For over 40 years, I’ve alternated between trusting and ignoring my intuition.

Sometimes, taking an impulsive decision feels natural. At other times, it seems absurd.

In my 20s, I bought a second-hand car without a test drive. I may have been relying on my father’s intuition, but it turned out well.

After viewing a flat, I felt deep within that it would be my home. And it was, for five years.

I wish I had recorded my initial reactions to the other seven listings I had bookmarked.

Does it matter that only one out of them felt “right” during the viewing?

I contained my excitement and tutted about the asking price, but deep down, I knew it was the one. I just knew.

Was it a dream home? Not exactly, but it was a solid investment. Owning property, like many commitments, often comes with unexpected considerations.

It’s a pity that intuition can’t predict the future or see through walls. Realtors rarely reveal problematic plumbing or nosy neighbours. Thankfully, some inconveniences can be corrected, removed, or endured.

In January 2020, before the world turned upside down, I began searching for a part-time job. I was lucky not to need full-time employment at the time.

It was a small company, and my first interview was with the owner. I sensed he’d be a great person to work with.

I made it through to the next round of interviews, this time with the newly appointed general manager. Wow.

Whether real or imagined, he made my skin crawl with winks and over-familiarity.

I didn’t wait for feedback. I emailed the recruiter and withdrew my application, only to be told they had decided to offer me a more senior position with double the salary.

I chose to trust my gut, and stuck to my decision. In the true sense of “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”, I found a job with a different company, in an industry I knew nothing about.

Given the turbulent times, I worked for two months before we were forced to stay at home. Once life returned to vaguely normal, I threw myself in the deep end and learned on the job.

When circumstances changed and I became the sole breadwinner, they offered me a full-time position.

I have no idea how things would have gone if I’d accepted that first job, but I feel I made a good decision.

I think that’s what intuition is about. It’s about trusting a feeling deep within, that for some inexplicable reason, you’re making the right decision.

It’s a belief that things will work out, even if it takes you out of your comfort zone or against the advice of others.