our intuition can be wrong. for example, if you approach a lion's cage at the zoo, you may make an intuitive judgment about the lion on the other side of the glass. perhaps you noticed something about the lion's demeanor that puts you at ease. the intuition that he's a friendly lion, coupled with the urge to pet him because he's fluffy, may lead you to climb into the cage -- despite everything you've ever cognitively learned about the ferocity and danger of lions. as the lion devoured you, you would learn that your intuition led you astray.
the converse is also true, however. living a life based only on rational, deliberate examination is no better than living by intuition alone. locking eyes with a total stranger across a crowded room and feeling a jolt of emotion is highly irrational. you've never spoken to this person and know absolutely nothing about him beyond his superficial appearance. depending only on your rational mind, you may allow the moment to pass and miss the opportunity to meet the person you could have spent the rest of your life with.
so when should you rely on your intuition? when it comes to approaching a lion's cage, swearing at work or encountering the love of your life, how do you know when intuition can serve you best? only your intuition can tell you that.
-HowStuffWorks
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