Deciphering Intuition: An Investigator's Approach to Self-Trust

The Challenge of Mixed Messages

We are bombarded with conflicting advice: trust your gut, step outside your comfort zone, feel the fear and do it anyway. As Kate Cashman elucidates, these messages, while well-intentioned, can create confusion. Drawing from cognitive behavioral psychology, she reminds us that our thoughts, feelings, and actions are interconnected. This highlights the critical need to discern when discomfort signals danger and when it signals an opportunity for growth.

Integrating Wisdom From Diverse Fields

Kate Cashman shares insights gleaned from her experiences in policing, movement and coaching. Her experiences echo historical patterns of adapting knowledge across disciplines to address human problems. These experiences offer a unique perspective on understanding and interpreting our thoughts and feelings.

The Investigator's Mindset

From the policing world, Cashman learned the importance of questioning assumptions and seeking external evidence. She recounts the wisdom of a veteran detective named Peter, who, despite decades of experience, emphasized the need to test instincts to avoid cognitive bias. This approach aligns with rigorous scholarly inquiry, where hypotheses are constantly tested against empirical evidence.

Embodied Inquiry

In the movement and Pilates space, Cashman discovered that the body provides a rich source of internal evidence. She cites the concept of interoception, where the body's sensations—heart rate, muscle tension, breath—offer insights into our emotional state. Her personal anecdote about a boxing session during a stressful period underscores the importance of listening to our bodies and adjusting our actions accordingly. It is not unlike ancient cultures that viewed the body as a microcosm of the universe, filled with signs and portents.

The Power of Questioning Beliefs

From the coaching world, Cashman learned to question the stories we tell ourselves. She observes that people often retreat from courageous opportunities due to anxiety and dread, mistaking these feelings as signs that something is wrong. However, by challenging these automatic reactions, we can gain a clearer understanding of our true thoughts and feelings. The work of Australian researcher Joel Pearson on intuition is highlighted, defining it as the learned, productive use of unconscious information. Pearson's framework emphasizes self-awareness and mastery, which is a regulated state and familiarity with the situation at hand.

A Framework for Self-Trust: I.N.V.E.S.T.

To navigate the complexities of decision-making, Kate Cashman introduces the I.N.V.E.S.T. framework:

• Identify your feelings.
• Notice your state.
• Verify your experience with evidence.
• Explore the possibilities.
• Sense check with your values.
• Take deliberate action.

This framework encourages us to pause, reflect, and gather information before making decisions. This resonates with the practices of ancient philosophers who emphasized the importance of contemplation and self-examination.

Becoming Investigators of Our Own Lives

Ultimately, Kate Cashman argues that self-trust comes from integrating these three perspectives: questioning what we see, listening to how we feel, and testing what we believe. She encourages us to reframe our thoughts and feelings as data to be investigated, rather than contradictory directives. In doing so, we become active participants in our own lives, capable of making informed decisions with clarity and courage. This echoes the wisdom of ancient cultures that revered self-knowledge as the key to a fulfilling life. The journey of self-discovery, it seems, is a timeless pursuit.