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Will you use intuition OR logic in this situation if you can only choose one?

Pretend that you are at the edge of a narrow cliff looking down a canyon of 5,000 ft. A large rock with the size of a golf cart is rushing down fast towards you. As you realize that you have NOwhere to go, some bizarre voice in the back of your head tells you to �jump!� You now only have less then 3 seconds to act. What would you do? Would you really trust your gut feelings and jump of the cliff or will you use your logic and choose NOT to jump as you know statistically, no one survives after jumping off from a 5,000 ft cliff?

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This is an awesome question, and reminds me of a story I read yet I cannot seem to remember the source.

A man is walking in the jungle and suddenly realizes that he is being pursued by a tiger. He instinctually begins to run. He runs very hard, while the tiger remains close behind him. He suddenly finds himself on the edge of a cliff, with a raging river below him. He looks back at the tiger, then looks down at the raging river. Realizing that he has no choice, the man jumps. On the way down, he sees a root protruding out from the ledge. He grabs onto it, and it stops his fall. Then suddenly he sees a most sumptuous ripe, red, strawberry growing beside the root. As he hangs there, the tiger peers over the edge at him, and the river flows over jagged rocks below. The man reaches over with one hand, plucks the ripe strawberry, and bites into it.

To answer your question, I would follow my intuition and jump. I do not see death as a horrific end to life, but a new and different beginning. When you eminently face it, why not revel in it's rare beauty?

Shay

Excellent article, Cara.

I almost always follow my intuition as opposed to logic. It sounds kinda funny actually (not using logic), but when it comes to matters trusting my decision-making-process I usually stop and go into a semi-meditative state and ask my higher self if what I'm about to do feels right. If the answer is yes without any doubt or stomach twitching, I go ahead. If the answer is no and I experience a lot of anxiety about something, I usually know it's something I shouldn't pursue. I just had a conversation with my son today about making a decision and I instantly said, "trust your intuition and you won't go wrong with your decision."

Shay,

What you said here is such a beautiful way to look at life. I too do not believe that the physical death is the end, but it is the beginning to a new journey. When we no longer are afraid of death, then we can truly live.

Cara

Thank you Deb.

I agree. Trusting one's intuition can be helpful. I used to be much more "scientific minded" in my younger days as I loved all science subjects such as math, chemistry and physics. However, life has taught me that science cannot explain everything. So for this case, I think I will listen to my intuition as well.

I like your way to "internally monitor" your gut feelings. Human bodies are a lot more sensitive than most of us think only if we are willing to listen to it.

Cara

Personally, I don't think i'd use logic or intuition, but jump out of instinctive fear from the oncoming boulder. With no options to avoid two forms of certain death and perhaps only seconds to decide I would jump out of fear, "the fight or flight" response scientists call it" from the boulder racing down upon me. So, I would react using Neither logic or intuition.

Craig,
That's an interesting way to look at this situation. I would think even the "fight or flight" response is somehow an intuitive process as the logical mind is not in control at that moment.

The "fight or flight" response is instinctive not intuitive in my opinion. Instinct is not the same thing as intuition.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary at www.merriam-webster.com

INSTINCT is:
1: a natural or inherent aptitude, impulse, or capacity <had an instinct for the right word>
2 a: a largely inheritable and unalterable tendency of an organism to make a complex and specific response to environmental stimuli without involving reason b: behavior that is mediated by reactions below the conscious level

INTUITION is:
1: quick and ready insight
2 a: immediate apprehension or cognition b: knowledge or conviction gained by intuition c: the power or faculty of attaining to direct knowledge or cognition without evident rational thought and inference

Instinct is a unconscious activity
Intuition is a cognitive activity, therefore is also a conscious activity as opposed to an unconscious one like instinct.

Thanks Craig.